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15 Best Des Moines Nightlife Spots: The Ultimate After-Dark Guide
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items Planning a night out in Iowa's capital? This curated map and guide covers the absolute best nightlife activities in Des Moines, Iowa. From secret speakeasies and energetic retro arcade bars to world-class jazz lounges and local taprooms, these are th...
Map
Sections
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New S: Interactive & Retro Game Barsection
Upscale Lounges & Secret Speakeasies
Live Entertainment & Music Venues
Craft Beer & Traditional Taprooms
Late-Night Bites & Hidden Gems
New S: Interactive & Retro Game Barsection
Discover the best arcade bars and social gaming lounges in Des Moines, featuring retro video games, pinball machines, skee-ball, and duckpin bowling.
I always tell out-of-town friends to hit this spot first because the energy is unmatched and the tokens are incredibly cheap."Des Moines IowaThings to do in Des MoinesDes Moines NightlifeIowa Travel GuideMidwest Road TripCocktail Bars DSMCourt Avenue...
Up-Down Arcade Bar
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A giant interactive social gaming playground where you can drink while playing ping-pong, pool, darts, foosball, bubble hockey, and giant Jenga. Perfect for large groups.
Ricochet
Known for its unique duckpin bowling alleys, retro video game library, and an impressive lineup of over 20 pinball machines in a clean, modern space.
Backpocket Pin & Pixel
Upscale Lounges & Secret Speakeasies
Uncover top-rated craft cocktail lounges and hidden speakeasies in Des Moines, Iowa, perfect for date nights, premium spirits, and upscale mixology.
Visually stunning mid-century modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of a high-end vintage living room. Features incredibly high-quality, creative craft cocktail menus.
Hello, Marjorie
An ultra-exclusive, intimate speakeasy hidden behind a secret door. Offers highly meticulous, custom-tailored mixology experiences in a quiet, dark, and romantic atmosphere.
Good News, Darling
Frequently praised by locals as the best neighborhood cocktail menu outside of downtown, offering inventive drinks and house-made snacks in a retro, cozy space with zero pretension.
THE BARTENDER'S HANDSHAKE
Live Entertainment & Music Venues
Experience Des Moines nightlife with the best live music venues, intimate comedy cellars, elegant jazz clubs, and high-energy dance nightclubs.
An elegant, world-class jazz club cabaret offering an intimate layout with top-tier acoustic design. Hosts regional and national jazz, blues, and soul musicians every weekend.
Noce Jazz & Cabaret
: Showcases a brilliant rotation of local stand-up talent, improv troupes, and touring national headliners accompanied by excellent drinks in a high-laugh-density comedy cellar.
Teehee’s Comedy Club
Brings a steady stream of rock, country, indie, and alternative national touring bands to an energetic general-admission floor in the heart of the East Village.
Wooly's | First Fleet Concerts
Renowned for its phenomenal weekend drag shows, massive multi-level dance floor, high-energy DJs, and a spacious second-story outdoor patio bar.
The Garden - Des Moines
Craft Beer & Traditional Taprooms
Explore the ultimate Des Moines craft beer scene, featuring historic taprooms with 100+ local Iowa drafts, authentic German beer halls, and British pubs
Lively, old-world German bier hall featuring 21 imported German beers on tap. Patrons love ordering giant Bavarian pretzels and participating in passing the "glass boot" when trains pass by.
Hessen Haus - Des Moines, IA
Holds one of the largest craft beer draft lists in the world with over 260 beers on tap, served alongside tasty pub food in an eclectic, bicycle-and-fishing themed space.
El Bait Shop
Delivers an authentic British pub experience with an exceptional lineup of English beers, an elite scotch list, live soccer matches streaming on the screens, and classic fish & chips.
The Royal Mile
Features over 100 taps exclusively dedicated to beers crafted right inside the state of Iowa, located in a beautifully restored historic brick building in the East Village.
Iowa Taproom
Late-Night Bites & Hidden Gems
Find the best late-night food in Des Moines, Iowa, featuring iconic 24-hour diners, local pizza spots, and post-bar campus favorites.
Try the famous Crab Rangoon pizza at Fong's Pizza, downtown Des Moines' iconic late-night dining spot and tiki-themed pizzeria.
Fong's Pizza
This classic, neon-lit chrome diner is a local legend for a late-night breakfast. I always order the loaded hashbrowns and a classic milkshake."
Drake Diner
Stepping in here feels like walking into a 1970s basement. It's right next to El Bait Shop, and I always pop in late for their amazing broasted chicken."
High Life Lounge - Des Moines, IA