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The once-drab dive in West Des Moines' Valley Junction has a...
1. Shorty's
Find it: 208 Court Ave.
Shorty’s used to be a speakeasy-style bar, but in March 2010 it reinvented itself as an Irish pub. Still, the cozy spot, which seats 43 people and is located underneath Sbrocco, is off the beaten path and would be the perfect place for a hidden bar back in the day, especially with its nooks and crannies. There’s no mixed drink menu per-se, but the bar serves beer and 18 different Irish whiskeys including Jameson, Bushmill’s and Patty’s. Customers can order mixed drinks, but purists drink their whiskey on the rocks, we’re told.
2. The Underground
Find it: 500 E. Locust St.
3. Chicago Speakeasy
More than 100 years ago, Horace E. Teachout started work on his namesake building in the East Village. Today, its basement is home to The Underground, which boasts live music, good drinks and a stained glass window crafted in the 1920s by E. Motley that contains iconic images of Des Moines. As you admire the Prohibition-era art, throw back a beer and be thankful it’s legal.
Find it: 1520 Euclid Ave.
Since 1978, this restaurant and bar has attracted hungry diners with an appetite for quality food and drinks. Go retro with cocktails like The Sinatra (Sour Apple Pucker, Peachtree Schnapps and pineapple juice) or The Rat Pack (a concoction of Sambuca, Kahlua and Amaretto, plus a splash of Jack Daniels and club soda). If you’re feeling lucky, try The Godfather. With just two ingredients — Dewar’s White Label Scotch and Disaronno Amaretto — it’s a bold drink you can’t refuse.
