Nightclubs and bars in Iowa

Situated on the banks of the Missouri River, Harrah's Council Bluffs brings a little bit of Las Vegas to the Midwest. Harrah's Council Bluffs offers 24-hour gambling in its three-deck casino. Games include more than 1,000 slots, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, pai gow poker, craps, roulette, and Spanish 21.

Four restaurants provide different dining options, a discotheque is popular with guests for dancing after dinner, and the Vertigo at 360 lounge provides live entertainment, karaoke, and line dancing.

The casino also boasts a 251-room hotel with luxury rooms and suites, all with internet access. Guests can also work out in the fitness center, or get a make-over in the beauty salon.

No, not nightlife, since this place closes early. But, visit Millstream Brewing Co., Iowa's oldest microbrewery. They have samples and you can also enjoy a nice mug of beer, which is very good. Also good here is their rootbeer, also made on premise. The weather is generally nice enough, especially towards evening, to sit outside on their vine-covered patio in front.

There is little or no nightlife in Iowa besides parties and skanky bars. However, Rock Island (which is technically in Illinois) is a fun place to go on occasion. Rock Island is one of the Quad Cities and the District sometimes throws fun events--there is a Summerfest and a special event where everyone pretends to be Jamaican (the rest of the year everyone pretends to be Irish!). It's fun!

In Des Moines, the best clubs are probably on Court Avenue. It is downtown and is a very pretty area with several good restaurants as well. I don't know the name of all the clubs, but I do know that you can buy a pass that gets you into four of them in the same area. My favorite restaurant in that area is Spaghetti Works and Julio's is a great bar with yummy food.