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Bar Nico, Des Moines, IA

Bar Nico

4.8 (126)
$30 and under
Mexican
428 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309-1910

Make a reservation

A photo of Bar Nico restaurant

Bar Nico

4.8
$30 and under
Mexican
Des Moines

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 p.m.
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Gluten-free-friendly
Our restaurant's mantra is "Sin Maiz, No Hay Pais" meaning "without corn there is no country" as such, our tortillas are hand ground in house from heirloom organic Mexican corn varietals - made daily & cooked to order. As a result of our corn obsession, we have no flour in house & are a completely gluten-free kitchen.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–3:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Matt Small
  • Neighbourhood
    Des Moines
  • Cross street
    East Locust St. & East 5th St.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

What 126 people are saying

Bar Nico reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Iowa

    Best Service

  • Iowa

    Best Value

  • Iowa

    Healthy

  • Iowa

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Des Moines

    Best Overall

  • Des Moines

    Best Service

  • Des Moines

    Best Ambience

  • Des Moines

    Best Value

  • Des Moines

    Innovative

  • Des Moines

    Healthy

  • Des Moines

    Neighbourhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Nico offers a "cozy vibe" with "delicious" gluten-free options and a creative menu. Guests rave about the "amazing food" and attentive service. Highlights include the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, pork belly tacos, and churros. Located near Embassy Suites, it boasts a "super cute ambience" and "great drinks."
126 Reviews
  1. Denise

    Des Moines3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 4, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of our favorite gluten free places to dine. The food is delicious and the service is always friendly. It's not very big and we like the cozy vibe.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Michelle

    Des Moines1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved our experience at Bar Nico. There was great vibes, friendly and attentive staff and great food.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Brad

    Des Moines3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Second timers. Oaxacan Ole Fashioned excellent. Lobster app great. Tacos yummy. Churros the bomb. Good service. We Likey.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Franklin

    Des Moines4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A creative menu and cocktail list - Bar Nico is a cut above and has adventurous food. Well done

    Is this helpful?

  5. Whitney

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have consistently good meals here. The guacamole is hands down my favorite in town.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Alex

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on November 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service. Great ambience and location.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jennifer

    Los Angeles1 review

    4.0

    Dined on November 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Music was WAY too loud. Couldn’t hear the people in my party or the wait staff.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Allison

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love bar Nico! I got the pork belly tacos and they were delicious! They also have great drinks, I had the prickly pear punch and salty dog and enjoyed them both.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Lisa

    New York City7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had the Guacamole, which is always great, and we shared the Lamb Empanada and the Enchiladas. That was plenty of food for the two of us. The servicer, Izzie, was helpful and efficient and the food was very tasty and full-flavored. I look forward to coming back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Suzana

    Des Moines1 review

    5.0

    Dined on November 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It is a very lovely place to eat dinner and chat with friends. They also have good coffee! (This is not the case in Des Moines, overall.) Staff is very friendly and wonderful.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–3:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Matt Small
  • Neighbourhood
    Des Moines
  • Cross street
    East Locust St. & East 5th St.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Bar Nico welcomes families and guests commonly bring teens or celebrate with children, but seating can be on the cozy side. Guests mention small tables and booths that may feel cramped for groups of four, so it’s best for two or for sharing smaller plates. Information about wheelchair accessibility or other accessibility features isn’t provided here, call ahead if you need accessible seating or accommodations.

Bar Nico has a warm, beachy SoCal–inspired vibe with friendly service and lively energy. Guests praise the charming decor, great cocktails and a fun patio, though music can be quite loud on some nights. Overall it’s a casual, upbeat spot that’s great for dates, drinks and flavorful Mexican plates, expect lively conversation and an energetic dining room during peak times.

Bar Nico is busiest on weekend evenings and popular dinner times when the room and music are lively. Happy hour draws a crowd too. Guests note that Monday nights can be much quieter and weekday lunch/early dinners are typically calmer, choose those times for a more relaxed visit.

Casual dress is appropriate at Bar Nico, guests typically come in relaxed, comfortable attire suitable for a casual dinner or drinks in the East Village.

For a lively atmosphere and creative cocktails, Friday–Saturday dinner or a sunny patio afternoon is ideal. If you prefer a quieter meal, try Monday evenings or weekday lunch/early dinner, guests report Mondays can be sparsely populated. Happy Hour (daily 3–5 pm) is also a popular time for good drink prices and a more relaxed crowd.

Yes, Bar Nico is a popular choice for a date night thanks to its cozy, beachy SoCal vibe, inventive cocktails and patio seating. Guests frequently praise the food, drinks and attentive service, making it easy to relax and enjoy an evening. Note that music can get loud on some evenings, so for a quieter table consider an early reservation, patio seating when weather allows, or asking staff for a calmer spot.

Portions tend toward moderate and are great for sharing, many guests order several tapas-style items or tacos to sample. Some guests report being comfortably full after sharing a few plates (two people full under $60), while others enjoy ordering an entréelike dish such as enchiladas. If you prefer a larger meal, plan to combine a couple of plates or an entrée plus a side.

Bar Nico serves lunch weekdays, weekend brunch, daily happy hour and evening dinner service. Typical hours are: Lunch Mon–Fri 10:30 am–3:00 pm; Brunch Sat–Sun 10:30 am–3:00 pm; Happy Hour daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm; Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm; Dinner Fri–Sat 3:00 pm–12:00 am. Check ahead for holiday hours or changes.

Yes, Bar Nico’s staff are described as attentive and helpful, and the kitchen is fully gluten-free, so dietary needs like gluten-free or allergy concerns are accommodated well. Guests report staff responding kindly when ingredients needed to be changed. For seating requests, accessibility needs or larger group planning, call the restaurant ahead since they don’t accept large parties or private bookings.

Families do dine at Bar Nico, and guests often bring teens or celebrate with children. That said, the layout features smaller tables and booths that can feel cramped for larger family groups, so it’s best for small family outings or older kids. There’s no mention of a kids menu, so consider an early seating or calling ahead to discuss menu options for young children.

Yes, guests report wait times even with reservations (20–30+ minutes) during busy periods. If you have a reservation, expect the possibility of a short wait; otherwise plan to arrive early or sit at the bar. Calling ahead on busy nights can help set expectations.

For a quieter experience, Monday is a great bet, guests report the restaurant being sparsely populated that night. For a lively visit with cocktails and patio vibes, Friday or Saturday evening (or a sunny weekend patio afternoon) is ideal. Your best day depends on whether you want calm dining or a buzzingly social night.

Yes, Bar Nico has a lovely patio that guests enjoy in warmer months. Multiple guests mention sitting outside and enjoying drinks and tacos on the patio; it’s a popular spot for relaxed afternoons and date-night evenings when weather permits.

Bar Nico is rated 4.8 stars by 126 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

How FAQ content is generated

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  2. United States
  3. Iowa
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  5. Des Moines

Make a reservation

A photo of Bar Nico restaurant

Bar Nico

4.8
$30 and under
Mexican
Des Moines

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 p.m.
Booked 10 times today
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