Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Des Moines

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2026

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!

Prairie Canary Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (353)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Casual New American dishes, cocktails & craft brews served in an airy space with minimalist decor.

Top review

Alexa

Dined 6 days ago

It’s a pleasure having a gem like Prairie Canary in the college town of Grinnell IA. Great drinks and food even with a large group

Aura Restaurant & Lounge

4.8

4.8 (298)

$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

Abby

Dined 7 days ago

We had a fabulous first experience at Aura! We sat on the patio which was lovely. Our cocktails were delicious and our food was fabulous. We enjoyed the Elote dip (not to miss!) and our entrees were fabulous: glazed salmon, shrimp diablo pasta. Our waiter was very kind and brought us a delicious Prickly Pear nightcap he concocted, on the house. A new favorite place!

Discover more

Experience

Happy Hour Everyday!

The Stuffed Olive - Des Moines

4.7

4.7 (914)

$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

Julie

Dined on May 18, 2026

First time into the Stuffed Olive after my daughter said - Mom you will love it! She was right. Great evening with my bestie sister and her husband we would definitely go again and again. We hit Monday night BOGO martini’s and they were all so great! Highly recommend this restaurant! We would rewind and repeat! Our server was amazing!

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (83)

$30 and under

Sushi

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Wasabi is located at 9500 University Avenue in West Des Moines. Chefs at Wasabi serve the highest quality New York style sushi, Japanese fusion dishes. Unique custom cocktails and more.

Top review

Hoot

Dined on Apr 25, 2026

Love Wasabi Waukee, Love the food. Love the Service. If I lived closer, I’d be there everyday.

30hop Ankeny

4.7

4.7 (40)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Ankeny

About the restaurant

At 30hop in The District at Prairie Trail, we’re all about good food, good vibes, and great company. Each visit feels fresh and inviting—a place where you can kick back, connect, and enjoy the moment. Our menu satisfies every craving, from classic comfort favorites to bold, globally inspired flavors.

Pair it all with our rotating selection of local craft beers, creative cocktails, and a weekend brunch where sweet meets savory. Whether you’re here for a casual lunch, patio drinks, or dinner with friends, 30hop delivers food for legends and hospitality with heart.

Top review

Ben

Dined on May 22, 2026

Loved the food and it was a great atmosphere! I enjoyed the views out the windows!

Eatery A

4.6

4.6 (602)

$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

Margaret

Dined on May 28, 2026

Our server was amazing and the food was fantastic!

Discover more

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Clive, IA

4.6

4.6 (1671)

$30 and under

American

Clive

About the restaurant

Award-Winning Wines | Craveable Dishes | Innovative Cocktails | Wine Country Hospitality The inspiration behind Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants was the desire to bring the Wine Country experience to all of America by combining a Napa-style tasting room with a modern casual restaurant. Built upon the belief that food and wine have the ability to forge lasting connections, Cooper's Hawk is home to one of the world's largest wine clubs.

Top review

EliseGold

Dined 1 day ago

Our server, Ella, was excellent. The food and wine was amazing. We are happy to be wine club members!

Discover more

Experience

Brunch & Bubbles | Saturdays & Sundays 10am – 2pm

Experience

Wine Tastings and Rotating Chef Recommendations

Tribute Eatery & Bar

4.6

4.6 (35)

$31 to $50

American

Ankeny

About the restaurant

At Tribute Eatery & Bar, good things gather daily. Located in the District at Prairie Trail, we blend the charm of a French bistro with the ease of a modern diner. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, thoughtful plates, and a vibrant atmosphere that’s both refined and welcoming. From weekend brunches to late-night bites, we’re here to celebrate the everyday moments that bring people together.

Top review

Kelsey

Dined on May 20, 2026

Our service by Steve was outstanding!!! I would highly recommend!

In Confidence Speakeasy

4.5

4.5 (59)

$30 and under

Speakeasy

Des Moines

About the restaurant

For Large reservations or other inquiries please call 515-528-7733 x 4627 f=

SPEAKEASY BAR IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DES MOINES

Hotel Fort Des Moines brings the Prohibition-era feel to downtown Des Moines - In Confidence. Enjoy our hidden secret with a curated wine collection and crafted cocktails.
Enjoy your downtime in a unique casual setting deserving of the Great Gatsby himself!

Top review

Shannon

Dined on Apr 24, 2026

We stopped in for Friday night cocktails. It’s a cool spacious place with cozy nooks. We thoroughly enjoyed the cocktails - very inventive!

Bar Nico

4.4

4.4 (146)

$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

Elizabeth

Dined on May 23, 2026

We arrived during happy hour and were immediately seated. The food was outstanding, and so was our server! We were encouraged to box up what we couldn’t eat and she proceeded to give us a few different sizes so we could even take some of the salsas. Love that they don’t want food to just go to waste and it was delicious as leftovers. We had chips and 3 different salsas- and I’m not usually a fan of salsa verde but it was delicious. We also had literally a bowl of guacamole, along with pork tacos and sweet potato tacos & a side of black beans, which were literally the best black beans I’ve ever had- and I live in San Diego!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Des Moines

Explore more Diners' Choice lists