HobNob Coffee and Wine bar Reviewed

This review was updated in October of 2022 as part of an installment in my series Return to the Palace on Walnut Street, which serves as my exhaustive journal on Hotel Fort Des Moines.

I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the physical environment around us is vital in the development of our identities. Just as one might believe that we become like the people we spend the most time with, the places in which we spend our time influence us as human beings. Since my first visit shortly after it opened, I have again and again chosen to spend time at Hobnob. I posted a review here- the original one was my very first blog post. I’m a little more confident with my writing now, and I know more about Hob-Nob as a weekly visitor and general bon vivant. So let’s, review.

Opened in December of 2021, Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar is Hotel Fort Des Moines’ in-house breakfast cafe. While they are a phenomenal option for breakfast, I repeatedly patronize this place for its coffee and comfort. The breakfast is phenomenal, however. My downstairs neighbor Holly and I pranced over one early morning to grab a table and it was everything I hoped for and more. Options are simple and elegant yet not fussy- a quintessential element for any upscale experience in Des Moines.

The phrase “hobnob” is an older term, a verb, used to describe socializing with with those above one’s social class. For instance you might say “That Nancy Drew, she’s always hobnobbing with politicians and lawyers”. The closest thing I can relate it t00 in our contemporary vernacular would be “a clout chaser” though “hobnobbing” doesn’t seem to have the same negative connotation. It’s a little more romantic. Hobnob is not a new name to the property, it was borrowed from a 1940s luncheonette that occupied the same space.

Right away there are a couple of secrets in this corner of the hotel. For instance, as you walk in you may notice a lettered mosaic in the floor. This is a recreation of the 1919 tile floor the hotel had in the coffee shop that was elsewhere in the building. You can see the original of this flooring in the ladies restroom on the first floor.

Aesthetically, the owners of the hotel wanted to bring some Parisian elegance into Des Moines with this space. (Our name is French, after all). This stylistic choice is the first thing that makes this a favorite spot for me. It’s a little more elevated than the average place for a cuppa’. The rich upholstery and calming earth tones make this a welcoming place to stay for long amounts of time. In turn, prefer this coffee shop because it is generally very calming and I feel very focused here. Most of my blog posts are written here.

The attitude is very European by extension, I should think. So often I find that American establishments are designed for you to buy something and get out- where as I’ve been told that overseas it is not uncommon for patrons to remain out for long amounts of time.

The coffee here is a special blend from Horizonline, another beloved local gem. Order your coffee for here and it’ll even come in a glass just like your other Walnut Street favorite. My current go-to is the seasonal American favorite- a pumpkin spice latte. The pumpkin spice syrup is made in house.

The menu is available here. Please note the wine bar hours and menu have yet to be released, I’ll update again when this experience is available.