Name: Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown
Address: 101 E Locust St, Historic East Village, Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America, Des Moines, Polk County, US
Price range: $137–$295 per night
Rating: 7.9

What guests think

Across recent reviews of Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown, travelers praise the friendly staff, walkable downtown location, spacious suites, and popular free breakfast with made-to-order omelets and an evening reception with drinks.

However, many also report aging rooms and maintenance problems, including inconsistent air conditioning, dampness, and worn furniture. Cleanliness feedback is mixed, with recurring notes of musty odors, mold or mildew, and housekeeping misses, while the pool’s condition and temperature vary. Parking is paid and can be confusing or limited; occasional check-in delays and noise from events or kids are mentioned. Expect a convenient, amenity-rich stay with notable value, but uneven upkeep.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Pool conditions range from enjoyable to cold or murky. Parking is paid and can fill up, and the shuttle is handy but sometimes slow or ends earlier than expected.

Related guest reviews

6

Amanda

Dec 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very disappointed in the pool. I smelled like mildew and the bottom of the pool was slimy, you could not smell any chlorine. I'm not sure if the pool is actually being cleaned. Very upsetting for teenage girls wanting to swim.

10

Holly

Jul 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great place to stay - amazing breakfast, made to order. Pool is good - interesting eco concept in use. Nice patio to use off the main area & the bar met usual expectations & was open on a Sunday night. Will stay again.

10

mary

Nov 24, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I didn’t like paying $20 a night for underground parking! It used to be free!

6

Bryce

Feb 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Location was great. Shuttle service was slow.

8

Melissa

Apr 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We always enjoy staying at this hotel! We loved the free shuttle to and from the concert at the Wells last evening. We did notice a few maintenance & housekeeping issues including the door to the womens bathroom not closing in the pool area as well as the floor in the elevator and on the 3rd floor being covered in popcorn and nuts. We understand things happen and that these things will be taken care of, so we will be back! Ps..breakfast was fantastic as usual!

8

Allan F Jung JUNG ENTERPRISE

Feb 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Was disappointed that there was no hot tub and the swimming pool was cold. Room was nice.

10

Patrick

Mar 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice hotel. Needs more parking.

10

Andrew

Mar 30, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

All staff are so personable and friendly! Parking here is $25, but the parking garage across the street is $10. The happy hour they have is so fun and has great snacks and drinks! Pool is a good size too. Rooms are very spacious with a pretty comfy bed!

10

Barbara

Feb 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We had a wonderful time in Des Moines. The shuttle was convenient and the free breakfast was wonderful with lots of choices.

8

Mary

Jan 24, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I didn't like that we had to park across the street and pay for it.

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Cleanliness

Feedback is mixed. Multiple reviews cite musty odors, mold/mildew, stained carpets, and missed housekeeping, though some guests found rooms and public areas clean.

Related guest reviews

6

David

Nov 1, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Most the staff were friendly. The room and hotel were not as clean as I would like. The condition of the room needs to be renovated, torn carpet, cupboard doors that do not close 100%. I had my room cleaned twice. The second time it was cleaned, my important paperwork was thrown out while the dirty dishes were left behind. That was the most frustrating. Also, if the room was renovated I would recommend have a shower door. By not having a shower door water hot all over the place. Great location and excellent breakfast.

2

Kyle

Jul 28, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was dirty (open beer can from previous guest), pool room smelled like a fish cleaning station

6

Sadie

Mar 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed here 5 years ago and had an excellent experience. They have not updated anything since then. The porcelain on the tub was worn off, the odor in the pool area was so foul it was hard to enjoy swimming, the “appetizers” were crackers, chips/salsa, cheese cubes and fruit and the plates to get food were not clean. There was no staff around to ask for clean plates. The rooms are dated and not consistent with other hotels at this price/reputation. I was incredibly disappointed and wish we would have stayed somewhere newer rather than thinking we would have the same experience we had in the past here. There is construction directly around the property. Not the hotels fault, just FYI to future hotel guests.

6

Meghan

Jun 23, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

This is hands down the dirtiest hotel we've ever stayed at and we travel a lot. This hotel hasn't been updated in at least 20 years, if not more...that includes the couches, furniture, mattresses and carpet. It's not just outdated but absolutely filthy. Very noticeable pee and poop stains on the mattresses, stains on carpet, dirt caked into every crevice etc... We asked if there was a clean room available that we could switch to but were told they had none available, which wasn't the truth. The only positive thing about this hotel is the location, so if you don't mind filth and can think of it as camping/roughing it, minus the tent and mosquitos, it just might work for you. I'm glad it was just a pit stop and we only had to stay one night. We can handle staying at an outdated hotel for a night but no one should pay over $200 tax to stay in absolute filth. No one. We've stayed at other Embassy Suites during our travels but this experience at the Embassy Suites Des Moines will be our last. I will never trust another Embassy Suites hotel chain again after this. Just gross.

2

Heidi

Aug 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The vents in the main area appear to have black mold growing on them, there is a smell when you walk in the lobby. The elevators had what looked like vomit on the windows and were alo smeared and cloudy like they hadnt been properly cleanednin quite some time. There was bug nests in the celiling and our room had these winged insects all over. The bathroom had no ventilation system so there was mold growth in drawers, walls and the shower. The smell of the room knocked you back a step when you open the door. The room felt damp despite the ac being on and the floor felt like there was moisture in it. When we asked staff about items in the breakfast area they were rude and short. For what you pay to stay in a fancier hotel, I felt we could have had a cleaner experience at a much cheaper out dated hotel.

2

Mirsalar

Mar 27, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

This place is not clean.

2

Matt

May 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Not enough towels in the room for 4 people. Pulled out the pull-out-bed & and the sheets were dirty and crumbs. The pullout bed did not come stocked with more than 1 small pillow. I requested more. Our room had an empty water bottle in it that was charge-able. I did not get charged- though clearly cleaning was lacking... I got 3 spider bites that night. No hand soap in the bathroom. The air conditioning never got below 70 in the room despite maintenance coming in to adjust. Breakfast was terrible. Not enough glasses for beverages. Food was okay. Not nearly the variety that used to be at an embassy. The hotel was full. The hotel was not capable of handling a full hotel. The general carpet and appearance felt dirty. The courtyard was poorly maintained and looked rundown. Hotel staff was nice people. Hilton disappointed once again.

4

Margaret

Sep 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We were there for a concert and this hotel’s location was great. The reception area was fine, but the room was hideous. The grout in the bath was orange and all the furniture was old and banged up. The door was barely holding together and the pull out couch was awful. The people working there were nice, but very thankful we were only there one night.

4

Frank

Nov 19, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was clearly not cleaned before we arrived. They changed blankets and sheets and that was it. Bathroom was filthy. The bar top had not been wiped down. Candy on the floor. Additionally, we asked for a bassinet for our infant and it was DISGUSTING. Very disappointed. Only positive was the breakfast.

4

Terry

Sep 8, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Upon check in to the room the AC unit was dripping water and floor was soaked. Room was dirty, bathroom moldy and rust on the ceiling. Looked like cereal was spilled in the corner and not vacuumed between guests. Spoke to front desk and she said she would talk to manager about a discount and would call me to let me know the decision but she never called me back. They did offer a $50 discount on my final bill. Various staff I spoke to complained about management and acknowledged understaffing and poor facilities. Said that they bank on people being nice to staff because they are on vacation instead of really complaining. They also know we will be forgiving because it is not the staffs fault. Overall seemed like staff was unhappy and sharing with customers. I really like Embassy Suites and the room size was perfect for my family. But the hotel is run down, smells and staff are unhappy. Sad to see a great chain not living up to the Hilton standards.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Suites are spacious with separate sitting areas. Many describe dated decor, worn furniture, AC/humidity and noise issues, plus uncomfortable mattresses or sofa beds and showers that splash water.

Related guest reviews

10

Natalie

Jan 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We were in town to explore the area that we are moving too in a couple months. Our stay at Embassy Suites in Downtown DSM heightened our excitement for our move! We loved how spacious the room was, we loved having drink vouchers for the evening and a great breakfast featuring a made to order omelette bar. The shower and bathroom counter space were very spacious. We had friends visit our suite to chat after dinner and they were impressed with the amount of space and comfort of the room. We will be recommending this hotel to friends and family that come to visit us in our new home.

8

Nigel

Oct 1, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is a typical Embassy Suites, with the open courtyard in the middle, generous breakfast, and happy hour. This would have been a fantastic place in the '80s, but the rooms are in dire need of refurbishment. The carpeting in the room is old and worn, the HVAC is terrible, the bathroom has mold in the tile grout. It's too bad because everything else about the hotel is great.

8

Nikki

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was spacious and the hotel has a nice ambiance. The bed was pretty uncomfortable but we were only there one night. The kids had fun at the pool!

4

Jill

Apr 23, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

In BAD need of updating. Everything was dusty and dirty and at least 20 years old. The pull out sofa is not fit for humans to sleep on. Super bummed because the size and space of the hotel is awesome. But it needs a facelift and a half.

8

Maureen

Aug 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Love the location and the extra sitting room when traveling with family. Place really needs some updating. Our bathroom had a broken door and rust all over the tub. It was probably really nice 20 years ago

6

Ellie Van

Dec 4, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

We got 2 rooms for a staycation bday party for a teen. It’s a fun hotel but it’s a little overpriced for as outdated as it is. The fold out beds are really uncomfortable. Our air didn’t work in one of the rooms and it was really hot. We all had fun though and the breakfast was good. Staff is top notch.

6

Melissa

Sep 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Typically we love our stays at the downtown Des Moines Embassy Suites. This stay, however, we encountered some less encouraging things in regards to our room during our two night stay. Our room's air conditioning was not functioning. We let the front desk know, and they said they could put in a maintenance request, but we did not want someone in our room that evening. The fan worked ok, but it was definitely frustrating. The pull out couch had many rips and tears in the cushions, and the mattress was filled with many stains we noticed as we were making the bed. This left us a bit uneasy. Much of the furniture is nicked and scraped in the rooms. Our refrigerator never actually fully worked either, and we had to get rid of some food that had spoiled due to this. Otherwise, we loved the breakfast and happy hour options. Things are always well done in this department.

8

Ashley

Aug 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

They had a very nice breakfast with alot of choices. The beds were to be 2 queens! They were Not. They were 2 double beds that were not comfortable at all. Toilet was leaking and very noisy&shower had mold. Property needs a major update. Front desk were all wonderful! They helped us out alot.

6

Susan

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The extra couch pull out was very uncomfortable and had no sheets to put on it. The room was freezing and we had no way to change the temp on the thermostat. The couch cushions were torn and had holes in it.

6

Austin

Jun 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel was just a letdown for the money. The bathroom shown on the listing was twice the size of reality. The room was at 70% humidity at 71 degrees. That is as cold as the room ever got with the thermostat set to 65. The floor felt wet when you walked on it. You could see the grime built up around the vents. The grout in the tile of the bathroom was pretty gross too. The 3 different front desk members I talked to all mumbled and talked quietly. I had to say pardon me multiple times. This is old, exacerbated by the waterfall in the lobby.

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Service

Staff are frequently called friendly, accommodating, and proactive, with some upgrades and quick fixes. Still, guests report occasional slow or unhelpful check-in and unresolved maintenance requests.

Related guest reviews

10

Kenneth

Jan 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Large rooms Great hospitality hour drinks and snacks

10

Heather

Feb 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was check in process that was horrible as Expedia reservation (paid for) was not at the hotel. The staff worked on correcting the problem, only to have the same thing happen at noon the next day with no resolution from Expedia. Had to pay higher rate when locked out of room. Had delay of activities and reservation both days due to this inconvenience by Expedia. Hotel was accommodating to our needs.

10

Douglas

Sep 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Outstanding staff, food and location!

2

Rhonda

Mar 18, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Worst experience ever attempting to book a hotel. I put in an online booking through Hotels.com. I discovered I had entered some incorrect dates. I called Hotels.com and they told me I should contact the Hotel to fix it. I called the Hotel and the girl I spoke to said, "No problem, we'll take care of it". I thanked her profusely. The next day I received an email listing my stay incorrectly. I called the Hotel back and discovered only one room had been updated, the other had been canceled and I was charged for a no-show! A rude woman claiming to be working at the front desk (that I could barely understand) belittled me and argued with me. I was so frustrated with her, that I asked to speak to her manager and she left and then returned, pretending to be management. By then I was so upset, I raised my voice and she began yelling at me! I ended up canceling both bookings and I will never stay at this hotel again. Pleased I found a new place in time for my event.

10

Seth

Sep 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Alyssa, who checked us in at the front desk, was pleasant, friendly, and very attentive. She sent up a dessert to our room to congratulate us on our anniversary! Or her staff remembered us, as well, the next day when we checked out. We walked down Court Ave for dinner, where there are many options within walking distance. We enjoyed the downtown skyline and lights and the river from our 7th floor window. We had a pleasant experience!

10

Sara

Apr 6, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff at The Embassy Suites in Des Moines was simply amazing!! Eddie gave me a room upgrade because I had four teenage girls with me and was going to sleep on the couch. He moved us to a two room suite so I would have a bed too and it was so incredibly nice of him. Then my teenagers were still sleeping and were going to miss breakfast so the staff made up to go boxes for me to take up to the room! How very kind of them! I will definitely be staying again. Thank you to the Embassy staff - I’m very grateful for their kindness and generosity.

10

Megan

Mar 21, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff went out of their way to check in on us, make sure we were enjoying our stay and to engage with our children.

10

Maggie

May 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

They did such a great job meeting all of our needs and even if there was a slight issue, they made it right right away. I will recommend anyone to stay at the Embassy suites.

10

Robert

Aug 21, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Extraordinarily friendly staff. I met and chatted with the manager who was actually helping stock the silverware at breakfast and making sure all of the guests were well taken care of by the other staff. The shuttle driver, Lisa, was amazing and very helpful. Went for an early morning run along the Des Moines River - beautiful scenery…can’t believe such a great environment so close to downtown. Will definitely come back.

2

Daeleene

Jan 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

When booking this hotel I requested an early check-in. I didn’t hear anything back so day of check-in I call at 9:30 AM to request an early check-in. The lady said they could probably have my room ready by 2 PM I said ok and then I call back around 1:30PM to make sure my room was ready they said it still wasn’t ready. I show up at 2 PM maybe hoping that it would be ready. Front desk lady very rudely said it still isn’t ready. It probably won’t be ready until check in time which is at 4 PM. Already annoyed I say OK that’s fine. We’ll just come in at regular check-in time. So we did we came at 4PM which is the check in time and it STILL WAS NOT READY!! She said she could give me another room to wait until my room was ready cause we were looking at another hour before it was. Frustrated I said fine and didn’t get a call from the hotel about my room being ready until 6 PM which I then had to move all my stuff from that room to another room two hours AFTER my suite should’ve been ready. The front desk didn’t apologize for the inconvenience maybe try to make it better which I was not expecting anything from them, but just maybe something instead of acting like I was the problem. I got one of their bigger suites and just don’t understand how I’ve been calling all day trying to get this room and still wasn’t ready until two hours after check in time!

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Location

Walkable downtown location by the river, close to the Capitol, venues, bars, and restaurants. Nearby construction and paid/overflow parking can detract for some.

Related guest reviews

10

Karen

Dec 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

So close to the state capital

10

Tiffany

Sep 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel is in a convenient location. With restaurants and bars in the downtown area and main attractions at a walkable distance. As for the hotel itself, staff is friendly and helpful with recommendations. Complimentary breakfast was tasty and fresh.

10

Linda

May 18, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location for walking to all the sites in downtown Des Moines! The Riverwalk, botanical gardens, sculpture, gardens, and even the capital were within walking distance of this hotel. Can’t say enough about the great location!

10

James

May 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Love the breakfast and happy hour. Good location for walks along River or up to state capitol building

8

Christine

Feb 16, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Accessible location to all things Des Moines! Comfort, convenience, great breakfast, and walkable neighborhood on the river.

10

Sarah

Mar 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Although the area around the property is torn up by construction, the facilities are pretty nice.

10

Pokie

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This was great with a buddy. It’s downtown Des Moines. Short walk to farmers market on Saturday morning. Took a walk by myself in the afternoon, not smart. Use the buddy system. It’s a big old beautiful city.

10

Rachel

Apr 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location! Close to Wells Fargo & to Court Avenue! Easy walk to all locations!

10

Christopher

Jul 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location in the middle of downtown. Walkable to the capitol and several bars and restaurants. Love the free breakfast.

10

Alex

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is the second time we have stayed at this Embassy Suites hotel and absolutely love it. The location is awesome and convenient to walk to a abundance of restaurants. The staff were awesome and welcoming and efficient. The happy hour drinks and snacks were great as well as the morning breakfast buffet where we enjoyed a delicious custom made omelette. We will be back!!!

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Dining

Breakfast, especially the made-to-order omelets, and the evening reception with complimentary drinks are consistent highlights. A few guests mention long lines, average items, or watered-down drinks.

Related guest reviews

10

Karolann

Mar 20, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was extremely helpful and pleasant. The facility was clean. The complimentary drinks at the bar were great. The breakfast was delicious.

10

Rhonda

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great free breakfast. Nice staff

10

Anthony

Sep 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great Room, Great Breakfast, daughter loved some time in the pool. It was a very pleasant stay and will stay here again in the future.

10

Vicki

Aug 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Happy hour and breakfast yummy

6

Sadie

Mar 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed here 5 years ago and had an excellent experience. They have not updated anything since then. The porcelain on the tub was worn off, the odor in the pool area was so foul it was hard to enjoy swimming, the “appetizers” were crackers, chips/salsa, cheese cubes and fruit and the plates to get food were not clean. There was no staff around to ask for clean plates. The rooms are dated and not consistent with other hotels at this price/reputation. I was incredibly disappointed and wish we would have stayed somewhere newer rather than thinking we would have the same experience we had in the past here. There is construction directly around the property. Not the hotels fault, just FYI to future hotel guests.

10

Ron

Jun 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The breakfast buffet was wonderful! Free drinks and snacks at 5:30 is a nice touch! Staff at front desk could smile a little more.

8

Mark

Mar 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

the breakfast was not great, just ok

8

Cami

Jan 15, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Embassy Suites in Des Moines is an older hotel and could use some updating, however it is very clean, the staff is helpful and very accommodating. The evening 2 free drinks and snack bar was nice. The breakfast was fresh and hot with several options. The location was very convenient to the concert we attended at Wooly's in the East Village. We will definitely stay there again when we have an event to attend in the area.

8

William

Jan 2, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The complimentary reception on Sunday evening was poor. The line to the bar was long for the entire 2 hours and often just had 1 bartender. We arrived at 5:45 and most of the snacks were already gone and were never replenished. The breakfast was great. We were disappointed that there not a hot tub

10

Roger

Dec 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great value for a one night Sunday stay..four free drinks at happy hour..and 2 A+ breakfasts included..including custom made omelettes with bacon

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$129
February	$167
March	$144
April	$171
May	$166
June	$166
July	$168
August	$218
September	$164
October	$183
November	$137
December	$134

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $168	2 $177	3 $172
4 $175	5 $292	6 $295	7 $280	8 $292	9 $178	10 $197
11 $137	12 $154	13 $182	14 $179	15 $157	16 $174	17
18 $145	19 $197	20 $200	21 $292	22 $292	23 $156	24 $155
25 $137	26 $179	27 $205	28 $209	29 $292	30 $165	31 $156

Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown

Prices for Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Suite, Multiple Beds

Room, 1 King Bed, Corner

Room, 2 Double Beds, Corner

Presidential Suite, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed

Suite, 2 Double Beds, Accessible, Bathtub (Mobility & Hearing)

Room, 1 King Bed

Basic Room, 2 Double Beds

Suite, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Bathtub (Mobility & Hearing)

Suite, 1 King Bed (Custom)

Suite, 2 Double Beds, Accessible (Mobility & Hearing, Roll-In Shower)

Guest reviews of Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Embassy Suites Hotel Des Moines Downtown

Considering this hotel for your Des Moines trip?

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18 $195	19 $267
20 $154	21 $160	22 $160	23 $159	24 $158	25 $177	26 $185
27 $151	28 $266	29 $267	30