Ultimate Patio Guide, from A.K.'s to Zimm's

In the summertime you'll always find a few bikes leaned against the railing at A.K.'s patio. Cyclists love to pull off the Urbandale Ave. bike lane and stop in for a few post-ride drinks. Stop in Sundays for live music.

Pizza parlor, full-scale restaurant, and sports bar all rolled into one. Hard to beat the upbeat, friendly atmosphere found here. Whether it's a date or a slice and a brew with the crew, this is a neat place to hang out for a while to enjoy your favorite sports event with the gang and have some good food to go with it. You don't get the chain restaurant feel here.

Bravo! is a casual, fun white tablecloth restaurant offering classic Italian food under Roman ruins. With a nice patio and a beautiful water view for the spring and summertime, many people come to enjoy amazing Italian food. Bravo is great for a casual dinner or romantic date. People come to hang out in the laid back atmosphere to get a drink in the full bar and to have a nice, decently-priced meal.

Centro's street level windows confirm that this downtown hot spot is a place to see and be seen. Enjoy a cocktail with one of Centro's signature coal-fired pizzas in the bar or on the European-style sidewalk cafe. Restauranteur George Formaro brings his love of pizza making to the menu and executive chef Bill Overdyk (who cures his own pancetta) adds his influences with a nod to locally produced ingredients.

Upscale casual eatery offers choices for everyone! Enjoy a wide range of dishes and cuisines, and of course award-winning cheesecakes. A full bar and wine list rounds out your experience, and wash it all down with an espresso drink, or a cup of fresh, organic, free-trade coffee.

Sometimes it's too hot out to eat. And sometimes it's too early to drink. Head here for gelato so tasty you won't give it time to melt.

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. The shaded patio out back feels like a secret hideaway where you can catch up with friends without being drowned out by noisy customers.

Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company is the "original brew pub" of Des Moines. Located in the center of Des Moines nightlife, they focus on incorporating local and wholesale products into their food and beer. The eclectic menu features everything from chicken marsala and beef enchiladas to burgers and pizza. The bar and patio are lively and the menu of regular and seasonal hand-crafted beers is extensive.

With dozens of types of tequila and a rowdy-yet-classy atmosphere, Dos Rios is a good spot to share a pitcher of margaritas or enjoy a nice meal. Don't expect nacho cheese sauce — we're talking guacamole made at the table and a high-end menu. Try to get a spot on the patio for some quality people-watching.

The bar is a town favorite on Hawkeye and Cyclone game days as well as during NASCAR races. Down Under has great appetizers and free food during most happy hours.

The Drake Diner is one of the only spots in town where you can dine in a completely screened-in patio. After the students leave for the summer, you'll have a much easier time getting a seat on the comfy patio for an after-work drink and homey diner fare.

Don't feel bad ordering a well drink at Ducktail — Absolut is their well vodka. The martini menu is also one of the largest in the city. The cozy cigar bar is a perfect spot to meet up with friends before a night of Clive bar-hopping.

El Patio, opened in 1941, is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Des Moines and has been a regular dining destination for many residents ever since. Given its name, it's no surprise that the lush patio behind the restaurant is a major draw in warm weather. Stop by after work for bright blue margaritas and cheesy Mexican plates.

Nestled in the West Des Moines' Jordan Creek neighborhood, Fire Creek is locally owned and operated. The atmosphere is one of quiet elegance with lots of wood paneling, a marble bar, fieldstone fireplaces, and a distinctly romantic feel. This is a great place to enjoy an intimate conversation over drinks and a delicious meal.

In the colder months, Flanagan's is a great place to huddle inside over comfort food and Irish coffee, but in the summer the spacious patio takes everyone outdoors. The restaurant regularly hosts live music on the patio, so you can kick back with friends and watch the cars go by on both Ingersoll and MLK.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar is a contemporary and women-friendly steakhouse, unlike a lot of the other steakhouses that are full of smoke and loud people. They have 100 wines by the glass and 40 different martinis in the book. Customers come to enjoy the good food and service that Fleming's provides to everyone.

Francie's is a wonderful little bar and grill, where on any day of the week you can stop in for a few beers, a sit-down meal or a plate of excellent hot wings. The room is covered in wood, full of character and very welcoming. The insanely friendly wait staff and bartenders certainly don't hurt either.

If you're looking for a little more low-key happy hour patio experience, Gateway Market's cafe offers fresh innovative dishes, happy hour drink specials starting at $2, and a shaded wraparound patio where you can people watch in Sherman Hill.

GoodSons completes Beaverdale's trio of fantastic patio spots (with Tally's and A.K. O'Connor's) at the corner of Beaver and Urbandale Avenues. Enjoy the restaurant's specialty martinis and flatbread sandwiches while you meet up with neighbors on the spacious patio.

Styled like an authentic German beir hall, Hessen Haus features a large assortment of draft and bottled brews from Germany (along with a few domestics). Hessen Haus is the home base for the annual Oktoberfest celebration downtown. The bar is known for "the boot," a giant glass footwear that comes filled with beer. You need to have a group of four to order one, and make sure to follow the rules while playing.

The High Life Lounge looks like the ultimate 1970s rec room. The wood-paneled walls are covered with old beer signs for brands such as Ballantine, Olympia and of course, Miller. The menu boasts that the High Life serves no beer that was created after 1979. The High Life has the feel of a dive bar, but it draws a lot of young professionals from nearby lofts and apartments in the evenings. During lunch, you will find a good mix of blue-collar workers and office types.

The Drake neighborhood has long needed a meetup spot like Jethro's — a solid barbecue restaurant where you could take your parents when they're in town or a rowdier group of friends at night. The 'que is seriously good, and the restaurant has become known for its sweet potato fries and barbecue nachos.

The new owners have made this Beaverdale institution nonsmoking and added a patio to the front. About twice a month on weekends, the bar has an acoustic musician.

The Kung Fu Tap caters to a mix of bikers and hipsters. The unique interior includes seating that was carved by the owners, who also own GT's Lounge. The bar is decorated with a unique mix of posters, old photographs and even some taxidermy. Those with a supple wrist can try their luck at the bar's old school pinball machine. The bar's patio offers a great view of downtown Des Moines. Most importantly, there are the tacos. You don't get a lot of options - if you like meat, cheese and lettuce, you're in luck. Want chicken? Too bad. They're served up hot, fast and cheap at $1.50 each. Kung Fu Tap also serves homemade pickled eggs.

In Creole French, Lagniappe means "a little something extra" and this is what they provide. Take the path up to a charming two-level deck, then sit and relax outside in season or browse through the attached Art and Gift store. Nibble on their tasty snacks while enjoying while enjoying a glass or bottle of one of their wide varieties of international wines. It's a sojourn into the flavor and hospitality of the French Quarter of New Orleans tucked away in historic Valley Junction.

Legends, on the bottom floor of the multi-bar Court Center building downtown, is the sixth Legend's location to open in the Des Moines area. And the place covers all the bases: Giant menu? Check. Bar-food appetizers, preferably fried and perfect for game-watching? Check. Copious amounts of beer and alcohol? Check. And a great location, right on the busy downtown street, perfect for people watching during big-game commercial breaks.

This is one of the most authentic spots in town for Mexican food, and especially seafood. Last year they added a large patio outside, and it makes sipping one of their signature margaritas all the more pleasing on a hot summer day.

Mickey's in Waukee achieves its pub vibe with hardwood walls and shelves filled with books. (Take a book, leave a book. Seriously.) There's a stage for live music and a large covered patio with three TVs.

Mi Mexico is the perfect place to enjoy a cool, salt-rimmed margarita in the summertime. The colorful interior is part of its appeal, but during hte warmer months you can take your drink outside to the restaurant's patio and enjoy it with a tasty plate of Mexican food.

Orlondo's is a hub for bicyclists making their way down the nearby Great Western Trail. Larry Berenguel plays acoustic music on Fridays, and there's a mix of live bands Saturday nights. Karaoke is on Thursdays. Ten beers are on tap and 30 more are available in bottles and cans. Homemade pizza, cavatelli, barbecue ribs and creamy Italian dressing star on the menu. Many ingredients - tomatoes, peppers and basil - come from Orlondo's own garden in the summer.

Raccoon River is a laid-back brewpub where you can have a few microbrews and play a game of pool with your friends, listen to live music by local musicians, or take friends to dinner. A patio is open in the summer. The kitchen serves appetizers, pizza, pasta, salad, and heartier entrees such as pot roast and steak. The bar serves a lot more than beer, including extra spicy bloody Marys.

You can take a round-the-world tour in the Court Avenue area, and The Royal Mile is an excellent place to start. The bar has two levels and a patio in the alley, giving you plenty of places to wander and people watch on busy weekends. The Red Monk is a small bar-within-a-bar on the second level of the bar.

Saints replaced the former location of Irina's Restaurant with an upscale sports bar. One of the restaurant's greatest features is the massive patio, one of the largest in town, where you can enjoy 20 beers on tap, plus wine and cocktails.

Spaghetti Works has been a longtime Court Avenue staple, and with a recent remodel, it's adapted to the Court Avenue revitalization. When your friends are in town and you're not sure where to take them, Spaghetti Works is always a safe bet. The patio out front gives you a view of everything happening on Court Avenue, so you won't miss a thing.

Star Bar is part trendy nightspot and part casual after-work hangout. You might have to get there early to grab a spot on the small patio, but many of the restaurant's indoor tables get plenty of fresh air when they open the patio doors.

Many neighborhood residents were sad to see the former B&B restaurant close, but more than happy to resume evenings on the rooftop patio when it reopened as Tally's. You can also take a seat on the street-level patio and watch passersby on Beaver Avenue.

Go to Tandoor for fresh, authentic Northern Indian and Pakistani food. After you've finished your lunch buffet or dinner entree, be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth with the chef's own recipe for khee (rice pudding) or mango custard. And for a change from the typical bread, try the sweet cheese naan. You won't leave hungry.

Wellman's has been a fixture on Ingersoll for more than 25 years. Owner Tom Baldwin (who owns spots like Crush and Drink) purchased the bar last year, but Wellman's continued on without any major changes, remaining a laid-back neighborhood hangout. Wellman's has a large patio with an outdoor bar (open Friday and Saturday) and an outdoor big screen (weather permitting).

The new Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop screams summer in the city — err, suburbs, in just two words: Rooftop patio. The breezy upper deck has its own bar and is poised to be the place to have a few drinks and watch the sun go down this season. (Smoking is allowed.) A second no-smoking patio on the lower level spills out from the lofty dining room, where plenty of flat screens are tuned to sports and stocks. The atmosphere, with black tufted booths, highboys, a sleek bar and even a deejay booth in the corner is completely cosmopolitan without seeming too clubby for daylight. A photo mural of the Wellman’s on Ingersoll fills one wall — a nice nod to the humble original location that helps warm Wellman’s 2.0 up with some extra character.

The mission of WineStyles of West Glen is to bring world-class wines to customers at an affordable price. They provide a relaxing environment for people to have a glass of wine.

A whole menu of smoked Iowa meats (brisket, pork, ham and chicken). The selection of homemade pies includes rhubarb, strawberry, gooseberry, apple and mixed berry. Woody's smoker is always running - the pork and brisket smoke all night and the ribs and chicken are thrown on in the mornings.

Zimm's is known for attracting lots of Des Moines Roosevelt graduates. Its patio overlooks Ingersoll Avenue and is popular on Sunday nights in the summer. Zimm's has has one of just a handful of shuffleboard tables in Des Moines. Go there on Monday nights for the many game-night drink specials, including free beer at halftime.

Stop by this downtown hot spot after an I-Cubs game and use your ticket stub to get a free domestic draft. At night, the club enforces a strict dress code. Different DJs each night spin oldies, rock, rap, R&B, hip-hop, or techno.