Entry No. 17 — the Des Moines file — filed under: speakeasy
In Confidence
“a clear glass knob on what looks like an ordinary kitchen cabinet”
A blind-tiger speakeasy in the basement of the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines. The entrance is the trick: a clear glass knob on what looks like an ordinary kitchen cabinet near the ground-floor Hobnob coffee/wine bar, where a waiter opens the secret door and walks you down. Inside it's Roaring '20s with a whimsical Alice-in-Wonderland streak: exposed brick, velvet chairs, ornate rugs, a cuckoo-style clock, and a curated wine and cocktail list.
The move: Have an early drink at Hobnob upstairs, then let the host reveal the cabinet door, the look on your date's face is the whole point. Settle into the velvet chairs downstairs and order off the curated wine list under the cuckoo clock.
📍 Before you go It lives in the basement of the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 1000 Walnut St, right in the downtown core. There is no separate street door — walk into the ground-floor lobby toward the Hobnob coffee and wine bar and let a host work the glass-knobbed cabinet. The room is small and leans evenings later in the week, so reservations are smart, especially on a weekend or any night with live music. Park in the garage behind the hotel or a nearby downtown ramp; the hotel ties into the climate-controlled skywalk if the weather turns. The Court Avenue district is a short walk for dinner or a nightcap after.
- 📍 Downtown (Hotel Fort Des Moines)
- 💸 $$$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1000 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA
Hours: Reported open Thursday-Saturday; some nights live music or private events
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: urban-plains.com · dmcityview.com
last checked: 2026-06-06