Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection By Hilton, Des Moines ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

1000 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America, 50309

Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton stands as an iconic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This historical hotel made headlines as the first in North America to offer a car lift and private bathrooms west of the Mississippi. With a century-long legacy, it has hosted many distinguished guests, from celebrities to U.S. presidents. Nestled in the heart of Des Moines, the hotel reflects the vibrant heritage and cultural significance of the area.

Location

Strategically located in downtown Des Moines, the hotel offers easy access to numerous attractions and the city’s vibrant cultural scene. Des Moines International Airport is a mere 6 miles away, connected by convenient public transport options including the DART shuttle and a climate-controlled skywalk system. Valet parking is available for added convenience.

Rooms

The hotel features 290 upscale guest rooms, blending historic charm with modern amenities for a contemporary experience. Each room is equipped with HDTV, Bluetooth alarm clocks, sitting areas, and mini-fridges. The spacious king-sized bed corner rooms provide natural light and views of downtown Des Moines. Accessible rooms are designed with roll-in showers and visual alarms for enhanced convenience.

Eat & Drink

Guests can indulge in a culinary experience at Proudfoot & Bird, offering locally sourced dishes such as fresh seafood and handmade pasta. The Hobnob Coffee and Wine Bar provides a casual ambiance for sipping locally roasted coffee and carefully curated wines. The hotel's unique speakeasy, 'In Confidence,' offers craft cocktails and an exclusive selection of wines.

Leisure & Business

Hotel Fort Des Moines boasts extensive event spaces, including the grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 800 guests. The Reading Room features refined décor for intimate gatherings. The Study offers a custom-designed conference table for productive meetings. A state-of-the-art fitness center is available with modern exercise equipment for guests.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Queen Room

Max:

4 persons

33 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Heating

Air conditioning

room details

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King Room

Max:

2 persons

23 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Heating

Air conditioning

room details

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Queen Room

Max:

4 persons

28 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Heating

Air conditioning

room details

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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

Des Moines2700 ft

Airports

Des Moines International (DSM) 5.0 mi

Boone Municipal (BNW) 50.3 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Spacious Comfort

“The room was incredibly spacious and featured modern amenities like a flat-screen TV, along with a charming antique-style lamp switch, ensuring both comfort and uniqueness.” view full review

Luxurious Bathroom

“The bathroom was a true delight, boasting a walk-in shower with excellent water pressure and large, sumptuous towels that made our experience feel extra special.” view full review

Delicious Offerings

“I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food at the Hobknob restaurant. The coffee, pastries, and burgers were outstanding, making dining a memorable part of my stay.” view full review

Historic Charm

“The historic property was beautifully restored, with period details that created an elegant and intricate atmosphere throughout the hotel.” view full review

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
Parking
Safe deposit box
24-hour reception
Express check-in/ -out
No pets allowed
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Wheelchair access
Security
Baggage storage
Allergy-free rooms
Elevator
Coffee shop
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
Key card access
Key access

Sports & Fitness

Fitness center

Services

Valet parking
Room service
Housekeeping
Laundry
Dry cleaning
Stores/Commercial services
Welcome drink

Dining

Restaurant
Snack bar
Bar/ Lounge area

Business

Business center
Meeting/ Banquet facilities

Spa & Leisure

Live entertainment

Room features

Air conditioning
Heating
Sitting area
Tea and coffee facilities
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Media

AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Curtains

Location

1000 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America, 50309

Map view

1000 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America, 50309

City landmarks

Museums

Science Center of Iowa

3400 ft

Events

Polk County Convention Complex

4100 ft

730 3rd St

Wells Fargo Arena

5000 ft

Broadway Theatre

Des Moines Civic Center

2800 ft

Public Building

Capitol Building

1.4 mi

Court Avenue

3300 ft

Market

Des Moines' Downtown Farmers' Market

2600 ft

4th Street

2200 ft

100 Locust St

World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

3100 ft

330 Park St

Iowa Hall of Pride

3000 ft

Garden

Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens

1.1 mi

1 Line Dr

Principal Park

1.0 mi

Garden

Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden

2800 ft

Stadiums

Iowa Wild

3800 ft

Garden

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

1.4 mi

Museums

Hoyt Sherman Place

2800 ft

Margo Frankel Woods State Park

4900 ft

Des Moines River

Lake Red Rock

4900 ft

Museums

State Historical Museum

1.2 mi

Night club

Wasabi Tao

2100 ft

2002 Woodland Avenue

Gateway Market

4200 ft

111 Court Ave

Polk County Heritage Gallery

3000 ft

Spa Center

East Village Spa

1.3 mi

Parks

Raccoon River Park

1.2 mi

Parks

Gray's Lake Park

1.8 mi

Night club

Lime Lounge

1.0 mi

Nearby

Parks

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

1700 ft

Events

Grand Hall @ The Temple for Performing Arts

700 ft

Public Building

Polk County Courthouse

2000 ft

Museums

Wells Fargo Museum

1600 ft

Restaurants

Django Restaurant

200 ft

1420 Locust St

Centro Restaurant

500 ft

1003 Locust St

Panera Bread

200 ft

215 10th Street Suite 150

Starbucks

600 ft

1013 Locust St

Smokey D's BBQ

900 ft

1200 Locust St

Grumpy Goat Tavern

1200 ft

1303 Walnut St

Americana Restaurant and Lounge

1700 ft

1312 Locust St

City Center Lounge

1800 ft

700 Grand Ave Des Moines Marriott Downtown

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

68%

liked the hotel and would stay again

Quiet

Clean

Worn down

Deserted location

6.8/10

Nice

Rooms

6.7

Location

7.7

Service

7.3

Dining

5.7

Sean

United States of America, February 2024

6.4/10

My stay at this hotel was full of surprises. The room was outdated and beat up with a lever, but on the bright side, a personal greeting welcomed me on the TV when I arrived. The service was very considerate and helpful, even making space for me to print a document. The location was absolutely beautiful, though a little towards the western edge of downtown. However, the dining experience left much to be desired, with dried-out scrambled eggs and running out of bacon. Overall, an interesting mix of experiences.

Rooms

6.0

The room was a bit outdated and beat up with a lever, but the personalized TV greeting was a nice touch.

Service

8.0

The service was very polite and considerate, even accommodating a special request to print a document.

Location

9.0

The location was great, showcasing the culture of the city and close to top-notch restaurants and lovely parks. A little towards the western edge of downtown.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience fell short with dried-out scrambled eggs and running out of bacon during breakfast.

Facilities

5.0

Harvey

United States of America, December 2023

7.2/10

The hotel feels like a mix between a Super 8 and something a bit more upscale, with some areas needing a touch-up. However, the ample closet space in our suite was a nice surprise for a longer stay.

Rooms

6.0

The rooms could use some improvement with peeling paint, but the BIG closet was a great feature for extended stays.

Service

7.0

The service was a mix of excellence when assistance was needed and a bit of disgruntlement in other interactions. We appreciated the helpfulness during times when good customer service is hard to find.

Location

8.0

The location is fantastic, close to downtown with great dining options, but slightly towards the west edge. However, the staff's friendliness and the cleanliness of the facility make up for it.

Dining

7.0

While the breakfast had its issues and options were limited, the traditional Greek dishes offered were a pleasant surprise. Just make sure you don't run into the bacon shortage situation!

Facilities

8.0

The facilities overall met expectations, providing the necessary services one would expect from a hotel of this caliber.

Derrick

United States of America, October 2023

6.8/10

I had a mixed experience at the hotel. The rooms were spacious, modern, clean, and very quiet, which was great, but they did show some signs of wear and tear. The service, though slow in responding to issues, was generally good. The location was convenient for accessing downtown attractions, but the area felt deserted in the evenings. The dining options were decent, but I found myself preferring to go out for meals. Overall, it was an average stay with some positives and negatives to consider.

Rooms

8.0

The rooms were spacious, modern, clean, and very quiet, meeting my expectations. However, some parts showed signs of wear and tear.

Service

7.0

The service was satisfactory, although there were delays in addressing some issues.

Location

6.0

The hotel's location was convenient for exploring downtown attractions, but the area felt empty and quiet in the evenings.

Dining

6.0

The dining options were average; I found myself opting to dine out rather than eat at the hotel.