I find that I take way too many food pics so we're making this a thing!
SO... I was back in Des Moines this weekend! Elise has driven up to the Cities the last 5 times so I figured I'd give her a break and drive back down to the DSM. It's the first time I've been back since moving up here, so it was good to get back down there.
When you get into Des Moines, the first place you have to hit up for food is El Bait Shop. It is a MUST.
Get the Velvet Elvis Dip, it's literally just queso but IT'S FLAMES. Plus, they have over 200 beers on tap!
I discovered Lua Brewing right before I left for Minneapolis. They just opened the taproom in time for winter and they focus on tropical beers. They've actually done some collabs with BlackStack in St. Paul. They have a great patio and a dope view of the skyline!
My favorite coffee shop on the planet is Horizon Line Coffee. It's right by the Sculpture Garden and all their drinks are incredible. The two owners moved from SoCal to open the shop two years ago, and they've been featured in a TON of articles.
Their menu is seasonal, so definitely check out their site for updates if you're down there!
One thing that I think makes Des Moines a great place to live is the brewery community. They're all super collaborative and love advocating for what's going on in the city. No one does that better than Confluence. They have amazing beer, and awesome taproom, and love working with the cycling community, which is MASSIVE in Des Moines.
Des Moines has some amazing bakeries, and for my money, the best is Scenic Route in East Village. Their owner is one of the nicest people in the city, and it's a great place to study/get some work done if you need to get away from things.