Café Madeleine
Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines
Restaurant in Des Moines, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
A Wine Enthusiast-recognized restaurant operating three nights a week in downtown Des Moines, offering a wine-driven dining experience rare for the Midwest. Limited hours (Tuesday–Thursday evenings only) and undisclosed seating capacity make advance planning essential, but the national recognition signals a cellar and sourcing approach that outpaces the city's steakhouse-dominated scene. Best for special occasions where wine is the priority.
About Café Madeleine
Café Madeleine is a Des Moines venue with a very limited public schedule: Monday closed, Tuesday 7:30–8:30 PM, Wednesday 7:30 PM–12 AM, Thursday 7:30–8:30 PM, and Friday through Sunday closed. For anyone planning around those hours, the main practical takeaway is simple: confirm the current schedule before making plans, and expect a narrow midweek window.
Café Madeleine lists a smart-casual dress code, but details like menu format, pricing, cuisine, seating capacity, beverage program, and service are not available. It's a plan-ahead Des Moines option rather than a venue where every detail can be assumed in advance.
The Experience
Since a menu, chef, cuisine, or wine program are not described, the safest way to approach Café Madeleine is to focus on the known basics: Des Moines location, smart-casual dress, and limited evening hours. The short operating window may suit visitors who can plan precisely, but it also means flexibility is limited.
For a visit, dress smart casual and check the venue’s current availability directly before relying on the listed schedule. The hours do not indicate lunch service, and there is no mention of takeout, delivery, a tasting menu, or a specific beverage focus.
Positioning Against Des Moines Peers
Among Des Moines options, Café Madeleine stands out primarily for its narrow schedule rather than any noted award, cuisine, or menu format. Anyone comparing it with 801 Chophouse, Splash Seafood Bar and Grill, Clyde's Fine Diner, Table 1912, or LT Organic Farm Restaurant should make the decision based on availability, occasion needs, and the kind of experience they want after checking each venue directly.
The lack of Friday and weekend service is the biggest practical hurdle. If your plans require those nights, other Des Moines restaurants may be easier to schedule. If Café Madeleine’s limited midweek hours work for you, confirm details in advance and plan around the listed Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening windows.
After your visit, explore Des Moines bars or consider other Des Moines dining plans if the listed Café Madeleine hours do not fit your schedule.
Planning details
- Location
- 218 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Website
- thecafemadeleine.com
- Phone
- (515) 815-0924
Venue details
Ambiance
Sophisticated and intimate, with a quiet, fine-dining atmosphere centered on a personal chef’s table experience and carefully paced tasting menu service.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Formal
- Meal Pacing
- Extended Experience
- Capacity
- Intimate
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 218 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Splash Seafood Bar and Grill, Notable alternative
- 801 Chophouse, Notable alternative
- Clyde's Fine Diner, Notable alternative
- LT Organic Farm Restaurant, Notable alternative
- Table 1912, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
Café Madeleine's Wine Enthusiast recognition puts it in a category apart from Des Moines' more accessible options. Splash Seafood Bar and Grill and 801 Chophouse offer easier booking, longer hours, and polished but predictable wine programs, solid choices for business meals or last-minute plans, but neither carries national acclaim for their beverage curation. If you need a table Friday or Saturday, those venues (plus Clyde's Fine Diner, which runs a more traditional schedule) are your fallback, though you'll trade the specialized wine focus for convenience.
For diners willing to plan around the Tuesday–Thursday window, Café Madeleine delivers what the others don't: a kitchen and cellar built around wine first, with ingredient sourcing likely shaped by seasonal availability and bottle pairings. LT Organic Farm Restaurant (outside metro Des Moines) shares a farm-to-table ethos but lacks the wine program depth that earned Café Madeleine its award. Table 1912, another out-of-metro option, may offer a similar chef-driven experience, but Wine Enthusiast's nod suggests Café Madeleine's beverage curation is the stronger draw for oenophiles.
Bottom line: if wine is secondary to your meal, stick with 801 Chophouse or Splash for their broader availability and straightforward menus. If you're celebrating an occasion where the wine list matters as much as the food, Café Madeleine's three-night schedule and lack of walk-in flexibility are worth accommodating, just confirm your reservation well ahead and plan your week around their hours.
Explore Des Moines
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Café Madeleine guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Café Madeleine
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Café Madeleine | Des Moines | No published awards |
| Splash Seafood Bar and Grill | Des Moines | 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence |
| 801 Chophouse | Des Moines | No published awards |
| Clyde's Fine Diner | Des Moines | No published awards |
| LT Organic Farm Restaurant | Waukee | 2025 New York Times The 23 Best Restaurant Dishes |
| Table 1912 | Cedar Falls | No published awards |
How Café Madeleine Des Moines compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat at the bar at Café Madeleine?
Bar seating is not mentioned. Café Madeleine offers limited evening hours in Des Moines and has a smart-casual dress code, so check directly before planning around bar seating or walk-in availability.
Is lunch or dinner better at Café Madeleine?
The hours do not show lunch service. Café Madeleine is open for limited evening hours: Tuesday 7:30–8:30 PM, Wednesday 7:30 PM–12 AM, and Thursday 7:30–8:30 PM, with Monday and Friday through Sunday closed.
What should a first-timer know about Café Madeleine?
Plan around a narrow schedule and confirm details before going. A specific cuisine, menu format, price point, seating style, or beverage program is not mentioned, so first-timers should avoid making assumptions beyond the Des Moines location, limited hours, and smart-casual dress code.
Is Café Madeleine good for a special occasion?
It may work for a special occasion if the limited midweek evening hours fit your plans. If you need more scheduling flexibility, compare availability with 801 Chophouse, Table 1912, LT Organic Farm Restaurant, Clyde's Fine Diner, Splash Seafood Bar and Grill, or other Des Moines dining options.
What should I wear to Café Madeleine?
Café Madeleine suggests a smart casual dress code. This is the best guidance for planning what to wear.
