The Red Monk

Located upstairs in the Royal Mile, I never knew it was actually a separate bar/​business all together. Very low key, low lighting, and kind of hipsterish. They have the same theme as the RM and the range of beers are not your average kinds as well. I think it’s a fun spot to start off the night. Check it out and decide for yourself!

The upstairs of Royal Mile. Where the kool kids hang out. Or when it’s crowded and noisy downstairs just go up! The Red Monk features tons of delicious Belgian beers — the gems of the beer world. Of course you can get Royal Mile food to go along with your Belgian beer — why not! Like most places I go I usually ask the waiter/​bartender or just look at the taps because the menus are often not accurate as taps change often.

Situated right above Royal Mile, the Red Monk is a more chill low key place. If you just want to have a drink and chat, this is the place to go. Gin and tonics are like $ 3.50, and they have beer on tap. You can get a nice strong one and it’s just chill.

Oh my god I love The Red Monk. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I’m not a beer enthusiast but for some reason I’m usually drawn to niche beer spots. They always have the best vibe and ambiance! The Monk is upstairs from The Royal Mile. It’s like a little hidden corner of pub heaven! The service is fantastic. But it’s popular as all get out so hopefully you can find a seat.

The Red Monk, is just upstairs of the Royal Mile. It’s got one of the craziest Belgian beer selections you will find in all of Des Moines. Delirium Tremens on tap, Westmalle, and so many more!
The atmosphere is one that you could bring a group into to party (though the bar is not huge) or a nice darker lit place to bring a date for a drink before a show downtown.
The staff is second to none here and not only are they great bartenders but if your the type of person who just loves to sit and chat with a bartender these guys and gals will be right there with you!
They sometimes do a bingo, or trivia night here every now and then so you might want to check the schedule before planning that date here on a Wednesday night!
But go for the beer, it’s out of this world, or at least out of this country!

Friends and I have been using the Red Monk as an after-​event bar for years. It’s just small enough to be cozy, but just large enough to accommodate a crowd. We love that Eric always knows what beers to recommend depending on what ‘swill’ we tend to enjoy at other bars. Also, they have a jukebox here that is typically pretty open, so you can enjoy a good ‘In The Air Tonight’ sing-​along with most of the rest of the bar.

Great Belgian beer selection. This place is located in the upper level of Royal Mile. Eric is great and really knows his beer! Had a great chat about gueuze and gueuzeries.

I’ve been enjoying the Westmalle here for several years. Between the Royal Mile downstairs, and the Red Monk upstairs you’ve got two complimentary halves of the best place for import beers for sale by the glass.
We made a habit of stopping down to Red Monk after AHL hockey games when I was a season ticket holder. It was nice because it was calmer place to unwind with an exceptional selection of my favorite Belgian beers. High prices here ($ 6 for a Delirium Tremens on tap, $ 9.50 for a bottle of Westmalle), but they house some of the most well established & revered beers on the planet and it’s served in a cozy and rustic atmosphere that should accompany these grand malt beverages.
After a recent visit: the word is out and right behind it is the atmosphere. What used to be a good place of introspection, conversation and debate about world-​class beer has become the domain of explosive «woos», obnoxious bachelorette parties and loud music. Great beers here, but sadly it has lost it’s best characteristic which was the ability to converse ABOUT the beers they offer.

Delirium Tremens on tap. That is all.
OK, that’s not all. My love for Belgian beer is well-​documented, so it’s no shock that I love the Red Monk. I also love the Royal Mile (OK, so they are really just different sections of the same bar), and I think it’s fantastic that you can rent out the Red Monk for parties (which I did, and it was great except for a few misunderstandings, my advice is get everything in writing… but I digress).
What I really love is the atmosphere — the high backed wooden benches, the stained glass, the big arched doorway. And the only thing I don’t like is that they crank the music around 11pm. And I mean they CRANK it. At the risk of sounding like a little old lady, does the music need to be SO LOUD???
Anyway, that’s a minor issue. Regardless of their seeming inability to properly judge decibel levels, I love the Red Monk anyway.

Red Monk. My love affair with you is long-​lasting. I couldn’t appreciate you more if you were joined with me forever in all the states I move. Except… except, like all great affairs, they are strew with passionate arguments and feelings.
My only problem, Red Monk, is that you annoy me with your loud music. While others might love metal/​grunge/​whatever playing at such high volumes, my ears want to connect to my body and transfer to the sweet, sweet nectar before me. I want to breathe in the aroma of goodness, the waft of hops, malts, and yeast yearning to be free. I want to spend time with the beer while not wearing earplugs. Sometimes these beers need us to be quiet like the monks who make them.
That, Red Monk, is why you are only 4 stars. That, Red Monk, is why I shy away. That, Red Monk, is why I must leave you too soon. That, Red Monk, is also why I hate you. It will always be my love affair to remember.

This place is really just an extension of the Royal Mile. Just go in the mile and up the stars. It specializes in Belgium beers. Very tasty!!! mmmmm, but you can easily spend a ton of money there, as this kind of brew is pretty pricey. Basically, you can spend as much or a little as you want. You could always run down stairs for a budlight, if you are a cheapskate.

Even thought The Red Monk is inside The Royal Mile, they really are two separate bars. I love each equally, but this review is specifically for The Red Monk.
Even though I’ve lived here for over a year and prior to moving here I visited friends 4 –5times each year, I had never been to The Red Monk. This past weekend I found myself there on Friday and on Saturday night with different groups of people and each night I found myself having a blast.
The bar specializes in Belgian beers, even though they serve others. This is the one and only place (to my knowledge) that you can get Delirium Tremens on TAP! Crazy, I know.
The tables were full of people and the crowd was very diverse. There is a jukebox in the corner, which is always a key in my favorite bars. The bartenders are great at recommending beers based on what I like to drink which is an added plus since I don’t know much ab/​Belgian beer. The only real negative side to this bar is that they have no waitstaff — if you want a beer you have to go up to the bar and order it. It isn’t really a big deal, but I’m sure I would drink more if I had someone always asking me if I want another as opposed to me getting up each time I want one (but hey, it saves me money!)