How to spend the perfect day in Beaverdale with restaurants, bars and shopping
One in an occasional series of neighborhood guides in the Des Moines metro.
Welcome to Beaverdale. Cheerful signs accompanied by the neighborhood’s iconic architectural style greet visitors as they walk or drive into the neighborhood in northwestern Des Moines. Beaverdale is the largest of the 51 recognized neighborhoods in Des Moines, sandwiched between the Drake, Lower Beaver, Prospect Park, Merle Hay, and Waveland Park neighborhoods to the east and west.
Many of the tree-lined streets feature Beaverdale Bricks, an architectural style for homes that became fashionable in 1938. Local contractor E.T. McMurray built these homes with at the time modern touches, according to the Beaverdale Neighborhood Association.
During the holiday season, Beaverdale offers shopping opportunities in the quaint shopping district, along with good food and drinks. Take a look at some of the fun places to visit in Beaverdale.
Where to eat in Beaverdale
For barbecue: Flying Mango
Barbecue, Cajun and Caribbean fare come together at Mike and Suzanne Wedeking’s restaurant on Hickman Road that opened in 1997. Television chef Guy Fieri visited for “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” during Season 22, Episode 1 “Fish, Fries and Feet,” and ate baby back ribs, smoked on cherry wood, and served with sweet potato pancakes and red beans and rice, as well as the smoked catfish cakes with collard greens. You can smell the barbecue smoking at the restaurant before you see it.
Location: 4345 Hickman Road, Des Moines
Contact: flyingmango.com or 515-255-4111
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For steak de Burgo: Christopher’s
Joe and Red Giudicessi opened Christopher’s in 1963 with a menu of Italian-American cuisine that has become customer favorites. A line forms out the door early for this restaurant that serves baked lasagna, penne diavolo, and steak de Burgo. The kids, daughter René and son Ron, run the operation now.
Location: 2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: christophersdsm.com or 515-274-3694
More: The 10 essential Italian restaurants in the Des Moines metro
For fried chicken: Motley School Tavern
When you go to this new American restaurant serving fresh takes on classic dishes from chef Nic Gonwa, you should order the fried chicken, and add some biscuits with a tomato jam to the side. Both are worth every calorie. The restaurant also serves breakfast every morning with favorites such as chorizo hash, chilaquiles rojos and chicken fried chicken. Order a pancake for the table to share as well to give you the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Or just order a slice of pie from a rotating roster of flavors.
Location: 1903 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: mstdsm.com or 515-279-0075
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For comfort food: The Dam Pub
For a more casual approach to brunch, head to the Dam Pub on the weekends for flapjacks, French toast, chicken and waffles, or biscuits and gravy. Pair your meal with a bucket of mimosas or an infused bloody Mary to get your weekend started. For pub fare, find spicy cheese curds, a Thai chicken pizza, or steak house burger with caramelized onions, blue cheese, and bacon. Other comfort food options include a hot beef sandwich, asiago mac and cheese, and fried chicken sandwich. This is a good option for late night as well as rooftop patio season.
Location: 2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: dampubdsm.com or 515-279-4449
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For Detroit-style pizza: Parlor
Find Detroit-style pizzas and a weekend brunch at this restaurant with shuffleboard and a patio. Stromboli and poutine are some additional good bets here.
Location: 4041 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-274-1293 or parlordsm.com
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Your summertime dessert option: Snookies Malt Shop
This neighborhood favorite shop opens seasonally from late March to the end of September, depending on the weather. Find ice milk treats ranging from sundaes and cones to malts and specialty items, along with free pup cones for dogs.
Location: 1810 Beaver Ave., Des Moines.
Contact: facebook.com or 515-255-0638
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Where to drink in Beaverdale
Cooney’s Tavern
This Irish bar opened in 1984 and serves as a neighborhood spot for rubbing elbows with Des Moines politicians, Drake leaders and locals. Order a bloody Mary and scour the walls for the historic photos, news clippings, Irish street signs and stained glass windows that formerly lined the walls of the old Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Beaverdale. Just be sure to bring cash; no credit cards accepted.
Location: 3708 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: cooneystavern.com or 515-255-5566
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Where to shop in Beaverdale
For an independent bookstore: Beaverdale Books
The independent bookstore Beaverdale Books has a wide selection of titles that will appeal to everyone in your life, from the romantics at heart, consumers of biographies and young adults looking for their next binge-worthy series. Just a few seats reside toward the back of this charming shop, perfect for thumbing through your next great read. Be sure to take a peek at the selection of greeting cards, socks and other items that make the perfect addition to a gift, and look for shelves showcasing Iowa authors.
Location: 2629 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-279-5400 or beaverdalebooks.com
For marshmallows: Beaverdale Confections
Indulge in something sweet now or later with Beaverdale Confections, known for gourmet marshmallows and handcrafted candies. Get your fill of decadent chocolate-covered marshmallows, chocolate truffles with fruity fillings such as raspberry or rich espresso, licorice and novelty candies you won’t find at the supermarket.
Location: 2641 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-279-0553 or beaverdaleconfections.com
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For outdoor attire: Back Country
Find women's and men's apparel at the boutique store Back Country, which caters toward fashions for the outdoors and travel with a focus on sustainably and ethically made items. Shop for accessories, including bags to eyewear, or stock up on pieces for the cold weather with scarves and outerwear.
Location: 2702 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-255-0031 or theoriginalbackcountry.com
For groceries: Fareway Meat Market
Fareway’s second meat market in Iowa offers a full-service meat counter, complete with ready-to-eat sliced smoked brisket and other barbecue selections and classic sides. Fix yourself a deli sandwich for lunch and find artisan cheeses and wines to build the perfect charcuterie for home at this smaller grocery store.
Location: 2716 Beaver Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-381-6867 or fareway.com
Things to do in Beaverdale
Snap some pictures of your adventures in Beaverdale with two large murals within walking distance of each other.
Find “Timeless Beaverdale,” by Ben Schuh, on the side of Uptempo Music that depicts a brick home that Beaverdale is known for and the Urbandale Avenue Trolley, according to the Register in 2017.
Or, find a stunning garden that's in bloom across a wall behind Custom Upholstery, 2629 Beaver Ave., suite 17. The mural of sunflowers, butterflies and other flora is by Geri Boesen and Joshua Spain.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Best places to eat, drink and shop in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines
