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    Café Madeleine, Restaurant in Des Moines
    Restaurant300Points

    Café Madeleine

    Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines

    Restaurant in Des Moines, United States

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    The 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, Friday through Sunday closed. For anyone planning around those hours, the main practical takeaway is simple: confirm the current schedule before making plans, expect a narrow midweek window.

    Verified public details are limited. Café Madeleine lists a smart-casual dress code, but specific menu format, pricing, cuisine, seating capacity, beverage program, service details are not confirmed here. Treat it as a plan-ahead Des Moines option rather than a venue where every detail can be assumed in advance.

    The Experience

    Because the available verified information does not include a menu, chef, cuisine, or wine program, the safest way to approach Café Madeleine is to focus on the confirmed basics: Des Moines location, smart-casual dress, 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 confirmed hours do not indicate lunch service, there is no verified information here supporting 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 verified 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 confirmed availability, occasion needs, 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.

    Venue detailsLocal Sourcing
    Also considerAlternatives
    Restaurant contextDes Moines, United States
    Explore Des MoinesNearby
    Around this placeMore Pearl picks

    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

    IntimateElegantSophisticated

    Best For

    Date NightSpecial OccasionCelebration

    Experience

    Chefs CounterStandalonePrivate Dining

    Sourcing

    Local Sourcing

    At the Table

    Dress Code
    Smart Casual
    Noise Level
    Quiet
    Service Style
    Formal
    Meal Pacing
    Extended Experience
    Capacity
    Intimate
    Planning details

    Location

    218 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 · Directions

    (515) 815-0924

    thecafemadeleine.com

    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, 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.

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    Unlock the full Café Madeleine guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.

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    Compare Café Madeleine
    Recognized Venues: Café Madeleine and Peers
    VenueAwards
    Café MadeleineNo published awards
    Splash Seafood Bar and GrillNo published awards
    801 ChophouseNo published awards
    Clyde's Fine DinerNo published awards
    LT Organic Farm Restaurant
    2025 New York Times The 23 Best Restaurant Dishes
    Table 1912No published awards

    Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is lunch or dinner better at Café Madeleine?

    The verified hours do not show lunch service. Café Madeleine is listed for limited evening hours: Tuesday 7:30–8:30 PM, Wednesday 7:30 PM–12 AM, 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. Verified information does not establish a specific cuisine, menu format, price point, seating style, or beverage program, so first-timers should avoid making assumptions beyond the confirmed Des Moines location, limited hours, 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’s verified dress code is smart casual. That is the best confirmed guidance for planning what to wear.