The East Village is a perfect mix of rehabbed buildings, higher end and more casual, quirkier boutiques, great options for eating and drinking regardless of time of day. I love the vibe, which is due largely to the fact that most spots are small, locally owned shops. Among my favorite spots are Eden (gifts, skin care, candles, too much other... More

New stores opening almost every time we visit. Bohemian and eclectic but needs more outside character like Old Market in Omaha. Street musicians, artists, maybe even carriage rides. Zombie Burgers is a must visit but be prepared to wait in line.

Very confusing - Tripadvisor has entirely the wrong location. But reviewers have it right. And if you are in the area of the Capitol, there are signs. But what's the big deal? Sure, a few mildly interesting shops here and there, but with a lot of modern office buildings and parking lots throughout. Few people wandering around, on two different... More

This is the part of Des Moines just "in front of" the state capitol building. It has small shops and restaurants, especially a Lebanese restaurant. It has several "surprise" street sculptures on the sidewalk.

We really enjoyed our time in the East Village. There are several shops, restaurants and bars in the area. Many of them are quite unique. Much of the area has been restored. Parking was a bit of an issue but nothing that we could not deal with. And, there was no charge to park on Saturday or Sunday. The Village... More

A nice mix of artsy shops and restaurants. The spice store with lots of different types of flavored olive oils and vinegars, and spices was particularly interesting for the casual foodie. Kitchen Collage is a must-see as it has a ton of stuff in every corner that you browse. The Sticks store is very large with beautiful handmade furnishings and... More

Unique collection of independent shops. We spent a Saturday afternoon strolling around through the shops. I particularly liked Raygun (quirky t-shirt shop) and Kitchen Collage (fun kitchen supplies).

Not quite the artsy and quaint area I was hoping to find but some real highlights. Loved the Zombie burger menu, Sticks, and Raygun. There is a intriguing art gallery nestled in the thick of things as well (sorry, can't remember the name). Worth about an hour or two of snooping and shopping. We were there in winter so may... More

Apparently DSM's Historical East Village hasn't always been as lovely as it is today. From what I heard, it's had quite the transformation in the past 10 years. Whoever started this trend had the right idea - the shops, boutiques, and restaurants in this area are such a refreshing environment! Support our economy by shopping at these local small businesses.