In diesem Guide · 8 Abschnitte
Gay Bars & Clubs in Des Moines
Des Moines is not a coastal nightlife capital, but Iowa's capital city has a small, genuine, and welcoming gay scene - and it is concentrated almost entirely in one walkable district: the Historic East Village, just east of the Des Moines River around East 5th Street and East Grand Avenue. Two dedicated gay venues sit within a block of each other here, and a handful of nearby bars round out a friendly night out. (Court Avenue, across the river downtown, is the mainstream entertainment strip - fun, but not where the LGBTQ+ anchors are.)
The Blazing Saddle - Iowa's Oldest Gay Bar
The Blazing Saddle (416 E 5th St) is the flagship and the heart of the scene. Open since 1983, it is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating gay bar in Iowa, and one of the oldest in the country - so much so that it was the subject of the 2024 documentary The Last American Gay Bar. It is a country-western and leather-friendly dive with a warm, unpretentious crowd, strong drinks, a pool table, and drag most nights of the week. Expect a mix of longtime locals and curious visitors, a patio in summer, and a reputation as a genuine safe space. If you visit only one gay bar in Des Moines, make it this one.
The Garden Restaurant & Show Lounge - Drag and Dancing
A short walk away, The Garden Restaurant & Show Lounge (525 E Grand Ave) is the city's gay-owned dance club, restaurant, and rooftop patio. The Garden is best known for its elaborate weekend drag shows and its popular drag brunches, and it has repeatedly been voted one of the city's best nightclubs. It is higher-energy than the Blazing Saddle - a place to dress up a little, dance, and take in a full drag production. The kitchen and rooftop make it a full-evening destination rather than just a late-night stop.
Beechwood Lounge - Relaxed and Welcoming
Beechwood Lounge (416 E Walnut St) is a laid-back East Village neighborhood bar with a mixed gay-and-straight crowd. It is not a dedicated gay bar, but it is genuinely LGBTQ+-welcoming, appears on the city's LGBTQ+ nightlife listings, and makes an easy, low-key spot for a conversational drink before or after the shows at the Garden.
What Closed
Buddy's Corral, the longtime karaoke bar right next to the Blazing Saddle, closed in 2024. You may still see it in older guides, but it is no longer operating.
Best Nights and What to Expect
The scene comes alive on Friday and Saturday nights, when the Garden's drag shows and the Blazing Saddle's crowd are both at full swing; weekend drag brunch at the Garden is a Des Moines institution. Midweek, the Blazing Saddle is the reliable anchor, with drag and a friendly regular crowd. Dress is casual and relaxed almost everywhere - wear what makes you comfortable, though people often dress up a bit for drag shows. The legal drinking age is 21, so bring a valid photo ID.
Getting Around
The two main venues are within a block of each other in the East Village, so you can easily walk between them. Uber and Lyft are widely available and are the simplest way to get downtown and back if you plan to drink. Several hotels - including the AC Hotel Des Moines East Village, Hotel Fort Des Moines, and Kasa Downtown - are within walking distance or a short ride. Street and garage parking is available downtown but often metered or paid.
Beyond the Bars
Des Moines has no gay bathhouse or sauna; the nearest are in Chicago and the larger Midwest metros. Community life runs through Capital City Pride (which operates the Des Moines Pride Center and organizes June's PrideFest in the East Village), One Iowa, Iowa Safe Schools, and The Project of Primary Health Care. Time your visit for Capital City PrideFest - June 12-14 in 2026, with the parade on Sunday, June 14 - for the biggest LGBTQ+ weekend of the year in Iowa.