Gate-side drinks in Terminal 1 before you board
A Bar sits past security in Terminal 1 at Des Moines International Airport, so you’re already through TSA before you order anything. It functions as the main full-service bar in the concourse, with seats at the counter plus a few tables close enough to see boarding zones form at nearby gates. It’s an easy stop if your flight goes out of the central cluster of DSM gates and you want a sit-down drink instead of just grabbing something from a kiosk.
Hours track closely with the DSM flight schedule, generally opening early morning for the first departures and closing after the last evening flights, so you’ll usually find it operating between roughly 5:00 a.m. and 8:00–9:00 p.m. Food and drink pricing runs at typical airport levels: plan on cocktails in the $10–$15 range, domestic beers around $7–$9, and simple bar food in the low to mid-teens. Build that into your budget so the tab doesn’t surprise you on a layover.
The menu leans on standard airport bar staples: burgers, chicken tenders, fries, salads, and basic appetizers rather than anything regional like pork tenderloin sandwiches. That makes A Bar more of a “grab a quick burger and a beer” stop than a destination meal. Portions come out fast enough to work on a 60–90 minute connection, but if your layover is under 40 minutes, you’re safer sticking to a drink only and watching the clock.
Seating is limited, and the bar fills quickly during the late afternoon bank of departures around 3:30–6:30 p.m., especially on Sunday and Thursday. If seats at the counter are taken, you can usually still stand nearby with a drink and keep an eye on gate displays within 20–30 feet. Service pace follows crowd level: solo travelers at the bar tend to get faster attention than people at the outer tables.
Tip: Ask your bartender which gates are boarding soon; at DSM they usually know the schedule and will prompt you to close out 10–15 minutes before your group gets called.