Raise a glass, Greater Des Moines, you voted, and these happy hours are the toast of the town. Whether you’re here for the sips, the snacks, or the scene, consider this your must-bookmark passport to the happiest hours around.

*All of our Des Best lists are crowdsourced and voted by locals.*

 

Pours + Plates: Food & Drink Favorites 

Eatery A (The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 2 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: Half-price wood-fired pizza, beer, and wine 

  • Vibe: Bustling Mediterranean-inspired eatery with an amazing patio. 

  • Bonus: The most beloved and iconic happy hour in Des Moines for good reason, since it doesn’t take weekends off.

HiFi Brew Lounge (Historic Valley Junction) 

  • Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday, 2 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: Half-price drafts and select social plates (fried cheese, spinach artichoke dip, corn brûlée) 

  • Vibe: Vintage lounge energy with velvet, vinyl, and a splash of disco. 

  • Bonus: Enjoy their house brewed beers with live music in their upstairs lounge on Thursdays from 8 – 10 p.m.  

Iowa Taproom (Historic East Village)

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 5 p.m.

  • Specials: Half off select apps like Taproom Poppers, cheesesteak eggrolls, fried pickles, cheese curds, and spinach artichoke dip. Plus $5 craft beers (from 99+ Iowa taps), $4 wells, and $4 wine

  • Vibe: A lively, industrial-style beer hall that doubles as a love letter to Iowa breweries, complete with historic décor and plenty of room to gather.

  • Bonus: Night owls can dig into the late-night menu on Fridays and Saturdays.

30 Hop (The District at Prairie Trail) 

  • Happy Hour: Sunday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m.; Brunch Happy Hour Saturday and Sunday 10 – 11:30 a.m. 

  • Specials: 30% off appetizers, beer, wine, and cocktails; $1.99 mimosas during brunch 

  • Vibe: Craft beer heaven with bold decor and flavors. 

  • Bonus: On Mondays, get a classic burger for only $5.99.  

Bar Nico (Historic East Village) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 3 – 5 p.m. 

  • Specials: $5 snacks, $6 tapas, $7 tacos, half-priced draft beer, $6 wine, $5 house margaritas, $6 seasonal margaritas 

  • Vibe: Trendy, chef-driven Mexican with a modern twist.  

  • Bonus: Mexican brunch is the best brunch, and they serve it seven days a week until 3 p.m.

Gameday (Merle Hay) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: Half off select appetizers, half off all taps, $2 off cocktails, $17.50 beer buckets  

  • Vibe: Bowling alley fun meets sports bar hangout. 

  • Bonus: Tuesdays include an additional happy hour from 9 p.m. – close with $10 domestic beer buckets and trivia from 7 - 9 p.m.

Hessen Haus (Historic Court District) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: $5.50 half liter drafts, $10 liter drafts, $20 boots, half off select appetizers, including soft pretzels, fried pickle chips, cheese sticks, and more 

  • Vibe: Lively Bavarian beer hall. 

  • Bonus: Where else can you pass around “Das Boot” (two liter glass boot filled with German beer) in a venue that doubles as the Iowa Polka Music Hall of Fame? 

Guesthouse Tavern & Oyster (West Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.; Late-night happy hour Fridays, 8 p.m. – close   

  • Specials: $4 oyster Rockefeller, $2 shrimp cocktail, $3 raw oysters, $12 relish tray, $2 off Old Fashioneds, $2 off draft wine, $6 draft beers  

  • Vibe: Northwoods supper club meets seafood shack. 

  • Bonus: Every happy hour item comes with a pull tab, so you might just win your next round. 

Centro (Downtown Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Every Monday, 4 p.m. – close 

  • Specials: Half-price pizzas and Peroni beers 

  • Vibe: Iconic Italian American spot with timeless downtown flair.  

  • Bonus: There are 17 different types of New York-style, coal-fired pizzas, plus a build your own option.  

Tito’s Lounge (Urbandale) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 2 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: $1 off beer, wine, and Moscow mules; 50% off shareables and flatbreads; $3 drafts all day Sunday 

  • Vibe: Sports bar energy with a Mediterranean twist. 

  • Bonus: On Saturdays get bottomless drinks during brunch until 2 p.m. for $14.99 

Blue Shark Ale House (Urbandale, West Des Moines, Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: $3.50 pints, $4 wells, $4.50 wines, half off select apps  

  • Vibe: Elevated gameday hangout serving craft brews and creative pub grub. 

  • Bonus: On Mondays, kids eat free

The Chicken (Cumming) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Wednesday, 2 – 5 p.m., all day Thursday

  • Specials: $5 Moscow mules, $2 Burr Oak drafts, half off select appetizers and rotating can specials.

  • Vibe: Classic roadhouse comfort with towering fried chicken and a breezy patio that'll make you want to stay all afternoon. 

  • Bonus: Monday and Tuesday it’s BOGO all beer from 4 – 6 p.m., Wednesday buy one pizza and get a second half off, and Thursday is all day happy hour.

Sip Happens: Drink-First Destinations 

Striking Sparrow (Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: Half price appetizers and 10 wings for $10 Monday – Thursday 9 – 11 a.m. ($1 off drinks), Monday – Friday 1 – 6 p.m. (50¢ off drinks), Monday – Friday 3 – 6 p.m. (half-price appetizers and 10 wings for $10) 

  • Vibe: ‘70s-style lounge with pickleball and ping pong.  

  • Bonus: Most days you can enjoy $1 off all drinks from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., and on Mondays they have BOGO drinks from 6 p.m. – close.  

Hello, Marjorie (Downtown Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 4 – 6 p.m.  

  • Specials: $7 Old Fashioned, $7 House Vodka/Gin Martini, $5 Pseudo Sue beer 

  • Vibe: A swanky, mid-century cocktail lounge straight out of Mad Men with a dash of Des Moines charm. 

  • Bonus: Insta-worthy neon and moody vibes that make every drink taste better. 

Stuffed Olive (Historic Court District) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – Midnight, Friday – Saturday, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. 

  • Specials: Monday, BOGO Martinis; Tuesday, buy two shared plates get one free; Wednesday BOGO glasses of wine; Thursday – Saturday, buy two martinis get one free.  

  • Vibe: Swanky martini and tapas bar with a martini list that is practically a novel. 

  • Bonus: It’s the perfect place to unwind with a patio martini after the Downtown Farmers’ Market. 

The New Northwestern Cocktail and Wine Bar (Historic East Village) 

  • Happy Hour: Wednesday – Friday, 4 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: $6 wine and wells, $8 Four Roses Old Fashioned, $9 white wine spritz, $9 lemon lavender gimlet 

  • Vibe: A luxe train car, velvet bar seats, marble counters, vintage maps, and the faint hum of the past. 

  • Bonus: A hidden-in-plain-sight downtown gem with serious cocktail cred. 

Louie’s Wine Dive (Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday 4 p.m. – close, Tuesday – Sunday 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: 25% off bottles, $7 cocktails, select wines $9 – $11, select food like carnitas tacos, chips and guac, and Brussels sprouts $7 – $9 

  • Vibe: Casual yet classy wine-driven hangout that still feels neighborly. 

  • Bonus: Stick around for Jazz on the Patio on Wednesday and Sunday evenings in August and September. 

The Bartender’s Handshake (The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand) 

  • Happy Hour: Aperitivo Hour, daily 2 – 6 p.m.; Late Night Happy Hour Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. – close 

  • Specials: 
    - Aperitivo: $5 Aperol Spritz, $5 Garibaldis, $5 house wines, $5 pepper poppers, $5 PBR + amaro
    - Late Night: $2 off all house cocktails, $2 house amaro, $2 Miller High Life or PBR, $2 pretzels; full snack menu until 1 a.m.

  • Vibe: Cozy craft cocktail den on Ingersoll with a quirky personality. 

  • Bonus: The backyard patio’s astroturf, vintage lawn furniture, and firepits make it feel like the coolest backyard BBQ in DSM. 

Revival House (Historic Court District) 

  • Happy Hour: Wednesday – Sunday, 4 – 6:30 p.m. 

  • Specials: $2 off cocktails, discounted mango crab Rangoons 

  • Vibe: A tiki-inspired escape with playful island cocktails. 

  • Bonus: We vote this spot ‘most likely to fill up an entire Instagram carousel.’ 

Elevated Eats: Small Plates & Sips 

Prime & Providence (West Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: $9 select wines and cocktails, $1 off oysters, indulgent small plates like a filet mignon burger and Dorito mac & cheese 

  • Vibe: Upscale steakhouse with modern flair. 

  • Bonus: Home to rare Japanese beef cuts, a 60oz Tomahawk Ribeye, and a 3-course Sunday Dinner for 2 for $99. 

Alba (Historic East Village) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 4 – 6 p.m. (bar and patio only) 

  • Specials: BOGO beers, half-priced wine by the glass, $6 cocktails, $6 – $8 bar bites (burgers, deviled eggs, Brussels sprouts) 

  • Vibe: Polished but approachable neighborhood favorite. 

  • Bonus: Where ceiling doors double as art and happy hour doubles as dinner. 

Django (Downtown Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 4 – 6 p.m.; Tuesdays 4 p.m. – close 

  • Specials: $5 select beer and wine, $6 classic martinis, $5 duck frites and poutine, discounted oysters, charcuterie, and more 

  • Vibe: French brasserie with a playful side. 

  • Bonus: Tuesday all-night happy hour is a downtown ritual. 

Cheese Bar (The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand) 

  • Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday, 2 – 5 p.m. 

  • Specials: $6 glasses of champagne and sparkling wine, $6 bites 

  • Vibe: Chic and casual for cheese lovers. 

  • Bonus: Those discounted bubbles also pair well with the best cheese boards and fondue in Des Moines. 

Anna Dolce (West Des Moines) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: Half-off all beer, $7 cocktails, $10 pizzas, $10 appetizers, $6 house wine, half-off bottles of house wine 

  • Vibe: Stylish Italian spot with lively energy. 

  • Bonus: A go-to for both date night and group outings. 

Harbinger (The Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand) 

  • Happy Hour: Daily, 4 – 6 p.m. 

  • Specials: $8 small plates (steam buns, dumplings, garlic naan, Nashville hot chicken, and more), select beer, wine, and cocktails from $5 – $8.  

  • Vibe: Trendy and inventive with James Beard cred. 

  • Bonus: Come for the happy hour apps, stay for the 5-course Chef’s Tasting Menu. 

Blue Sushi Sake Grill (Historic Court District) 

  • Happy Hour: Monday – Saturday, 11a.m. – 6:30 p.m., all day Sunday 

  • Specials: $6.50 house wine, discounted beer and cocktails, shared plates (mango crab Rangoon, edamame, more) under $10, select maki rolls under $10 

  • Vibe: Modern, vibrant sushi bar with a wide selection of sake and cocktails. 

  • Bonus: They also have a huge gluten sensitive menu.