A three-course Thanksgiving feast is coming to a historic building that once housed banking offices. Yes, a bank.
The turkey gets the vault-level treatment now.
Surety Hotel in downtown Des Moines is hosting The Abundant Harvest on November 26, with a menu celebrating seasonal ingredients and Iowa’s agricultural heritage.
The event promises traditional holiday favorites and a dessert course worth saving room for.
I appreciate any holiday plan that removes dishes from the equation. Nobody scrubs a roasting pan here.
Nobody argues over who forgot the rolls. You just arrive, enjoy your meal, and let someone else handle the cleanup.
The building has a backstory worth bragging about, too. When it opened in 1913, it stood taller than anything else in Iowa.
Today it trades office desks for hotel rooms, art, and a lobby fireplace.
Who knew Thanksgiving could come with this much history on the side?
The Abundant Harvest Is The Holiday Plan You Didn’t Know You Needed
Thanksgiving at Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection has an official name, and it sounds delicious. The event is called The Abundant Harvest: Thanksgiving at Surety.
It takes place on Thursday, November 26, 2026, which is Thanksgiving Day. The hotel’s detailed event listing currently gives an 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, although other published schedules differ.
That gives families a reason to double-check their booking details. You can still plan around a morning parade or an afternoon football game.
The hotel currently describes the experience as a three-course Thanksgiving dinner curated by Mulberry Street Tavern. Earlier tourism information advertised a buffet, so the exact serving format should be confirmed when reserving.
The menu celebrates traditional holiday dishes and seasonal ingredients inspired by Iowa farms. Beloved classics share space with what the hotel calls the finest of Iowa’s harvest.
Reservations are required for this one. Showing up hungry without a booking is a risky move on a holiday.
Got a big crew coming along? Parties larger than 10 should call the hotel directly to sort things out.
Planning ahead matters most for grandparents, cousins, and that uncle who always brings a surprise guest. A quick call keeps everyone seated together and the peace intact.
Honestly, that sounds like the easiest Thanksgiving hosting job ever invented.
A Three-Course Holiday Feast Puts Seasonal Flavors First
Three courses make any holiday dinner feel a little more special. At The Abundant Harvest, the kitchen is preparing a Thanksgiving meal that celebrates the season.
The hotel’s current announcement promises traditional favorites and a menu inspired by Iowa’s harvest. Mulberry Street Tavern is handling the dining experience, bringing its own approach to the holiday.
Then comes the part kids might eye first. Dessert is included as its own course, so there is something sweet to look forward to after the main meal.
Having dessert built into the plan is smart. Nobody has to volunteer to spend the morning baking several pies.
The menu draws inspiration from seasonal ingredients and the foods families traditionally associate with Thanksgiving. Specific dishes and serving arrangements should be confirmed with the hotel before arrival.
Here’s some practical advice for a meal like this. Ask about the menu when making your reservation, especially if anyone in your group has dietary restrictions.
Families with picky eaters should check the available choices too. Knowing what’s planned helps everyone arrive with the right expectations.
Grandma can look forward to the traditional flavors. The kids can start negotiating their dessert choices.
Everybody gets a holiday outing, and nobody washes a single serving bowl afterward.
Brick, Molding, And Room For A Crowd
Exposed brick meets fancy Beaux-Arts molding in the Surety Ballroom. It’s rustic and elegant at once, with a historic character that makes the room memorable.
The space covers 2,969 square feet. The hotel’s published capacity chart lists seating for 135 guests at rounds of eight or 150 people for theater-style events.
That size works nicely for large celebrations. It feels roomy, yet it isn’t a giant convention hall where you lose your table.
The decorative molding nods to the building’s original style. Beaux-Arts design loves detail, symmetry, and a little bit of drama.
Meanwhile, the brick adds warmth and texture. Put those together, and you get a room that photographs really well.
Families who love a holiday picture should take note. The hotel’s historic interiors offer plenty of attractive places for a group photograph.
The ballroom hosts weddings and other big events throughout the year. It remains one of the hotel’s most impressive gathering spaces.
One detail needs confirming for Thanksgiving. The current event listing names Surety Hotel as the venue without explicitly identifying the ballroom, so ask about the event’s exact location when reserving.
Eating a holiday meal in such a historic hotel still feels special. It turns an ordinary Thursday into something worth remembering.
Plus, nobody needs to borrow folding chairs from the neighbors. That alone might earn the hotel a thank-you card.
Once Upon A Time, This Was Iowa’s Tallest Building
Back in 1913, this 172-foot tower stood taller than every other building in Iowa. It was a skyscraper bragging right before most people owned cars.
Architects Sawyer and Watrous designed it in the Early Commercial and Beaux-Arts style. The 12-story building first went by the name Hippee Building.
Over the years, it collected a few more names. It was called Southern Surety, Savings and Loan, and the Midland Building.
That Southern Surety name explains the hotel’s modern title. A surety is a kind of guarantee, which fits a place that once held banking business.
In 2017, Chicago’s Aparium Hotel Group bought the building. They began turning the old office tower into a boutique hotel.
The project came with a $40 million renovation. That’s a lot of money spent bringing old bones back to life.
A year later, in 2018, the building joined the National Register of Historic Places. That listing honors its role in Des Moines history.
Today, Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection, runs as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. So your Thanksgiving plate comes with more than a century of backstory.
Not bad for an old bank.
A Lobby That Earned A Living Room Nickname
Some folks call this lobby Des Moines’ Living Room. With a fireplace on site, that nickname makes sense on a chilly November day.
Plenty of the original architecture survived the renovation. Coffered ceilings, detailed colonnades, and historic transom windows still stand out.
The original staircase has been restored too. It’s a great spot to admire before or after your Thanksgiving meal.
Art fans get something to look at here. Local pieces from the Olson-Larsen Gallery appear throughout the hotel.
You’ll also find work by artist Molly Spain. Custom candles and hand-thrown ceramics add small, thoughtful touches.
The lobby coffee counter serves guests in the morning and currently advertises service until 11 a.m. That timing works nicely if you arrive early for the holiday meal.
Families coming from out of town can stretch their legs here. It’s a calm place to gather before everyone heads to their reserved dining area.
Bring a camera or simply your phone. The ceilings and staircase make a classy background for holiday photos.
Honestly, a fireplace plus coffee plus history is hard to beat. You might linger longer than planned, and that’s perfectly fine.
Too Full To Drive? Book A Room Upstairs
Turkey naps are real, and this hotel has 137 rooms and suites ready for one. Staying overnight turns the holiday into a mini getaway.
The rooms show off a midcentury-modern style. Restored hardwood floors and mahogany-hued built-in shelving give them plenty of character.
Bathrooms feature black and white tiles with emerald green accents. It’s a bold look that feels both classic and fresh.
Standard rooms include Wi-Fi and blackout curtains. Those curtains are perfect for sleeping off a second slice of pie.
You’ll also find comfortable bathrobes and modern flat-screen TVs with streaming. Locally sourced amenities bring a little Iowa personality into the rooms.
Want more room? The 460-square-foot Junior King Suite offers top-floor views and separate living and sleeping areas.
Then there’s the Marchande Suite, the hotel’s presidential suite. It spans 951 square feet with a wraparound corner view of the Polk County Courthouse.
That suite also has dedicated dining and lounge space. It’s a fun option for a small family celebration.
Dogs are welcome too, with up to two pets per room and a $75 fee per stay. Confirm the permitted weight before booking, since the hotel’s own website and Marriott’s listing currently give different limits.
Save Mulberry Street Tavern For The Weekend After
OpenTable once named the hotel’s restaurant among America’s 50 most beautiful restaurants for 2024. That’s Mulberry Street Tavern, and it lives right inside Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection.
The menu serves American fare with a worldly spin. It has also earned a Diner’s Choice Award.
Dinner options have included Scotch eggs and Spanish octopus. A cauliflower steak and Skuna Bay salmon have shown up as well.
Burger lovers can look for the MST double burger. It sounds like a solid pick after a long day of shopping.
Weekend brunch runs Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Avocado toast and shakshuka have appeared on that menu.
So here’s a thought for your holiday weekend. Enjoy Thanksgiving at the hotel, then come back for brunch a few days later.
Leftover turkey sandwiches are great, sure. But someone else cooking breakfast might be even better.
Dinner hours vary by day, so check the schedule before heading over. Weekend nights stay open later than weekday evenings.
Overnight guests get the easiest commute ever. It’s just a short walk downstairs, no coat required.
Downtown Des Moines Is Right Outside The Door
Location matters when you’re planning a holiday outing. You’ll find Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection at 206 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309.
It sits at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Mulberry Street. That’s the heart of downtown Des Moines.
Plenty of attractions sit within walking distance. The Science Center of Iowa is a great pick for curious kids.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park is close by as well. Walking among the big outdoor sculptures could be a fun way to burn off dessert.
The Des Moines Civic Center and Casey’s Center are nearby too. The Iowa Events Center offers another major destination for entertainment and events.
Visiting on another weekend? The Downtown Farmers’ Market runs on Saturdays during its season, about five minutes away on foot.
The hotel also hosts music, art, and wellness events through the year. Those connect guests with the creative side of the city.
Driving in for Thanksgiving? Valet parking is available for an extra daily charge.
All in all, this Iowa hotel makes a smart home base. Come for the holiday meal, stay for the city, and leave the dishes behind.