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Neighborhood · Des Moines, Iowa
East Village
Neighborhood between the Des Moines River and the capitol, with early 20th‑century brick buildings, independent shops, cafés, bars and restaurants.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About East Village
East Village covers the streets between the east bank of the Des Moines River and the capitol hill. The low brick buildings, old warehouses and early 20th‑century storefronts have been restored and now house clothing and home‑decor shops, bookstores, galleries, cafés and restaurants.
Locust, Grand and East 5th streets hold most of the activity. It’s a good place to try Midwest food and Iowa craft beers, and on weekend nights the bars get crowded. East Grand Avenue leads up directly to the capitol steps.
In summer, the pedestrian bridge over the river and the riverbank trails connect the neighborhood to downtown and to the Saturday morning street market, the Downtown Farmers’ Market, which runs from May to October on Court Avenue across the river. In December, shop windows and holiday lights change the neighborhood’s look.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From two hours to an evening.
Best time
Late afternoon and evening for dinner; Saturday mornings from May to October, combined with the street market.
How to get there
It is across the river, about 1 km from downtown, reachable on foot via the Locust and Grand Avenue bridges.
Tip
Visit the capitol in the morning and go down to lunch in East Village.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about East Village
What to do in Des Moines’ East Village?
Browse the independent shops, sample the local food and beers, and walk up to the capitol at the top of the neighborhood.
Is the East Village far from downtown Des Moines?
No. It’s about 1 km away, across the river, and you can walk there via the bridges.
When does Des Moines’ street market operate?
The Downtown Farmers’ Market runs on Saturday mornings from May to October on Court Avenue, near the East Village.