There are few things more enjoyable on a warm summer day than spending time outdoors on a favorite patio. Whether it’s the ambiance of the outdoor space that makes for a perfect patio or the location that makes for a unique dining experience, there are endless options to eat outdoors in the Des Moines metro.
If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal or even just a couple of drinks al fresco, you won’t want to miss 10 of the best patios in Des Moines.
Disclosure: This post was first published on ohmyomaha.com, and is republished here with permission.
1. El Patio Mexican Restaurant
No list of places to enjoy outdoor dining in Des Moines would be complete without El Patio. This Ingersoll area Mexican restaurant is located in an old house with a sprawling, flower-covered back patio. On a warm day, this intimate patio is the perfect place to enjoy a margarita (or two).
El Patio Mexican Restaurant, 611 37th St., Des Moines, IA
2. Eatery A
Not only does Eatery A have one of the best happy hour specials in Des Moines (half-price pizzas, beer and wine), but it also has one of the city’s best patios. The restaurant’s elevated patio is the perfect location for a weeknight happy hour or weekend brunch, and allows diners to overlook all of Ingersoll Avenue.
Eatery A, 2932 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, IA
3. Ceviche Bar
What the patio at the East Village’s Ceviche Bar lacks in size, it makes up for in charm. The outdoor space at this Cuban restaurant feels like dining in a tiny, secret garden.
The patio’s tables are spread out amongst planters overflowing with flowers, trickling water features, and even occasionally an ornate cage with a songbird or two.
Ceviche Bar, 223 E. Walnut St., Des Moines, IA
4. Gilroy’s Kitchen + Pub + Patio
The patio at Gilroy’s Kitchen + Pub + Patio is an unexpected gem. Not only is the patio spacious but it’s also fully covered with ceiling fans and portable heaters to help extend the outdoor dining season and make it as enjoyable as possible.
Gilroy’s Kitchen + Pub + Patio, 1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines, IA
5. El Bait Shop
The no frills vibe of the El Bait Shop patio matches the aesthetic of the inside of this popular beer bar. But that’s part of El Bait Shop’s charm. In addition to an outdoor bar with some fan favorites on tap, the patio is filled with picnic tables perfect for catching up with friends and bike racks aplenty to accommodate beer-loving cyclists.
The bar’s location also makes it the perfect place to enjoy a beer or two before an Iowa Cubs baseball game across the street.
El Bait Shop, 200 SW Second St., Des Moines, IA
Related post: Here are 10+ great bars in Des Moines
6. Aposto
Located inside an 1880 Victorian mansion in Sherman Hill, Aposto is a on-of-a-kind restaurant offering classic cuisine with a modern twist. Aposto offers outdoor dining on the home’s wraparound porch as well as at tables on platforms in the yard.
The restaurant’s cozy, homey atmosphere extends to its outdoor spaces, making it the perfect place to enjoy an intimate dinner. If you go on Thursdays, you can enjoy no corkage fees.
Aposto at the Scala House, 644 18th St., Des Moines, IA
7. Exile Brewing Co.
In addition to delicious food and great craft brews, Exile Brewing Company has a phenomenal patio. With garage doors that help transition the bar’s indoor space to the outdoors, this patio is a modern bier garden in the heart of downtown.
With plenty of tables and space to spread out, this outdoor space is a great place to enjoy a meal or a couple of drinks al fresco.
Exile Brewing Company, 1514 Walnut St., Des Moines, IA
8. Trellis Café
Located inside the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, the ambiance at Trellis Café is as beautiful as the food on diners’ plates. In addition to indoor dining just off the gardens’ dome, Trellis also has a sprawling patio that overlooks the blooming gardens along the Des Moines River.
During the warmer months, the Trellis patio is the perfect place for a weekday lunch or relaxed Saturday brunch.
Trellis Café, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA
9. Mullets
In addition to traditional American fare and an offbeat, roadhouse atmosphere, Mullets also has a fantastic multi-level patio. There is outdoor dining on the ground level, as well as a rooftop patio that offers fantastic views of the Des Moines River and city skyline.
Mullets, 1300 SE First St. #1253, Des Moines, IA
10. The Dam Pub
Located in Des Moines’ Beaverdale neighborhood, The Dam Pub is a patio-lovers’ dream. This eclectic ‘80s and ‘90s themed pub has a variety of mouth-watering food options alongside inventive cocktails to enjoy on one of its many outdoor dining spaces.
The Dam Pub has a dog-friendly front patio and a back patio with easy access for cyclists, as well as a small rooftop patio overlooking downtown Beaverdale.
The Dam Pub, 2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA
