Guidebook for Des Moines

Bridgette
Guidebook for Des Moines

Arts & Culture

The Des Moines Art Center is one mile from our home. It includes an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, modern art, and mixed media. Admission is free.
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Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Ave
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The Des Moines Art Center is one mile from our home. It includes an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, modern art, and mixed media. Admission is free.
The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a 4.4 acre park with 27 works of art that are valued at over $40 million.
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Pappajohn skulpturpark
1330 Grand Ave
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The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a 4.4 acre park with 27 works of art that are valued at over $40 million.
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Des Moines Social Club
900 Mulberry St
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Food Scene

A local bakery that makes its own breads and pastries daily. Perfect for breakfast/brunch.
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La Mie Bakery
841 42nd St
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A local bakery that makes its own breads and pastries daily. Perfect for breakfast/brunch.
The café has something for everyone, and a market is attached if you would like to pick up some snacks for later.
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Gateway Market
2002 Woodland Ave
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The café has something for everyone, and a market is attached if you would like to pick up some snacks for later.
Excellent sandwiches, salads, and soups. *Only open Monday through Friday, 11am – 2 pm.
South Union Bread Cafe
1007 Locust St
Excellent sandwiches, salads, and soups. *Only open Monday through Friday, 11am – 2 pm.
A healthier lunch option with make-your-own spinner salads and sandwiches.
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Palmer's Deli & Market
2843 Ingersoll Ave
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A healthier lunch option with make-your-own spinner salads and sandwiches.
Delicious sandwiches from a local, family-owned deli. The ‘special’ is my favorite. Be warned: the décor hasn’t changed since 1960!
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Manhattan Deli
3705 Ingersoll Ave
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Delicious sandwiches from a local, family-owned deli. The ‘special’ is my favorite. Be warned: the décor hasn’t changed since 1960!
The best happy hour special in Des Moines. Half-price pizza, wine, and beer every day from 3pm to 6 pm. We recommend ordering the pizza; Eatery A has a wood-burning oven that makes a delicious, perfectly charred pizza crust.
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Eatery A
2932 Ingersoll Ave
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The best happy hour special in Des Moines. Half-price pizza, wine, and beer every day from 3pm to 6 pm. We recommend ordering the pizza; Eatery A has a wood-burning oven that makes a delicious, perfectly charred pizza crust.
If you like burgers, this is the place for you. We always order from the counter (and forgo the sit-down side). Also, if you order the loaded fry basket, which we highly recommend, a half-order will easily feed two people. *Added bonus: Zombie Burger is open until 2am.
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Zombie Burger + Drink Lab
300 E Grand Ave
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If you like burgers, this is the place for you. We always order from the counter (and forgo the sit-down side). Also, if you order the loaded fry basket, which we highly recommend, a half-order will easily feed two people. *Added bonus: Zombie Burger is open until 2am.
This French restaurant is one of the nicer restaurants in Des Moines. For an all-around great meal, with a fancier atmosphere, try Django.
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Django
1420 Locust St
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This French restaurant is one of the nicer restaurants in Des Moines. For an all-around great meal, with a fancier atmosphere, try Django.
This restaurant serves Latin dishes and is located in a renovated firehouse. We recommend the seafood nachos and tacos (the shrimp and chicken tacos are my favorite).
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Malo
900 Mulberry St
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This restaurant serves Latin dishes and is located in a renovated firehouse. We recommend the seafood nachos and tacos (the shrimp and chicken tacos are my favorite).
Caribou Coffee
3220 Ingersoll Ave
Pancheros Mexican Grill
2708 Ingersoll Ave
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
2105 Ingersoll Ave

Drinks & Nightlife

Every retro arcade game from your childhood in one place, except now you are old enough to enjoy a drink while you play!
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Up-Down
500 E Locust St
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Every retro arcade game from your childhood in one place, except now you are old enough to enjoy a drink while you play!
If you like beer, this place is for you. It boasts over 120 beers on tap, all from Iowa craft breweries.
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The Iowa Taproom
215 E 3rd St
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If you like beer, this place is for you. It boasts over 120 beers on tap, all from Iowa craft breweries.
This British bar is a great stop for laid-back drinks.
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The Royal Mile
210 4th St
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This British bar is a great stop for laid-back drinks.

Parks & Nature

Central Iowa has over 600 miles of paved trails. Access to this trail system is less than a block away from our home.
649 N Waterbury Rd
Central Iowa has over 600 miles of paved trails. Access to this trail system is less than a block away from our home.
Greenwood/Ashworth Park & Splashground
4500 Grand Avenue
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Essentials

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Fareway Grocery
329 Grand Ave
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Casey's
105 Grand Ave

Entertainment & Activities

The Des Moines Farmers' Market occurs every Saturday morning (7 a.m. to noon) from May through October in the Court Avenue District. It's a great place to walk around, get fresh produce and flowers, see local art vendors, listen to music, and enjoy a breakfast burrito. The Des Moines Farmers' Market is rated one of the best in the nation; we try to go every weekend!
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Des Moines 'Downtown Farmers' Market
300 Court Ave
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The Des Moines Farmers' Market occurs every Saturday morning (7 a.m. to noon) from May through October in the Court Avenue District. It's a great place to walk around, get fresh produce and flowers, see local art vendors, listen to music, and enjoy a breakfast burrito. The Des Moines Farmers' Market is rated one of the best in the nation; we try to go every weekend!
The Science Center is filled with exhibits, live programs, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and lots more!
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Science Center of Iowa
401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
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The Science Center is filled with exhibits, live programs, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and lots more!
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Hovedparken
1 Line Dr
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Everything Else

If you are in the Court Avenue District and like antiques and salvaged architectural details, you should definitely check out West End Architectural Salvage! It is four stories of one-of-a-kind items.
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West End Architectural Salvage
22 9th St
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If you are in the Court Avenue District and like antiques and salvaged architectural details, you should definitely check out West End Architectural Salvage! It is four stories of one-of-a-kind items.