This hole-in-the-wall bar is a great spot for a few drinks with a date or small group. I've been coming here for Wednesday night martini specials for years. Martinis don't disappoint in my opinion. Not all are equal, but they do have some good tasting ones. I personally like the dirty and gimlet martinis the most. But their more fruity ones are good as well. Atmosphere is great. Walls are decked with local art, which I believe is also for sale. Good music plays throughout and not too loud where you can't have a conversation. Service is always friendly and helpful. Overall, it's one of my favorite spots downtown. Highly recommended. read more

I really enjoyed the vibe here and the cocktails are good and reasonably priced. I had a Manhattan, $10. The dimly lit room, local art and music are fun. Of course, the actual "lift" is the centerpiece. Definitely a great spot in a great city. read more

Best and cutest bartenders in town. Great specials especially the Wednesday martini special. Good selection of draft beers too. Basically a no-douche bag zone too, which I appreciate. Nearly always open til two am. Would definitely recommend. read more

The Lift - Best bartenders ever - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Wow my last review of the LIFT is from 2013.. I think it's time for an update! Still one of my fave bars in town. The lift is a small and cozy, hip spot with great music playing (sometimes even live music), and wonderfully curated art shows, and fantastic bar tenders! They do unique fun nights like Pint night, Mona's Pub Quiz, Art Openings, Live Jazz, etc. It's also the place know for the fab 2 for 1 martini night on Wednesdays.. I have had many a drink here and never really a bad experience. Cheers to more beers! read more

The bartender knows how to make the drinks well, and pays good attention to you, knows when to ask for a round and when to wait. The crowd is not too rowdy. It's a great bar. read more

"Are you getting water for those people? They are awful* tippers" "you shouldn't thank him for your drink, he gives awful* tips" -The Male Bartender. Myself in a group of 8 people went to this bar on Wednesday, 11/09 and were treated with more than the above quotes from the bartender. Do not go to this place if you expect to have good service but "tip below 40%", according to the bartender. The Lift is officially off my list of recommendations to clients and out of town guests. Was promptly told to "f off" after the bartender told others in our group we were "bad tippers" and was confronted by me after tipping 20%. *-explicit words read more

Best bar in Des Moines. Great music. Friendly staff. Martinis are fire! Local art available for purchase too! Love this place!

The bar scene around Court Ave grotesquely parades itself. Remember all those people who called you slurs in high school? When you pull on up to Pints, there is a 87% chance that every Kyle you used to know will be jaywalking around 4th, about to get blitzed off Moscow mules and scream for the 120th consecutive Saturday night about how Colin Kaepernick is actually a Nazi and all the reasons they're afraid of trans people. Not a fan of that whole -scene.- But, if you deviate off of the Court circus, you can experience a DSM Saturday night without someone in an Iowa State Rugby Club tshirt spit-talking all over you. Let The Lift uplift you. Dusky atmosphere, actually compelling local art, prices that can impress even the stingiest of Midwesterners (me), The Lift radiates a humble, dive-esque aura, but like, you won't get tetanus if you sit down. You can actually have a conversation here without having to scream over a visibly disconsolate Gen X dj playing electrohouse remixes of Uncle Kracker. Fortunately for us, The Lift's bartenders are more fond of French yé-yé and mid-aughts indie rock. A bar should be respite from the drudgery of our dystopia-lite, not a playplace for adults. What I mean here is that The Lift is a lounge where people can commune without having to dodge errant giant beer pong balls. read more

Drinks were delicious. Bartender Carlos was amazing, worth the stop for sure. We also had a coffee liqueur shot that was the bomb.

One of my favorite parts about this bar is that it's full to the brim with local influence. The Lift frequently hosts local music, local artists & pop-ups, local brews, and your favorite local humans. There is plenty of seating, although some nights it does fill up! But the drinks are cheap, and normally there's a deal (yes- especially on Wednesday!) The bar is sometimes briefly understaffed, but I promise you that your drink WILL come! I so much prefer to go to the Lift rather than any other spot on Court or 4th. Its been one of my go-to spots for years and will be for years to come! read more

Local art on the walls? Check. Great drink deals? Check. Chill environment? Check. Wednesdays: 2 for 1 martinis, with a vast and creative martini menu. Thursdays: $2 pint night. Wednesdays are a very busy night because of the specials, so plan to come early to scope out a spot. Thursdays, when I've gone, has been more chill. Bartenders have always been friendly and helpful when deciding on a drink. read more

If it weren't for the Lift, my husband and I wouldn't be married (seriously), so clearly I give this place 5 stars! Beyond our love story, however, this little downtown martini bar rocks. Outside, the Lift is unassuming and doesn't necessarily look like much, tucked away on 4th Street. But come inside, and you will find a warm, dark, welcoming atmosphere with friendly, quick, knowledgeable bartenders. The drinks are yummy and fairly priced. Be sure to visit on Wednesday for half off martinis (or maybe it's buy one get one free...either way I get two and pay for one). They don't serve food here, but we have brought in food from other local joints after checking with the bartenders. Be sure to read the other reviews of the Lift too--I didn't know about the other events that happen here, and other Yelpers have great insights! read more

The Lift - Lift martinis. Best in DSM. - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The Lift is one of my absolute favorite spots in downtown Des Moines and one of the reasons I miss living there so much! Where do I start?! The location is great. Easy to get to and yet it is off the beaten path a little bit. You can get away from some of the craziness of Court Avenue. It's also right across the street from Fong's, so I encourage you to have some 'za first before making your way to the Lift. The atmosphere is idyllic. It's dark and intimate. They have local artwork that is for sale and it's always changing, which is great! The music is definitely my style and it makes for a really chill setting. The drinks are superb. That's all there is to it. You won't find a better martini in town. Try the G Rock. On Wednesday's, it's buy one, get one! read more

The Lift! This is my favorite martini bar in DSM. There is always an amazing art show up so there's a ton of stuff to look at if you're waiting on a friend or chilling by yourself for a minute. There's a couch area for major chillaxin' times. I always stick to cosmos or straight up martinis -- that's just my thing. They have quite a few local beers on tap and a special Peroni tap now too. They have a giant bar and lots of choices. If you are craving a unique bar experience, this is your spot. read more

The Lift - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great drinks..especially the martinis. I liked the size and ambiance of this bar. The lift has the feel of a local hangout with quite a few regulars. The bar staff were attentive even while extremely busy. The night some friends and I were here they were playing some great tunes over their speakers and then allowed some one to come in and play terrible, overly loud techno music...had to leave due to the same but I will definitely be back. I swear Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue was sitting next to me at the bar...I even talked to him....drink of choice...red bull & vodka doubles! read more

Unique place. Phenomenal martinis. Highly recommend. Interesting ambiance. Can get busy quickly so want to bring some patience in case the line gets long. But worth the wait! read more

Great place if you're looking to catch up with friends over some more sophisticated cocktails. Very nice bartender and great drink menu.

Serves really good martinis. A must visit bar in the heart of des moines downtown. We ordered easy fruit and manhattan. They were well made drinks. read more

A gem of a venue slightly off the Court avenue headliners, the Lift is my go-to place to either start the night or to end it. Not having a prominent sign, the Lift is like one of those discreet places where you might have to know someone who knows the place - usually not a place that's easily stumbled upon. The bar area has an interesting design with many intimate corners. There is a raised platform for live musicians and dancing. Photography and artwork are displayed on the walls with spotlights. When I was there, a bunch of building exteriors and shrubbery photos were on display - kind of like the photos shown during the ending credits of Rain Man. The strategic location to Fong's pizza makes this place a convenient stop to get my divey drink on. read more

Easily one of my go-spots despite never quite feeling like I fit in here. Have had memorable nights at the Lift - celebrating birthdays, sending people off (like myself), checking out art, and having conversations that feel deep until sobering up. There's also been a fair share of duds, awkward hangs, and overcrowded nights that keep me and my company from entering the door. While far from perfect (look at the men's room) the Lift has cultivated its own vibe and houses plenty of art, music, and trivia. read more

Ava and Ryan are the best bartenders! Wednesday night half price martinis are my fave

The Lift is on of my favorite places downtown. It's a martini bar with an awesome selection of beers and is a great environment for groups, solo drinking, dates, catching up with a close friend, crashing a bachelor party your friend is hosting, you name it. The bar staff is absolutely great, always friendly, and give great service. If you want to look at original art on the wall instead of a TV, this is your place! Local artists are always on display and changed every few months! They also host live jazz music on Tuesdays. Sometimes you can even see screenings of movies! All in all, this is a must hit spot if you're hanging out downtown. read more

Possibly the best cocktail bar. EVER. Quite surprising to get the high end mixologist treatment in what appears to be a hipster dive bar or coffee house. Their sidecar - bourbon, Grand Marnier, and lemon juice - is one of the best that I've had. It's not even on the menu, but they knew exactly what I wanted! The other cocktails on their menu are excellent, too. DSM is currently my home during the week, and my coworkers and I live for Wednesday night 2 for 1 cocktails. Who put $$ as the price point for this place?! Even the regular price tag of $8 is excellent for these artisan cocktails. If you want some perspective, one cocktail in NYC costs the same amount as 4 in DSM on Wednesday nights at The Lift. On second thought, maybe you should stay home so I can grab a booth for my team :-) read more

Perhaps one of the best bars I've ever been to. It's got the vibe of a coffee shop (sofas, etc) while still feeling like a bar. Very casual vibe, not too loud, friendly folks, and two dollar drafts (yes, all of them) on Thursdays. I say yes. And if you go soon, you may see some art on the wall that will have you and your friends talking for days. read more

I've heard many people say this is the "most towny bar ever" and honestly it is but I like this place. One of my favorite bars downtown! It's dark and dingy and the bartenders are straight up, take-no-crap kind of people but that is what makes this place charming. I've never been disappointed in any of the drinks that I have ordered here and all of the drinks are reasonably priced. If you come here on a weekend, it can be hard to find a seat because this place isn't very big. This place is great to come and grab a few drinks with friends and just chill. Super low key and relaxed environment. read more

We went here on a week night and while it is categorically a dive bar, I guess, its wood everywhere motif and cleanliness and well-made drinks puts it in the la creme de la creme of dive bars. The special for the night was an old-fashioned and it was made right. An orange was muddled in the glass. The right liquor was added. There were only a few people and we stuck around long enough to hear the jazz band play, one with more members than the bar had patrons. Wait. Did I write "week night" and "jazz band"? I was really impressed that there was actually a band that sounded okay playing somewhere in DSM on a week night. Smart idea, Lift! read more

FINALLY. A place I can call my home away from home. I adore: the casual atmosphere, bartender, tasty martinis, local artwork. I had drinks here with coworkers, but would absolutely come back for another girls night or sexy time date. read more

I like my martinis the way I like my toast. Dry & straight. Price: Look to spend about $8/martini. GO ON WEDNESDAYS for martini night! Parking: Street. Metered, but free after 6. Service: Pretty chill. Order & pay at the bar. I've only come across 1 mean bartender (hence the -1). Drinks: I love their selection of martinis. There's a lot of different kinds. I dig the feel of the place. Lots of local artists put up their artwork. The restrooms are pretty rad too. read more

The Lift is a great place for a chill night on the town, and it a total whole in the wall. If you don't hear about it from a friend, you could totally drive or walk by it and not even know that its their. I am a huge fan of their martinis! On Wednesday, they have a deal for them that is 2 for $8, which in my opinion is amazing! Atmosphere of the bar is very nice, small and cozy. I love that the bar displays traveling art pieces, I don't think any time I've been back I've seen the same pieces of art on the walls. Bartenders are great, and they provide great service. read more

Why is Des Moines so far behind all the major cities on smoking bans in bars and restaurants?? Oh wait, I forgot. It's Des Moines. Luckily, we have places like the Lift which are ahead of the curve. You can't beat 2-for-1 martini night on Wednesdays, and it's always fun to see the revolving art gallery on the walls. As a bonus, you can actually hear your friends talk - you know, if you're interested in having conversations and stuff. The only way I could love this bar more is if 2-for-1 martini night was every night. EDIT: Even though we (thank god) finally have banned smoking in bars, I still maintain that the Lift is the best place to find a martini. Oh yeah - and they have beer specials on Thursday. What? I don't go there all the time or anything... read more

If you go for martini night make sure that Nick is the bartender. (short blonde hair, sometimes wearing a hat). Wed is martini night and they are by far some of the best in town. My usual drink is a straight gin martini or gimlet; hard to get right unless your seasoned but they are done very well. Thursday nights are 2 dollar pints and the place starts to fill around 9. the best thing about this place is that its always been casual and is the perfect place to go after work and stay and watch the place gradually get busy, but never too crowded. The people who have drinks here are not trying to impress, but rather looking for a good time in a place they can still hear each other talk. P.S. the bartenders pick their own music, and you will often find yourself asking who's playing because its something you've never heard but you know its good.... read more

Great place. It's smoke free, which is awesome. Music is good, atmostphere is very laid back. It's never too loud, always different and interesting artwork on the walls and a wide variety of martinis. It's so laid back here that I took my parents and didn't feel weird at all. Great place. read more

Great service and drinks! The bartender is cool and the house liquor is to die for. The prices are really affordable too! Great for a date or a chat or just a quick sip! read more

This bar does not accept paper IDs, even if you provide proof of validity. They say it is bar policy, and they have all the technical right to do so because they are a private business. Doesn't mean they'll be excused from looking like assholes to other patrons. Would've loved to try their drinks, looked nice. ----------- The state of Iowa gives paper ID's when you renew a license, even though this is a legal ID (and can be verified by a phone or local police) they will not accept either form of verification. Sounds like they have a bad problem with underage drinking. ----------- When I was denied, it was during low service. It was quite in the bar, and I tried showing every kind of verification to the bartender. I spoke politely and never raised my voice (though tipsy on-lookers did). He wasn't having it. This bar uses Square to process credit cards, so they have access to smartphones. These smartphones can also be used to verify state IDs. Ignoring all that, the bartender had decided what he said and was not going to change. Didn't want to waste either of our time, I took my business elsewhere. read more

I usually come here for the martinis, on Wednesdays there's a special two for one. I like the whole atmosphere there. It's a pretty small place and very "chill" music they play is not really to any specific genre which is nice. The bar staff are actually nice and personable, they are quick in getting your drinks to you even on a really busy night. Highly recommend this place to anybody of any age... (well of course over 21) PS: You may want to consider going some place else to quickly use the restroom... read more

Hands down, my favorite Des Moines haunt! The martinis are good and they will kick your ass. The Lift is my go-to bar and the vibe is always just right. Grab one of the couches with a date or group of friends. Martinis are 2-for-1 every Wednesday night. Artwork from local artists is always on display. read more

Stopped by the Lift as our first stop on a Ladies' Night Out. Specials $4 cucumber or mango vodka + mixers. TJ the bartender provided great recommendations on mixers, shots, local brews and dinner venues. Even when we came back later that evening, it was packed, but he was still super friendly and nice. Needless to say, great customer service, great drinks. We'll be back. read more

I like The Lift for the extensive list of delcious martinis. I also like that it's downtown, but not skanky downtown (you know who you are, Liars Club). The atmosphere is relaxed, and I've seen everything from Indian businessmen to pierced and tatted Goths enjoying their drinks and conversation. One thing...ok, two things to avoid: the skeevy couches in the side room by the potties (a la dirty fraternity house basement), and the face-melting Bloody Marys. I love me a good tomato-based drink, but either someone working for "Man vs. Food" is making them, or we got a bad batch. HOT!!!! Recommend! read more

I don't go out much anymore, but I used to go to The Lift fairly regularly a couple years ago. If I were to go out, I'd go to The Lift. It's generally a chill, low key, cool spot where you don't have to worry about dudes trying to start a fight or loud drunks ruining your good time. The downsides are as follows: there can be a lack of seating on busy nights, so if you go with a group, it might be tough to find enough chairs; depending on the bartender, it can get loud really easy if they turn up the music. I don't go out a lot, but in previous years, certain bartenders would turn the music up too loud and it would be difficult to talk; there is usually only one bartender, and s/he might take too many smoke breaks. Otherwise, this is my favorite bar in Des Moines and I have a lot of awesome memories made in this bar. read more

One star for false advertising. Ordered an IPA and it was on special for $3, not $2. Also no tv to watch thur night football. read more

The Lift - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa