The East Village is an eclectic, up-and-coming area east of downtown (surprise!). Grab a great bite to eat, watch a drag show or sip a drink on a patio at these watering holes.
Neighborhood guide: East Village
MetromixApril 21, 2009
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AJ's on East Court
419 E. Court Ave. -
Des Moines
515-282-1888
This upscale, contemporary bar opened Aug. 26, 2008. The walls are decked with art and the bar is stocked with more than eighty different bottled beers. For an after-work refresher, try one of their made-from-scratch mojitos. The happy hour features drink specials as well as food offerings. A recent rotation included steaks with Bearnaise sauce, tuna steaks and brats. If you prefer the outdoors, hit the patio for a view of the capitol. Or if you\'re trying to impress, treat your date to AJ\'s Kiss, a house specialty drink with ice cream, amaretto and creme de cocoa with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
Beechwood Lounge
416 E. Walnut St. -
Des Moines
515-288-2337
This Budweiser-themed bar opened in September 2006 in the East Village - no doubt an answer to the High Life Lounge across the river.
The Blazing Saddle
416 E. Fifth St. -
Des Moines
515-246-1299
The first thing you need to know about the Saddle is: Don't ask for a double. Don't need to. The shots are the stiffest around. Everything comes twice as strong as you think it should and this is usually a good thing. The Blazing Saddle, the city's oldest gay bar, is welcoming to everyone. Owner Bob Eikleberry said a quarter of his clients are straight customers who know the place is a friendly haunt with cheap booze and good music. Prepare for an unbelievably packed bar on a busy night. Finding a seat, or some elbow room, could be tough.
Club AM
217 E. Second St. -
Des Moines
515-280-3331
With a bring-your-own-beer policy, Club AM is a popular after hours spot for patrons of nearby Court Avenue bars and the adjacent Club Statik. It's a good spot for those who want to keep partying, or for people looking to cool off a bit before heading home.
Club Live
215 E. Second St. -
Des Moines
515-280-3331
Club Live replaced Club Statik on August 23, 2008. The concept is all about live music and concerts. Memorabilia like guitars signed by Joan Jett, Nickelback, The Village People adorn the walls. And of course, there's live music. DJs spin on Friday nights and bands perform on Saturdays.
The Continental
428 E. Locust St. -
Des Moines
515-244-5845
The Continental feels like downtown Des Moines. It feels like the East Village. It feels like about the best spot in town to sip a well-made Mojito and eat a good meal past midnight. And it belongs right where it is. Go after work for a deal on the food, or after 9 p.m. to hear great local jazz.
Court Avenue Saloon
217 E. Second St. -
Des Moines
515-280-3331
Court Avenue Saloon is now an after-hours saloon that plays classic rock, country and dance music. DJs play all your music requests.
Doozies Bar and Grill, Embassy Suites on the River
101 E. Locust St. - Des Moines515-244-1700
Whether or not you are staying at the Embassy Suites, Doozies Neighborhood Bar and Grill, which is neatly tucked inside the hotel, has a full menu and a patio with an excellent view. It overlooks the Simon Estes Ampitheatre and downtown Des Moines. This restaurant and bar boasts friendly service and offers classic, American grill entrees.
The Garden
112 S.E. Fourth St. -
Des Moines
515-243-3965
With four bars, a patio, a big dance floor and larger-than-life drag shows, the Garden offers a great deal more than its small entrance lets on. Drag shows start around 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The crowd is about 30 percent straight.
Grand Piano Bistro
506 E. Grand Ave. -
Des Moines
515-243-2380
The Grand Piano Bistro is an urban piano bar with concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, cobalt blue walls and an open floor design sprinkled with black and silver tables. The bar area is intimate and simple: No fancy backlighting or high-tech features, just liquor bottles lined up and packed refrigerators. And of course, the pianos: two grands by the windows with the guts ripped out, replaced with electronic keyboards. Interesting drinks, sophisticated cuisine, live piano music and an urban ambiance make for an experience unique to the metro.
House of Bricks
525 E. Grand Ave. -
Des Moines
515-727-4370
When The House of Bricks moved to the East Village in 2005, the bar really stepped up its live music and food offerings. The venue has a full menu and offers delivery around East Village. The House of Bricks is a popular location for both local and touring national acts. Fall Out Boy, Afroman, Five Finger Death Punch, The Academy Is ... and countless Des Moines bands played the venue.
Locust Tap
434 E. Locust St. -
Des Moines
515-243-9399
At 70 years old, the Locust Tap is one of the oldest bars in Des Moines, and it shows. The bar still has its original tin ceiling, heating system, tiles and plaster walls. The atmosphere at the bar has gone from an "old regular" vibe to "young and hip" in the past few years.
The Underground
500 E. Locust St. -
Des Moines
243-4322
Jerrad Atkin, manager of The Locust Tap, opened The Underground with his brother-in-law, Kevin Wahlert, who manages the bars at Prairie Meadows. The Underground isn't just a catchy name the bar is actually located in the basement of the Teachout Building. The space was the home of the East Des Moines Club in the 1970s. "We're looking to bring back a cool spot that has been forgotten for 30 years," Atkin said. The Underground is a dark lounge that isn't "wall-to-wall TVs." Thge bar focuses on music, conversation and customer service. The few TVs The Underground has will be dedicated to things like old kung fu movies. The bar has a special tucked away shot closet, which will come in handy if you don't want to fight for one Jager bomb. "Some bars have 100 martinis," Atkin said. "The Underground will have every shot you could ever want."
