How do you get into Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy?
We have not confirmed it. Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy is in the directory because it described as secret, and that is the whole of what we can stand behind about its door.
The drinks at Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy
How the venue describes itself: “The Iowa Taproom supports the growing tradition of diversity, creativity and excellence in Iowa beer. We also celebrate all of Iowa, from the farms to small towns and larger cities. We salut…” (from its own website, retrieved 9 October 2026)
The current drinks list is published on the venue’s own site — see the menu.
Beyond what the venue publishes we have not verified a list, so what follows is the period rather than the bar: Corpse Reviver No. 2, White Lady, and Twentieth Century are all drinks of this era, and each links to its origin and its build.
Where Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy sits
Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy is in Des Moines, Iowa, in Polk County, in the Midwest of the United States.
Our directory currently lists six speakeasies and hidden bars in Des Moines. The full list is on our guide to hidden bars in Des Moines.
Measured from the map pins, the closest of those to Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy are Alleged Lee’s, about 400 m away, Monihans Speakeasy, about 800 m away, and Secret Admirer, about 950 m away.
Iowa holds 16 listed venues in this directory. See them all on our Iowa speakeasy guide.
Prohibition in Iowa
Iowa did not wait for the federal government. Statewide prohibition took effect here in 1916, four years before the Eighteenth Amendment came into force nationally on 17 January 1920. By the time the Volstead Act was being enforced across the country, Iowa already had an established illegal trade and the habits that went with it.
More on the period in our history of Prohibition in Iowa.
What the newspapers recorded in Iowa
Searching the Library of Congress run of Iowa newspapers for speakeasy, blind pig and bootlegger across 1920 to 1933 returns dated pages anyone can open. These are from Iowa:
- Evening times-Republican, January 23, 1920 — read the page at the Library of Congress
- Decorah-posten og ved arnen, January 30, 1920 — read the page at the Library of Congress
- The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat, February 17, 1920 — read the page at the Library of Congress
- Evening times-Republican, March 10, 1920 — read the page at the Library of Congress
Planning a visit
Hours published by the venue:
- Sat 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Thur 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Wed 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Hours as published on the venue’s own site, retrieved 9 October 2026.
You can reach Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy by phone on (515) 243-0827, through its own website, and on Facebook and Instagram.
The address is 215 E 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309. Open in Google Maps.
What we have confirmed
For Ken’s – a not so secret speakeasy we hold street address, telephone number, official website, social accounts, opening hours, and a published drinks list. We do not yet hold an online booking link or a listed-building record.
It is in the directory because its own name calls it secret and calls it a speakeasy and the description in the source data describes it as a speakeasy.
Overture Maps carries this venue; OpenStreetMap has no matching record.
The source data classifies the premises as a bar.