Updated November 2026
Quick answer: Some of the best date night ideas in Des Moines are dinner in the East Village, a show at Des Moines Performing Arts or the Playhouse, dinner and a movie at Flix Brewhouse, and an arcade night at Up-Down or The Operating Room. For something romantic, try a walk around Gray’s Lake or the High Trestle Trail bridge. Below are 25 tried-and-true ideas, from cheap and active to cozy nights at home.
Sometimes, just sometimes, we find ourselves in a date night rut. It is so important for parents to enjoy some quality time together. Whether you want something romantic, something new, or just plain fun, here are 25 of our favorite (and memorable) Des Moines date night ideas.
Date Night Ideas at a Glance
| Type of date | Ideas | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner & drinks | Malo, Iowa Taproom, Ceviche Bar, Confluence, Exile | Moderate |
| Entertainment | Concerts, plays, Flix Brewhouse, Iowa Wolves / Wild / Cubs / Barnstormers | Low to splurge |
| Playful | Up-Down, The Operating Room, trivia at Smash Park, bowling, mini golf | Low |
| Active | Gray’s Lake paddle boats, Big Creek kayaks, Ledges State Park, archery | Free to moderate |
| Romantic | Sculpture park walk, High Trestle Trail, couples massage, champagne brunch | Free to splurge |
| At home | Game night, takeout + movie, cooking something fancy | Free to low |
Dinner, Drinks & Dessert Date Ideas
1. Eat a leisurely dinner at your favorite restaurant. Our favorite date night restaurants include Malo (still serving the same tacos and margaritas under new owners), the Iowa Taproom and Christopher’s. We also love Ceviche Bar in the East Village. Want more? See 8 Great Date Night Restaurants In and Around Des Moines.
2. Grab a coffee. Smokey Row on Cottage Grove is a great option for coffee and conversation. More ideas are in our Des Moines coffee shops guide.
3. Have drinks. Confluence and Exile are both excellent local choices, and Eatery A’s happy hour on Ingersoll is a favorite for wine and small plates. Many spots offer live music or trivia, so check their websites before you go!
4. Indulge in dessert. Crème Dessert Lounge on 28th Street has delicious sweets and craft cocktails. Need I say more?
5. Take a cooking class. Couples cooking classes have been a popular choice among our friends and a lot of fun. Cozymeal lists date-night classes around the metro. Bonus: you can re-create the meal on a date night at home.
Entertainment Date Ideas
6. Enjoy a concert or a play. Check Des Moines Performing Arts (Civic Center), the Des Moines Playhouse, or Hoyt Sherman Place to see what’s running now and coming up.
7. Go to a movie. Flix Brewhouse at Merle Hay Mall is one of our go-to date night spots. You get dinner and drinks delivered to your seat along with the movie.
8. Go to a game. Des Moines has teams for every season, and tickets are usually inexpensive:
- Iowa Wild (hockey) at Casey’s Center
- Iowa Wolves (basketball) at Casey’s Center, with the season starting in November
- Iowa Barnstormers (indoor football) at Casey’s Center
- Iowa Cubs (baseball) at Principal Park in the spring and summer
9. Browse a bookstore. So, I’m a geek, but I love browsing shelf after shelf of books. Storyhouse Bookpub in the East Village serves drinks too, so you can browse and sip.
10. Hit up an arcade. Up-Down, the two-level arcade bar, is a friend favorite, and The Operating Room in West Des Moines has tons of pinball machines and slushie cocktails. See our Des Moines arcades guide.
11. Trivia night. Many bars and breweries host trivia. Smash Park in West Des Moines has themed trivia nights and loads of yard games.
12. Explore open houses. Check out houses way out of your price range, just for fun. It’s free!
13. Go shopping. Yeah, this sounds boring, but sometimes it’s nice to just get errands done together. Twice a year, Hubs and I hire a babysitter and make a day of shopping for the kids’ birthday and Christmas presents.
14. Visit a museum. Try the Des Moines Art Center (with a great lunch spot for a day date), the State Historical Museum, or the Science Center of Iowa. For gardens, visit the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden or Reiman Gardens in Ames.
Active Date Ideas
15. Kayaking, boating, biking, or hiking. Gray’s Lake Park has paddle boats, or head to Big Creek to rent a kayak or boat. For hikes, we are fans of Ledges State Park. Our Interactive Park Map has more ideas.
16. Golfing or bowling. Hit the golf course, go mini-golfing, or spend the evening at one of the many bowling alleys in Des Moines.
17. Paintball or archery. Archery Field & Sports in Altoona has a great paintball field, and you can try an archery lesson while you’re there.
18. Dance classes. One of our favorite date nights was a salsa class we took back in the day (long before kids were even a thought). Des Moines Ballroom Dance offers group classes and private lessons.
19. Ice skating or roller skating. Many area skating rinks offer adults-only or discount skate nights.
Romantic Date Ideas in Des Moines
20. Take a walk. A late-night walk around Gray’s Lake or across the High Trestle Trail bridge near Madrid is great exercise and incredibly romantic. Or stroll through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
21. Get a couples massage. East Village Spa is wonderful and in a great location.
22. Indulge in champagne brunch. Check out a downtown brunch spot, then finish with a walk through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
At-Home Date Night Ideas
23. Game night. We love game nights with friends or other couples. Our go-to game is Cards Against Humanity (not for the easily offended). This is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
24. Date night in. We are pros at this one! Get takeout (we’re fans of Mi Patria in West Des Moines) and wine, then watch a movie or play Scrabble. It’s our typical Thursday night.
25. Cook something fancy together. Try a dish you’ve always wanted to make, or cook through a cookbook together.
Tips for Planning Date Night as Parents
- Book the sitter first. Then plan the date around their availability.
- Swap babysitting with friends. You trade nights, and nobody pays.
- Try a day date. Lunch plus a museum or a walk often beats a late night.
- Check before you go. Hours and menus change, so look at the venue’s website or social media.
More Date Ideas from Des Moines Parent
- Best Spring and Summer Dates in Des Moines
- Best Fall Dates in Des Moines
- Winter Date Night Ideas in Des Moines
- Date Night at Zoo Brew at Blank Park Zoo
- 8 Great Date Night Restaurants In and Around Des Moines
- Want new ideas every week? Sign up for DSM Weekly. Sign-up here!
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular picks are dinner in the East Village, a show at the Civic Center or the Des Moines Playhouse, dinner and a movie at Flix Brewhouse, an arcade bar like Up-Down or The Operating Room, and a walk around Gray’s Lake or the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
Free and low-cost ideas include walking Gray’s Lake or the High Trestle Trail bridge, touring open houses, browsing Storyhouse Bookpub, trivia nights, Iowa Cubs or Iowa Wolves games, and a night in with takeout and a board game.
Take an evening stroll through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park or across the lit-up High Trestle Trail bridge near Madrid. You could also book a couples massage at East Village Spa, or plan a champagne brunch downtown.
Cozymeal lists date-night cooking classes around the metro, and several local shops and restaurants host classes too. Book ahead, since small classes fill fast.
Get takeout from a local favorite like Mi Patria, then play a game, watch a movie, or cook something fancy together after the kids are in bed.
The Iowa Wild (hockey), Iowa Wolves (basketball) and Iowa Barnstormers (indoor football) play at Casey’s Center. The Iowa Cubs play baseball at Principal Park in the spring and summer.
