Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Iowa

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Iowa? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

30hop Coralville

4.9

4.9 (15)

$30 and under

American

Coralville

About the restaurant

At 30hop there is an unmistakable energy the moment you walk through our doors. We revel in being unique yet approachable providing constantly rotating craft beers, crave-able menu items, and an atmosphere that’s all about celebrating the good times! Visit us in Ankeny, Coralville, or Cedar Rapids. Locations in Omaha and Kansas City coming soon!

Top review

Melissa

Dined 4 days ago

Super busy but such great service - food amazing - waitress so great - 1st class all the way

The Stuffed Olive - Des Moines

4.8

4.8 (782)

$30 and under

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

The Stuffed Olive is about the entire “Martini & Tapas Experience.” From your favorite classics to new and exciting blends you’ve never seen before, you’re sure to find a cocktail to love on our vast martini menu. Add a warm, comfortable atmosphere, great wines, beers and top-shelf spirits, and The Stuffed Olive will become your favorite place to start, end or spend your entire evening. Our tapas menu offers appetizer-sized portions of globally influenced entrees, for a sampling and sharing dining experience. Pair tasty tapas with your favorite martini for happy hour, dinner or a late-night snack. We welcome you to sit back, relax, enjoy great food, good conversation and your favorite martini. Welcome to the Stuffed Olive!

Top review

Sid

Dined on Dec 24, 2024

Honestly the wait staff was great and kind, they just didn’t have many food options left and they kept bringing wrong drinks to the table. With as busy as it was and how large our party was I felt they did do a fantastic job and that aside, everything else was exceptional.

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4.8

4.8 (15)

$30 and under

American

Coralville

About the restaurant

Tribute Eatery & Bar specializes in delightful sandwiches and putting a unique twist on timeless favorites. Step inside and you'll be warmly welcomed by our friendly staff. Come prepared with a hearty appetite to savor our delicious bites and a variety of exceptional cocktails, wines, and beers. Our venue is full of charm, vibrant energy, and a fun atmosphere, ensuring a welcoming and enjoyable experience!

Top review

Alex

Dined 5 days ago

I always enjoy dining at Tribute, whether it be for brunch or dinner. The food and drinks are always delicious, and the service is impeccable! I highly recommend dining at Tribute.

Table 32

4.7

4.7 (535)

$30 and under

American

Sioux City

About the restaurant

We have worked diligently to develop a unique atmosphere here at Table 32. Not just with our décor and physical structure of the amazing vintage backdrop of the old Creamery building dating back to the early 1900’s. We have also put our minds together to develop our food and drink menus as well as focusing on the “craft” of the recipes themselves. We are focused on real ingredients and hand crafting them into something truly delicious. Then it comes down to providing you, our guest, a fun and relaxing dining experience without all the expectations of fine dining. We are working with our staff to develop a culture that promotes great people, great fun and amazing food and drink.

Top review

Traci

Dined 5 days ago

The food and service were great, as usual. You will pay a little more here, buy it is worth it. Great special occasion location. Always enjoy dining here.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Des Moines

4.7

4.7 (208)

$30 and under

Sushi

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

Brooke

Dined 5 days ago

Love the server recommendations, and the great service.

Louie's Wine Dive - Des Moines

4.6

4.6 (857)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Louie’s Wine Dive serves lunch, happy hour and dinner daily and brunch on weekends. Award-winning food is created from local ingredients under the eye of formally trained chefs. Louie’s wine list and featured wineboard offer hard to find, quality focused selections. Louie’s offers a craft cocktail and local beer menu. Louie’s Wine Dive features a warm, casually elegant atmosphere. It's the place for food and wine lovers to be social!

Top review

Lori

Dined 6 days ago

Loved having so many gluten free options! Great staff and good variety on menu.

Mulberry Street Tavern

4.6

4.6 (573)

$31 to $50

American

Des Moines

About the restaurant

Mulberry Street Tavern brings a fresh yet nostalgic vibe to Downtown Des Moines. Once a hub for the city transit, it is now adorned with rich woods, leather, and a zinc bar that create a warm and timeless social destination. The open-hearth kitchen produces shareable worldly tavern fare, hearty entrees and, hands down, the best burger in Des Moines. Enjoy perfect classic cocktails, eclectic award-winning wines, and interesting regional and foreign beers on draught.

Top review

Karen

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

We appreciated the warm welcome for dinner on Christmas Day. The setting is pleasant, and the menu has something for everyone.

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Popular dish

Half Chicken

Aura Restaurant & Lounge

4.6

4.6 (220)

$31 to $50

American

Urbandale

About the restaurant

Lively & flavorful tapas along with vibrant cocktails offer a unique shared experience that challenges the traditional. At Aura, it's good vibes only! Our invigorating environment is the perfect place to gather friends & family.

Top review

Mitch

Dined on Dec 20, 2024

Awesome wine dinner. Meal was delicuous and wine was superb and well paired. Very fine staff and service!

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Experience

Happy Hour Everyday!

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - West Des Moines

4.5

4.5 (1855)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is an American Restaurant and Steakhouse serving authentic wood-fired steaks, seafood, specialty cocktails and select wines. Join us for Happy Hour at the FIREBAR® or on the patio for drink specials and bar bites. We offer top-notch service and upscale dining at a modest price. Reserve Your Table with us today.

Top review

Erik

Dined today

Food and atmosphere are always very good here! Nice place to go for New Years Day.

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Dave & Buster's - Des Moines

3.5

3.5 (114)

$30 and under

American

West Des Moines

About the restaurant

Each Dave & Buster's has more state-of-the-art games than ever, more mouth-watering menu items and the most innovative drinks anywhere. From wings to steaks, we've got whatever suits your appetite and our premium bar assures we're stocked to satisfy! Plus, you can watch your game on one of our massive HDTVs with epic stadium sound.

Top review

Chad

Dined 6 days ago

Wasn't expecting to much but the food was actually great. We started with the chorizo queso dip and it was very addicting it didn't last long. I had bone in Buffalo wings and my wife had the original cheeseburger, both were very good. We also had a couple sodas and draft beers. Service was good and the kids had fun playing games.

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Experience

Sunday SIP Night

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