Entry No. 73 — the Des Moines file — filed under: speakeasy

Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe

A downtown board-game lounge, cafe, and bar where you can play from a wall of more than 1,000 board games, puzzles, and tabletop RPGs for as long as you like. The bar mixes game-themed cocktails (some chosen by rolling dice) alongside coffee, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic 'poptails,' and on-staff 'game tenders' help you pick something and learn the rules. It opened in 2025 as the area's dedicated game lounge.

The move: Let a game tender pick you a two-player game off the 1,000-title wall and play it over a dice-chosen cocktail.

📍 Before you go Limited weekday hours (opens 4pm Mon-Thu); may charge a play fee for table time.

📍 Downtown Des Moines
💸 $
⚡ Big night
🌗 Indoors

Where: 300 SW 5th St, Suite A150, Des Moines, IA 50309

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

#arcade-play #board-games #game-cafe #cocktails #tabletop #downtown

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23