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.
City Guides
Metromix Restaurant Guide – Find great places to ear near the festival grounds.
East Village – Shops, galleries, restaurants, clubs – the East Village has a lot to offer.
Downtown Community Alliance – Everything you need to know when visiting downtown Des Moines.
Ingersoll District – You’ll find a number of shops and eats lining Ingersoll Avenue.
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority – Gas is expensive. Take the bus. DART busses are clean, reasonably price, cover the greater metro area, and have front mounted bike rikes so you can take your wheels along for the ride.
Live Music
The Vaudeville Mews, 212 4th St. (515) 243-3270 – A venue for live music of multiple genres that’s located in the hub of Des Moines’ entertainment district.
The House of Bricks, 525 East Grand Ave. (515) 727- 4370 – For Des Moines’ best live music.
People’s Court, 216 Court Ave. (515) 422-5128 – A huge stage with local and national acts playing.
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.
Eat and Drink
Downtown
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.
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 best beer selection in town. More than 100 American Craft beers on tap.
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.
Proof 1301 Locust Street (515) 244-0655 – Contemporary Mediterranean fare right within the festival grounds.
Ritual Café 1301 Locust Street (515) 288-4872 – Great coffee shop with food within the festival grounds.
Java Joes Coffeehouse 214 4th Street (515) 288-5282 – Delicious coffee in the heart of the Court Ave. District.
Raccoon River Brewery 200 10th Street (515) 362-5222 – Local microbrewery only a few blocks from the festival grounds.
Django 210 10th St, (515) 288-0268 – French restaurant very close to the festival grounds within the Hotel Fort Des Moines.
Centro 1011 Locust St (515) 244-7033 – Italian restaurant.
Fong’s Pizza 223 4th Street (515) 323-3333 – Open until 2am, slices starting after 10pm.
Smokey D’s BBQ 1200 West Locust Street (515) 288-1000 – Award winning BBQ.
801 Steak & Chop House 801 Grand Ave Ste. 200 (515) 288-6000 – High end steak house.
Sbrocco Wine Bar & Wine Shop 208 Court Avenue (515) 282-3663 – Huge selection of wines.
Splash 303 Locust St Ste. 100 (515) 244-5689 – Quality seafood.
Indian Grill 500 Grand Ave Ste 210 (888) 402-0813
Canton Korean & Chinese Food Express 501 West Locust Street (515) 282-4202 – The only place in Des Moines that serves Korean cuisine and it’s delicious
Liar’s Club 216 Court Avenue (515) 237-5427 – Great dance floor.
East Village
Miyabi 9 512 East Grand Avenue (515) 288-8885 – BEST sushi in town!
Olympic Flame 514 East Grand Avenue (515) 243-4361 – Greek food, amazing gyros.
Open Sesame 313 East Locust Street (515) 288-3151 – Recently opened Lebanese restaurant.
The Underground 500 East Locust Street (515) 243-4322
Baby Boomer’s Café 303 East 5th Street (515) 244-9107
Lucca 420 East Locust Street (515) 243-1115
The Blazing Saddle 416 East 5th Street (515) 246-1299
The Garden 112 Southeast 4th Street (515) 243-3965
The Continental 428 East Locust Street (515) 244-5845
Sherman Hill/Drake/Ingersoll/Roosevelt
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.
Big Tomato Pizza Co., 2613 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 288-7227 – Pizza by the slice and open late.
Palmer’s Deli and Market, 2843 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 274-4004 – Fresh food served daily.
Gateway Market, 2002 Woodland Ave. (515) 280-5410 – A fun and fresh place to eat, shop and hang out.
Mars Café 2318 University Ave. (515) 369-6277 – One of the best coffee houses in town, a lot of 80/35 organizing is done here.
Adong 1511 High St. (515) 284-5632 – Des Moines best Vietnamese restaurant.
Manhattan Deli 3705 Ingersoll Ave. (515) 274-1208 – Not to miss sandwiches.
La Mie 841 42nd Street (515) 255-1625
La Rosa 2312 Forest Avenue (515) 255-9520
GT’s Race Car Bar 3013 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 279-6444
Hoshi Sushi 2314 University Avenue (515) 369-7253
Uncle Wendell’s BBQ 2716 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 288-3207
Woody’s Smoke Shack 2511 Cottage Grove Ave (515) 710-4511
Gazali’s 1205 25th Street (515) 309-9167
Star Bar 2811 Ingersoll Ave (515) 244-0790
Lime Lounge 2706 Ingersoll Ave (515) 333-4643
Greenwood Lounge 3707 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 277-1219 One of Des Moines’ oldest bars. So, if you want a dive bar this is top notch. And yes, this dive bar has a website… It’s historic established in 1933.
Alpine Tap Room 2720 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 245-9717
The Yacht Club 2617 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 245-9208
Jethro’s BBQ 3102 Forest Avenue (515) 279-3300 Good BBQ with a sports bar feel.
Bistro Montage 2724 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 557-1924
Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure 2723 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 244-7694
La Hacienda 3121 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 255-9059
China Palace 2414 University Avenue (515) 633-9393
Jesse’s Embers 3301 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 255-6011
Ted’s Coney Island 3020 Ingersoll Avenue (515) 243-8947
If you’d like to take an adventure, go to these places!
Just East
Taco Loco 99 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314-3120 (515) 243-9900 Best fish tacos in town
Thai Flavors 1254 East 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50316-2402 (515) 262-4658
Nut Pob 3318 Indianola Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50315-2961 (515) 246-8055 Best Angry Catfish
Café Fuzion 1240 East 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50316-2402 (515) 262-8488
Rolling Wok 555 Walnut Street Des Moines, IA 50309-4116 (515) 243-1205
Tasty Tacos 1418 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines – (515) 266-4242 Amazing flour tacos. There are multiple locations, but this is the closest location to downtown. Just on the other side of the capital.
Lucky Dragon 1452 2nd Avenue Des Moines, IA 50314-3403 (515) 288-3936
Café Baratta’s 2320 South Union Street Des Moines, IA 50315-1730 (515) 243-4516
Fawn’s Asian Cuisine 1107 East University Avenue Des Moines, IA 50316-2351 – (515) 266-0664
E 25th Street Pub 509 East 25th St, Des Moines, IA 50317-2360 (515) 266-6885 This is actually kinda far east, but totally worth the drive… great bar food, awesome shot-of-the-day, best jukebox in Des Moines
Just North
Cooney’s 3708 Beaver Avenue Des Moines, IA 50310-3247 (515) 274-9877
Chef’s Kitchen 1903 Beaver Avenue Des Moines, IA 50310-3953 (515) 255-4411
Flying Mango 1903 Beaver Avenue Des Moines, IA 50310-3953 (515) 255-4411
Tally’s 2712 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA – (515) 279-2067
GoodSons 2815 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA – (515) 255-1912
India Star 5514 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA – (515) 279-2118
Just South
Mezzodi’s 4519 Fleur Drive Des Moines, IA 50321-2331 (515) 287-3333
Skip’s 4000 Fleur Drive Des Moines, IA 50321-2322 (515) 287-1820
Le Boi 508 Clifton Avenue Des Moines, IA 50315-1190 – (515) 280-3807
Kung Fu Tap & Taco 210 Indianola Avenue Des Moines, IA 50315-7153 (515) 285-8226
Want to picnic instead of dine out? Try The Downtown Farmer’s Market (every Saturday morning 6:00am to noon), The Gateway Market, Campbell’s Nutrition, Dahl’s, Hy-Vee, Fareway, or try Yelp for listings on a number of other small markets and convenience stores.
Misc fun things to do!
Like the music you heard at 80/35? Stop by ZZZ Records to pick up the CD. Support local music!
Best Place Ever 1159 24th St, Des Moines, IA 50311 (515) 255-4332 Independently owned and operated video rental store with a viewing room for an extremely small fee. They carry over 7,000 rare, foreign, cult, classic, new & indie films!
The Fleur Cinema & Café 4545 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321-2331 (515) 287-4545
The Varsity Theatre 1207 25th St, Des Moines, IA 50311-3053 (515) 277-0404
The Des Moines Social Club 1408 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 288-3672
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.
Hy-Vee Hall of Pride- 303 Park St Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 280-8969 Located within Wells Fargo Arena.
