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15 Best Des Moines Nightlife Spots: The Ultimate After-Dark Guide

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PetBedzz

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

Interactive & Retro Game Barsection

Upscale Lounges & Secret Speakeasies

Live Entertainment & Music Venues

Craft Beer & Traditional Taprooms

Late-Night Bites & Hidden Gems

Best Pet Staycation Spots in Des Moines, Iowa: Cozy Comforts for You & Your Furry Friend

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

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

Best Pet Staycation Spots in Des Moines, Iowa: Cozy Comforts for You & Your Furry Friend

Treat yourself and your pet to a local getaway without leaving Des Moines! These curated staycation spots combine comfort, convenience, and pet‑friendly amenities — perfect for a weekend of rest or play. Each location pairs beautifully with your Pet Bedzz travel essentials for cozy, stylish adventures.

Elegant rooms, walkable to Sculpture Park, pet‑friendly amenities.

Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection

Historic charm with modern comfort; ideal for small dogs and cats.

Des Lux Hotel

River views and easy access to pet‑friendly trails.

Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Downtown

Lakeside & Nature Retreats

Escape the city without leaving town. These lakeside cabins and nature retreats offer peaceful scenery, quiet mornings, and pet‑friendly trails your furry friend will adore. Perfect for dogs who love long walks, fresh air, and cozy cabin evenings. Wh...

Scenic walking loops and paddle‑board rentals.

Gray's Lake Park

Rustic hideaway with hiking trails and equestrian paths.

Jester Park

Peaceful lakeside cabins perfect for quiet weekends.

Easter Lake Park

Pet Resorts & Local Experiences

Treat your pet to a luxury experience designed just for them. This section features Des Moines’ top pet resorts, indoor/outdoor dog parks, and enrichment‑focused activities. From spa treatments to supervised play sessions, these local gems ensure you...

Luxury boarding, spa treatments, and play sessions.

Dogwoods Lodge

Indoor/outdoor dog park with craft beer and coffee for humans.

Paws & Pints

Nature Walks In Des Moines, Iowa

Looking for a place you and your pup can get away? Why not go on a nature walk and enjoy the beautiful outdoors of Des Moines, Iowa.

A 167-acre gem in the Des Moines Metro, Gray’s Lake Park features a 1.9-mile lit trail that loops around the lake, perfect for a leisurely dog walk. Dogs must be leashed, and pet waste stations are every half mile. The park also has an open field for...

Gray's Lake Park

This multi-use trail runs through the Clive Greenbelt area, offering a mix of asphalt and concrete surfaces. It’s ideal for walking dogs and is accessible from nearby parking areas BringFido BringFido . The trail passes through green spaces, making i...

Greenbelt Trail

A 1.7-acre botanical garden with stone pagodas, lanterns, and a bridge over a pond. Dogs are welcome leashed here, making it a peaceful spot for a short stroll

Robert D. Ray Asian Garden

Riverview Park was an amusement park in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1915 to 1978. What began in pre-1915 as a zoological garden and trolley destination in an area of Des Moines known as Highland Park would become Riverview Amusement Park, a popular family...

Riverview Park

15 Best Des Moines Nightlife Spots: The Ultimate After-Dark Guide

Interactive & Retro Game Barsection

Upscale Lounges & Secret Speakeasies

Live Entertainment & Music Venues

Craft Beer & Traditional Taprooms

Late-Night Bites & Hidden Gems

Best Pet Staycation Spots in Des Moines, Iowa: Cozy Comforts for You & Your Furry Friend

Lakeside & Nature Retreats

Pet Resorts & Local Experiences

Nature Walks In Des Moines, Iowa

Best Pet Staycation Spots in Des Moines, Iowa: Cozy Comforts for You & Your Furry Friend