How to spend a perfect day in downtown Des Moines with food, drinks and more
Whether this is the first time you’ve visited Des Moines or it’s part of your daily routine, the city’s downtown core brings a wealth of things to do from finding a bite to eat or a drink, doing some shopping, finding a place to play, or taking a selfie opportunity. We scoured the scene to highlight some of the fun things to do in downtown proper and the Court Avenue District to make any trip to the area memorable.
Where to eat, restaurants in downtown Des Moines
Brunch at La Mie Elevate
An offshoot of the 42nd Street bakery, La Mie Elevate (601 Locust St.) has the same elegant style of breakfast and lunch fare as the original, plus a city view. Located in a sunlit section of the skywalk, the bakery is a great place to perk up for the day with an espresso drink and an airy croissant. If you have time to linger, try a ham and swiss or smoked salmon omelet and sit near a window to watch the city come to life. There are plenty of to-go treats such as tiramisu, macarons and slices of cake for afternoon snacking.
Other options: Find a hearty egg and hash breakfast at Mullets (1300 E. First St.). Brunch in style on Saturdays at the Surety Hotel's Mulberry Street Tavern (206 Sixth Ave.). Get a fresh-made doughnut or five at ChuChu Donuts (580 S.W. Ninth St. Suite 116), which has a drive-thru for fast service and a delectable range of doughnut toppings and styles, including cronuts.
More: 2022 Des Moines skywalk dining guide: Where to find food downtown (without having to go outside)
Lunch at The High Life Lounge
Kitschy Midwestern diner The High Life Lounge (200 S.W. Second St.) attached to El Bait Shop will transport you to the 1970s. Booths line the wood paneled walls, which are covered in vintage beer signs and other local ephemera. With an all-day menu of homestyle classics, you won’t leave hungry. Start with bacon-wrapped little smokies glazed in brown sugar ($9.99) or fried pickle spears ($8.99) with ranch for dunking. There are great options for kids, like the chicken finger basket ($12.99) or macaroni and cheese sprinkled in Parmesan ($11.99). Warm up with a meatloaf dinner ($13.99) or a puff pastry chicken pot pie full of vegetables and gravy ($13.99).
Other options: Basil Prosperi (801 Grand Building) in the skywalk is a popular lunchtime destination for Italian pastas, salads and sandwiches with daily specials. Tuck into a bowl of savory pho alongside a boba tea at Pho Real Kitchen and Bar (200 Fourth St.). Try one of the craft beers with the classic brewpub food at Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co. (309 Court Ave.).
More: A handy guide to 14 of the best restaurants in the East Village in Des Moines
Dinner at Fresko
Fresko features a large dinner menu with a range of choices from flatbreads to tacos to sushi, but all are tied together by the downtown restaurant’s mission to make fresh, seasonal dishes. It’s in the name, after all. Order the wood fired wings, covered in chili oil and feta and served with a side of tzatziki sauce ($16) or flatbreads like the formaggio ($15), which is topped with fresh chives and truffle honey along with a divine blend of cheeses.
If you like a hearty meal, you have no shortage of wood-fired cuts of meat including the hanger steak ($38) with smashed potatoes and sautéed kale and seafood entrees such as seafood ravioli ($36). The restaurant offers plenty of lighter fare, gluten-free options, and vegan and vegetarian meals that could satisfy even the pickiest carnivore. Be sure to make a reservation — it’s hard to get a sought-after seat without one.
Other options: Share a variety of inspired small plates and craft cocktails at RoCA (208 Court Ave.). Get cozy at dimly lit W-Tao Sushi (400 Walnut St. #101) or sit at the sushi bar for an extra special experience.
Where to grab a drink in downtown Des Moines
Hello, Marjorie
Step back in time at this '70s themed eclectic bar in the lobby of the former Des Moines Register & Tribune building at 717 Locust St. for classic cocktails with a twist. A four-foot by two-and-a-half-foot painting of owner Nick Tillinghast’s grandmother smoking a cigarette and drinking a sloe gin fizz painted by Kelly Kunzler of Kunzler Studios in Des Moines overlooks Hello, Marjorie in a space that includes an Instagram worthy neon sign with a quote from author Jack Kerouac: “The prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines.”
Do drink the Editor’s Note, made with High West American Prairie bourbon and Rothman & Winter apricot liquor, or the Marjorie with Skyy vodka and elderberry, for $13 or $9 respectively.
Other options: Slip to the back of Hello, Marjorie to find the speakeasy Good News, Darling (717 Locust St.) with complex cocktails in an intimate setting. Grab a beer from the 251 choices on tap at El Bait Shop (200 S.W. Second St.). Moscow mules in a basement setting rule the roost at the Copper Cup (207 Fourth St.).
More: Fun things to do in Des Moines this winter: From kid-friendly entertainment to great food
Where to shop in Des Moines
The Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market
From May through October, more than 300 Iowa farmers and retailers offer a variety of attractions, activities and produce for the farmers market that starts at 7 a.m. (8 a.m. in October) and runs through noon on Saturdays. More than 25,000 typically visit the market.
Other options: Go to West End Architectural Salvage (22 Ninth St.) just to soak in the vintage vibe of reclaimed pieces while sipping a cup of coffee or a cocktail. Beautiful stationery and home decor pieces find a home at Moglea (110 11th St.).
Where to buy groceries, get a quick meal
Hy-Vee
Known as the Fourth + Court Hy-Vee (420 Court Ave.), the grocery store is conveniently located in the middle of downtown with a Starbucks and a Wahlburgers for a quick meal. The Hy-Vee location offers everything you'd expect from produce and snacks to a pizza station and a fresh sushi bar.
Other options:Kum & Go's convenience store (319 Seventh St.) offers quick grab-and-go options as well as healthier choices such as sandwiches and salads. The walk-up store also sells some Des Moines-themed apparel and souvenirs.
More: Want in on secret spots to have fun in Des Moines? We've got a newsletter for that.
Where to play games, find entertainment in Des Moines
Ricochet
One of the latest attractions, located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, is Ricochet (400 Locust St.), an 11,000-square-foot bar and game lounge designed with the notion of encouraging interpersonal interactions on the ground floor of Capital Square. The venue is open to anyone 21 and older, offering foosball, ping-pong and billiards among other activities including board games like chess and backgammon upon request.
Other options: The Science Center of Iowa (401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway) has rotating exhibits as well as permanent displays covering topics of meteorology, the natural world and even Legos. Lauridsen Skate Park (901 Second Ave.) is the largest skate park in the United States with 88,000 square feet of "skate-able" terrain. The Principal Riverwalk (115 Grand Ave.) trail wraps around the Des Moines River for a leisurely walk that includes the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge, a visually striking sight for a selfie in front of the arch.
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Where to take selfies, Instagram photos in Des Moines
The Travelers Insurance umbrella
One of the most noticeable landmarks in Des Moines is the Travelers Insurance umbrella hanging over downtown, an iconic accent the city's skyline. The best place to catch an image of yourself with the umbrella is the intersection of Grand Avenue and Fourth Street, where one should be able to see The Travelers Insurance umbrella to the west. The umbrella, 50 feet wide and 40? feet tall, was introduced to the top of the Insurance Exchange Building in 1963 by Travelers Insurance Cos. Today, the sign is maintained by the owners of the building, the Graham Group. Park on the roof of the City of Des Moines Parking Garage (400 Grand Ave.) for a more level view of the umbrella.
Other options: The "Better Together Mural" along the western side of the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel (401 Locust St.) depicts several recognizable sights and is viewable from the street or the Des Moines Skywalk. At the corner of Court Avenue and Second Street sits a collage of murals along the side of the restaurant and wine bar RoCA (208 Court Ave.), where you can take your pick of selfie backgrounds from the multi-colored “Love Blooms” to the north or the geometric “Untitled Wall #1” to the south.
More: Out with your pals? Doing some sightseeing? Head to these Des Moines spots to snap a selfie
Former Des Moines Register reporters Isaac Hamlet, Hannah Rodriguez and Elle Wignall contributed to this article. Reporting intern Kyle Werner updated this article.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Downtown Des Moines restaurants, shopping and entertainment guide
