Restaurants

RoCA

Casually stylish brick-walled eatery serving New American entrees, small plates & craft cocktails.

208 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 282-3663 | Web: www.rocadsm.com

Alba Restaurant

Colorful, upscale American restaurant & wine bar with reclaimed doors hanging from the ceiling.

524 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 244-0261 | Web: www.albadsm.com

Centro

High-ceilinged ex-Masonic temple turned contemporary Italian wining-&-dining destination.

1003 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Phone: (515) 248-1780 | Web: www.centrodesmoines.com

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Bubba

Southern favorites & a large array of whiskies offered in a relaxed, stylish setting with a patio.

200 10th St, Des Moines, IA

Django Casual brasserie dishing up French standards crafted with seasonal ingredients.

1420 Locust St, Des Moines, IA

Americana

Casual place with modern decor serving steaks & chops, plus Asian-inspired sharing plates.

1312 Locust St, Des Moines, IA

Buzzard Billy’s

Roomy, laid-back eatery featuring food with Louisiana roots, TVs to catch the game & a deck.

615 3rd St, Des Moines, IA

Eatery A

Creative Mediterranean dishes & wood-fired pizza in a stylish space with reclaimed Iowa wood.

2932 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA

The Iowa Taproom

Historic, industrial haunt with over 100 regional craft beers & locally sourced American fare.

215 E 3rd Street #100, Des Moines, IA

HoQ Restaurant

Stylish farm-to-fork restaurant featuring a rotating menu of New American fare & a bar.

303 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA

Skip’s

Veteran restaurant serving American cuisine & pasta dishes in a classy space with a full bar.

4000 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA

Lucca Chic outpost serving modern & traditional Italian dishes, some with North African influence.

420 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

Hip American eatery & cocktail bar with a humorous horror theme.

300 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA

JUL 13

Sky Parade

Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Sky Parade! Gorgeous hot air balloons fly over our city square as we honor and showcase Indianola, including our fabulous downtown, where you’ll find great eats, unique boutiques, old-fashioned sundries, modern-day apothecary, breweries, bakeries, and more! Learn more at catchdesmoines.com.

Jul 15

Water Lantern Festival

Water Lantern Festival is filled with fun, happiness, hope, and great memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. This is a family friendly event that can be shared by everyone. Friends, families, neighbors, and lots of people that you haven’t met can come together to create a peaceful, memorable experience. Learn more at waterlanternfestival.com.

Jul 15

DSM Local Fest

Des Moines is a vibrant and thriving community, but sometimes it can be hard to keep up with all the amazing things that are happening. That is why we came up with the idea for DSM Local Fest. This festival creates a space for people to come together and connect with representatives from local businesses, musicians, artists, and non-profits. By bringing everyone together, we hope to bridge the gap in awareness and collaboration in our community. We believe that DSM Local Fest is a celebration of all things that make Des Moines special, both now and in the future. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

AUG 10

Iowa State Fair

The internationally acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines is Iowa’s great celebration, a salute to the state’s best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. Learn more at catchdesmoines.com.

Sep 10

2023 Des Moines Concours D’Elegance

Create your memories at the Des Moines Concours d’Elegance! The Concours is the Midwest’s premier annual exhibition of distinctive antique, vintage, classic and special interest motor vehicles that are selected for exhibition each year. The event is held each year on closed streets surrounding the Western Gateway Park and the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden in downtown Des Moines. Learn more at catchdesmoines.com.

Oct 21

Ghoulish Gala

Descend upon Salisbury House & Gardens for our annual Ghoulish Gala fundraiser, an elegant and ghostly affair you don’t want to miss! Enjoy a variety of wine, beer, hard seltzers, signature spooky cocktails & mocktails and other tasty libations as you drift through the historic halls discovering exciting entertainment and surprises around each twist and turn. Feast on a variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening as you mingle with friends. At 8:00 pm, the supernatural celebration continues with a legendary dance party, sure to move even the most stoic of vampires out of their coffins. Learn more at catchdesmoines.com.

Nov 30

Christkindlmarket Des Moines

Experience a German-inspired Christmas Market at Principal Park. Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and flavors of the holidays as you participate in a 750 year old tradition. Shop regional vendors selling old-world, handcrafted products from wooden vendor stalls; enjoy lively performances of polka music, traditional dance and choirs in Yuletide Hall; participate in children’s activities; sip Glühwein (warm, mulled wine) and savor European-style Iowa craft beer. Learn more at catchdesmoines.com.

Dec 10

Tidings and Treasures

Get your Christmas shopping done while you make a major impact! Visit our Christmas shop this year and support local and global missions organizations and businesses this holiday season! Learn more online at allevents.in.

Feb 10 2024

Winter Blues Fest

Des Moines’ Winter Blues Fest is a highly anticipated annual event that often takes place toward the beginning of the year. Featured are notable acts in the blues sphere as well as food and drinks. Learn more at eventseeker.com.

Mar 16 2024

Shamrock Stroll St Patrick’s Day Weekend Bar Crawl

An unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Official Shamrock Stroll event! Get ready to embark on a festive journey filled with bar crawling, live entertainment, and an abundance of fun. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

Apr TBD 2024

Wine Women & Shoes Festival

An engaging and exciting fundraising event where community-minded, philanthropic women (and a few good men) gather to sip, shop, savor, and support a worthy cause in a chic, fun, and innovative way. Visit us online www.winewomenandshoes.com.

Jun 28 2024

Des Moines Arts Festival

The Festival features visual arts, live music, performing arts, interactive arts activities, Interrobang Film Festival, and plenty of eclectic food and beverage booths providing guests with an arts and culture experience to remember! Learn more at desmoinesartsfestival.org.

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, choosing to do a vacation on a cruise gives great value. Traveling on the sea can be extremely fun, but it is important to choose the correct cruise line. If you’re going to spend a lot of your vacation time on a cruise ship, it may as well be one of luxury. Thankfully, there’s many luxury cruise lines ready to cater to your every whim while ferrying you to and from some of the world’s most mesmerizing destinations in plush comfort. Some offer exotic voyages to faraway destinations, while others attract travelers with comfortable cabins and stimulating enrichment programs. Use this guide as a starting point to find out which luxury cruise fits best for your next vacation.

We made a list that factors in itinerary affordability, health ratings, and reputation among experts and travelers.

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Silversea Oceania Regent Seven Seas Seabourn