Handcrafted pastries, carefully pulled espressos, and the kind of warmth that turns a quick stop into your daily ritual — right here on Franklin Avenue.
Cafe Saraj started with a simple conviction: Des Moines deserves a bakery that treats every ingredient like it matters. Not because it's trendy — because it is.
We bake in small batches, pull our espresso shots with precision, and source our flour, butter, and chocolate from suppliers who share our standards. Our Franklin Avenue location is more than a shop — it's the living room for a neighborhood that shows up, day after day.
Whether you're grabbing a morning coffee to go or settling in for an hour with a book and a slice of our almond croissant, you're welcome here.
Our bakers arrive before sunrise so the first croissant hits the shelf warm, not reheated.
We bake what we can sell. That means less waste and fresher product at the end of the day.
Franklin Avenue is our street. We know our regulars by name and remember how they take their coffee.
Local sourcing, local events, and a space that feels like someone's living room — because it basically is.
I've been coming here every morning for six months. The cortado is the best in Des Moines, and the staff actually remembers my order. That's rare.
We ordered custom cakes for our wedding from Cafe Saraj and everyone was raving about them for weeks. The attention to detail is unreal.
This is the kind of place that makes you glad to live in Des Moines. Real food, real people, no pretense. My go-to for weekend brunch with the kids.
Walk in any day, order anything, and stay as long as you like. We save the good chairs for regulars — but there's always room for one more.
