Really great neighborhood spot, I can see why it’s so well loved by locals. Lots of seating options, great place to get work done with lots of outlet options and both breakfast and lunch offerings. And the coffee was great! All-around win here.

Couldn’t pay for my drip coffee because they have a $4 minimum. Changed my drink to a quad shot plain just to meet the minimum.Rang me up for two drinks had to refund it back to me for the drip. NbdReceived my drink, but was served a Chai latte type drink that was really sweet…Didn’t get to purchase my original order, nor did I receive the quad shot black plain I asked for. Just threw my $5 purchase away. Not necessarily my case, but some people in this country have diabetes, so receiving the right drink is an importance if they specify plain or no sugar, which one would think plain mean nothing added, which includes sugar.If you can’t get the customer order right, maybe take down the plastic barrier so you may hear better. People already have to wear masks, so if it is that hard to hear an order correctly, maybe it would help.I’m not being facetious. Nobody should have to have their time wasted waiting for their order as long as it took to complete my transaction, then be served the wrong drink on top of it all.Update 8/14: Whoever is in charge with making sarcastic replies to sincere reviews said “a drive through should suit me better” and “I grabbed the wrong drink”. I was sitting in the establishment for at least 5 more minutes. To be rude to customers instead of actually providing good customer service is abysmal. If I grabbed the wrong drink, someone should have recognized that as I was sitting in house for a while. To reply with a very unprofessional response is more of a reason to not return, and I sincerely hope people read my experience so they can find good service elsewhere. Customer Service is below average here. I really wanted to like this place, but am disappointed further by the rude comments, hence my original 2-star moved to 1.And I didn’t grab the wrong drink, as I recall, the person who *handed* me the drink asked if I wanted whip cream, and I told her I just wanted a plain drink. So if I grabbed the wrong drink, it is because your employee handed it to me. Regardless, tasteless response from a business.

I dont usually go to vegetarian restaurants, but this place is great. The staff are incredibly kind, the environment is super cozy, and it just feels like a good cafe to grab breakfast and coffee and do a crossword puzzle. Feels like a great bookclub spot.

Very tasty and a great selection, especially if you are abiding by a vegetarian diet. There was cheese so not full vegan but I am sure some items will fit the mold. Coffee and lattes were excellent! I had the po boi and it was extremely tasty

5 stars for the review feedback on others lolhave a nice day, thank you for the wonderful atmosphere.wish i could come after work hours!

Not my style..Kind of spooky. I feel like I should have saged myself after leaving.

Well I just popped in and grabbed a tall double latte after the gal at the Allspice downtown spice shop told me about this coffee shop, and felt like I had time warped over to Portland, Oregon, or downtown Seattle when I walked in. Superb tasting coffee, perfect froth, and artistically finished. The ladies there were very friendly, and I loved the international flair. This is very cozy, and I learned they serve vegan food, even though Im a carnivore, lol.It wasnt easy to find, sort of tucked away down an obscure downtown side street, and it was all metered parking, so bring some loose change with you, but there wasnt a wait, its well worth it, and its a fun place to cool your heels with a friend while savoring a good cuppa Joe.

ALL VEGETARIAN!!! Friendly staff and great food. Fast service and awesome atmosphere.

I love the vibe of Ritual Cafe & alll the plants! If youre in the downtown area and want a chill place to grab a great drink, snack, or veggie lunch, this is the spot Id recommend! The baristas are amazing and super friendly too! I personally love their horchata latte (its seasonal) or a blueberry oat milk latte! Yum!

A great place to grab a cup of your favorite Joe and have a conversation with a friend!

Lovely folks.good pastries. I was a little late for something at the grill. I loved the atmosphere.

Fantastic people and delicious vegetarian food! Great location right next to the sculpture park. If given the opportunity I would stay there all day

Great service, great food, but let’s leave the politics out.

The most amazing coffee and food! Everything is vegetarian which I am not and neither is my boyfriend but we both got the most amazing sandwiches! I am also not a coffee lover its my own issue but their coffee is to die for its so good. I will be returning because the staff was also great. All around a nice place to eat and chill. They also had lots of local art displayed which is nice to look at while sipping coffee.

A great location with a view of downtown. I just had a cappuccino my first time here, small $3, but I will definitely be visiting this place more often. Looked like a good food menu also. It wasnt too busy and some some good tunes playing.

This is now a neighborhood institution. Great food, very friendly vibe, and seriously pet-friendly.

Comfortable, homey, and good food. Eclectic mix of decorations.A sandwich and a glass of lemonade was $7.72.

Coffee wasnt hot and the rest rooms needed cleaning.

An eclectic atmosphere with delcious food, tastey beverages, and friendly staff! A must stop cafe!

This place is awesome, welcoming, and clearly a safe place for all sorts of diversity. The food is also amazing. I always grab food here when I find myself downtown.

Best coffee, espresso drinks, vegetarian breakfast/lunch, atmosphere and baristas. Delicious smoothies and baked goods. Local art rotated frequently and available for purchase. Surrounded by beautiful green space so you can eat and sip in the park if your heart desires. Is this heaven in DSM? No, it’s Ritual Cafe.

Locally owned sustainably-sourced for the lovely staff and patrons could not recommend this place more of the food and coffee is amazing

I really like this place. Since Panera closed this is my replacement. Better food anyway. The breakfast burrito is amazing and I havent found a smoothie that I didnt like. Highly recommend.

❤ the coffee. Good place to go

Good service, great food. I will be back!

Awesome, eclectic; goddesses who serve. I had the breakfast burrito and coffee and all was good! Homey Hypster Hemp vibe! Free WiFi. Go!

This is one of my all time favorite places to be. Amazing coffee and great food selection, but the atmosphere is what I love the most. So colorful and inclusive. There is often local art on the walls, plants thriving on the window sill, and always sun beaming in. Staff is super friendly and always busy doing something, I have never seen them just behind the counter bored & talking. I thought I couldn’t love them more, but how professionally they have handled the COVID situation, keeping everyone’s safety as a top priority has made me respect them even more. Go ritual! 🌞🌈☺️

This restaurant is unquestionably one of the most attractive place in the area. Always when I go there I am deeply pleased. They maintain their high level service and the topmost level of cooking they serve. You definitely will enjoy this this restaurant. Very recommended.

I rated 3 stars only because the coffee is that good. I haven’t found a better cappuccino or latte in DSM. With that said, I warn all my fellow conservatives that you will feel very out of place with all the socialist far left propaganda hung proudly throughout the store. I believe in free speech and you do as you please with your privately owned company but not everyone wants to be drilled in the head with your liberal ideals. I just want a damn coffee. Just saying...

Warm, delicious food, friendly staff and customers.

Fave stop when traveling through Iowa. Inventive vegetarian fare and good coffee drinks. Great place for a break from I-80 or I35.

Great place . I love the Mayan Mocha and their Four Cheese Panini is delicious.Love the atmosphere.Now if they can keep from changing the wifi password so often that would be nice. 😉

Probably the smoothest espresso I have had in Des Moines on a continuous basis. The location is right in front of a sculpture garden and they have some small menu items as well, including vegan. The garden is also known to host a lot of concerts and craft/good fairs. Fun area to grab a coffee and spend your weekend.

This place was very great for both my wife and I. Its a vegan/vegetarian place only. Their 4 grilled cheese spicy sandwich was excellent.My wife had a vegan grilled sandwich, which she says was even better than expected. The humus was great as well, I didnt care for the salsa but my wife loved it.They had coconut milk, so that pleased us even more.The managers and workers were extremely nice and helpful.5 stars all around! Thanks guys, we will return when we come back to Iowa!

What can I say, I just love this joint. It has such a positive energy and the menu is so good. I haven’t tried anything there I didn’t like. Coffee drinks are great too. A wonderful place to grab a bite.

Very warm and welcoming place. Staff is very nice and friendly. Very creative and decorative inside. Strongly recommend for coffee lovers. Excellent food. A lil taste of different cultures. New favorite spot!!! Will definetley come back again and again and again...and again😁

I have thoroughly enjoyed everything Ive gotten from Ritual. A co-worker and I will get lunch here for our lunch meetings every once in awhile and weve never been disappointed. I personally love the vegetarian and gluten free options. Their coffee is also always very well made, not bitter, not overly sugar-laden, perfect!

Love this place. So many tasty & affordable vegetarian/vegan options and great coffee! The service was excellent. Its super cozy, great place to meet with a friend or get some work done. And I love how inclusive it is. This place gets it. I just wish that they had later hours and were open on Sundays (though I understand that probably doesnt make financial sense). Ritual Cafe, Ill see you again soon!

The staff was friendly and helpful. I got the Grateful Oats, a chocolate chip cookie, an oatmeal bar, and vanilla black tea. Everything I ordered was vegan 😊 the restaurant is entirely vegetarian, so its easy to order an already vegan meal or modify one of the vegetarian meals to be made vegan. Everything tasted fabulous!! Definitely would stop here again.

Yummy coffee, great place for vegan options and positive ideals! 🖤

Let me stay 20 minutes after close so I could conclude my first date with a pretty girl. Perfect 5/7 score.

Love this spot. Chill atmosphere, good vibes, tons of seating, a few outdoor tables, and they have beer. Win. Love their coffees, gluten free cookies, and am looking forward to trying their food. Havent been here in over a year since its a little out of the way for me- but its my go to coffee shop downtown.

A woman, who I believe to be the owner, did something that touched me to my core. She personally welcomed me and displayed a great sense of customer service and continued to do that with everyone that stepped foot there. From people that looked pretty well-off, to a homeless man that walked in to get a cup of water, she treated them all with the same outstanding service. She later presented the homeless man with a warm cup, what seemed to be a gift card, and wished him merry Christmas with a hug. With all the horrible things going on in the world today, that truly touched me. I am pleased to say this place has won my heart and my business.

Nice place with good vegetarian food and friendly staff. Nice wall decor with lots of new age type of posters. The place has a nice vibe and you’ll enjoy the food hence. They also have a place for live events though I haven’t been to one. They close early in the evening though, so check the hours before you go.

Love this cafe. Amazing products with reasonable prices. Great atmosphere that keeps me coming back. Love this safe place!

Highly recommend!Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, I run on coffee and this place did not disappoint. The atmosphere is eclectic and artsy... Great place to meet up with friends!

So cute. Vegan food. Nice ambience with velvet couch. Local art. Just really cool

The food and tea selection I found to be really diverse and unmatched from standard Cafe formats. This deviation is further complimented by their tea quality which I found was simply sublime. Their food on the other hand is a bit rather bland, I would recommend more seasoning based on what I ordered (Breakfast Barrito). As for the store itself, the color tone greatly compliments the furniture in the notions of a really tranquil environment even with the other customers. Overall, the selection and store are simply unmatched, their food however is where I find improvement.

The staff was very friendly and helpful when I was deciding on my coffee choice, they were fast with making my coffee and the actual coffee was AMAZING! I loved that they had options for vegetarians and vegans. The atmosphere is perfect for visiting with friends or working on school work. It was easy to find, too.

This is my favorite coffee shop in Des Moines! A home for folks who believe in and affirm Radical feminism, anti-racism, lgbtq solidarity, immigrant rights, and anarchist-communist-socialist heroes, with posters, stickers, fliers decorating the walls that celebrate equality and resistance. Everything on the menu is so good from the baked goods to the salads, paninis, bowls, hot drinks, smoothies. There’s a couch and stage for performances. And some really pretty handmade earrings for sale too. In the words of the great Jane’s Addiction, this place is my own personal Ritual de Lo habitual!

The wonderful staff are fun to talk to. Theres a huge variety of drinks and theyre all good. I believe I got a Green Goddess Smoothie (or something like that) and it was unbelievably wonderful. Really cool environment, too.

Wholesome and quaint little vegetarian spot. Got coffee, some wonderful cake and a delicious smoothie. Recommend to any health conscious eaters who want to try new things!

One of my favorite coffee shops. They have delicious coffee and lots of vegan food options as well. Also a great place to hang out with friends or to study - very laid back atmosphere.

Its a quiet place with a variety of beverages and food items, perfect for a study session or whatever else, baristas are considerate, it makes for a very comfortable environment.

Food was not that bad. The number of vegan options is limited. Even though the place is supposed to be vegetarian, their cheeses contain rennet. Make sure you check with the staff if you are strict about your diet.

Food was good, service was offensive at best.A group of about half a dozen students and I came here for lunch today. One of the students that accompanied us was a student with special needs. He decided to get Jimmy Johns for lunch and regroup with the rest of his class before going back onto the bus. Partly because he wanted to be with his peers, partly because he didnt have the mobility to walk back to the bus, and partly because he couldnt even get on the bus without our assistance.Anyway, when we were just about to leave an older woman who I presume was the manager came out from a room in the back and lectured him about the fact he brought his Jimmy Johns into the cafe. Im sorry, I had no idea he began to say. She would sternly interject No, it says very clearly on the door to not bring in outside food. She would cross her arms and purse her lips smugly. He would apologize again only to have the manager repeat herself. I tried to explain that we were just leaving anyway, but she continued to lecture this boy and refuse to hear his apologies. He kept repeating himself on the way back. I honestly had no idea, He would say. We tried to assure him that it was no big deal, but clearly he was upset with himself.I recognize that the policy exists for the businesss livelihood. I understand why random customers cant bring in food and use up space in the cafe.What I cant recognize is why a woman would try to shame a special needs boy for a mistake he made in an effort to be with the group he relied on to stay safe and mobile, and why the woman would refuse to hear the boy out or accept what he had to say.I am disgusted and appalled by the manager of this cafe and her demeanor with this boy. I have three regrets; not confronting this woman for her behavior, giving a generous tip to the business before all this happened, and offering my business in the first place.Dont offer her your money, time, or attention. Eat somewhere else instead.

I got the black bean and sweet potato burrito and it made my mouthhole super happy! Great flavor, it wasnt boring at all. There were a few vegan options, and Im sure many more of them could be made vegan.The staff was super nice and helpful, the girl working at the counter made a drink suggestion (and I wish I could remember what it was) and it was so good!

Happy accident! What amazing food. Awesome staff, too. Was not expecting to uncover this little gem on our long grueling road trip from Wisconsin.

Very nice baristas and customers. The baristas are very well with how they serve drinks. It is very neat, aesthetic, clean, and well organized on the inside. Very calming to have a cup and watch the view. So much positive spirits afloat. Feels very friendly and welcoming. 10/10 would recommend this place for people I know that are coffee drinkers.

Ive loved this place since I first stepped in. Great place to sit for a meeting, do some work, or just stop in quickly during my lunch break for some coffee or a smoothie. My favorite is the Mayan Mocha, but lately Ive been loving the Besito, which is made with Rose water! Great, homey feel, and the friendly, socially-conscious staff keep me returning :)

Ive only been once, but the food and drink I got that time were excellent. I love the inside. Its like eye candy for the easily intrigued (yes, me).

Excellent oatmeal and eggs. Highly recommended!!

Super cozy atmosphere with couches and tables both offered. Really good coffee and really great snacks. Must spend over $4 to use a debit or credit card, but if you get a drink and snack youll reach that. Amazing place to hang out or work on homework at!

Ritual is the best. Cozy hangout, great drinks, excellent vegetarian food during the day and shows in evenings.

The atmosphere at Ritual Cafe is most definitely casual & laid back. You might even find some of the staff dancing in the back. We stopped in for lunch and got the 4 cheese panini. It would have been better if the focaccia was a little toastier. It seemed to missing a bit of crunch that I would want out of a cheese sandwich. Still great food, however. There was plenty of ooey-gooey cheesy-deliciousness. The horchata latte was a great combination of flavors.

Wonderful tomato basil faccocia sandwich, my niece had a black bean burrito both had great flavor. Delicious baked goods 😋 too. Very layed back with some great art on the walls.

Limited choice when it comes to eatable but they taste good. Great atmosphere and staff. A place to take it easy and not rush

Ritual Cafe is hands down the best coffee shop in town. The product is amazing as is the staff.

Always good service, one of my favorite place

Solid place to find vegan snacks and breakfast, alongside killer coffee, art, and music. For a snack, I recommend the homemade oat bars - theyre expensive but delicious. For a bigger meal, try the grilled tempeh - its pretty decent vegan café food.

Yeap. Way to handout sometime. Uniquely different. Meet new people.

First time in and it wont be the last! I ordered The Jess and a Mayan Mocha. Both were excellent! Look forward to coming back!

Delicious vegan/vegetarian options and great coffee too, well worth a stop

Quite a hipster place but it’s cute. I’m not vegetarian but I’m happy they have places like this 😁. They can also make anything on the menu vegan, which is great. I got the hummus toasted sandwich thing. Omg the bread was soooo soft. Wow. 🤤. I enjoyed everything about it. 😬

Best people always caring about any customer that comes in and always have smiles on their faces and just agree or it there and everybody should go there

Really good food. Friendly staff. Clean place. Will definitely be back.

Friendly staff and wonderful food and drinks. Im excited to go back and try more from the menu!

From Chicago & saw this cute place! So glad I stopped in. Great food & very friendly staff!

We ordered and paid for two 16oz dirty chais and received mediocre bland chai in 12 oz cups. It was served with such a friendly smile however, that we couldnt bear to complain and just left.

Wonderful happy place, very good coffee. Nice breakfast, good smoothies. Yummy sandwiches and did I mention excellent music. Go, youll be glad u found it

My latte was delicious & the staff is friendly. The atmosphere is relaxed & my kids loved drinking their hot chocolate while discussing the art on the walls.

Ive been here a few times, and the food/coffee has always been good, the staff has always been helpful and nice, and I really enjoy the cozy ambience! Plus, its nice to enjoy a 100% vegetarian selection. My favorite? The rice milk latte and almond linzer.

Love the atmosphere here. The food is great & the coffee is just as good! I will definitely be back.

One of our favorite places! Great coffee, great vegetarian food, great staff, and more. We’ve been going to Ritual for years and hope to do so for many more.

All the food and drinks are prepared with care and expertise. The vibe is always warm, festive, and nurturing. My favorite place to spend an afternoon recharging.

Love this place! Great food, great coffee and friendly service. I stop by whenever I get downtown!

Cozy coffee shop for the kind and open-minded. Quiet during the day but vibrant on the weekends. Offers vegetarian and vegan food options.

Delicious teas, coffees, smoothies. Little bit of food, vegetarian and pastries. Comfy couch, art for sale. Great barristas.

Tasty vegetarian options, great coffee and tea, super friendly staff, and nice atmosphere. Highly recommend!!!

Fast friendly service. Aren’t afraid to express their values. Love them!

Super chill environment. Very comfortable. The service is awesome as well.

Great place to get healthy food! But takes a while to get food sometimes. One time they forgot while I was waiting over half an hour!

Great place in a good location, with a very friendly stuff and atmosphere in general. Good choices of food for vegan, tea and coffee lovers.

Cool AF staff. The Mayans and tea keep me awake, the chocolate brownies keep me sane. Blessed be Ritual Cafe!

Coffee drinks are ok. Staff is slow. Been a few times. One time I went here for espresso, I wanted to pee first and they made me pay before I could use the restroom. Glad I did t have to go to bad. Who knew hippsters are so stingy with the bathroom.

Easily the best cafe in Des Moines! The staff is always such a delight. Highly recommend the iced toddy and the jesse to give a pep in your step!

Excellent vegetarian cafe. The Mexican mocha is awesome. The burritos are very good.

I asked the barista for a suggestion and what she gave me was delicious! The staff is so kind and friendly, they even have me advice on where to look for apartments!

Great food, great staff and a lovely atmosphere.

These folks know how to keep a restroom clean which to me is everything. And the Cafe Cubano was righteous.