Sober Travel Guide: Where to Drink in Des Moines Without Alcohol
Des Moines has no dedicated alcohol-free bar — the nearest is Unimpaired in Iowa City — but its cocktail rooms write zero-proof drinks properly, and several build them on named non-alcoholic spirits rather than juice. Hello, Marjorie runs a rotating spirit-free list including an Amaretto Stone Sour on N/A amaretto and rum and a G&T on Seedlip Spice 94 with house tonic, spiced pear and clarified lime. In Confidence, the speakeasy under Hotel Fort Des Moines, pours Lyre's bourbon into a Zero Proof Mint Julep and Lyre's London dry into a gin and tonic. Revival House carries three — a Cyclone, a Blue Hawaiian on pea flower tea, and a Double Tea Old Fashioned built on double-steeped Earl Grey with demerara, orange and Angostura. Bellhop does tiki without the rum, The Bartender's Handshake makes a Vacation Email of orange spice tea and a Karate Kid of carrot, ginger and ancho chili, and Fresko and Eatery A each keep one on the menu. A warning for anyone using the current guides: the tourism board's own January 2026 mocktail round-up recommends Louie's Wine Dive and 503 Cocktail Lab, and both are permanently closed.
Downtown
4 notable spots in this area.
Revival House
★★★★★?Revival House is a neon-lit tiki bar in downtown Des Moines and it carries three alcohol-free builds, the deepest single list in the city. The…
Order: Cyclone — orange juice, passion purée, lime, demerara, grenadine · Blue Hawaiian — pea flower tea, pineapple, coconut, lime
Full details →Hello, Marjorie
★★★★★?Hello, Marjorie occupies the former Register & Tribune building on Locust Street in downtown Des Moines, styled as a mid-century living room, and it…
Order: Amaretto Stone Sour — N/A amaretto, N/A rum, orange, lemon, cinnamon, orgeat · G&T — Seedlip Spice 94, house tonic, spiced pear, clarified lime, soda water
Full details →In Confidence
★★★★★?In Confidence is the speakeasy inside the Hotel Fort Des Moines, and it stocks the Lyre's range properly — a Zero Proof Mint Julep built on Lyre's…
Order: Zero Proof Mint Julep — Lyre's bourbon alternative, simple syrup, mint · Gin & Tonic — Lyre's London dry spirit, Fever Tree tonic
Full details →Secret Admirer
★★★★★?Secret Admirer is a downtown Des Moines cocktail bar on SW 5th Street that keeps rotating seasonal spirit-free and low-ABV options rather than a…
Full details →
Ingersoll
3 notable spots in this area.
Fresko
★★★★★?Fresko is a Mediterranean restaurant on Ingersoll Avenue with two documented alcohol-free drinks that sit at opposite ends of the register: a…
Order: Blackberry Mocktail — spiced blackberry and rose simple syrup, lime juice, Fever Tree sparkling pink grapefruit · Chai Mocktail — chai tea, cola syrup, vanilla ice cream
Full details →The Bartender's Handshake is a vintage-styled cocktail bar on Ingersoll Avenue, open 2pm to 1am seven days a week and to 2am at weekends — the widest…
Order: Vacation Email — orange spice tea, grapefruit, lime, cinnamon, tonic, coconut · Karate Kid — carrot, ginger syrup, lime, ginger beer, ancho chili, mint
Full details →Eatery A
★★★★★?Eatery A is a Mediterranean wood-fired restaurant on Ingersoll Avenue, well regarded locally and open seven days a week from 11am — 9am at weekends,…
Order: Virgin Pimm's — pomegranate, mint, cucumber, lemon
Full details →
East Village
1 notable spot in this area.
Bellhop
★★★★★?Bellhop is Des Moines' tiki bar in the East Village — classy tiki rather than cheesy tiki, by its own description — with elevated takes on the…
Order: Beachbreeze — pineapple, passionfruit, coconut, lime, cherry · Sandy Beaches — blue coconut water, lime, Don's Mix, cinnamon
Full details →
Merle Hay
1 notable spot in this area.
Coa Cantina
★★★★★?Coa Cantina is a Mexican restaurant and bar on Merle Hay Road in north-west Des Moines, and it will build its margarita and its paloma spirit-free,…
Order: Spirit-free margarita · Spirit-free paloma
Full details →
Plan your visit
Best day for sober nightlife
Fridays and Saturdays bring the strongest crowds at most NA-friendly venues. For quieter experiences and easier walk-in seating, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are ideal.
Combining venues
Most Des Moines venues in Downtown are within walking distance of each other, making a 2-3 stop evening on foot realistic.
NA brands available across Des Moines
Verified from individual venue menus. Not exhaustive — house-crafted programs without commercial brand assignments are common.
Frequently asked about visiting Des Moines sober
Des Moines has no dedicated alcohol-free bar — the nearest is Unimpaired in Iowa City — but its cocktail rooms write zero-proof drinks properly, and several build them on named non-alcoholic spirits rather than juice. Hello, Marjorie runs a rotating spirit-free list including an Amaretto Stone Sour on N/A amaretto and rum and a G&T on Seedlip Spice 94 with house tonic, spiced pear and clarified lime. In Confidence, the speakeasy under Hotel Fort Des Moines, pours Lyre's bourbon into a Zero Proof Mint Julep and Lyre's London dry into a gin and tonic. Revival House carries three — a Cyclone, a Blue Hawaiian on pea flower tea, and a Double Tea Old Fashioned built on double-steeped Earl Grey with demerara, orange and Angostura. Bellhop does tiki without the rum, The Bartender's Handshake makes a Vacation Email of orange spice tea and a Karate Kid of carrot, ginger and ancho chili, and Fresko and Eatery A each keep one on the menu. A warning for anyone using the current guides: the tourism board's own January 2026 mocktail round-up recommends Louie's Wine Dive and 503 Cocktail Lab, and both are permanently closed.
New venues in your area
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