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.
Wooly’s 506 East Grand Avenue – (515) 243-2380 – Des Moines’ newest music venue at 7th Street and Locust in the East Village.
Gas Lamp 1501 Grand Ave – (515) 280-3778 – Located in the heart of Des Moines new booming Western Gateway, Gas Lamp boasts a very vintage throwback feel.
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 – (515) 280-1965 – 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.
Shorty’s 208 Court Ave (Alley Entrance) – (515) 282-3663 – Underground Speakeasy style Irish Pub.
East Village
Miyabi 9 512 East Grand Ave – (515) 288-8885 – BEST sushi in town!
Olympic Flame 514 East Grand Ave – (515) 243-4361 – Greek food, amazing gyros.
Open Sesame 313 East Locust St – (515) 288-3151 – Lebanese cuisine.
The Underground 500 East Locust St – (515) 243-4322
Baby Boomer’s Café 303 East 5th St – (515) 244-9107
Lucca 420 East Locust St – (515) 243-1115
The Blazing Saddle 416 East 5th St – (515) 246-1299
The Garden 112 Southeast 4th St – (515) 243-3965
The Continental 428 East Locust St – (515) 244-5845
Lime Lounge 435 East Grand Ave – (515) 333-4643
Zombie Burger – 300 East Grand Ave – (515) 244-9292
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.
Cafe Di Scala 644 18th St – (515) 244-1353 – Contemporary Italian Cuisine
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.
A Dong 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 Bakery 841 42nd Str – (515) 255-1625
La Rosa Authentic Mexican 2312 Forest Ave – (515) 255-9520
GT Race Car Bar 3013 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 279-6444
Uncle Wendell’s BBQ 2716 Ingersoll Ave – (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
Greenwood Lounge 3707 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 277-1219 One of Des Moines’ oldest bars, established in 1933.
Alpine Tap Room 2720 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 245-9717
The Yacht Club 2617 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 245-9208
Jethro’s BBQ 3102 Forest Ave – (515) 279-3300 Good BBQ with a sports bar feel.
Bistro Montage 2724 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 557-1924
Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure 2723 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 244-7694
La Hacienda 3121 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 255-9059
China Place 2414 University Ave – (515) 633-9393
Jesse’s Embers 3301 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 255-6011
Ted’s Coney Island 3020 Ingersoll Ave – (515) 243-8947
If you’d like to take an adventure, go to these places!
Just East
Taco Loco 99 University Ave – (515) 243-9900 Best fish tacos in town
Thai Flavors 1254 East 14th St – (515) 262-4658
Nut Pob 3318 Indianola Ave – (515) 246-8055 Best Angry Catfish
Café Fuzion 1240 East 14th St – (515) 262-8488
Rolling Wok 555 Walnut St – (515) 243-1205
Tasty Tacos 1418 East Grand Ave – (515) 266-4242 Amazing flour tacos. Multiple Locations.
Lucky Dragon 1452 2nd Ave – (515) 288-3936
Café Baratta’s 2320 South Union St – (515) 243-4516
Fawn’s Asian Cuisine 1107 East University Ave – (515) 266-0664
E 25th Street Pub 509 East 25th St – (515) 266-6885 Best jukebox in Des Moines
Just North
Cooney’s 3708 Beaver Ave – (515) 274-9877
Chef’s Kitchen 1903 Beaver Ave – (515) 255-4411
Flying Mango 1903 Beaver Ave – (515) 255-4411
Tally’s 2712 Beaver Ave – (515) 279-2067
GoodSons 2815 Beaver Ave – (515) 255-1912
Beaver Tap 4050 Urbandale Ave – (515) 528-8125
Saints Pub & Patio 4041 Urbandale Ave – (515) 270-6175
India Star 5514 Douglas Ave – (515) 279-2118
Just South
Mezzodi’s 4519 Fleur Drive – (515) 287-3333
Skip’s 4000 Fleur Drive – (515) 287-1820
Le Boi 509 Indianola Ave – (515) 280-3807
Kung Fu Tap & Taco 210 Indianola Ave – (515) 285-8226
Fat Tuesday 6112 SW 9th St – (515) 285-3552
Francies 2100 Wakonda View Drive – (515) 285-5207
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!
ZZZ Records 2200 Ingersoll Ave (515) 284-1401 – Like the music you heard at 80/35? Stop by to pick it up. Support local music!
The Fleur Cinema & Café 4545 Fleur Drive – (515) 287-4545
The Varsity Theatre 1207 25th St – (515) 277-0404
The Des Moines Social Club 400 Walnut St – (515) 288-3672
