West Des Moines

affluent suburb · 50265

West Des Moines is where the Des Moines metro keeps its money, and Jordan Creek Town Center is the gravitational center of that wealth, one of Iowa's largest malls, ringed by chain restaurants engineered for first-date legibility. The trade is candid: you get cul-de-sac calm, manicured parks, and the predictability that affluent suburbs sell, in exchange for a dating pool that skews married, partnered, or transplanted-for-the-schools. Singles exist here, but they tend to commute east for nightlife and stay west for brunch. Treat it as a Saturday-afternoon city, not a Friday-night one, and the math improves considerably.

6,252

singles 22–50

58%

male

$50,081

median income

$1,106

median rent

The data

West Des Moines by the numbers

West Des Moines runs male-heavy, about 58% men to 42% women.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023
Median individual income in West Des Moines is about $50,100.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023
Iowa registers voters by party, and Polk County is about 37% Democratic to 30% Republican, with a 32% No Party bloc.
● Verified · Iowa SOS, June 2026
The median renter in West Des Moines pays about $1,110 a month.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023
About 6,300 West Des Moines residents ages 22 to 50 are single.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023

On the ground

Local date spots

20 spots · tap a point, label, or class to filter

Class

Budget

Vibe

20 spots across West Des Moines

West Des Moines
Dining
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
American restaurant$$$$★ 4.3 · 2,374
West Des Moines
Dining
Waterfront Seafood Market
Seafood restaurant$$$$★ 4.6 · 1,908
West Des Moines
Drinks
Wellman's Pub & Rooftop
Bar & grill$$$$★ 4 · 1,669
Outdoor seatingGood for groups
Find it
597 Market St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4★ from 1,669 Google reviews
Split the bill
$$ · mid-range is our editorial bracket, not a real bill. Plug in what you expect to actually spend at Wellman's Pub & Rooftop.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon11 AM to 2 AM
Tue11 AM to 2 AM
Wed11 AM to 2 AM
Thu11 AM to 2 AM
Fri11 AM to 2 AM
Sat10 AM to 2 AM
Sun10 AM to 2 AM
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
Outdoor seating · Takeout · Dine-in
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
College students · Groups · Tourists
Contact
Call Site Maps
West Des Moines
Dining
Mi Patria Ecuadorian Restaurant
Ecuadorian restaurant$$$$★ 4.8 · 1,374
West Des Moines
Drinks
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
Wine bar$$$$★ 4.6 · 1,180
Outdoor seatingLGBTQ+ friendly
Find it
12801 University Ave, Clive, IA 50325
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.6★ from 1,180 Google reviews
Split the bill
$$ · mid-range is our editorial bracket, not a real bill. Plug in what you expect to actually spend at Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon11 AM to 9 PM
Tue11 AM to 9 PM
Wed11 AM to 9 PM
Thu11 AM to 9 PM
Fri11 AM to 10 PM
Sat10 AM to 10 PM
Sun10 AM to 9 PM
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
Outdoor seating · Delivery · Onsite services · Takeout · Dine-in
Crowd
Family-friendly · Groups · LGBTQ+ friendly
Contact
Call Site Maps
West Des Moines
Activity
Funny Bone Comedy Club
Comedy club★ 4.2 · 1,158
Good for groupsWheelchair access
West Des Moines
Dining
El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill | Mexican
Mexican restaurant$$$$★ 4.8 · 1,122
West Des Moines
Activity
Spare Time Des Moines
Bowling alley★ 4.2 · 893
Wheelchair access
Find it
340 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.2★ from 893 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Spare Time Des Moines.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon11 AM to 11 PM
Tue11 AM to 11 PM
Wed11 AM to 11 PM
Thu11 AM to 11 PM
Fri11 AM to 12 AM
Sat10 AM to 12 AM
Sun10 AM to 11 PM
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
Onsite services
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Contact
Call Site Maps
West Des Moines
Dining
Cooper's on 5th
American restaurant$$$$★ 4.6 · 882
West Des Moines
Drinks
The Pelican Post Bar & Grille
Bar & grill$$$$★ 4.4 · 469
West Des Moines
Drinks
Bix & Co.
Restaurant$$$$★ 4.5 · 464
West Des Moines
Activity
Des Moines Children's Museum
Children's museum★ 4.5 · 458
Wheelchair access
Find it
1551 Valley W Dr Ste 108, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.5★ from 458 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Des Moines Children's Museum.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Tue9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Wed9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Thu9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Fri9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Sat10 AM to 5 PM
SunClosed
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
Onsite services
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Contact
Call Site Maps
West Des Moines
Drinks
Winchester Public House
Cocktail bar$$$$★ 4.7 · 408
West Des Moines
Dining
Aura Restaurant & Lounge
New American restaurant$$$$★ 4.6 · 310
West Des Moines
Cafés
La Barista Coffee
Coffee shop$$$$★ 4.8 · 272
West Des Moines
Cafés
Totally Rolled Ice Cream
Ice cream shop★ 4.3 · 230
Good for groupsWheelchair access
Find it
5545 Mills Civic Pkwy #103, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.3★ from 230 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Totally Rolled Ice Cream.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon4 to 9 PM
Tue3 to 9 PM
Wed3 to 9 PM
Thu3 to 9 PM
Fri2 to 10 PM
Sat2 to 10 PM
Sun12 to 7 PM
Dining
Delivery · In-store pickup · Onsite services · Takeout
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Crowd
Groups
Contact
Call Site Maps
West Des Moines
Drinks
Bradley's Inc
Bar$$$$★ 4.4 · 179
West Des Moines
Cafés
Smokey Row Coffee
Coffee shop$$$$★ 4.2 · 179
West Des Moines
Activity
Jordan’s House
Museum★ 4.7 · 114
Wheelchair access
Find it
2001 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.7★ from 114 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Jordan’s House.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
Fri11 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 to 2:45 PM
SatClosed
Sun11 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 to 2:45 PM
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
Onsite services
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Contact
Call Site Maps
West Des Moines
Activity
Jamie Hurd Amphitheater
Amphitheater★ 4.7 · 51
Wheelchair access

West Des Moines

West Des Moines by the numbers

Local date spots

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Waterfront Seafood Market

Wellman's Pub & Rooftop

Mi Patria Ecuadorian Restaurant

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Funny Bone Comedy Club

El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill | Mexican

Spare Time Des Moines

Cooper's on 5th

The Pelican Post Bar & Grille

Bix & Co.

Des Moines Children's Museum

Winchester Public House

Aura Restaurant & Lounge

La Barista Coffee

Totally Rolled Ice Cream

Bradley's Inc

Smokey Row Coffee

Jordan’s House

Jamie Hurd Amphitheater

Reach West Des Moines singles right where they plan dates.