Downtown Des Moines - Des Moines, IA Area Guide

Des Moines started as a military post to control the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes of the area. Fort Des Moines was established in May 1843, and settlers to the area followed soon after. In 1857, the state capitol moved from Iowa City to Des Moines. Once a blue-collar town for coal miners, Des Moines developed into a white-collar community and currently ranks as the third largest insurance center in the world.

The Iowa State Capitol building, the State of Iowa Historical Museum and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden can be found downtown.

The World Food & Music Festival takes place each September, and residents enjoy the celebration of the best foods Iowa has to offer as well as foods from around the world. The Des Moines Art Festival, held each June, allows residents and visitors to explore visual, performance and musical art that celebrates the diversity of the city.

The downtown neighborhoods of Des Moines provide residents a variety of options when it comes to dining experiences. For French food without the attitude, try Django. An appetizer recommended by the locals, the cheese and charcuterie platter includes three different cheeses, house-made pâte, French style dry-cured pork sausage and prosciutto. The restaurant's beef bourguignon would make Julia Child proud, and the French toast with bourbon-bacon syrup for dessert ends a perfect meal.

Proof, with its James Beard Foundation nominated chef, gives residents a taste of large metropolitan dining right in Iowa. Menus change frequently, and diners have the option of ordering off the menu or letting the chef treat them to a several-course experience. One dish on both the prix fixe and dinner menus that locals favor, the house salad of baby beets, pickled beets, house-made marshmallows, arugula, orange, mango and mint, begins the meal with a bang. Follow that with either the duck confit or the garlic-thyme sumac pork for a top-shelf dining experience.

Out-of-towners may be surprised at the variety of dining options in Iowa, and finding fresh sushi at Wasabi Tao in downtown Des Moines definitely surprises many. Three favorite rolls diners recommend include the Hotel Kirkwood roll, the Out of Control roll and the V.I.P. roll. The Hotel Kirkwood roll features salmon tempura, asparagus and mango topped with spicy tuna, mayonnaise and unagi sauce. The Out of Control roll includes king crab and bass topped with crunchy tuna and three different sauces. Finally, the V.I.P. roll has spicy salmon, shrimp, kani, avocado and asparagus wrapped inside soy nori, topped with shichimi, yellow tail, honey wasabi and a spicy lychee sauce.

El Bait Shop serves over 200 different beer selections, making this a favorite hangout for beer connoisseurs. It has over 100 types of beer on tap, which rotate often, and over 100 other kinds of bottled beer. Guests can order good bar food and sit outside on the patio, making this a fun place for friends to hang out after work or on the weekend.

Next door to El Bait Shop, the High Life Lounge transports you back to the 1970s with its decor and atmosphere. This dive bar sits close to a bike trail, making this place a favorite hangout with local cyclists. Cold beer and great bar food define any good dive bar, and the High Life Lounge doesn't disappoint in either area.

Midsized bands rock the house at Wooly's on weekends, and good music and cheap drinks mean fun for everyone. Good acoustics make this small venue surprisingly delightful, and dancers have plenty of room to kick up their heels.

For a club atmosphere, head to Joker's or the Lime Lounge. The Lime Lounge bills itself as an intimate club. Regulars appreciate the ample dance floor and ever-changing DJ lineup.

Traveling through the downtown neighborhoods can be best accomplished by walking. The city has over four miles of skywalks throughout downtown, and the Chicago Tribune has said the city streets of the city are “walker-friendly.”

Residents and visitors traveling by car to downtown use Interstate 235, which runs through the heart of the city. This interstate connects with both Interstate 80 and Interstate 35, making commuting to work and shopping relatively easy. Several parking ramps downtown connect to the skywalk system, which is convenient for downtown workers who commute from outlying neighborhoods.

The D-line trolley gives riders a free ride through the downtown area Monday through Friday. Public transportation through the Des Moines Area Regional Transit system provides riders access to all areas of downtown and the Des Moines metro area.

With the exception of wintertime, B-cycle allows residents to bike-share for 60-minute rides all throughout the downtown area. Several taxi services and Uber also provide locals convenient ways to get to their destinations.

Several parks can be found downtown in Des Moines, giving downtown residents lots of green spaces to relax and unwind.

The Robert D. Ray Asian Garden, named after a long-time governor of the state, sits along the east bank of the Des Moines River. Visitors can find an Asian pagoda, beautiful flower gardens and a series of waterfalls.

Pedestrian bridges and trails can be found throughout the Principal Riverwalk. Located within the park, residents also enjoy the Brenton Skating Plaza, an open-air facility that can accommodate up to 220 skaters. Open from November to March, residents can purchase daily or seasonal passes. Riverwalk also has four acres devoted to pets. The fenced-in area can be accessed year found from 6 am until sunset, and pet owners do need to purchase a permit to use the facility.

Living in downtown Des Moines is affordable compared to the rest of the United States because the cost of living overall ranks 14 percent lower than the rest of the country. The rental price for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $700 per month, 10 percent higher than the rest of Iowa but 19 percent lower than the national average. A gallon of gasoline in the Des Moines area is almost 9 percent less expensive than the national average, and a bus pass for a month costs $48. Craft beers can set you back about $5 to $8 depending on the bar and the beer selection, but domestics generally cost about $4 a can.

Historic East Village, located just east of the capitol building downtown, houses a great area for shopping. Shoppers have a variety of shops to choose from, including jewelry, antiques and apparel. Artisan's Jewelry Design specializes in unique custom designs as well as refitting and repair of existing jewelry. Local artists and international designers all have pieces available for purchase. For eco-friendly home goods, visit Green Goods for the Home on East Grand Avenue. Shoppers find organic body lotions and soaps as well as hand-made crafts by local and international artists. Porch Light Antiques features primitive furniture, glassware and linens. Antique enthusiasts can find plenty to choose from with the wide variety of vintage treasures found here. From May through October, residents enjoy the downtown Des Moines Farmer's Market on Capital Square. Some of the items found here include farm-fresh eggs, locally sourced meats such as beef, lamb and pork as well as local wines and fresh produce. The Winter Market takes place right before Thanksgiving and again before Christmas, so that residents can stock up on great deals for the holidays. Residents can find their groceries at the farmer's market on Saturdays during the season. For other grocery shopping, they have easy access to Gateway Market.