Business Traveler's Guide to Des Moines: Where Work Meets Midwestern Charm

After years of sleeping in my truck cab between hauls, I've developed a serious appreciation for a proper bed and workspace. Des Moines delivers with options that won't blow your expense account.

The Des Lux Hotel downtown has become my go-to whenever I'm in town for industry meetups. It's housed in a historic building with character but offers modern amenities including actually-usable work desks (a rarity these days) and lightning-fast WiFi that can handle video calls without buffering. Plus, they've got a complimentary shuttle service that'll take you anywhere within a 5-mile radius—perfect for when you need to make it to that 8 AM meeting without dealing with parking.

If you prefer chain reliability, the AC Hotel by Marriott in the East Village gives you that contemporary European vibe with smart workspaces and a lobby that's actually designed for getting stuff done rather than just looking pretty. Their morning breakfast spread includes proper coffee that'll put your gas station brew to shame.

For longer stays, I've found the portable monitor to be a game-changer for setting up a proper workstation in any hotel room. Slides right into my luggage and gives me the dual-screen setup I need without hauling my entire office on the road.

Let's be real—sometimes you need to escape the fluorescent lighting of hotel business centers. Des Moines has some solid spots for remote work that won't have you fighting for an outlet or suffering through weak coffee.

Horizon Line Coffee in the Western Gateway district is my absolute favorite remote workspace. The industrial-minimal vibe hits that sweet spot between energizing and calming, and their baristas understand the concept of coffee as fuel, not just an Instagram prop. The WiFi never lags, and they've got these gorgeous wooden tables with built-in power that can accommodate your laptop spread. When I'm pulling long hours finalizing logistics reports, their nitrogen-infused cold brew keeps me going.

Smokey Row Coffee is another solid choice with multiple locations. The downtown spot offers more space to spread out, and they're cool with you camping out for hours as long as you order something every couple of hours. Their breakfast sandwiches will fuel your morning meetings, and they've got enough seating options that you can switch between a proper table for focused work and a comfy chair for calls.

For those days when you need proper meeting space, Gravitate Coworking offers day passes for about $20—worth every penny when you need conference rooms, printer access, and the professional vibe that coffee shops can't provide. I've closed some of my biggest transport contracts in their meeting rooms.

Pro tip: I never travel without my noise-cancelling earbuds for those inevitable moments when the table next to you erupts in a sales team celebration or someone decides to take a conference call on speaker.

After years on the road, I've developed a sixth sense for finding restaurants that work for business meetings without being stuffy corporate chains. Des Moines has plenty of spots where you can impress clients or decompress after a day of meetings.

Centro downtown is my go-to for client dinners. The Italian-inspired menu has something for everyone, the noise level lets you actually hear your conversation without feeling like you're in a library, and the service strikes that perfect balance of attentive without hovering. Their private dining room has sealed several deals for me, and the wine list is impressive enough to please even your most particular clients.

For lunch meetings, St. Kilda in the East Village offers that casual-but-professional atmosphere with food that photographs well for your expense report but actually tastes good too. Their avocado toast might be basic, but it's executed perfectly, and the bright, airy space makes for productive midday conversations.

When you're dining solo and need to catch up on emails, Bubba offers bar seating where no one gives you side-eye for having your laptop open. Their southern comfort food is exactly what you need after a day of corporate pleasantries—the shrimp and grits have gotten me through many quarterly report deadlines.

For morning meetings, skip the hotel breakfast and head to La Mie Bakery. Their pastries will impress any client, and the coffee is strong enough to power through early agenda items. Just avoid the 7:30-8:30 rush unless you want to compete with every other business traveler in town.

I always pack my collapsible food container for leftovers—perfect for those late nights working in the hotel when you don't want to order room service for the third time in a week.

Listen, all work and no play makes for a boring expense report. Des Moines has some surprisingly solid spots to unwind after you've closed your laptop for the day.

The Basement at the Des Moines Social Club is where I head when I need a proper electronic music fix between freight runs. Despite its name, it's not some sketchy underground spot—it's a legitimate venue with surprisingly good sound systems and DJs that know their way around a mixing board. I've caught some decent house and techno sets that would hold their own in bigger cities.

Vinyl Cup Records is my happy place whenever I've got downtime in Des Moines. Their selection of vintage electronic and dance records is surprisingly robust for the Midwest, and I've scored some rare Detroit techno pressings that I couldn't even find in bigger cities. The staff actually know their music and won't give you that pretentious record store attitude.

For vintage shopping, Hill Vintage & Knits in the East Village has become my first stop whenever I roll into town. The owner has an eye for curated vintage that doesn't look like a costume, and I've found some incredible 80s and 90s pieces that have become staples in my rotation. My favorite denim jacket—complete with patches from every major city I've hauled to—came from their back rack.

If you've got a free weekend day, the Downtown Farmers' Market (Saturday mornings, May through October) is worth extending your stay. Beyond the expected produce, there's a solid lineup of local makers selling everything from handcrafted jewelry to small-batch hot sauces that make perfect gifts to bring home.

For those inevitable late work nights, I always pack my portable cocktail kit to transform a basic hotel mini-bar into something actually worth drinking while catching up on emails.

As someone who drives for a living, I notice transportation details others might miss. Des Moines isn't exactly a public transit paradise, but it's navigable if you know the tricks.

The downtown core is surprisingly walkable—most business hotels are within a 15-minute stroll of the major office buildings and convention center. I track my steps with my fitness tracker and regularly hit 10,000 just moving between meetings downtown.

For longer distances, rideshare services are reliable in the business districts but can have 10+ minute waits during peak hours. If your schedule is tight, build in buffer time or pre-schedule your rides.

Renting a car makes sense if you've got meetings across town, especially in the suburban office parks. The airport rental counters are efficient (I've never waited more than 15 minutes), and parking downtown typically runs $10-15 for the day in garages.

Here's a trucking industry secret that applies to business travel too: always check your route before heading out. Des Moines has ongoing construction projects that can turn a 10-minute drive into 30 minutes of frustration. The Iowa 511 app gives you real-time traffic updates that Google Maps sometimes misses.

If you're staying downtown and need to get to the airport, skip the rideshare surge pricing and use the hotel shuttle services. Most business hotels offer complimentary airport transportation if you book in advance—just don't wait until checkout morning to reserve your spot.