Downtown Des Moines Charcuterie & Cheese Board Guide

Charcuterie and cheese boards have become popular menu items at restaurants around Downtown Des Moines (DSM). Who doesn’t love an appetizer or grazing meal made up of delicious, cured meats and a variety of cheese flavors and textures? We pulled together this helpful guide to the best Downtown Des Moines charcuterie and cheese boards, as well as some handy tips for where to source amazing ingredients and supplies to create your own board to enjoy out and about in the city or cozied up at home.

Downtown Des Moines Restaurants with Charcuterie & Cheese Boards

For many Downtown Des Moines restaurants, charcuterie and cheese boards are a hot menu item. Charcuterie is a French term meaning “prepared meat,” so it makes sense that charcuterie boards are centered around cured meats. Cheese boards on the other hand are all about the CHEESE! No matter if you’re craving all the charcuterie, all the cheese or both, Downtown DSM has it.

Aposto at the Scala House

644 18th St., Des Moines
Located in a residential area in the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood, this elegant Italian restaurant offers a unique (and highly coveted!) dining experience in Downtown DSM. On the menu listed under small plates, the charcuterie spread includes seasonal items: house pâté, crostini, pickled vegetable, Calabrian olives, meat and cheese selections. Whether enjoyed indoors in one of the charming dining areas or on the outdoor, covered wrap-around porch, charcuterie at Aposto is an experience you don’t want to miss! Pro Tip: Reservations at this fave spot are snatched up quickly! Be sure to plan well in advance to secure a table.
apostodm.com

Bubba DSM

200 10th St., Des Moines
Offering up Southern comfort cuisine, Bubba’s Pimento Cheese Board (pictured above) puts a distinctively unique twist on the classic cheese board. Featuring house made buttermilk crackers, pimento cheese, Kentucky style Benedictine spread, bread-and-butter pickles, pickled vegetables, honey-Dijon spread and pecan-smoked bacon crumbles, this cheese board rendition is one for the books. Add salami and mortadella for an additional charge and you’ll have an even heartier, well-rounded board to snack on.
bubbaDSM.com

The Cave DSM

1437 Walnut St., Des Moines
Situated on a corner of Walnut Street in Downtown DSM’s Western Gateway neighborhood, The Cave DSM is a natural wine shop and bar with European café vibes (shown above). Available to enjoy along with a wine tasting or glass of wine with friends, the snack menu features both a charcuterie and cheese plate, as well as a cheese-only plate to accompany your vino. Including an array of assorted cheeses with our without assorted meats, each plate is rounded out with additional snackables like almonds, jam, house-made pickles, fresh sourdough baguettes or gluten free crackers.
thecavedsm.com

Clyde’s Fine Diner

111 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
Serving up elevated diner classics with a ritzy ambience, Clyde’s Fine Diner (shown above) offers a cheese plate on the starters menu that will kick off your meal in a delicious way. The classic cheese plate features Prairie Breeze white cheddar, Big Ed’s Gouda, honey, Marcona almonds, jam and crostini. Enjoy your cheese tasting plate with a glass of wine or a craft cocktail, like the highly recommended Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version).
clydesfinediner.com

Photo is courtesy of Mulberry Street Tavern, Surety Hotel.

Mulberry Street Tavern

206 6th Ave., Des Moines
Located inside the Surety Hotel, Mulberry Street Tavern serves up a menu of chef-inspired traditional fare in Downtown DSM. Top of the list on their menu of must-try items is the Chef’s Board comprised of a selection of cheeses curated by The Cheese Shop, charcuterie and seasonal accompaniments. The menu offers two board sizes to accommodate various dining group sizes. Come see for yourself why People Magazine listed this Des Moines destination on its list of 50 Most Beautiful Restaurants in America (pictured above).
suretyhotel.com/mulberry-street-tavern

The New Northwestern Cocktail & Wine Bar

321 E. Walnut St., Des Moines
This swanky spot in the Historic East Village incorporates luxurious accents with historical charm, highlighting DSM’s passenger rail history throughout the bar. The beverage menu continues the railway theme within their drink names. Their seasonal menu includes a cheese and charcuterie board full of satisfying snacks made for sharing with an array of rotating Iowa-made cheeses, nuts, jams and fruit butters, various cured meats and crackers. Finish your visit off with their selection of sweet treats from ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery and you have yourself the perfect graving meal!
thenewnorthwestern.com

The Purveyor

505 E. Grand Ave. #105, Des Moines
The Purveyor in Historic East Village boasts an in-house gourmet restaurant offering global tastes in Downtown DSM. Order a charcuterie board to nibble on while enjoying a glass of wine on tap. Half and full boards are available with ever-changing selections of cured meats and cheeses, assorted sides and accoutrements, crostini and more. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for special cheese and wine tasting events!
purveyordsm.com

The Republic on Grand

401 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
Located on the sixth floor of the AC Hotel in the Historic East Village, The Republic on Grand is an upscale restaurant with a modern atmosphere and unbelievable views of the Downtown DSM cityscape. The creative and indulgent menu includes multiple cheese and charcuterie boards to choose from with a revolving selection of local and European cheeses, artisan cured meats, cornichons, candied nuts, olives, mustards, crostini and crisp baguette. Enjoy the sights of the city as you munch.
therepublicongrand.com

RoCA

208 Court Ave., Des Moines
One of Downtown DSM’s premiere restaurants located in Historic Court District, RoCA’s menu is full of culinary delights with an emphasis on shared plates. The boards featured on the menu include charcuterie, cheese, and a combination cheese + charcuterie board. Each menu option is made up of the chef’s selection of local and imported cheeses and meats, house-made jam, candied walnuts, pickles and crackers. Whether you’re sharing with dining companions or ordering for yourself, trust that RoCA will consistently serve up delicious (and stunning!) cheese and charcuterie boards.
rocadsm.com

And if you’re on the hunt for charcuterie and cheese just outside Downtown DSM, Cheese Bar DSM is the place for you with a menu filled with house-made charcuterie, happy hour specials and more.

Shop for Charcuterie or Cheese Boards in Downtown Des Moines

Whether you’re hosting a happy hour at home or planning a grazing board for a Downtown DSM picnic at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park or Gray’s Lake, this list of Downtown DSM shops has everything you need to configure the perfect charcuterie or cheese board. You’ll want to carefully choose elements to include on your board to create a well-balanced spread. This handy list is all you need to take your charcuterie and cheese board game to the next level.

Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market

Historic Court District, Downtown DSM
The Market offers a variety of artisan food vendors to source the fixings for your next charcuterie board. From May through October, shop The Market in Historic Court District or check out the indoor Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market, held over one weekend annually in November.
desmoinesfarmersmarket.com

 

Gateway Market

2002 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
Browse Gateway for a bountiful selection of specialty cheeses, cured meats, fresh-made South Union Bakery artisan breads and unique accompaniments sourced both locally and from around the world.
gatewaymarket.com

Hy-Vee Fourth + Court

420 Court Ave., Des Moines
Centrally located in Downtown DSM, Fourth + Court Hy-Vee has a deli with an array of meats and cheeses perfect for your at-home charcuterie board, as well as jams, nuts and more.
facebook.com/FourthCourtHyVee

The Good Butcher

555 17th St. Ste. 103, Des Moines
Opening Fall 2024 in the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood, this butcher shop is your source for the highest quality cured meats in Downtown DSM. Charcuterie made in-house makes it easy to support local farmers and eat locally when sourcing your next charcuterie board fixins. And ... if you just can’t wait, stop in to the Cheese Shop of Des Moines (shown above) for exclusive access to their salumi: Soppressata, Hot Soppressata and Finocchiona varieties.
thegoodbutcherdsm.com

Graziano Brothers

1601 S. Union St., Des Moines
Just outside Downtown DSM, Graziano Brothers is jam-packed with a variety of salami and other cured meats, cheeses and more. This family-owned shop has a storied history and is a favorite of locals!
grazianobrothers.com

If you’re looking for the perfect board, cheese knives and spreaders for your charcuterie and cheese board goodies, check out local shop Kitchen Collage in the Historic East Village for all the kitchenware and entertaining supplies you need!

And keep an eye out for upcoming charcuterie and cheese events and festivals like Indulge DSM: Wine, Cheese & Chocolate (pictured below and at the very top of the page). Mark your calendar to plan ahead for this event on January 24-25, 2025.

Explore even more Downtown Des Moines restaurants and places with great wine lists to enjoy with your charcuterie and cheese boards. Plan your next visit Downtown with these parking and navigation resources.