You don’t have to visit Chicago or Minneapolis to find great food in the Midwest. Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and largest metro area, offers a diverse collection of neighborhood restaurants, craft breweries, independent coffee shops, and dessert spots. Long known for pork tenderloin, sweet corn, and Maid-Rite sandwiches, the city’s dining scene has grown beyond those Midwestern staples and reflects the kind of variety you’d expect in a much larger city. Diners can choose everything from old-school Italian fare and Midwestern comfort food to globally inspired dishes and inventive tasting menus.
For Ian Robertson, executive chef of Oak Park, one of the city’s top fine dining establishments, what makes Des Moines’ dining scene special is the people behind its restaurants. He says, “Des Moines’ food scene is a unique collection of mom-and-pop restaurants putting their heart and soul into their concepts and creating thoughtful, creative dishes.” He also appreciates how local chefs are emphasizing handmade food and Iowa ingredients while keeping the warmth and familiarity diners have come to love.
Here are some of the top places to dine in Des Moines.
Oak Park
At Oak Park, you’ll find a sophisticated dining room with warm wood finishes, expansive windows, and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design. Perfect for special occasions, the restaurant’s menu celebrates Iowa’s agricultural roots with seasonal ingredients from local farms and the restaurant’s culinary garden. Start with delicate caviar cones or pillowy potato gnocchi, then move on to a hearty 24-ounce bone-in ribeye or Iowa Berkshire pork chops. The restaurant also has an extensive wine collection of more than 7,000 bottles. Guests can reserve the multi-course Chef’s Table experience for an intimate front-row view of executive chef Ian Robertson and his team at work inside the restaurant’s kitchen.
St. Kilda Collective
St. Kilda Collective has become a local favorite for breakfast, lunch, coffee, and baked goods, with a menu that ranges from avocado toast and the Big Aussie breakfast to crispy fried cod rolls and black bean burgers. Founded by Australian natives Alex and Whitney Hall in 2020, the restaurant is named after the famous Melbourne beachside suburb of St Kilda.
In August 2026, the restaurant entered a new chapter after being acquired by all-Iowan ownership group Three Bridges Hospitality. Co-owner Jeff Woody says the new ownership group will preserve the restaurant’s Australian roots while making greater use of ingredients grown in Iowa. “We’re keeping the Australian heritage on the menu, with a focus on sourcing locally wherever possible,” he says. With so many farms and producers nearby, Woody sees an opportunity to bring more local ingredients into the restaurant’s familiar dishes. Ultimately, he wants every meal to give people a reason to come in, “not just be something we offer because the doors are open.”
HomeGrown
Wichita-based HomeGrown is another popular all-day breakfast and brunch spot for elevated comfort food. The menu puts a modern spin on familiar classics, with dishes such as Croissant French Toast, HomeGrown’s original biscuits topped with Berkwood’s sausage, variations on Eggs Benedict, and the popular Beermosa made with beer and orange juice. The restaurant’s bright, airy dining room has large windows, colorful accents, and contemporary furnishings that create a cheerful, laid-back setting.
Simon’s
Since 1952, Simon’s has been welcoming diners to its west-side neighborhood location for generous portions of Italian-American cooking. The menu includes longtime favorites like cheese-stuffed chicken over spaghetti, garlic-buttery Steak de Burgo, and shrimp scampi. There’s an old-school charm to the dining room, from the cozy booths and warm lighting to the aquarium. Owner Simon Goheen is often part of the experience, welcoming guests and making his way around the restaurant to check on diners. Come hungry, but leave room for dessert. Simon’s mother makes a mouthwatering red velvet cake, served complimentary at the end of dinner while supplies last.
South Union Bread Café
A downtown Des Moines institution since 1996, South Union Bread Café specializes in made-to-order sandwiches on freshly baked artisan breads, particularly its signature focaccia. Favorites include the pesto chicken melt, the Formaro Cheesesteak, and Sarah’s Revenge, piled with roast beef, bacon, mozzarella, sautéed peppers and onions, and horseradish sauce. The light, open dining room has a casual, no-frills atmosphere that buzzes with downtown workers during the weekday lunch rush.
The Empire
Located in downtown Des Moines, The Empire is a café and bar serving various sandwiches, from hot beef with mashed potatoes and gravy to Reubens and breaded pork tenderloin. Guests can stop in for morning coffee and pastries, a casual lunch, or an evening cocktail with an Old Fashioned or espresso martini. The cozy, retro-inspired interior contains original early-1900s tile flooring, vintage architectural details, and warm wood accents.
Alba
At Alba in the Historic East Village, chef-owner Jason Simon draws on seasonal ingredients and global flavors to create a frequently changing contemporary American menu. Diners might find marinated hanger steak paired with whipped goat cheese, braised lamb shank over creamy polenta, or pan-roasted halibut with green curry farro, alongside inventive cocktails and a carefully selected wine list. Once a 1950s auto garage, the restaurant showcases colorful artwork, an open kitchen, a curved bar, and reclaimed wooden doors hanging from the ceiling.
HoQ
Also in the Historic East Village, HoQ brings global influences to farm-to-table dining, sourcing approximately 90 percent of its ingredients from Iowa producers. Chef-owner Suman Hoque’s seasonal menu features dishes such as Bangladeshi chicken on a stick with yogurt sauce, braised lamb shank with spiced basmati rice, and wild Alaskan salmon baked in parchment with vegetables and beurre blanc. Next door, the adjoining HoQtail lounge offers seasonal and chef-curated small bites.
Mulberry Street Tavern
Inside the Surety Hotel, Mulberry Street Tavern offers a modern take on the neighborhood tavern. Centered around an open-hearth kitchen, the restaurant’s interiors contain rich wood paneling, leather accents, oversized windows, and a zinc-topped bar. Guests can enjoy upscale comfort food, such as short rib pappardelle, gouda mac and cheese, a signature smash burger, and bison filet mignon, while a creative cocktail menu gives them another reason to pull up a seat at the bar.
Iowa Taproom
Beer lovers can head to Iowa Taproom, where more than 99 Iowa beers are on tap. An 1880s bar top anchors the spacious rustic interior of exposed brick walls, reclaimed barn wood, and vintage signage. Settle in with a cold local brew and a plate of Midwestern favorites like the pork tenderloin sandwich or Iowa ham balls. The casual, energetic setting makes it an easy place to commune over drinks, share a meal, and catch up with friends.
Truman’s KC Pizza
Truman’s KC Pizza Tavern is a Kansas City Chiefs-themed sports bar featuring hand-tossed pizzas like the meat-loaded Mahomes, the South Sider with Graziano sausage and pepperoni, and the Penny Pizza topped with pulled pork, burnt ends, pineapple, and Kansas City barbecue sauce. The menu also includes breakfast pizzas, burgers, wings, and craft beers. The casual, energetic tavern is decked out in Chiefs memorabilia, sports-themed decor, and TVs, while a spacious outdoor patio is a lively spot for game days, live music, and drinks with friends.
Smash Park
For a more interactive evening, Smash Park combines a lively sports bar and restaurant with an expansive indoor-outdoor entertainment complex with pickleball courts, axe throwing, bocce ball, cornhole, and arcade games. The scratch-made American menu includes wagyu burgers, crispy chicken wings, loaded nachos, Korean barbecue chicken bao buns, and shareables like bang bang shrimp and birria fries, plus craft cocktails and local beers. The high-energy venue provides recreational areas, large-screen TVs, a lively bar, and a large outdoor patio, ideal for families, groups of friends, and friendly competition.
Local Bars
Downtown Des Moines has several stylish cocktail bars worth exploring. Revelry Room Bar & Kitchen brings a modern speakeasy atmosphere to the historic Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, where guests can settle into comfortable lounge seating for smoked Old Fashioneds and shareable bites. Secret Admirer occupies a former boiler room transformed into an intimate setting with exposed brick, vibrant murals, and a light-strung outdoor courtyard. The bar offers a selection of seasonal cocktails, spritzes, wines, and beer. Hello, Marjorie transports guests back to the 1970s with vintage furnishings, plush seating, retro lamps, and a neon sign bearing a famous Jack Kerouac quote. The bar’s drink menu is organized by spirit, with cocktails, including the Lost Luggage, made with a rum blend, Aperol, pineapple, toasted coconut cream, strawberry, and lime.
Something Sweet
At Ocha Bubble Tea, a cozy shop with several locations around the city, you can pair your favorite tea or smoothie with a croffle, the croissant-meets-waffle treat served in flavors like Strawberry on the Cloud and Bananutella. Ice cream gets even more adventurous at Black Cat Ice Cream, where Iowa ingredients and Midwestern nostalgia inspire made-from-scratch flavors. Past creations have included peanut butter puppy chow, sweet corn with raspberry, and even butter-flavored ice cream with pieces of fried Twinkie. If you’re craving something more classic, The Outside Scoop, Snookies Malt Shop, and Granny’s Sweet Freeze round out the city’s frozen dessert options with treats ranging from ice cream to shaved ice and Arctic swirls.
