Best Patios in Des Moines and West Des Moines for Lunch

Des Moines has genuinely great patio culture, and right now in early May, the best spots are opening up their outdoor spaces for the season. For a quick answer: downtown Des Moines wins if you want energy, walkable bar-hopping, and a lively scene along Court Avenue. West Des Moines is your pick for trail-adjacent breezy hangouts, spacious brewery patios, and a more relaxed, suburban-outdoor vibe. The shortlist below covers both sides of the metro, split by restaurant vs. bar/brewery so you can zero in on exactly what you're after today. If you're also looking for the best patios in Bend, check for spots with shade, strong drink menus, and a laid-back outdoor vibe.

Des Moines vs West Des Moines: quick picking guide

These two areas have genuinely different patio personalities, and knowing that upfront saves you time. Downtown Des Moines is dense with options, especially along the Court Avenue District between the Des Moines River and the Polk County Courthouse. You can walk from bar to patio to restaurant in ten minutes, which makes it ideal for groups who want to bar-hop or for solo diners who like the buzz of a crowd. West Des Moines, by contrast, is spread out around the Jordan Creek corridor and Valley Junction, where patios tend to be larger, breezier, and more trail-adjacent. It's a better pick for bringing a dog, staying a while, or combining a patio lunch with a bike ride or shopping trip.

Best patio restaurants in Des Moines

The Stuffed Olive (Court Avenue)

The Stuffed Olive has one of the most genuinely pleasant courtyards on Court Avenue, a spacious, sun-soaked patio that feels like a little escape from the street noise right next to it. It's a great pick for a relaxed lunch when you want to actually sit still and soak up the afternoon rather than rush through a meal. The vibe is social but not overwhelming, which makes it a solid option for a date or a small group catching up over food and drinks. Go mid-afternoon on a weekday if you want the best combination of sunlight and breathing room.

Coa Cantina (Des Moines)

Coa Cantina's patio is the kind of place that makes you want to order another round just because the setting is right. The drinks shine here, and the dog-friendly patio makes it an easy yes if you're bringing a four-legged companion along. It's a fun, casual option for lunch or early evening, with a Mexican-inspired menu that pairs well with outdoor eating. Expect a lively, colorful energy rather than a quiet, contemplative scene.

Pelican Post Bar & Grille (formerly Boomer's location)

Pelican Post has quickly become one of the more talked-about patio spots in the greater Des Moines area. The beach-vibes aesthetic and local music lineup give it a fun, festival-like feel that's pretty unique for this part of the Midwest. The menu runs toward bar-and-grille comfort food (think chili dogs, shareable fried snacks, approachable lunch fare), and the kitchen opens at 11am on weekdays, making it a legitimate lunch destination. It's an epic patio by most local accounts, and the scene gets livelier as the day goes on.

Best patio bars (and brewery-style patios) in Des Moines

Confluence Brewing (Des Moines)

Confluence Brewing is the go-to brewery patio recommendation in Des Moines proper, and it earns that spot consistently. The outdoor beer garden and deck is large, legitimately dog-friendly (they keep disposable bowls and water on the patio for your pup), and has a relaxed, community-gathering energy that's hard to manufacture. If you're coming with a group, note that they have a reservable private adjacent space for up to 100 people, which is a huge logistical win for birthday outings or casual team events. Order a flagship Iowa Pale Ale and grab a picnic table in the sun.

SingleSpeed Brewing DSM TapRoom

SingleSpeed's back patio overlooking the Des Moines River is one of the most atmospheric outdoor spots in the city. Adirondack chairs, picnic-style seating, fire pits, and shade canopies make it comfortable across a range of weather conditions, and the river view gives it a sense of place that most patios can't match. It's especially good as the light shifts in the late afternoon, when the river reflects the sky and the fire pits start to make sense. A solid option for a couple looking for a low-key, scenic beer experience.

Tonic on Court

Tonic is a Court Avenue staple with a newly covered patio that lets you enjoy the street-level energy of one of Des Moines' busiest bar corridors without fully committing to the indoor scene. Dogs are welcome on the patio, which is a nice bonus in a downtown environment where that's not always the case. The covered setup also means you have a fighting chance of staying dry if the weather does something unpredictable, which matters in Iowa spring. It skews more bar than restaurant, so come for drinks and snacks rather than a full dinner.

Paws & Pints (Your Best Friend's Bar)

If you're coming with a dog, Paws & Pints deserves serious consideration. The leashed patio has fresh water bowls, comfortable seating for humans, and a house-made doggy snack menu that your dog will have opinions about. The year-round patio access is a genuine differentiator, and there's a full kitchen menu when you're ready to eat. It's less about the drink list and more about the vibe: relaxed, inclusive, and genuinely fun if your social circle includes animals.

Best patio restaurants in West Des Moines

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (West Des Moines)

Firebirds brings a polished, upscale-casual energy to the West Des Moines patio scene. The FIREBAR patio is the move here, especially for happy hour when the crowd is relaxed and the menu pricing is friendlier. The wood-fired cooking style gives everything an aromatic intensity that actually comes through even when you're sitting outside. Good pick for a grown-up date night or a work lunch where you want to impress without going full steakhouse.

Ruth's Chris Steak House (West Des Moines)

Ruth's Chris in West Des Moines is a splurge pick, but the patio infrastructure here is genuinely impressive: 3,300 square feet of outdoor dining space spread across multiple levels from ground floor to rooftop. If you want an elevated outdoor dining experience rather than a casual beer-garden hang, this is your spot. It's the right call for a special occasion lunch or a celebratory group dinner where the setting needs to feel intentional. Book ahead, especially on weekends.

Bix & Co. (Valley Junction, West Des Moines)

Valley Junction has a historic, walkable charm that downtown West Des Moines doesn't quite replicate, and Bix & Co. makes excellent use of it with a large wrap-around patio that feels neighborhoody and unpretentious. It's a local favorite for a reason: the patio is big enough to handle a group but cozy enough that you don't feel lost in it. If you're exploring Valley Junction on foot, this is a natural stopping point for lunch or a late afternoon drink.

JC Craft & Co. (Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines)

JC Craft & Co. sits inside the Marriott at Jordan Creek, which puts it right in the heart of the busiest retail and hotel corridor in West Des Moines. The wine bar and restaurant concept makes it a solid choice if you want a more curated drinks-and-food experience on the West Des Moines side. It's a good option for out-of-town visitors staying nearby or for a casual lunch that skews slightly more refined than a brewery patio.

Best patio bars in West Des Moines

Boomer's Bicycle Lounge / Pelican Post (Jordan Creek Bike Trail area)

The space right off the Jordan Creek Bike Trail has gone through some evolution, but the patio here remains one of the largest and most scenically positioned in the western suburbs. Whether you know it as Boomer's or have visited it since it transitioned to Pelican Post, the appeal is the same: a huge, breezy outdoor setup that draws cyclists and trail walkers looking for a cold drink and a place to sit. The outdoor bar serves domestic and local beers alongside a full bar, and the trail adjacency gives it an effortless, active-lifestyle feel that's genuinely hard to replicate in a parking-lot patio.

Barn Town Brewing (West Des Moines)

Barn Town Brewing at 9500 University Ave is a West Des Moines brewery patio worth knowing about. They're transparent about their dog-friendly patio policy (it's actually in their FAQ), which tells you something about how seriously they take the outdoor experience. The brewery crowd here is local and laid-back, and the beer list is worth exploring if you're moving beyond mass-market options. It pairs well with an afternoon visit when you want a neighborhood brewery feel rather than a destination scene.

Smash Park (West Des Moines)

Smash Park is the activity-first patio option in West Des Moines, and it's a legitimate pick if your group needs something to do alongside the drinks. The dog-friendly patio doubles as a games hub: pickleball courts, bocce, cornhole, giant Connect Four, and shuffleboard are all part of the experience. It leans louder and more energetic than a quiet date-night patio, but for a group outing, a birthday, or a casual afternoon with your dog, it's genuinely hard to beat. Weekly events keep the programming fresh.

What to look for on a patio: comfort, dog-friendly, lunch, vibe

Not all patios are created equal, and the difference between a great outdoor experience and a forgettable one usually comes down to a handful of practical details. Here's how to evaluate any patio before you commit:

• Shade and shelter: A patio without shade or a covered section becomes unusable by noon in peak summer. Look for canopies, umbrellas, pergolas, or covered areas. SingleSpeed and Tonic on Court both have overhead coverage worth noting.
• Seating quality: Picnic tables are casual and social but hard on the back for long lunches. Adirondack chairs (like at SingleSpeed) invite you to stay longer. Higher bar-rail seating is good for a quick drink but not a full meal.
• Dog-friendly specifics: 'Dog-friendly' can mean anything from 'dogs allowed on leash' to 'we have water bowls, snacks, and a doggy menu.' Confluence, Paws & Pints, Tonic, Smash Park, Barn Town, and Coa Cantina all genuinely accommodate dogs rather than just tolerating them.
• Lunch viability: Does the kitchen open at 11am? Is there a real food menu or just bar snacks? Pelican Post, Smash Park, Confluence, and most restaurant-forward spots on this list work for a proper lunch.
• Noise and crowd energy: Court Avenue patios in downtown Des Moines buzz with street activity. Trail-adjacent spots in West Des Moines (Boomer's/Pelican Post) have a more breezy, outdoor-hangout feel. Match the energy to your occasion.
• Group logistics: Larger groups need reservable space or at least a patio big enough to accommodate without splitting up. Confluence's private adjacent area (up to 100 people) and Ruth's Chris's 3,300 square feet of outdoor space are standouts for groups.

How to plan your patio visit today (timing, reservations, weather checklist)

May in Des Moines is peak patio-opening season, which means most spots are operating their outdoor areas but weather can still be unpredictable. Here's how to set yourself up for a good visit today:

1. Check the forecast before you leave. Iowa spring afternoons can shift quickly. Look for wind speed as much as rain, since a 20mph wind on a breezy West Des Moines trail patio is very different from a calm evening on a sheltered Court Avenue courtyard.
2. Call or check the venue's social media to confirm the patio is open. Some patios don't open until a specific daily temperature threshold or until staff can set up outdoor seating. A quick Instagram check usually tells you if they're out there today.
3. Go early for lunch crowds. The best patio seats fill by 12: 30pm at popular spots. Aim for an 11:30am arrival if you want a prime table at Confluence, Pelican Post, or Smash Park.
4. Make a reservation for dinner or special occasions. Ruth's Chris and Firebirds in West Des Moines both benefit from advance reservations on weekends. Confluence's private group space also requires advance booking.
5. If you're bringing a dog, call ahead to confirm the dog policy for that specific day. Dog-friendly patios sometimes have event days or private events that change the rules temporarily.
6. Have a backup plan. For every patio outing, identify one indoor option nearby in case the weather shifts. On Court Avenue, you're already surrounded by indoor alternatives. In West Des Moines, the Jordan Creek corridor has plenty of indoor dining within walking distance of the trail patios.
7. Hit the trail-adjacent patios on weekdays. Boomer's/Pelican Post and the Jordan Creek area spots are significantly less crowded Monday through Thursday, which means better seating and a more relaxed vibe.

If you're visiting from out of town and working through a broader Midwest patio trip, the Des Moines patio scene is part of a solid regional circuit. If you're planning a trip to Montana, you'll also want to check out the best patios in Bozeman for similar outdoor vibes. If you’re planning your own Southwest Idaho stop, look up the best patios in Boise for similar patio energy and great outdoor dining. If you’re aiming for the best patios in Omaha, keep an eye out for neighborhoods with big outdoor decks and strong seasonal schedules Des Moines patio scene. Cities like Omaha, Sioux Falls, and Fargo all have emerging patio cultures worth exploring if you're moving through the region, and each has its own neighborhood-specific picks worth knowing before you go. Fargo also has standout outdoor spots, so you can plan your route around the best patios in Fargo.