Downtown Des Moines Bars

[Al_4_State]

Surprised to hear about trouble at the Underground. I was there three weeks ago, and we had a blast.

If you go to Heroes DO NOT order a bloody. It's a cool bar, but that was easily the worst bloody mary I've ever had.

 

[cloneluke80]

the underground

 

[JP4CY]

For dinner go to the Hessen and get one of those huge metal trash can lid sized meals that you can all split up. Pass around a couple different boots before and during the dinner. Have some applekorn shots for desert.
You're welcome.

 

[linkshero]

i could hang out at the high life early and then Beechwood and be fine. PRolly won't be a lot of chics at Beechwood, but if you play your cards right, you can take them over with you from the High Life.

 

[capitalcityguy]

I love Shortys when I'm in Des Moines, when I was there a few weeks ago, they said they are going to close for a while to remodel.
A man's birthday party should be celebrated more at somewhere like Hessen than going to Grand Piano Bistro.

Shorty's is/was my fav, but unfortunately they are retooling:

More details about new Irish pub downtown | Metromix Des Moines

That said, the article indicates they are re-opening on Feb 25th, so that would be an option and might be fun to check out the new digs.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Fong's Pizza. That place rocks.

It is still a little mind blowing the difference in downtown bar scene compared to say...just 4 or 5 years ago. Downtown has come a long way since the days when it was more popular to hit bars on 86th street in Clive. Boy...that has sure reversed.

 

[Clonefan32]

You will have a good time downtown as long as you avoid the following places:

1: Kamodo Club
2: Surf Shack
3: 101 Lounge
4: Pelican Bar

That is unless you are a tapout ****** or straight effen white gangsta wannabe. Then you will fit in very well.

Personal favorites are CABCO and Shortys. However it has gotten much more "in style" to go to Shortys so it's much more crowded and not as much fun.

Agreed. All those places absolutely suck.

 

[capitalcityguy]

Pelican Bar has good food...for what its worth.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

An Ingersoll bar crawl is a whole other animal, in and of itself.

Start at the Alpine. Supper at Uncle Wendell's. Wellman's, Zim's, Greenwood, back to Alpine, finish with Big Tom's.

we did this last fall for a 2nd bachelor party for a buddy. wife dropped us off at the alpine after tailgating all day in ames, didn't make it the Greenwood though. great time, not such a good sunday morning.

 

[JP4CY]

Kinda stinks that Shorty's is remodeling and trying to become a little nicer and upscale. I loved that place before the floods when it was a dump and the bar was long against the wall.

 

[cybsball20]

i could hang out at the high life early and then Beechwood and be fine. PRolly won't be a lot of chics at Beechwood, but if you play your cards right, you can take them over with you from the High Life.

Beachwood is hit and ALOT of miss for girls... Very big lesbian crowd there.

 

[Al_4_State]

If you DO find yourself going to Kamodo Klub (remember "it's a klub, not a pub"), do me a favor and **** all over everything. If I had to vote for the worst bar in Des Moines, it would be VERY high on the list.

 

[HawkfromNorwalk]

You will have a good time downtown as long as you avoid the following places:

1: Kamodo Club
2: Surf Shack
3: 101 Lounge
4: Pelican Bar

That is unless you are a tapout ****** or straight effen white gangsta wannabe. Then you will fit in very well.

Personal favorites are CABCO and Shortys. However it has gotten much more "in style" to go to Shortys so it's much more crowded and not as much fun.

Kamodo and Surf are Smithson bars (not sure about the other two). Just wait a few months, they'll both be shut down for underage drinking violations and reopened with new names, same d-bag owner and crowds...

 

[Cyhart]

The Highlife Lounge is a pretty cool "throwback" bar.

The Red Monk (above the Royal Mile) is a cool little place.

Heros is pretty popular lately.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

I need your help people. My buddy turns 32 this weekend, and wants to hit the bars downtown. Only thing he wants to hit the bars starting at 3pm and do some casual drinking like we used to in Ames for Friday after Class. We are not looking to get drunk off our butts but instead wanna try some locations we never been too or what not.

He wants to hit bars with the following things.... Which I need help finding bars with these.

1. Pool Tables-

2. Big Buck Hunter-

3. Bags (probably a long shot)-

4. Shuffleboard- I know Johnny's but any others.

He also wants to hit these bars, or atleast a couple.

Locust Tap
434 E Locust St

AJ's on East Court
419 E Court Ave

Shorty's Bar
202 Court Lower Level

Vaudeville Mews
212 Fourth St

Buddy's Coral
418 E 5th St

Heros
216 Court Ave

Grand Piano Bistro
506 E Grand

Johnny's Hall of Fame
302 Court Avenue

Is there any other dives or hole in the wall bars we should try within walking distance downtown???

GTs. Reminds me of a nicer Thumbs.

 

[4429 mcc]

GTs. Reminds me of a nicer Thumbs.

I love GT's and if your coming in from the southside stop at Kung-Fu Taco and Tap

 

[clonerules]

Come to the Locust Tap on Saturday before 6 and your first drink will be on the house (just mention it). Also if you make it in time to watch State beat cu we will have 2 dollar domestics as well as wells. Hope to see some new Cyclone fans there!!

 

[flynnhicks03]

Greenwood Lounge on Ingersoll. Not downtown, but loads of atmosphere.

They used to have the best graffiti in the men's room, but I think they painted it in the last couple of years. Political statements, Tom Waits lyrics, your standard obscene statements about fellow regulars. My favorite was the picture of Mo saying "If you take $h!*, please put it back". My wife used to teach with Bill. He's a great guy.

 

[oldman]

I think Hessin haus is where we will start at 2 or 3pm. Then we might head east for some beers, keep in mind we are going to walk it. Not sure about what is in between, but high life and bait shop are the final stops at 8 or so for supper.

Haven't read thru all these yet. My two cents... If you start at the Hessen Haus, stay away from the "Boot". If you end there, definitely, you need the "Boot." Raccoon is a great place to hang, on 2nd floor. Pool, shuffleboard by the hour and good beer. Good food too. 10th & Walnut? Just south of Ft Des Moines Hotel. Vaudeville Muse is a younger crowd (younger than me anyway).

 

[dtclones]

Haven't read thru all these yet. My two cents... If you start at the Hessen Haus, stay away from the "Boot". If you end there, definitely, you need the "Boot." Raccoon is a great place to hang, on 2nd floor. Pool, shuffleboard by the hour and good beer. Good food too. 10th & Walnut? Just south of Ft Des Moines Hotel. Vaudeville Muse is a younger crowd (younger than me anyway).

Really? I always thought Hessen was a good place to start and have a boot because that place gets packed around 9 or so. Why is it a bad place to start?

 

[bellzisu]

Come to the Locust Tap on Saturday before 6 and your first drink will be on the house (just mention it). Also if you make it in time to watch State beat cu we will have 2 dollar domestics as well as wells. Hope to see some new Cyclone fans there!!

I think we will take you up on the offer... What happens if we mention the free drinks and we get laughed at??

Dont' think we will make it in time for the game though. Starting at noon is a rough thing to do unless I'm tailgating these days. Gosh that makes me sound old.

Also... Do you work there or just drink there alot?? Just wondering if I have to find a guy that looks like Michael Bolton to get the drinks.