Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Des Moines

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Des Moines? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cooper's On 5th

4.9

4.9 (137)

$30 and under

American

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Cooper’s on 5th is a great place for Lunch & Dinner. We have had the pleasure of being West Des Moines’ first Craft Cocktail Bar. Join us for our amazing food menu & award-winning cocktail program. Classic & Reimagined Americana comfort food paired with one of Des Moines’ original & highly awarded craft cocktail programs. Great beer, wine, and martinis.

Top review

Catherine

Dined 3 days ago

If you're seeking a warm ambience and friendly servers, check out this wonderful restaurant in Valley Junction - West Des Moines!

Eatery A

4.8

4.8 (541)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Eatery A is Des Moines's destination for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Perfecting simple dishes that focus on local, quality ingredients, we strive to offer our guests exotic flavor profiles that let the ingredients take center stage.

Top review

Julie

Dined on Dec 9, 2024

With a reservation we got seated immediately. Pasta and pizza arrived in a timely manner. Was delicious and good size portions. Highly recommend.

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The Stuffed Olive - Des Moines

4.7

4.7 (778)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

The Stuffed Olive is about the entire “Martini & Tapas Experience.” From your favorite classics to new and exciting blends you’ve never seen before, you’re sure to find a cocktail to love on our vast martini menu. Add a warm, comfortable atmosphere, great wines, beers and top-shelf spirits, and The Stuffed Olive will become your favorite place to start, end or spend your entire evening. Our tapas menu offers appetizer-sized portions of globally influenced entrees, for a sampling and sharing dining experience. Pair tasty tapas with your favorite martini for happy hour, dinner or a late-night snack. We welcome you to sit back, relax, enjoy great food, good conversation and your favorite martini. Welcome to the Stuffed Olive!

Top review

KirkVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always good food and good service. A great place!

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4.7

4.7 (82)

$30 and under

Mexican

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Our restaurant's mantra is "Sin Maiz, No Hay Pais" meaning "without corn there is no country" as such, our tortillas are hand ground in house from heirloom organic Mexican corn varietals - made daily & cooked to order. As a result of our corn obsession, we have no flour in house & are a completely gluten-free kitchen.

Top review

amy

Dined today

Always amazing. I had the roared chicken enchiladas. Rich flavors. Fresh tasting. Service was outstanding.

Mulberry Street Tavern

4.6

4.6 (568)

$31 to $50

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Mulberry Street Tavern brings a fresh yet nostalgic vibe to Downtown Des Moines. Once a hub for the city transit, it is now adorned with rich woods, leather, and a zinc bar that create a warm and timeless social destination. The open-hearth kitchen produces shareable worldly tavern fare, hearty entrees and, hands down, the best burger in Des Moines. Enjoy perfect classic cocktails, eclectic award-winning wines, and interesting regional and foreign beers on draught.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined today

Had a wonderful time. Highly recommend the bison!!!!!

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Popular dish

Half Chicken

Aura Restaurant & Lounge

4.6

4.6 (220)

$31 to $50

American

Urbandale

About the restaurant

Lively & flavorful tapas along with vibrant cocktails offer a unique shared experience that challenges the traditional. At Aura, it's good vibes only! Our invigorating environment is the perfect place to gather friends & family.

Top review

Mitch

Dined 1 day ago

Awesome wine dinner. Meal was delicuous and wine was superb and well paired. Very fine staff and service!

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Experience

Happy Hour Everyday!

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Des Moines

4.6

4.6 (205)

$30 and under

Sushi

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Laura

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

EVERYTHING was delicious, fresh, excellent presentations, perfect timing between courses❣️ Dipping Crab, Tuna Tower, Godzilla Bomb, Everything Smoked Salmon. Our waiter Tristan's favorite Amazon Roll is now one of our favorites too❣️. Thank you Open Table for recommending Blue Sushi Sake Grill when we arrived in Des Moines.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - West Des Moines

4.5

4.5 (1846)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is an American Restaurant and Steakhouse serving authentic wood-fired steaks, seafood, specialty cocktails and select wines. Join us for Happy Hour at the FIREBAR® or on the patio for drink specials and bar bites. We offer top-notch service and upscale dining at a modest price. Reserve Your Table with us today.

Top review

David

Dined 4 days ago

Another outstanding meal at Firebirds. Service and food were exceptional.

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Louie's Wine Dive - Des Moines

4.4

4.4 (854)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Louie’s Wine Dive serves lunch, happy hour and dinner daily and brunch on weekends. Award-winning food is created from local ingredients under the eye of formally trained chefs. Louie’s wine list and featured wineboard offer hard to find, quality focused selections. Louie’s offers a craft cocktail and local beer menu. Louie’s Wine Dive features a warm, casually elegant atmosphere. It's the place for food and wine lovers to be social!

Top review

Andrea

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Always have great food and great service when I am there. Last night Chuck was very welcoming and we had a great time.

Dave & Buster's - Des Moines

4.0

4 (112)

$30 and under

American

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Each Dave & Buster's has more state-of-the-art games than ever, more mouth-watering menu items and the most innovative drinks anywhere. From wings to steaks, we've got whatever suits your appetite and our premium bar assures we're stocked to satisfy! Plus, you can watch your game on one of our massive HDTVs with epic stadium sound.

Top review

Whitney

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

Food was all fantastic and waitress did an excellent job with our large group. We will be back!

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Experience

Sunday SIP Night

Explore Diners' Choice best of Des Moines