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10 Awesome Patios in Des Moines

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. 

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

Related post: Awesome Things To Do In Des Moines On A Weekend Getaway

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 at Ceviche Bar in Des Moines has a water fountain along with covered tables and chairs.
Photo courtesy Ceviche Bar

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

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 Aposto is housed inside an 1880 Victorian mansion, and has outdoor seating on its porch.
Photo courtesy Aposto

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

Looking for more romantic places? Check out these Des Moines date nights!

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.

The spacious patio at Exile Brewing Co. in Des Moines is a modern day bier garden.
Photo courtesy Exile Brewing Co.

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 Dr., 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 patio at The Dam Pub in Des Moines
Photo courtesy The Dam Pub

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

Dine outdoors in Des Moines at these great patios! Favorites include restaurants like Aposto and the offbeat Mullets and El Bait Shop.

About the Guest Blogger

Megan Bannister is a freelance writer and blogger at Olio in Iowa based in Des Moines, Iowa. When she’s not sampling and writing about food, Megan enjoys visiting unique destinations, roadside attractions, and “world’s largest” things across the Midwest and beyond. Her book, Iowa Supper Clubs, highlights classic eateries past and present from around the state.

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