But First, Breakfast: A Guide to Brunch Spots in Downtown Des Moines

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! And if you’re looking for one of the best local places for brunch, Downtown Des Moines is beckoning you. Choose from this list of brunch and breakfast places in Downtown Des Moines to get started:

Breakfast + Brunch in Downtown Des Moines

Americana

Location: Western Gateway Neighborhood
This local Saturday and Sunday brunch spot in Downtown Des Moines is a ringer for its hearty weekend brunch menu, perfectly dubbed the Bottomless Bombshell Brunch. Custom grilled cheese station, 40+ brunch food items, gluten-friendly and bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Mary bar, of choice — treat yo’self, indeed!
americanadsm.com

Bubba

Location: Near Western Gateway Neighborhood
Pop in on Saturday or Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. for all things brunch at Bubba. Give the “Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs” a go: Breaded top sirloin piled atop hash browns, covered in country gravy and with two sunny-side-up eggs perched right on top!
bubbadsm.com

The Breakfast Club

Location: Historic East Village
Serving up breakfast every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We suggest this fun take on eggs benedict, the “Señor Borracho:” a cheese pupusa with pork carnitas and a poached egg, with salsa verde, pickled onion, cotija cheese and cilantro. You’re going to want to add a Mimosa Flight to your tab (trust us!).
thebreakfastclubusa.com

ChuChu Donuts

Location: Gray’s Lake Area
Get your fill of yummy breakfast treats in Downtown Des Moines! You’ll find a broad selection of tasty and colorful donuts, plus other faves likes apple fritters, bear claws and cinnamon glazed twists.
chuchudonuts.com

Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co.

Location: Historic Court District
Serving brunch both Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., CABCo. serves yummy breakfast faves family-style, including avocado toast and Biscuits & Gravy, plus sweet things like honey buttermilk French toast and fresh fruit with yogurt. During the summertime, opt for the patio with great views of Court Avenue and snag a brewed in-house craft beer to pair with your brunch. Cheers!
courtavebrew.com

Downtown Farmers’ Market

Location: Historic Court District*
May through October, the Historic Court District transforms into a full-fledged open air local market in the heart of Downtown DSM. There are ample options for breakfast and brunch foods to eat on-the-go while you shop, or to take home and enjoy the days following your Market visit. A stop for a breakfast burrito at Taqueria 3 Hermanos or an egg and cheese pupusa with a side of fresh fruit from Pupusas - El Salvador. *Of note, the Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market takes place in November at the Iowa Events Center, accessible by skywalk.
desmoinesfarmersmarket.com

Fresko

Location: Near Western Gateway Neighborhood
Feelin’ fresh? Stop on by Fresko and give the “Chicken Chilaquiles” an order: achiote chicken, tortilla chips, cotija cheese, eggs customized to your specifications, spicy salsa, guacamole and sour cream. And … it’s gluten-free!
freskodsm.com

 

Gateway Market & Café

Location: Sherman Hill Neighborhood
Stop in for a grab-and-go breakfast at Gateway Market’s café, or dine in-house to enjoy their breakfast menu on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Try something a little decadent, like the “French Toast” made with challah bread, strawberries and toasted pecans, sprinkled with powdered sugar and doused with as much maple syrup as your heart desires. (pictured in the header image above is the “Yogurt Parfait” from Gateway Market, as well!)
gatewaymarket.com

HomeGrown Des Moines

Location: Sherman Hill Neighborhood
Located within the Historic Crescent Building, HomeGrown Des Moines highlights seasonal flavors across its menu. Open daily from 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., their made-from-scratch pop tarts and Bloody Marys have created quite the buzz around the DSM region!
homegrownkitchen.com

Mullets

Location: Near the Market District
This trailside restaurant stationed along the Meredith Trail and just over the river from Principal Park makes for a great stop for a bite of breakfast to eat and a Bloody Mary or Mimosa flight during your biking excursion!
mulletsdm.com

Railroad Bill’s

Location: Historic East Village
Located in The Historic East Village, Railroad Bill’s Dining Car is a breakfast and lunch classic diner that opened in 2017, adding a food truck and patio with outdoor seating in 2018. The restaurant features biscuits and gravy, hash brown platters and omelets for breakfast alongside patty melts, burgers and more for lunch.
raccoonforks.com

St. Kilda Café and Bakery

Location: Near the Market District & Gray’s Lake Area
This Australian-esque bakery and café is great for breakfast or brunch in Downtown Des Moines. Try one of their house-made pastries or give the locally famed Avocado Toast a try.
stkildadsm.com

More Breakfast at Downtown Des Moines Bakeries, Cafes + Coffee Shops

La Mie Elevate

Location: Downtown Core
This fresh and local restaurant in the Downtown Des Moines skywalk serves a selection of coffee beverages and fresh orange juice, eggs and breakfast sammies, and a vast selection of insanely tasty pastries like raisin walnut scones, chocolate croissants, cinnamon rolls and fruit Danish — to name just a few and to get your mouth watering!
lamiebakery.com

Main Street Café & Bakery

Location: Downtown Core
You just can’t go wrong stopping in to the Main Street Café & Bakery in Downtown Des Moines’ skywalk! Open at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, this is a great spot for a morning meetup or grab-and-go fuel to start your day. Try the MAMMOTH-sized cinnamon rolls for a yummy breakfast treat to kickoff your day!
mainstreetcafeandbakery.com

Plain Talk Books & Coffee

Location: Historic East Village
Choose from a selection of book-themed coffee and espresso drinks — like the Wuthering Heights pictured below — paired perfectly with an egg sandwich of your choice!
raccoonforks.com

Ritual Café

Location: Western Gateway Neighborhood
Iced coffee and hot espresso drinks, delicious hemp nut smoothies and hearty breakfast dishes, too!
ritualcafedsmiowa.net

Scenic Route Bakery

Location: Historic East Village
Known for their yummy, handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, and even yummier fresh pastries!
scenicroutebakerydsm.com

Smokey Row

Location: Sherman Hill Neighborhood
This is a great spot for a work meeting or to post up away from the office with an espresso drink and breakfast pastry in-hand. Also makes for a great study spot (located just a few blocks from Drake University!).
smokeyrow.com

More Places for Brunch in Downtown Des Moines

Another place you might be surprised to find breakfast in Downtown Des Moines: hotels! Des Moines’ Downtown Marriott has a fantastic spot for a morning meeting over coffee and eggs at the Rock River Grill & Tavern, open daily beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Additionally, Park Street Kitchen at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown adjacent to the Iowa Events Center is open daily for breakfast. Also serving breakfast seven days a week is Scopri Restaurant, nestled within the Des Moines Renaissance Savery Hotel. Additionally, featuring its brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday only is Mulberry Street Tavern within the Surety Hotel.

Photo Credit: Mulberry Street Tavern, Surety Hotel

Looking for even more Downtown DSM adventures? Each week we publish a list of five events you just can’t miss coming soon to Downtown. Explore the recent stories posted on our blog to learn more. Plan your visit to Downtown Des Moines (DSM) with these tips for parking and navigation and follow @downtownDSMUSA on Instagram for more epic, things-you-just-can’t-miss happening around Downtown.