Best Gay Bars & Bathhouses In Des Moines
Des Moines has a small but genuinely rooted LGBTQ+ nightlife scene — and unlike many mid-size cities, most of it sits right in the city itself, clustered in the East Village neighborhood. Visitors driving in from suburbs or smaller Iowa towns won't need to cross a state line to find it. That said, no dedicated gay bathhouse currently operates in Des Moines, and anyone seeking one will need to make a longer trip to Chicago, Kansas City, or Minneapolis.
The Des Moines LGBTQ+ Scene
The gay scene is relatively small, with only a few gay bars and clubs, most in the pedestrian-friendly East Village east of downtown. Today, Des Moines is down to only a few gay bars — The Garden, Buddy's, and the Blazing Saddle — all within a city block of each other, in the East Village around East Fifth and Grand Avenue, which has been nicknamed "The Gayborhood." What the scene lacks in scale it compensates for in tightness: these three venues are genuinely community-anchored, each with a distinct personality, and all within easy walking distance of one another on a Friday night. Des Moines also hosts one of the state's largest Pride celebrations.
Top Gay Bars & Bathhouses for Des Moines Locals
The Blazing Saddle
Type: Gay bar / Drag venue
Location: 416 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Features: The oldest gay bar in Des Moines, open since 1983 and open 365 days a year. Features daily Happy Hour, Trivia Night every Tuesday, monthly charity events, Latin Nites, and various drag shows Wednesday through Sunday. Cash-only, with an ATM on site.
Website: https://www.theblazingsaddle.com
The Garden Restaurant & Show Lounge
Type: Gay club / Drag venue / Restaurant
Location: 525 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Features: Serving the community for nearly 40 years, The Garden offers drag shows, drag brunches, and a rooftop patio bar — with four bars, live shows, a patio, and regular guest performers. Voted Des Moines' Best Night Club by People's Choice in both 2023 and 2024.
Website: https://www.grdn.com
Buddy's Corral
Type: Gay bar / Mixed bar
Location: 418 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Features: A mixed, relaxed neighborhood bar with jukebox and karaoke, located next to the Blazing Saddle. Affordable drinks, karaoke, and friendly regulars make it a popular local hangout; it's one of the few cash-only bars in Des Moines, and the crowd skews a genuine mix of gay, lesbian, and straight patrons. Open daily from noon to 2 AM.
A Note on Bathhouses
Type: Bathhouse
Location: No dedicated gay bathhouse currently operates in Des Moines or the immediate metro area.
Features: Des Moines locals seeking a bathhouse typically drive to Chicago (about 5 hours), where Steamworks Chicago — located in the heart of Boystown — is a four-story, 24/7 complex consistently ranked among the best gay bathhouses in the country, with multiple floors of saunas, steam rooms, private rooms, themed spaces, and social areas. Kansas City and Minneapolis are closer regional alternatives worth researching before making the trip.
What to Expect
All three East Village venues are welcoming to newcomers, and the neighborhood is walkable enough that bar-hopping on foot is standard practice. Dress codes are essentially nonexistent — jeans and a t-shirt work anywhere. Cover charges are rare on weeknights and modest on weekend nights with live shows; expect $5–$10 at The Garden on drag show evenings. Both the Blazing Saddle and Buddy's Corral are cash-only, so carry bills or use the in-house ATMs. All venues are 21-plus after a certain hour, though some earlier shows at The Garden are all-ages — check the calendar before bringing younger guests. Drag shows at The Garden are ticketed events on certain nights and can sell out, so booking in advance via their website is worth doing on weekends. The overall vibe across all three venues is unpretentious and Midwestern: friendly regulars, low attitude, and no velvet-rope culture.
Beyond the Venues
Capital City Pride is an annual LGBTQ+ celebration held in Des Moines, featuring a parade, live performances, drag shows, vendor booths, and community gatherings. Iowa Leather Weekend, held annually in Des Moines, draws a regional leather and kink crowd and uses the city's gay venues as its social hub. Outside of events, apps like Grindr, Scruff