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    By Published / Updated 6 min read

    Best Patios and Rooftops in Des Moines (2026)

    The best rooftop in Des Moines for a fall evening is The Republic on Grand, with heaters and a fireplace six floors above the East Village. Here are 13 patios, rooftops and beer gardens, each checked open on October 1, 2026.

    This piece is from September 2025, so details may have changed. For what's on now, see Des Moines restaurants.

    patios
    rooftop bars
    outdoor dining
    breweries
    East Village
    Ingersoll

    Updated October 1, 2026. Every venue below was checked against its own website (or a current listing) on that day for its address, its hours and the fact that it still has outdoor seating. Places from the earlier version of this guide that have closed or don't have a patio were taken out.

    The best rooftop in Des Moines for a fall evening is The Republic on Grand, six floors above the East Village with radiant heaters on one patio and a fireplace on the other. For a big outdoor space with room for a group and a dog, go to the Big Grove Brewery beer garden on 17th Street. If you want dinner rather than drinks, Alba in the East Village and Eatery A on Ingersoll both serve full menus on their patios.

    Patio season in Iowa runs on the weather, not the calendar. Before you go in October or November, check the venue's site or social feed for whether the patio is open that night.

    Patios at a glance

    VenueAreaTypeGood to know
    The Republic on GrandEast VillageRooftopHeaters, fireplace, skyline view
    AlbaEast VillagePatioHappy hour 4-6 pm on the patio
    Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co.Court AvenueSidewalk patioHouse beer since 1996
    Eatery AIngersollPatioWood-fired pizza
    Big Grove BreweryIngersoll areaBeer gardenDog-friendly, outdoor fireplaces
    Lua BrewingSherman HillPatioDog-friendly
    Exile BrewingSherman HillPatioMurals; closed Mondays
    Confluence BrewingGray's LakePatioDog-friendly
    The Dam PubBeaverdaleRooftop and patioPets welcome outside
    Jasper WinerySouth of downtownLawn patioFall tasting room Thu-Sun
    Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + PatioWest Des MoinesPatioPatio tables can be reserved
    Wellman's Pub & RooftopWest Des MoinesRooftop and patioOpen every day of the year
    Zeke's Rooftop + GrillJohnstonRooftopOverlooks The Yard

    Downtown and the East Village

    The Republic on Grand

    A rooftop bar on the sixth floor of the AC Hotel. It has two outdoor spaces: the South patio holds about 100 people and has its own outdoor bar and radiant heaters, and the West patio has a fireplace and a view of the downtown skyline.

    Alba

    A full-service restaurant on East 6th Street. Happy hour runs 4-6 pm every day, and the restaurant says it's served at the bar and on the patio.

    Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co.

    A brewpub in the Saddlery Building that has brewed its own beer since 1996, with a sidewalk patio on Court Avenue.

    Ingersoll, Sherman Hill and Gray's Lake

    Eatery A

    The restaurant's own site describes a spacious patio. The menu leans on wood-fired pizza, and happy hour is 2-6 pm.

    Big Grove Brewery

    The Des Moines taproom in the Crescent Building has a 12,000-square-foot beer garden that welcomes dogs and has outdoor fireplaces, which is what keeps it usable into fall.

    Lua Brewing

    A Sherman Hill brewery with a large, dog-friendly patio. The hours on its site are labelled for winter, so check them closer to your visit.

    Exile Brewing

    A brewpub with a patio decorated with murals.

    Confluence Brewing

    A brewery next to Gray's Lake Park with a large patio where dogs are welcome. It's an easy stop after a walk around the lake.

    North side and south of downtown

    The Dam Pub

    A Beaverdale bar with both a rooftop and a ground-level patio. Pets are welcome in the outdoor areas.

    Jasper Winery

    A winery south of downtown with a patio on its front lawn.

    West Des Moines and Johnston

    Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio

    The patio is in the name, and the restaurant takes reservations for patio tables in season.

    Wellman's Pub & Rooftop

    A rooftop bar with a patio below it. The pub says it's open 365 days a year, 11 am to 2 am.

    Zeke's Rooftop + Grill

    A rooftop restaurant at Johnston Town Center that looks over The Yard.

    What changed from the earlier version

    • Juniper Moon on Ingersoll closed on May 31, 2025.
    • Star Bar on Ingersoll closed on August 1, 2026.
    • Up-Down is still open on East Locust, but it's an indoor arcade bar with no rooftop or patio.
    • Harbinger and RoCA are open, but we couldn't confirm outdoor seating at either, so they're not listed here.

    Sources

    Checked October 1, 2026:

    Published / Updated

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