Entry No. 14 — the Des Moines file — filed under: speakeasy
Good News, Darling
A tiny, moody, no-signage cocktail parlor hidden directly behind Hello, Marjorie. With only 26 seats and its own unmarked door, a host escorts you to the back for intricate modern and classic cocktails built on premium spirits. Note: it's slated to move and rebrand as 'Nothing Major' in the Equitable Building in summer 2026, so this exact secret-parlor version is on borrowed time.
The story
You won't find a street-level sign for Good News, Darling anywhere on Locust Street. What you will find is Hello, Marjorie—a mid-century-leaning lounge running at full volume. Walk past the crowd to the host stand and tell them where you're actually trying to go. If there's room in the back, a host escorts you through an unmarked doorway into a tiny, dimly lit parlor designed for slow sipping and precise drink craft.
Owner Nick Tillinghast and his group, Des Moines Does Things, opened the hidden 26-seat space in April 2021 as a sandbox for experimental, spirit-forward bartending. Rather than churning out volume drinks, the staff here leans into custom builds, complex flavors, and low-lit conspiratorial quiet. Enjoy it while it lasts in this format: Tillinghast announced plans to move and rebrand the concept as 'Nothing Major' in the nearby Equitable Building, meaning this exact hidden room behind Marjorie is operating on borrowed time.
What it's like
Stepping out of Hello, Marjorie's chatter and through the unmarked doorway feels like stepping into a private vault. With only 26 seats in the entire room, there are no standing crowds or elbows at the bar—everyone gets a dedicated seat. Reservations open later in the week on Tock and are essential if you want to guarantee entry, though you can ask the front host about walk-in seats on a quiet weeknight. It is strictly a drinks-only establishment, so tell the bartender what spirit or flavor profile you're craving and let them build an off-menu cocktail right in front of you.
The move: Tuck into the back room before it disappears: sit at the bar, tell the bartender your spirit and mood, and let them build you something off-menu. The 26-seat intimacy makes it a quiet, conspiratorial first-date kind of night.
📍 Before you go There's no street door to hunt for: walk into Hello, Marjorie at 717 Locust St in downtown Des Moines and tell the hostess stand you're headed to the parlor in back, and they'll lead you through. It's a drinks-only spot, and the lounge runs on reservations that open later in the week, so booking ahead is the safer play; if you're feeling lucky, ask the Hello, Marjorie host about a walk-in seat. Downtown garages and the skywalk make parking easy on weeknights. Pair it with dinner at Hello, Marjorie out front. Heads-up: a move and rebrand is on the horizon, so confirm it's still the secret-parlor version before you go.
- 📍 Downtown (Locust St)
- 💸 $$$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 717 Locust St, Des Moines, IA
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- In Confidence — Compare two of downtown's hidden entrances in one night by walking two blocks south to find the clear glass knob basement door at Hotel Fort Des Moines.
- 'Nature's Algorithm' Augmented-Reality Mural by Leon Keer — Head one block over before your drink reservation to scan Leon Keer's massive vintage-TV wall mural using your phone camera.
- The Haunt — Trade moody cocktail elegance for a drink in the basement of a haunted house attraction just down the street at 500 Locust.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Walk into Hello, Marjorie at 717 Locust St and check in at the host stand. Tell them you're headed to Good News, Darling, and a host will lead you through the unmarked door into the back parlor.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes, booking ahead on Tock is highly recommended. Because the room only holds 26 people, walk-in seats are limited and depend entirely on luck and timing.
Is there food inside the parlor?
No, Good News, Darling serves drinks only. Plan on having dinner out front at Hello, Marjorie or nearby downtown before heading back.
Why is this location closing?
Owner Nick Tillinghast is relocating the cocktail program to downtown's Equitable Building, where it will reemerge as 'Nothing Major.' Check current status before visiting to make sure the original secret parlor is still open.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: desmoinesgirl.com · Axios · desmoinesregister.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-06