Name: Des Lux Hotel
Address: 800 Locust St, Court District, Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America, Des Moines, Polk County, US
Price range: $149–$273 per night
Rating: 9.6

What guests think

Des Lux Hotel earns consistent praise for its striking historic decor, friendly staff, spacious, comfortable rooms, and an above average complimentary breakfast, plus appreciated spa facilities and lobby bar, though downtown street noise and paid garage parking recur.

The central location is walkable to restaurants, the farmers market, and event venues. Some reviews note isolated maintenance or housekeeping lapses, intermittent A/C problems, and limited on-site dining with no pool. Expect a distinctive boutique stay with strong service and amenities downtown.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

A praised spa level includes a large hot tub, sauna, steam room and a solid gym; the lobby bar is popular. Parking is in the public garage across the street (fee), there’s no pool, and occasional maintenance issues arise.

Related guest reviews

10

Dawn

Oct 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Everything about this hotel was wonderful! Very clean, excellent breakfast room, and choices, massage available on site, a very nice hot tub. We would definitely stay here again!

10

Whitney

Apr 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Enjoyable hotel for an overnight stay. Arrived on Sunday so the parking garage across the street was free (otherwise max $10/day). The hot tub, sauna and steam room were the highlight.

10

Beth

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The spa, gym, and bar are spectacular amenities. Very relaxing, romantic hotel!

10

Doris

Aug 22, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This Boutique Hotel is just so cool. Once a gentlemens clu renovated to a hotel 15 years ago. The decor is ecletically appointed accented the best of this old interior. Its akin to walking in a museum set in the 20s. There is a spa hot tib health club. A great spot to hang out a few days attend a converence or the Iowa State fair. The restaurant breakfast is good and so is the bar on site.

10

Kristin

Mar 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Fun vibe, nice rooms and amenities. Fitness room open until 11. The hot tub was just a bit too hot for me and my partner. Breakfast was a step above your average continental with lots of choices. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful at night and in the morning

10

Eric

Oct 27, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Des Lux was a really cool boutique hotel. The martini bar in the lobby was nice (a little pricey) but the lobby was unique and fun. The breakfast was substantial and had so many choices, we felt as if we were at an “All-inclusive”. Parking was easy and convenient, cost is $10.00 a day, room was spacious and comfortable. The hot tub was very nice, along with a fantastic steam room and sauna. This hotel is just all around, very neat and worth a try. Oh, also, plenty of fantastic restaurants within walking distance.

10

Nazareth

Jun 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

What an unexpected and remarkable hotel nestled in the middle of downtown Des Moines. The lobby is a little bit of European old world splendor with the amenities one expects from a top notch modern hotel. Front desk staff was efficient and polite. Restaurants in the area were pointed out along with parking instructions across the street. The room I was assigned had a fireplace, bar with sink, a full sized tufted leather couch a separate sitting area, and a large bathroom. A very comfortable bed made for a restful sleep. Wow! A spa and gym in the basement with his/her locker rooms. Breakfast was served with the usual offerings along with an espresso machine was a nice touch to highly enjoyable stay. This place will a definite stop for my next trip through town.

10

John

Jun 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Cool update of a historic hotel. Good bar but no restaurant (but a great Mexican place, Malo, two blocks away). Very Arty; nice people and good service. Only negative is the hotel does not have its own parking; you have to park in the public ramp across the street.

10

Charles

May 6, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

A beautiful hotel, perfect down to the tiniest detail. We were there to attend a concert at Hoyt Sherman. Loved the free shuttle to the venue. It stopped running at 9 but the weather was nice and it was a pleasant walk back to the hotel.

10

nicholas

Jul 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Amazing hotel, great staff, great rooms great location…. Had beautiful gym, with sauna and hot tub…. Free amazing breakfast buffet. In a great location

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Cleanliness

Most guests report very clean rooms and public spaces, with many describing the hotel as spotless. A few cite lapses or wear—such as linens, bathroom detail, spa upkeep, or peeling wallpaper.

Related guest reviews

10

Lindsay

Apr 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel is very unique and we loved all the decor. Check in/out was super easy and the front desk staff were super nice. Only complaint is in the bathroom on the bottom towel shelf and on the shower chair, we did have visible “pubic” hair.

10

Mindy

Jul 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The building, decor, atmosphere, staff friendliness, cleanliness, and continental breakfast were all 10/10!

10

Audrey

Nov 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hotel is absolutely beautiful. The most aesthetically pleasing place I've ever stayed. Everything was perfectly clean and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Best hotel breakfast I've had since pre-covid. I would have expected to pay much more for how lovely this place is. Cannot recommend enough.

6

Megan

May 2, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Bathroom tub was outdated and had a black hole in bottom of it. Not appealing to the eye. There was hair in tub. Parts of room were dusty.

2

Zouhair

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

dirty sheets , pillows. The toilet keps flashing the entire time.

10

Jeannie

Dec 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Wonderful, friendly staff. Stunning lobby! The room was large and immaculate.

10

Douglas

Dec 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean rooms and great breakfast options.

8

James

Jun 28, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Both nights I was there I had to ask that my room be cleaned. The first time they cleaned it up belatedly. The second time they did not. I told staff about this. They apologized. Otherwise, the hotel is a nice facility, well appointed, with nice amenities in a good location. I would stay there again, despite the housekeeping snafu.

10

Eric

Sep 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, beautiful design of the interior, breakfast was one of the best included I’ve had, and the spa was the best kicker of the hotel stay!

8

JoAnne

May 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Spa area didn’t seems as clean as we would have liked (film build up on sides of spa, wet sauna smelled musty) but spa had lots of nice equipment to work out. Locker rooms were locked (needed a passcode) which was odd.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are generally spacious, stylish, and comfortable—many with fireplaces—and beds draw frequent praise. Some guests report street noise, occasional A/C or TV issues, dated tubs/showers, or minor maintenance and outlet-placement quirks.

Related guest reviews

10

W. Casey

Oct 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This place is unique! So out of the norm for most hotels! The rooms are huge! It’s just awesome. The staff is first class and the Halloween decorations are over the top! My new go to Des Moines Hotel!

10

Holly

Apr 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful design and decor with an old world feel of sophistication. Very grand yet warm and inviting. Front desk staff kind and welcoming. Definitely go for a king corner with fireplace! Lovely elegant experience!

10

Jenny

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Funky decor. Enormous bathroom. Good size room Only one charger outlet by the beds and it was not in the middle. It’s 2024, charging outlets should be by every bed or every side of the bed.

8

Andrea

Apr 4, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was good except that the air in our room did not work. It was 80 when we got to our room and if you turned on the air to cool it down it would just blow more hot air. So we had to open our door for a bit to cool it down and it still only cooled down to about 74 which made it uncomfortable to sleep.

10

Karen

Aug 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent location. Large and very nice rooms.

8

Alfred

Apr 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Had a nice stay, some of the outlets didn’t work and the tv was a little glitchy

10

Ann

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice large quiet room

10

Chantal

Jul 4, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great hotel! Very comfortable bed. Cold air conditioning. Friendly employees. We were there for an entire week and it was great. I was not feeling safe walking around after dark in that area. Nice restaurants within walking distance. Would stay there if I ever have to go to Des Moines again.

10

Terry

Jul 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was very clean with a large corner room. The only issue was the noise from the streets outside. They provide earplugs for sleeping, but they can get uncomfortable. Other than that, the place has quirky decorations throughout and feels elegant at the same time.

10

Danielle

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

First time staying here and had a great stay. It was only for one night, but I was very satisfied. front desk staff were friendly. Bed and pillows were comfortable. Loved the high ceilings and tall headboard. Just a great ambiance, dark wood finishes. Only thing that didn’t mesh with the vibe was the tub/shower combination. Just seemed outdated for the rest of the room and bathroom. Otherwise, fantastic place to stay!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Service is frequently described as friendly, attentive, and accommodating, with staff handling requests and fixes promptly. A few reports mention miscommunication or billing issues.

Related guest reviews

10

Trisha

May 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I cannot say enough good things about this place! Right from the start our check in went smooth, we were upgraded to a fabulous suite…Sandy was amazing and so helpful. The room was top notch, so clean and cute and unique. The bar had fun drinks and it was just fun to walk around and take in all the decor. I would 100% stay here again. I loved it!

8

andrea

Sep 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel is very nice, well maintained, conveniently located, reasonable priced public parking, great breakfast, good bar. My only issue was not being made aware that major renovation would be started in the room next door at 10:00am. It was loud, unexpected and startling. When I contacted staff at the front desk it also seemed to be a surprise that the room was being renovated to extensively. Thankfully, it was ended within the hour. There are a lot of nice hotels in the area. I will check those out on my next trip instead.

10

Craig

Aug 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Mary at the front desk was super friendly and helpful!!!

10

Nazareth

Jun 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

What an unexpected and remarkable hotel nestled in the middle of downtown Des Moines. The lobby is a little bit of European old world splendor with the amenities one expects from a top notch modern hotel. Front desk staff was efficient and polite. Restaurants in the area were pointed out along with parking instructions across the street. The room I was assigned had a fireplace, bar with sink, a full sized tufted leather couch a separate sitting area, and a large bathroom. A very comfortable bed made for a restful sleep. Wow! A spa and gym in the basement with his/her locker rooms. Breakfast was served with the usual offerings along with an espresso machine was a nice touch to highly enjoyable stay. This place will a definite stop for my next trip through town.

8

Seulgi

Sep 22, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was good besides we got charged for a bottle of wine that we did not drink. I made a call 2 times still did not get refunded and the staff that i talked to on second time phone call was not really nice. I really did not want to call back so i took care of it with my card company.

4

Dominic

Apr 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It was horrible made me feel like I was a homeless person trying to break into the building. Definitely won’t ever stay there again at this rate made me feel very uncomfortable. The front desk lady was horribly rude.

10

Jessica

Dec 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean hotel; excellent customer service!

10

Kayla

Jan 16, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff were extremely helpful. When my TV was not working, they fixed it quickly. The bed was comfortable, the hotel offered many amenities from sauna, steam room and free breakfast.

10

Wesley

Aug 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Simply the BEST hotel in Des Moines! The staff is INCREDIBLE and we’re SO hospitable to us despite a slight booking error which was quickly and graciously corrected!

10

Sheila

Jun 1, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

We were welcomed by Marina who made our stay so wonderful we booked another night. Estelle in the breakfast room was so accommodating and sweet! Sherry, our bartender made it even better. We hope to make it back soon.

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Location

Central downtown location is walkable to dining, the farmers market, and major venues, with easy garage parking nearby. Some guests mention nighttime street noise and occasional safety concerns.

Related guest reviews

10

Zachary

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Stayed for the Shane Gillis show so price was high BUT worth it!! Very nice hotel! Awesome room and awesome bed! Would absolutely stay again!! Roughly 10 min walk to Wells Fargo with plenty of bars and restaurants on the way!

10

Barb

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Comfortable accommodations and within walking distance to Saturday Downtown Farmers Market.

10

Charlie

Dec 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent hotel! Simply beautiful in the heart of downtown. Lots of food choices, neat area to walk, and the hotel is gorgeous!

10

Thomas

Feb 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent downtown metro hotel. Renovated 1913 property. Great location and amenities. Close to excellent restaurants. Parking across the street. The rooms are amazing. We’ll be back.

10

Tamara

Jul 7, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Walkable to Principle Field beautiful art deco interior.

10

Chantal

Jul 4, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great hotel! Very comfortable bed. Cold air conditioning. Friendly employees. We were there for an entire week and it was great. I was not feeling safe walking around after dark in that area. Nice restaurants within walking distance. Would stay there if I ever have to go to Des Moines again.

10

Suranga

Jul 15, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The best hotel in downtown Des Moines. Conveniently located with many attractions and other facilities accessible at a walking distance. The hotel consists of clean rooms, an elegant lobby, and includes a great complimentary breakfast. We had a wonderful stay.

10

Adam

Oct 31, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff are very friendly and helpful with dinner recommendations. Elevator was out of service when returning from dinner, long painful walk to my 5th floor room after a big meal. Only other con may be thin windows or insulation. So much traffic noise at all hours of the night. What is with Des Moines motorcycles and "race cars" constantly cruising around downtown all night long? Overall, lovely hotel with character and near excellent dining (Centro). I recommend and will return next time I\'m in town for work.

8

Paul

Jun 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Centrally located in the heart of Des Moines

10

Kevin

Apr 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a comfortable walk to the event center in the skywalk.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Complimentary breakfast draws strong reviews for variety and quality, and the lobby bar’s cocktails are popular. A minority found breakfast average, and there is no full on-site restaurant or room service.

Related guest reviews

10

Shana L

Sep 7, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Was beautiful great free breakfast

10

Jon

May 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our stay was amazing we loved the bar and breakfast.

10

Michael

Jul 29, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Wonderfully decorated hotel. Included breakfast is one of the best ever.

10

Michael

Nov 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The breakfast was freshly cooked, and a wide variety of choices was available

8

Laura

Mar 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our room was large, the bed was comfortable, and our location in the hotel was quiet. It's an old building, but seems to be maintained well. The included breakfast was disappointing. Mostly processed foods,like donuts, granola bars, and assortment dry cereals, etc. Limited fruit available. One hot entree of mediocre scrambled eggs, and sausage. Hot tea and coffee. Cheerios, milk, toast, and yogurt were our go to both days.

10

John

Jun 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Cool update of a historic hotel. Good bar but no restaurant (but a great Mexican place, Malo, two blocks away). Very Arty; nice people and good service. Only negative is the hotel does not have its own parking; you have to park in the public ramp across the street.

10

James

Aug 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great stay with very friendly staff. Breakfast was fantastic, much more than a continental breakfast with very attentive staff. Will definitely be back.

10

Mary

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

An amazing hotel with fabulous art deco throughout the lobby. So whimsical and really beautiful. Breakfast was included and was excellent. Many choices including many take away options. I would 100% stay again

10

William

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Des Lux is a beautiful hotel. Beds are comfy and spacious. The hotel bar is much better than most, craft cocktails. Lots of great dining/cocktail options within walking distance.

10

Abigail

Apr 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was wonderful and it’s a very nice place. Only let down was breakfast. A very budget hotel- style basic buffet with prepackaged options like pop tarts. A nice breakfast - even if not free - would really suit the hotel better!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$155
February	$162
March	$159
April	$168
May	$167
June	$177
July	$164
August	$206
September	$184
October	$177
November	$166
December	$161

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $170	2 $216	3 $218
4 $173	5 $174	6 $173	7 $173	8 $177	9 $209	10 $213
11 $185	12 $176	13 $174	14 $173	15 $173	16	17
18 $209	19 $218	20	21	22	23	24
25 $174	26 $177	27 $175	28 $175	29 $173	30 $212	31 $214

Des Lux Hotel

Prices for Des Lux Hotel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace

Suite

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Fireplace

Suite, 1 King Bed, Fireplace, Corner

Suite, 1 King Bed, Corner

Executive Room, 2 Queen Beds

Executive Room, 1 King Bed, Fireplace

Room, 1 King Bed

Presidential Suite

Guest reviews of Des Lux Hotel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Des Lux Hotel

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18 $238	19 $175
20 $150	21 $184	22 $149	23 $160	24 $154	25 $211	26 $178
27 $168	28 $213	29 $273	30 $227