Guidebook for Des Moines
Food Scene
Local chain with good sushi and drinks. Features upscale style, and yet not too expensive. Great happy hour specials.
Wasabi Chi
5418 Douglas AveLocal chain with good sushi and drinks. Features upscale style, and yet not too expensive. Great happy hour specials.
My favorite store in town. Has teas from all over the world that you can sample or buy, and in their cafe section, you can get an entire pot of tea to share of anything they have in stock for under $5.
Gong Fu Tea
414 E 6th StMy favorite store in town. Has teas from all over the world that you can sample or buy, and in their cafe section, you can get an entire pot of tea to share of anything they have in stock for under $5.
Famous pizza parlor known for its Asian-fusion pizza, such as the "Crab Rangoon Pizza." It's funky and good, and a hole-in-the-wall institution. Can be hard to get into without a long wait during regular lunch-dinner hours, so go during an off time! They sell select slices during lunch and after ten PM.
42 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
Fong's Pizza
223 4th StFamous pizza parlor known for its Asian-fusion pizza, such as the "Crab Rangoon Pizza." It's funky and good, and a hole-in-the-wall institution. Can be hard to get into without a long wait during regular lunch-dinner hours, so go during an off time! They sell select slices during lunch and after ten PM.
There are many local restaurants, bars, and pubs on Ingersoll Avenue that are Des Moines institutions, such as Krunchwich Ramen shop, Ingersoll Taproom, Wellman's Pub, and others. There are no bad choices on this street.
Ingersoll Avenue
Ingersoll AvenueThere are many local restaurants, bars, and pubs on Ingersoll Avenue that are Des Moines institutions, such as Krunchwich Ramen shop, Ingersoll Taproom, Wellman's Pub, and others. There are no bad choices on this street.
The local donut shop. It's locally owned and feels right out of the 1950s. It's full to capacity with folks of all ages every Saturday morning. Classic Americana.
Donut Hut
4941 Douglas AveThe local donut shop. It's locally owned and feels right out of the 1950s. It's full to capacity with folks of all ages every Saturday morning. Classic Americana.
Shopping
Get nationally-recognized clothing and home goods that wittily describe Midwestern living, and Iowa life in particular.
20 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
RAYGUN
505 E Grand AveGet nationally-recognized clothing and home goods that wittily describe Midwestern living, and Iowa life in particular.
A neat, rambling place in a historic, 5-story downtown building. Features upscale home goods of all types and vintage architectural pieces, as well as some hand-crafted items they make from their finds. Also has a cafe if you want to hang out or just browse for fun.
12 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
West End Architectural Salvage
22 9th StA neat, rambling place in a historic, 5-story downtown building. Features upscale home goods of all types and vintage architectural pieces, as well as some hand-crafted items they make from their finds. Also has a cafe if you want to hang out or just browse for fun.
Historic area in West Des Moines featuring upscale shops and restaurants of all types. There are several galleries, restaurants, and specialty stores. Some highlights include the Theatrical Shoppe for costumes; the Quill and Nib for stationary; multiple crafting/jewelry supply stores; the Heart of Iowa Marketplace for all souvenirs Iowa; and Vintage 209, a local wine store and cafe. There's also the West Des Moines chamber of commerce office and Gravitate WDSM, a coworking place with daily events. Has a farmers' market with live music in the summer.
46 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
Valley Junction
Historic area in West Des Moines featuring upscale shops and restaurants of all types. There are several galleries, restaurants, and specialty stores. Some highlights include the Theatrical Shoppe for costumes; the Quill and Nib for stationary; multiple crafting/jewelry supply stores; the Heart of Iowa Marketplace for all souvenirs Iowa; and Vintage 209, a local wine store and cafe. There's also the West Des Moines chamber of commerce office and Gravitate WDSM, a coworking place with daily events. Has a farmers' market with live music in the summer.
Arts & Culture
Des Moines' art museum. Free and open to the public. Its collection of modern art is housed in three architecturally significant buildings. They always have traveling exhibits on-tap and regularly have public events like morning yoga and evening film screenings.
87 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
디모인아트센터
4700 Grand AveDes Moines' art museum. Free and open to the public. Its collection of modern art is housed in three architecturally significant buildings. They always have traveling exhibits on-tap and regularly have public events like morning yoga and evening film screenings.
Des Moines' iconic sculpture park, featuring grassy spaces and multi-million-dollar modern art installations. There are several upscale cafés and restaurants around the park, as well as the downtown public library, the University of Iowa Pappajohn Building, and the beautiful Temple for Performing Arts, which is an old Masonic Temple. Many festivals are held in the streets around this park in the spring through fall.
78 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
파파존조각공원
1330 Grand AveDes Moines' iconic sculpture park, featuring grassy spaces and multi-million-dollar modern art installations. There are several upscale cafés and restaurants around the park, as well as the downtown public library, the University of Iowa Pappajohn Building, and the beautiful Temple for Performing Arts, which is an old Masonic Temple. Many festivals are held in the streets around this park in the spring through fall.
Entertainment & Activities
Des Moines' most well-known indie film theater, featuring four screens. Something noteworthy is always on-tap.
10 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
Fleur Cinema
4545 Fleur DrDes Moines' most well-known indie film theater, featuring four screens. Something noteworthy is always on-tap.
Parks & Nature
Next to Gray's Lake and part of greater Water Works Park, this free arboretum is connected to bike trails and is a must-see in late April and early May. It features one of the largest collections of flowering crab apple trees anywhere. It hasn't been developed, so it's a simple place where the trees do the talking. It's good for a morning stroll, picnic lunch, or letting the family run around loose for a bit.
Arie den Boer Arboretum
2201 George Flagg PkwyNext to Gray's Lake and part of greater Water Works Park, this free arboretum is connected to bike trails and is a must-see in late April and early May. It features one of the largest collections of flowering crab apple trees anywhere. It hasn't been developed, so it's a simple place where the trees do the talking. It's good for a morning stroll, picnic lunch, or letting the family run around loose for a bit.
A small state park featuring woodlands and a hiking loop. People often like to go morel hunting here in the spring.
6 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
Brown's Woods
465 Brown's Woods DriveA small state park featuring woodlands and a hiking loop. People often like to go morel hunting here in the spring.
Sightseeing
The beautiful Beaux-Arts Iowa State Capitol Building is free and open to the public, with tours as well. Featuring murals and stonework, it's a good landmark to visit when on the east side of the river, alongside the Iowa Supreme Court Building, the World Food Prize Building, and the Chinese Pagota.
56 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
아이오와주의사당
1007 E Grand AveThe beautiful Beaux-Arts Iowa State Capitol Building is free and open to the public, with tours as well. Featuring murals and stonework, it's a good landmark to visit when on the east side of the river, alongside the Iowa Supreme Court Building, the World Food Prize Building, and the Chinese Pagota.
Des Moines' historic neighborhood featuring large, Victorian painted-lady homes. Palmer's Market & Deli is a local favorite on the SW edge of the neighborhood. Hoyt Sherman, a concert hall and theater, is also on the SE edge of the neighborhood. Smokey Row, a regional ice cream and coffee shop chain, is on the NW corner of the area.
6 명의 현지인이 추천하는 곳
Sherman Hill
Des Moines' historic neighborhood featuring large, Victorian painted-lady homes. Palmer's Market & Deli is a local favorite on the SW edge of the neighborhood. Hoyt Sherman, a concert hall and theater, is also on the SE edge of the neighborhood. Smokey Row, a regional ice cream and coffee shop chain, is on the NW corner of the area.