Scenic Route Bakery

What an amazing spot. The monkey bread was amazing. Super crisp but still extremely soft with the perfect balance of textures. I really loved the caramel bottom that added an incredible toffee like texture. I also really loved the blueberry pinwheel. Amazing layers and the filling was perfectly balanced in sweetness. The coffee was perfect. I got the honey bee and it was everything I hoped it would be. Normally I have to add more espresso to make it less sugary but this was perfect as is. Still had that bold flavor I love. The staff was nice and got everything out to us quickly. I left a tip and made sure to let them know how great the experience was. I highly recommend this place. Truly a gem in the Des Moines area.

I can not say enough good about this place. Always so friendly and the food is top-notch. Vegan and vegetarian options. The patio is nice to enjoy a coffee on. You have to try their rosemary lemonade.

Scenic Route Bakery is one of, if not, THE BEST bakeries in Des Moines. Their pastries were flaky with a good crunch and their fillings were flavorful but not diminishing of the wonderful pastry they were presented within. Additionally, if you have a nice home cooked dinner ahead of you, the buttermilk buns are spectacular and I would highly recommend buying a pack or two. Finally, the setting and staff are extremely friendly and willing to answer any and all questions you may have about their process.

SUCH a gem! Went here unsuspectingly not knowing I was gonna have a life altering experience. Type of food that has you holding back a moan. The brown sugar Cuban was DELIGHTFUL. A seamless blend of what coffee should be and indulgence. The perfect muse to my chocolate almond croissant. Speaking of, I usually don’t cave to croissants. I’m a snob with no credibility, but I find most croissants to be lackluster. I only caved because I’ve been starved from the joys of almond pastries. This croissant is the ONLY exception to my hatred. Feathered layers of heaven swaddling chocolate and almond essence. The type of pastry you’d see in an anime. Love this place :) go if you can!

What a great little place for coffee and scones! Or cookies and cinnamon rolls. The dough for their baked goods is like biting into a cloud😊 Their cookies are soft yet firm at the same time for that perfect balance! And their pecan rolls are caramel pecan delish! Prices are very reasonable for the quality of what you're getting. Basically, for a morning starting point, this is a great place to be!

Loved it! Went to check it out before a business meeting coming up. Very nice! Appreciate the in and outdoor seating options. Also appreciate the industrial mixed vibe. I had a chocolate pinwheel which was drool worthy. So fresh, so tasty, so flaky, so chocolaty! Also had a diet coke cause I am not much for coffee. They had a great selection of pastries and coffee and sandwiches and more. Order at the counter and find your own seat. I sat outside since it was gorgeous. Can see the capital right around the corner. Open Monday- Saturday, closed Sunday. I think my total was $8 or something. I wasn't paying attention when paying! Too much to look at. In the heart of the East Village so plenty of other things to do nearby as well.

One of the few cafes and bakeries in the area, Scenic Route has ample indoor and outdoor seating for groups of all sizes. The atmosphere is cozy and I found that the staff were really helpful and kind. I visited later in the day so most pastries and breads were already sold out! I still managed to have a “unicorn” latte (lavender), green goddess salad, cup of tomato bisque, and a peach pastry. The salad I should’ve asked for dressing on the side, as it was delicious but a bit too drenched for my tastes. I also wish more additions were available as options, other than proteins. The soup was a great surprise and I’m glad I had it! Their lattes feel generous and well-priced; I would say that their food selection may be a bit pricier than one would expect compared to their drinks. The pastry was still delicious and crispy by the time I had it in the afternoon. Overall, great place to relax and catch up with others, plenty of cozy spaces.

Sweet tooth begging for attention? This local cafe in the East Village downtown DSM will fill your cravings. If looking for healthier grub grab a yummy salad, sandwich or coffee and take time to relax in their bright, open space. Perfect location for shopping, visiting the capital or just hanging out downtown.

Delightful spot! We always pop in here for coffee and a nosh when we are downtown. On Saturday, they had a Farmer's Wrap ( breakfast Burrito ) as a special which was delicious! The only drink I've ordered is the Red Eye. I love it's a double shot of espresso and then the coffee is help yourself. My friends usually get iced drinks which are all house crafted and made to order exactly how they like. Wonderful cookies and bakery items available to enjoy there or to go. The bathroom is in the main building and to the left, a bit out of the way...

This is a "must stop" when I am in the East Village. The coffee is incredible. The staff is amazing. And the vibe is cool.

The ambience was friendly and it was easy to relax there. The staff was quick and efficient. The sandwich and tea was nice and hot. I really liked how the sandwich tasted.

Scenic Route has my favorite pastries in Des Moines. Always light and flaky, without overly greasy bottoms. My absolute favorite thing are all the savory options: I highly recommend the everything bagel danish and the bialys (only on the weekend). All of the coffee drinks and lunch menu items I've tried have also been good, but I always get stuck on the pastries. Also, it's a large space with lots of tables, so it's a good place to go for a coffee or lunch meeting. It can fill up, but overall I've rarely had trouble finding a seat.

Came on a Saturday morning for some coffee and a bakery treat while I do some reading for a couple of hours. I was immediately greeted by a friendly gentleman who helped me with my selection. He was very kind, welcoming, and indicated that he was the pastry chef's father! A very nice personal touch for the business. Pour Over Coffee was great and the chocolate croissant had the perfect amount of rich chocolate inside. The atmosphere was very warm and spacious. Perfect for reading or getting work done!

Damn those ham and cheese croissants tho. Highly recommend. Cool atmosphere would deff come back.

I stopped by later in the day so the bakery case wasn't full, but I managed to procure a cinnamon roll and a cherry danish. The cinnamon roll was perfectly moist and I enjoyed the thick layer of icing on top. The danish was flakey and covered in tart cherries. I also enjoyed my hot apple cider while walking around the shops in the East Village.

This is my favorite place to stop for coffee and a sweet treat whenever I am in town for work! The staff is so kind and even remembered my name The inside and outside both have tons of space and has such a welcoming energy. You also cannot go wrong with the peach pinwheel. Can't wait to come back!

My first time here passing through town. The pastry was very good but my small iced latte with two shots was weak for my taste. If I had known, I would add another shot. Espresso lovers would have to pay extra for another shot.

Great pastries and coffee. Great staff and plenty of space to work. Very convenient as well

Have come here a few times to work, color, and just relax. Their pastries are delicious. Their chicken salad sandwich is pretty good too

This place for coffee has been on my list for a while now. Decided to give it a try this morning. Staff is very friendly and welcoming. Large selection of bakery items. Even the drink selection has a huge variety. They offer three sizes, plenty of seating. Beautiful decor. Husband and I got a medium chai latte and this was really good not overly sweet which I definitely appreciated. We also decided to get two bakery items, I choose the jalapeño cheese croissant (gave me trader joe jalapeño cheese bread vibes) husband had the cranberry scone and it was FANTASTIC. We spent about 22 dollars including tip. There is only street parking might get a bit tricky at times. Overall great experience.

We decided to purchase a few baked goods as a treat for breakfast today. Our choices were an everything croissant, an almond croissant, a peach pastry and a vegetable pastry. The everything croissant was stuffed with cream cheese, and we ate it first on the walk home because it had the perfect flaky texture for tearing and sharing, and wasn't too messy. When we got home my husband ate the almond croissant. I tried a bite of it and it was good, but way too messy for me to enjoy, with slivered almond powdered sugar and bread flakes going all over with every bite. I popped the vegetable and peach pastries in the toaster oven for two minutes to warm up a bit as they were a little tougher in texture. We split them in half and they were delicious! The vegetable one was savory with a surprise sliver of jalapeño packing a lot of extra flavor. The peach was my favorite, it had the perfect balance of fruit and cream cheese, and was sweet without being too sweet. Definitely recommend and will be stopping in again as we were quite satisfied with our purchase and are eager to try other items from their case!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for their BAKED GOODS! YUM! Bakery 5+ ... Espresso Drinks 2. This is a tough one. Their bakery is so good that I want to give them 5 stars, but if you are planning on getting an espresso drink, get your bakery there and head elsewhere for your drink. We had a peach danish ... FANTASTIC! Even our hotel used them for their baked goods. But I had an iced latte ... and? It tasted like a weak ice coffee with tons of milk. Two sips and in the trash.

Best cinnamon rolls around! Doughy and the cream cheese frosting is AMAZING. Specialty coffee drinks are alright, wouldn't be my first choice to grab a drink at, but the bakery items are great, even the mini quiches! Service is always quick and friendly. Great place to go to get some work done and sip some endless black coffee. Hate that they are closed on Sundays. Growing up, Sunday was traditionally a bakery day.

In Iowa for the weekend and decided to try this homestead themed bakery and I was not disappointed. I got a large lavender latte with oat milk, pictured at the bottom, and it was pretty decent. A little sweet for my liking, but regardless, I drank the whole thing. Indoor and outdoor seating provided. Staff also seemed friendly. I would definitely come again, and would like to try their bakery section as it seems like that is what they are known for!

Bagels, cookies and a baguette was all that permitted myself to buy. Everything looked so good, and everything we had was fantastic. Prefect fuel for the Paavo Nurmi Marathon.

Is it a fabulous coffee shop or is it a delicious bakery...Scenic Route Bakery is both. Cheerful greeting as I entered and hot cup of coffee as soon as the words came out of my mouth. Bought 20 pastries for a meeting I had and everyone complimented them. Stop here and indulge!

Delicious mocha! Will stop again. Loved the coffee blend as it wasn't too acidic or sharp

Fanfreakintastic food, superlative service, best coffee drinks ever. And priced well. I recommend any croissant.

The setting of this cafe is nice. The space is beautifully lit, with huge floor to ceiling windows so you can watch out the window and get lots of natural light! The decor is busy, but not overwhelming. The chairs are comfortable (including a couch) and there were many folks set up and working on the Friday late morning I visited. The staff was friendly. The food was my biggest complaint, which is... problematic since it's a bakery/cafe. The croissant I ordered was burned, and all of the croissants in the display looked the same. The inside of it was good, but the entire exterior was very dark and crunchy with a charred flavor. My husband ordered the turkey pesto sandwich, and asked for no tomato. We were told they can't make any modifications to food items. Something as simple as removing tomato seems like an odd line to be unwilling to cross. Especially when you consider food allergies. My husband ordered a basic coffee and had no complaints. I ordered the moonlight jasmine tea.

Cute place! Great spot to work while enjoying their coffee and baked goods. I ordered the honeybee latte and it was absolutely delish. The cookies were also a huge hit.

We passed through Des Moines recently and made a stop at Scenic Route Bakery.  It turned out to be a great place to pick up some java and a bite to eat! Service is friendly and fast, and their espresso drinks are really good - I recommend the Honeybee Latte :-) We ordered a Kale Salad and an almond cake - both were really good, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable.

This is the best coffee shop in Des Moines! The impeccable customer service starts at the top with Mark and Katy and trickles down to all of the employees. Fantastic atmosphere and the best baked goods in DSM! Definitely the first place I recommend to anyone visiting DSM!

Egg nog latte was awesome. The best I have had outside of our home. No flavoring just egg nog--had it with nonfat milk and it was tasty and light.

My favorite environment in East Village to get work done and enjoy a scone/coffee. The blueberry scone has been a favorite of mine for years now and all of the pastries honestly (you cannot go wrong with any choice here)! The lunch menu has a great variety and healthy options which I've always appreciated. The kale salad is my favorite for lunch items! Great drip coffee as well.

Hello, my wife and I came for a visit today and it was phenomenal. The croissants, monkey bread, pastries etc...are the tastiest I've ever had. They have something called, " Bialy." It's a take on an egg & cheese bagel BUT This is taste buds time 10, so good. I PROMISE, you will LOVE it. I had a large Mocha coffee and it was the best tasting mocha I've ever had,Decadent even and the wife got a Large sugar free caramel, oatmeal latte. It was to die for. We are now permanent customers. The staff is very friendly and professional.

Love their selection of pastries! We always go here after our chiropractor appointments at East Village Chiro. The cranberry scones and blueberry muffins are hard to beat. I've also heard the cinnamon rolls are great but I haven't actually tried them yet!

I went early (before it got very busy) and got a croissant and coffee. Perfect place to get work done.

Visited Des Moines today in search of a good local cafe. When I paid for my two coffees (one of which I had to pour myself) the cashier watched to see if I clicked to add a tip. She immediately turned to her coworker and exclaimed that I didn't leave a tip. Had I ordered food or a complicated beverage I would have gladly left a tip but not for something I am pouring myself. Will never return here. I'll find a cafe that treats their customers with respect.

Beautiful airy space in East Des Moines that balances both bakery and coffee excellence. Counter staff was very helpful, suggesting the iced Cubano latte and a savory croissant. This is a space that could get loud due to the hard surfaces and yet on a Tuesday morning there was more of a joyful hum than a clatter. Patio seating is shaded, although tables on the edge get sun in the early morning.

Smooth delicious coffee! Tasty breakfast pastries! Great atmosphere! My only complaint was that I couldn't order through Uber eats. I will definitely return, and highly recommend!!

I have come here a lot in the last year, so I should probably give an update! This place is still the Bees Knees and I love coming here for meetings or just to work! The atmosphere is spot on, I always see someone I know and get to catch up for a minute, the baristas are super nice and always have service with a smile! The Lattes are some of my favorite in town, and the layout is perfect for grabbing lunch, or chilling for work! They have indoor and out door seating and it's always clean.. I love this place!

I gotta say that I LOVE Scenic Route Bakery! My co-workers and I just discovered this place last week and we all seriously went there two days straight! The coffee drinks are great. I've had an iced mocha and iced Cuban and both were really good! My colleagues raved about the pour over coffee. I also got a ham and cheese croissant which was AMAZING, and a cheese steak panini which was pretty tasty. The service here for the most part is really great. Most of the staff are helpful and patient. So why not five stars? The first time that I came in last week, I asked a barrista if they had any lemon that I could put in my water. The guy acted like that was an odd request and said "we don't have any lemon wedges up here. If we had any they'd be in the back in the kitchen." He didn't offer to get me a lemon wedge from the back, or check to see if there was some. He just flat out acted like my request was strange and not available. Period. I didn't care for that.

In town for business. Bakery looked promising from outside. Got a "Strawberry Lemon" scone. Took one bite and actually spit it out and threw the rest away. Tasted like a dry biscuit, no strawberry or lemon notes, at all. $4 wasted!

Very friendly staff, great coffee and even better baked goods. If you are looking for a quick coffee in the East Village this is a solid choice.

Great place for breakfast or lunch. Cinnamon rolls are fantastic! Staff was nice. Clean bathrooms!

Nice coffee and tea. Salad options for a quick bite. Spacious space to work. Closes at 4pm.

If I lived in the DSM area, this would definitely be one of my go to coffee shops. Visiting from out of state during Covid definitely does not give me a full picture, but the glimpse Ive had, has been amazing! The bakery offers a wide variety of sweet and savory treats at fair pricing for the East Village. The ham and cheese croissant is definitely one everyone should try. And the drinks - well the lattes definitely keep me awake! I wish they would have some more food selections as I usually like to have a bigger bite if im working at a coffee shop vs continuous small pastries. I could imagine the crowd they see on a daily basis pre covid and the interior is definitely set up for it. Light, open, and airy. Not to mention the workers have all be so sweet and kind. For covid, staff and patrons are wearing masks inside, they have markers on the ground for distancing, and have specific entrance/exit doors. Although they are not open for dine in, they do have outdoor seating set up! And they use placards to distinguish which ones need cleaning. Awesome!

Such a cute bakery/cafe! One of my highlights on the business trip! Huge space inside with floor to ceiling windows, rustic designs/artworks hung all over the cafe. Very chill and a great place if you need to get some work done. Yummy lattes and sweets that sell out too. A gem in Des Moines IA!

Great spot opens at 7 am closed at 4 Have to wear mask but I'm good with that ! Croissant and latte pretty good . Staff pleasant and the surroundings a good work spot - quiet music and plenty of seating to be had . Some larger tables would be good for a meeting spot !

Scenic Route is easily my favorite coffee stop in Des Moines. It's located in a fun area of East Village with lots of cute local shops nearby. The space is super bright and airy, and has lots of tables and a cozy couch. (Though it can be really busy on a Saturday so it's a little tough to find a table at times) The coffee is great, and they have rice milk to keep your favorite drink dairy-free! And don't leave without trying one of their pastries! So. Good. I recommend the chocolate crescent.

Came in on a busy Saturday morning that had a long line, but they get you through in a timely matter. Lots of bakery options, but picked over by mid morning. They have large menu boards with many drink choices, but I found it a little hard to read. I had the almond scone which was very good and not too sweet. To drink, I had an iced chai latte and it was good as well, nothing to crazy or different than other places! They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate everyone: people working, large groups, or small gatherings. Good location in downtown DSM.

Coffee, pastries, oatmeal, sandwiches,... everything we've tried here proved delicious. The vibe and outdoor seating also makes this one of my favorite places to visit downtown!

Such a great place to relax and enjoy a simple breakfast or midday snack! I've come here numerous times over the years while shopping in the East Village, and today we wandered in mid-afternoon for a treat and caffeine booster! They're taking all COVID-19 precautions and as always, the staff is friendly and helpful in describing an item I hadn't seen before but couldn't wait to try. The patio has fantastic seating!

Clean and Cute place with great attitudes behind the counter. The seating was nice and spaced out, so it was comfortable for everyone to unmask while seated. Wonderful natural light spilling in the big windows. No heavy music piping in, so just the bustle of other folks chilling, meeting or working. I grabbed a veggie croissant and a rosemary lemonade. Very satisfying! Oof, I should have ordered a water with it though. That lemonade was STROOONG! Now, don't get it twisted, strong lemonade is good. I'm just fat and getting older, so that heartburn was STROOOOOONGER. I had appointments that were spaced out and about a 4 hour gap with several online meetings and bits of work to accomplish in between. This place was perfect to have a relaxing environment without too many distractions. Taking the Scenic Route was definitely the right choice, thanks to fellow Yelpers who pointed me the right way!

Scenic Route has become an almost regular weekly stop for us following the Saturday morning runs at Fleet Feet. I am not a coffee drinker but have discovered a favorite beverage- the Turmeric Ginger Chai Latte - very warming with a nice ginger bite. Available in three sizes - sometimes I can't resist and get the large but usually stick with the medium. Reusable mugs not available in the large size and you need to request one for the medium size. I usually don't indulge in baked treats but ran farther this morning so I had an almond scone, which was good. Nice, light and bright atmosphere with games and books available.

Extremely nice service. I love the variety of bakery available. The place is very cute and service is quick. The ladies were friendly and helpful in picking out a selection .

Great coffee!!! Not bitter and the specialty coffees are really good. The Cuban is sweetened perfectly with brown sugar and the Honeybee has a nice amount of honey and cinnamon. Pastries look amazing even though we didn't try them this time. Also nice assortment of salads and sandwiches.

This place is a pretty sweet place located in the East Village of Des Moines! The atmosphere is rustic and homey and yet there is a modern feel to it as well! There is plenty of space for the person who wants to get work done and a comfy lounging area for the person who is there for a chat. They make a small space feel big with the layout. And the coffee!! SO GOOD! The coffee and vibe of the atmosphere are interdependent on making this a an incredible place!