Nov 25, 2025 - Food and Drink

Ocha Bubble Tea opening in downtown Des Moines

Linh Ta

Storefront of Ocha Bubble Tea & Dessert Cafe with boarded windows decorated with oversized yellow and pink flowers and white dots on brown paper. — Ocha's downtown Des Moines storefront. Photo: Courtesy of Eric Burson

Ocha Bubble Tea is bringing its Asian desserts to downtown Des Moines' 4th Street and Court Avenue area, owner Nishapat "Aom" Meesangkaew tells Axios.

The big picture: The new shop will be Ocha's third cafe, located at 221 4th St., which formerly housed the Despensary.

State of play: Aom's downtown location will be larger than her Windsor Heights and Ankeny shops, giving her more space for a dine-in Asian dessert cafe.

Once she gets closer to her opening date, Aom says she'll share more about the menu.

The intrigue: A decade ago, before Aom opened her businesses, she was a student at Iowa State and visited the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market.

Back then, she loved the buildings and architecture in the 4th Street area and imagined owning a business there someday. And now, it's happening.

What's next: Aom says she hopes to open in December or early next year.

Add Axios on Google

Ocha Bubble Tea opening in downtown Des Moines

More Des Moines stories