The Waukee Brief
Waukee is a fast-growing town, and its drinking scene is young but real: a run of neighborhood pubs and grills in town, plus a brewpub and a raw bar just over the line on University Avenue in West Des Moines. Here's where to go, sorted by the mood you're in, with the honest note that for a big night out, West Des Moines and Jordan Creek sit just minutes east.
Not inside city limits right now, as far as we can find. Our go-to is Barn Town Brewing, just over the line in West Des Moines on University Avenue, a brewpub that brews its own beer on site and cooks a from-scratch pub menu. One is on the way in town: Exile Brewing is bringing a taproom to the planned Kettlestone Social food hall.
Note: Barn Town is at 9500 University Ave in West Des Moines, just over the line from Waukee. It is a short drive from most of town, so we include it.
Barn Town's patio, just over the line in West Des Moines, is our go-to warm-weather move: a pint brewed a few feet away, from-scratch food, and room to bring the dog. Right next door, Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster gives you a second stop without moving the car, so you can make an evening of the University Avenue corner.
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In town, 85 Bar West on Hickman Road lists a weekday happy hour, 3 to 6 p.m. Just over the line in West Des Moines, Barn Town Brewing is the natural after-work stop for house beer and pub food, and in West Des Moines near Jordan Creek, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill runs a happy hour at its FireBar. Hours and deals shift, so confirm the current offer before you go, and watch the weekly Brief; we flag the good ones.
Waukee's own scene is compact, but the metro is minutes away. Smash Park in West Des Moines pairs craft drinks with pickleball, duckpin bowling, axe throwing, and an arcade, and the Jordan Creek area adds more bars, restaurants, and a movie theater, about ten minutes east. More on planning the evening is in our night out in Waukee guide.
As far as we can find, no brewery is open inside Waukee city limits right now. Barn Town Brewing, which brews its own beer on site, is just over the line in West Des Moines on University Avenue, and Exile Brewing has announced a taproom for the coming Kettlestone Social food hall. Central Standard Craft Burgers & Beer also pours a local-beer list.
The bar-and-pub lineup includes Central Standard Craft Burgers & Beer, Gastro Grub & Pub, The Kee Bar & Grill, and 85 Bar West. Just over the line in West Des Moines, Barn Town Brewing and Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster share a strip on University Avenue. Exile Brewing is bringing a taproom to the coming Kettlestone Social food hall.
Our pick is Barn Town Brewing, just over the line in West Des Moines on University Avenue: a big, dog-friendly patio with house beer and from-scratch pub food. Guesthouse Tavern + Oyster is right next door for a second stop.
For a casual night out, Central Standard Craft Burgers & Beer, Gastro Grub & Pub, The Kee Bar & Grill, and 85 Bar West are the neighborhood go-tos. For a bigger night, Smash Park and the Jordan Creek area in West Des Moines are about ten minutes east.
Barn Town Brewing pours its own beers just over the line in West Des Moines, and Central Standard Craft Burgers & Beer keeps a local-beer list. Exile Brewing's coming Kettlestone taproom will add one in town.
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