See Des Moines
The festival may end at midnight, but there is still plenty to do in Des Moines. Whether you are interested in listening to some more live music, grabbing a beer or a bite to eat, or looking for something fun to do, here is a list of some of the hottest places to see and hang when the stages are cleared.
Live Music
The Vaudeville Mews, 212 4th St. (515) 243-3270 – A venue for live music, DJ events, film, and poetry readings that’s located in the hub of Des Moines’ entertainment district.
The House of Bricks, 525 East Grand Ave. (515) 727- 4370 – Des Moines’ best live music.
People’s Court, 216 Court Ave. (515) 422-5128 – A huge stage with local and national acts playing Wednesday thru Saturday.
The Grand Piano Bistro, 506 East Grand Avenue (515) 243-2380 – Des Moines best piano bistro ever! Come and listen to live music Wednesday thru Saturday.
Blues On Grand, 1501 Grand Ave (515) 244-3092 – Live blues Tuesday thru Saturday.
Bars and Food
The Lift, 222 Fourth St. (515) 288-3777 – With walls covered with local art, the DJs, and great drinks, The Lift is a place you can’t pass up if you are in the area.
Royal Mile, 210 4th St (515) 280-3771 – English pub and restaurant.
101 Lounge, 101 Third St. (515) 283-1014 – An American, neighborhood bar.
Flanagan’s Restaurant & Lounge, 2120 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 243-3333 – A great Irish pub with a hearty breakfast on Sunday mornings.
Carl’s Place, 1620 Woodland Ave. (515) 243-9727 – One of the best neighborhood bars in Des Moines.
Zimm’s Food and Spirits, 3124 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 277-9929 – Pool, games, and drinks, plus a full menu with great food.
High Life Lounge, 200 SW 2nd St. – Located close to Principal Park, the bar’s deck is a popular pre-game meet-up spot, with Old Style on tap and cans for $2.
El Bait Shop, 200 SW 2nd St. (515) 284-1970 – The only 1970’s and fishing themed Mexican BBQ you’ll run across- ever.
Restaurants
Des Moines Metromix Restaurant Guide – Find great places to eat near the festival grounds.
Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co., 309 Court Ave. (515) 282-2739 – Stop in to experience award-winning cuisine, highly quality beer in a comfortable, inviting atmosphere.
Johnny’s Hall of Fame Sports Bar, 302 Court Ave. (515) 280-6679 – Traditional American fare at reasonable prices in a sporty, down home atmosphere.
Gateway Market, 2002 Woodland Ave. (515) 280-5410 – A fun and fresh place to eat, shop and hang out.
Big Tomato Pizza Co., 2613 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 288-7227 – Pizza by the slice and open late.
Chicago Dog & Deli & Pizza, 1733 Grand Ave (515) 243-3085, An inexpensive delicatessen and pizzeria.
Palmer’s Deli and Market, 2843 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 274-4004 – Fresh food served daily.
Art / Dining / Shopping / Travel
Downtown Community Alliance – Everything you need to know when visiting downtown Des Moines.
The East Village - Shops, galleries, restaurants, clubs – the East Village has a lot to offer.
Ingersoll Business Association – You’ll find a number of shops and eats lining Ingersoll Avenue.
Like the music you heard at 80/35? Stop by ZZZ Records to pick up the CD. Support local music!
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority – Gas is expensive. Take the bus. DART busses are clean, reasonably priced, cover the greater metro area, and have front mounted bike racks so you take your wheels along for the ride.
If you’d like to picnic instead of dine out, try Campbell’s Nutrition, Dahl’s, The Downtown Farmer’s Market (every Saturday morning), Hy-Vee, Fareway, The Gateway Market, or try Yelp for listings on a number of other small markets and convenience stores.
Parks / Recreation
Des Moines Parks and Recreation – Look under “Fun in the Great Outdoors” for trails, parks, and other recreational facilities in Des Moines.
Water Works Parks – Located across from Gray’s Lake, the parks maintained by the Des Moines Water Works feature miles of trails, fishing, sports fields, disc golf, and several picnic areas with grills and tables.
Blank Park Zoo – An AZA accredited zoo whose mission is to inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education and recreation.
Des Moines Botanical Center – Featuring a Geodesic Dome conservatory and a number of surrounding gardens.
