This bar is also in the basement, across from the black sheep. The lighting is better, pretty big…read morewith lots of seating options. They offer food however the kitchen was already closed. This is a whiskey bar, the only cognac they have was corvosier. I ordered a shot anyway.

Tried this place based on a Google search. As a bourbon fan, I was a bit disappointed in Ken's …read more The service was excellent, food good, but selection not quite what I expected. Prices are reasonable, but keep in mind that pours are about 1.25 oz. The atmosphere is as expected for a place advertising a speakeasy vib. For some reason, they are advertising tiki drinks. Not quite in keeping with the prohibition drink theme!

I attended a Yelp Elite event here late afternoon/early evening yesterday. The space is quaint and…read morenestled in a historic hotel. Admittedly it's not exactly my scene. I'm not really an upscale guy when it comes to my typical stomping grounds. More often I stay more West and don't frequent downtown without a specific purpose. There's a lot of great businesses downtown. I'm just a small town guy and I sometimes feel a little out of place in the heart of the metro. And anyone else hate that back-in parking found in the E Village? Lol That being said... The bar has a nice vibe, quiet and dimly lit (at least at the time of day we were there), and with large windows with a view of both E Walnut and E 4th St. Parking options mainly consist of metered parking on the adjacent streets. The food menu includes mostly finger foods. Flatbreads, bruschetta, and charcuterie. The flatbreads served were pretty good. I really liked the honey garlic alfredo flatbread ($12 on the menu)! The gentleman manning the bar was doing a fantastic job especially considering our event started at 530pm and he was pretty much hit with a rush of all of us attending. The old fashioned I ordered was done well and I enjoyed it (Bulleit bourbon and $10 on the menu). A lot of their signature cocktails are named keeping with a railroad motif. Happy Hour is 300pm - 600pm and a reverse Happy Hour from 800pm - 1000pm most days. Half price select cocktails and wine. Check out the Specials section of their site. Link is below. The bar is adjacent to the lobby area which was setup with a few high tops, tables and chairs, and couches for us to relax on. I'm not sure if this is standard or was specific to our event. All in all I enjoyed my time at The New Northwestern and would definitely go back if invited or I found myself in the E Village with time to make a quick stop in. A big thank you to the owners and staff of The New Northwestern for hosting us! https://thenewnorthwestern.com/

Ugh this place is so cute and chill, great place to go if your wanting great drinks and conversion…read more First drink of the night was the bras rail, its got a smokey smell on top but its sweet and light, second drink was a loco mojito so fleshing very coconuty which is not my jam but still very tasty

This is my second time/ year back for the holiday pop up. Last year i got the grasshopper and…read moreenjoyed it. This year i got Tom & Jerry, and my friend got the Cider. We both really enjoyed our drinks. I wanted to get the chocolate later but it was sold out! A bartender let us try the menthol foam by itself and it was yummy. We had great service and the vibes was fun. All of their drinks are really delicious. Cant go wrong.

There are not words strong enough to describe how incredible this experience was. Some of the best…read morecocktails of my life. Incredible flavors, theming - this is art and storytelling through cocktail. The ice cream on the cake was the sample ice cream flavors we got to sample. I'm not exaggerating to say this was also some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted. I'm legitimately and justifiably upset that I can't buy it anyway to have it again. The atmosphere is fun too, but the cocktails and the obvious time and passion that go into them are the draw. This is not a place where the theming outshines the drinks, I'd be blown away by these offerings even in a brightly-lit Chuck-e-Cheese. I will be back every single time I'm in Des Moines, and I hope it's packed with a waiting list because this kind of artistry deserves to be shared with everyone.

Always a fantastic dining experience! You can taste the quality with their dedication to fresh,…read morelocal ingredients, ensuring every meal is healthy and delicious. The warm naan served while you wait is a lovely touch, and their extensive cocktail and wine collection is top-notch. Perfect for gathering with friends or colleagues!

I was visiting Iowa for work and just didn't know where to eat, and managed to find Hoq on the list…read moreof places to visit when in Des Moines website. Interior was quite spacious and seems great for large parties. Can be a quiet dinner spot or a place to celebrate something. I walked in quite early for their dinner service and the servers were really helpful, even if one of them is a new one in training. She definitely tried her best and the main host was super sweet. Drink was strong and exactly the thing I wanted after work. Lamb shank meat was falling off the bone and the serving size was perfect. I wasn't too full or still hungry after having my meal, with the pita bread and dessert. The main host was nice after finding out I drove in from a separate area just to try their restaurant, so my dessert was on the house. There were some things about the dessert that didn't seem right, and I let them know. Even offered to give me a new dessert. I'm not in Iowa often for work, but if my work travels bring me back, I'd absolutely go back to Hoq for another meal. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

The Hall has new owners. It has been a terrible decline in service and food. We have been playing…read moretrivia here for a couple of years. Tonight we ordered tots and a margarita pizza. The tots were 1/5th the size of the old orders. They charged us $3 to put cheese on the Margarita Pizza. (To be clear, mozzarella IS indeed one of the 4 parts of that pizza, Crust, sauce, cheese, basil.) Our order for two items came to $ 30+. This would be ok if the portions were huge or the quality amazing. Neither quality was present. We will not be back!!!

Been here several times for a fun time with friends. Went for a few basketball games and a couple…read moretrivia nights. It's a beer hall so if you're aware what a German Beer Hall/Garden is like it has those vibes with huge TVs. The ordering system is phenomenal. I love being able to scan a QR code at the table and order from my phone. Being a millennial the less human interaction I have to make the better. They'll just get your drinks right to your table but for the food, you would have to pick it up at the pick up counter. I really wish more establishments would adopt this process. The only reason why I'm knocking down stars is basically the food... I haven't been impressed with anything I have ordered and my friends also said the same thing. Everything just seems bland and require extra condiments or sauce. They offer good menu items but I just wish there was more care in implementing them. Most recent, I had a tenderloin that I was excited about and as traditional as we see in Iowa the tenderloin was massive but I had to just smother the entire thing with mustard to have any taste. I would probably just stick to appetizers when going there. Fries are usually a safe order and my friend thought the wings were okay.

Enjoyed brunch. Good cocktails and food was good, not great. The balcony was really the best part…read moreof the meal

I left a 3*** review after our visit on Wed Aug 29. Unfortunately, Mullets decided to take it…read moredown. Our server, Caleb, was the Best- especially since he was working alone. 3 out of 8 of us were happy with their meals. My grinder was a mess- had to eat it with a fork, and it was bland. My husband and friend had a Philly cheese steak. Never have we seen a cheese steak with DICED meat- also bland. Another friend had burnt ends...the bun was so soggy, she had to eat the meat without the bun. Another friend had burnt ends- he ate most of it, but also disappointed with the soggy bun. Again, the only saving grace was Caleb.

We wandered in on a week night and had so much fun! I imagine given the gorgeous space, incredible…read moredrinks, attentive serve, and delicious bites, this place is packed on the weekends. Oh and BTW... The Contrary in Des Moines has also been recognized as a national semifinalist for Best New Bar ( 2026 ). The Food is elevated Bar Bites The Drinks are contemporary craft ( both cocktails and mocktails ) and the Vibe is New York Chic with Iowa Elbow Room.

Unique experience and unique cocktails tucked away in downtown Des Moines. Highly recommend for a…read morememorable experience

This is a really fun place. We stopped in after lunch on a Saturday afternoon and there was a…read moredecent crowd, but plenty of empty tables. By the time we left a few hours later it was pretty packed. The bartender was alone but was able to keep up with everyone's drink orders, and remembered our 'special' orders. She was pleasant, friendly, and very efficient. Prices are very reasonable and the bathrooms are amazingly clean, bright, and spacious (the women in our group loved them!). Sheltered patio space for nicer weather than in January, and the interior is bright and welcoming, with a good selection of beers, and other drinks. We'll come back!

If you want to hang out in a place that reeks of cigarettes, this is your bar. If you want to watch…read more21 year olds fight, this is your bar.