Eating and drinking
Eating and drinking near Harbach Lofts
A cafe and game lounge attached to the building, the Court Avenue district a few blocks away, and the East Village across the river. We name the places that are anchors and leave the roster that changes to a walk.
The Rook Room, downstairs
The Rook Room, a game lounge and cafe, connects directly to the building. It is the closest place to get a coffee or a drink, run by the business itself, so its menu and hours are theirs to set and change. The Rook Room page has more.
The Court Avenue district
Court Avenue, 0.4 miles away, is the Court District's strip of restaurants and bars, the oldest part of downtown. We do not print a list of restaurants here because they open and close; walk it on a Friday evening for the current one. The downtown Hy-Vee at 420 Court Ave, 0.3 miles, has a sit-down Market Grille if you want a known quantity.
The East Village
Across the Des Moines River, 1.1 miles away, the East Village has its own run of restaurants, coffee shops and bars near the Iowa State Capitol. It is a walk over the Court Avenue or Grand Avenue bridge. Harbach Lofts has studios, one bedrooms and two bedroom homes, from 427 to 1,103 square feet, each with a full-size washer and dryer and an updated kitchen inside the original 1906 shell. Live pricing for every open home is on the availability page.
Questions people ask
Is there a restaurant at Harbach Lofts?
The Rook Room, a game lounge and cafe, connects to the building. Its menu and hours are set by the business.
How far is Court Avenue from Harbach Lofts?
0.4 miles on foot. Court Avenue is the Court District's restaurant and bar strip.
Where do people go out near Harbach Lofts?
The Court Avenue district (0.4 miles) and the East Village across the river (1.1 miles) are the two main clusters of restaurants and bars.
Why don't you list the restaurants by name?
They open and close, and a stale list is worse than none. We name the anchors that stay put and leave the rest to a walk.
Distances measured by the walking route from 300 SW 5th St, October 2026.
More about living here
- Downtown Des Moines and the Court District
- Parks and trails near Harbach Lofts
- Groceries and errands near Harbach Lofts
- Commuting from Harbach Lofts
- Things to do near Harbach Lofts
- The courtyard at Harbach Lofts
- The library and reading room
- The Rook Room at Harbach Lofts
- Floor plans at Harbach Lofts, explained
- How to apply at Harbach Lofts
- Working from home at Harbach Lofts
- What residents say about Harbach Lofts
- The downtown Des Moines guide
- All questions