Things to Do
There are some great coffee options nearby:
Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar - located just off the Hotel Fort Des Moines lobby. A good breakfast bite option too.
Starbucks - ever heard of it? One block north (corner of Locust and 10th).
Horizon Line Coffee - one of our favorites. Just a 7 min walk west down Walnut St.
Chain & Spoke - another favorite here. This one is a little farther out than the others. Take a 5 minute drive if you are looking for more seating (or a breakfast sandwich or pastry).
Jesse's Embers - 5 minute drive from hotel. You'll feel like a local when you walk in here, especially if you know to order the Cajun Shrimp app (you'll want extra bread with that, trust us!). Casual steakhouse vibes with steaks and burgers that are hard to beat.
801 Chophouse - walkable from hotel (~5 mins). Go here if you want an elevated steakhouse option Friday night before the Welcome Party. You can't go wrong with any of the steak, pork, and lamb options. We love the side of lobster mac!
Iowa Taproom - just across the river in the "East Village." With 160 beers on tap, be careful not to spend *too* much time here! Great food too.
Christkindlmarket Des Moines - see below for more information on this German-inspired Christmas Market.
Fresko - another spot walkable from the hotel (~3mins). Your full slate of casual restaurant fare, including brunch and vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free options.
South Union Bread Cafe - walkable from hotel, too (~2mins). South Union is closed Saturdays, but open Fridays 11am to 2pm. We've never had a sandwich here we didn't like.
Explore the East Village
Take a quick morning stroll toward 505 East Grand Ave. and stop by Daisy Chain Coffee (delicious cappuccinos, fresh honey, and incredible ice cream sandwiches) and Raygun (a "must go!" venerated local shop that sells small gifts, tee shirts, postcards and more). Once you're there and along the way you'll find lots of fun shops and restaurants in the area locally known as the East Village.
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Holiday Pop-Ups
Many restaurants transform their space this time of year with holiday-themed decor and special menus. Exile Brewing ("SnowGlobe DSM") is a local brewery about 10-minutes on foot from the hotel (head west on Walnut, just past Horizon Line Coffee). If you're heading to the East Village, Republic on Grand ("Rudolph's Rooftop") is a fun spot to stop by. Enter the AC Hotel on Grand Ave. and take the elevator to the sixth floor. Either/Or ("Tinsel") and The Station ("Miracle on Ingersoll") are fun spots, too, but are not easy walks from the hotel. Both are about 10-minutes by car from the hotel (and about 5-minutes by car from each other).
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Christkindlmarket Des Moines
Head over to Principal Park for a German-inspired Christmas Market. Principal Park is a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the hotel. There you'll find glühwein (warm, mulled wine), European bites and beer, vendors selling old-world, hand-crafted products, and maybe some polka music! It's open Friday & Saturday 11am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Admission is free. For more info, check out their website: christkindlmarketdsm.com/
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Take a leisurely walk through the Sculpture Garden
Locals are proud of this accessible and picturesque park filled with sculptures and art installations. It's a 4.4 acre park located at 1330 Grand Avenue which is within walking distance from Hotel Fort Des Moines.