How to do a Pella food crawl to eat your way through Dutch country
Pella, Iowa, rewards diners who arrive hungry and linger. Founded in 1847 by Dutch immigrants, the Marion County town has transformed its culinary traditions into living rituals, best experienced on foot during a long, indulgent day.
A Pella food tour isn’t about following trends or checking boxes; it’s about revisiting habits that generations of locals have perfected, like bologna smoked on-site, hand-shaped Dutch pastries, and beer served in a bar that feels like a second living room. Just a few blocks near the town square, you can taste the dishes that define Pella’s identity.
This crawl starts with a meat sandwich, builds on sugar and almond paste, then ends with a well-deserved drink. Whether you visit during tulip season or on a quiet weekday, eating through Pella is as much about atmosphere as it is about appetite, and the reward is a deeper understanding of why these places endure.
In’t Veld’s Meat Market, a staple of Pella’s Central Park town square, is the only butcher in town that still makes Pella’s famous bologna on site.
Start with a classic: Pella de Bologna at the In’t Veld Meat Market
Any Pella food tour should start with Bologna, and there’s no better place to do it than In’t Veld Meat Market, a staple of Central Park, the town square. Founded in 1918, In’t Veld’s is the only butcher in the city that still makes the famous Bologna Pella on site, using old-fashioned techniques passed down from generation to generation. The store is timeless with its windows filled with sausages.
Order the hot bologna sandwich for a traditional introduction, or opt for the Bologna Reuben, filled with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and rye vinaigrette.
Details: 820 Main Street, Pella, 641-628-3440, intvelds.com
Jaarsma Bakery opened in Pella in 1898. This is where visitors line up to taste the desserts that define Dutch-American baking in Iowa. The essential is the Dutch letter.
Next stop: Dutch pastry heaven at Jaarsma Bakery
From savory to sweet, head just a few blocks to Jaarsma Bakery, the heart of Pella’s baking scene since 1898. It’s where visitors line up to sample the desserts that define Dutch-American baking in Iowa. The must-have is the Dutch letter, an S-shaped pastry filled with fragrant almond paste and wrapped in flaky, golden pastry. The almond banquet and Danish butter also shine, balancing richness and restraint.
Details: 727 Franklin Street, Pella, 641-628-2940, jaarsmabakery.com
An alternative pastry stop: Vander Ploeg Bakery
For a quieter, more intimate baking experience, neighboring bakery Vander Ploeg offers a compelling counterpoint. Founded in 1847, it’s one of the oldest continuously operating bakeries in Iowa and a favorite among locals who appreciate its understated charm. Everything here is homemade, including the puff pastry which forms the backbone of its menu. Dutch letters are the best-selling, hand-rolled and particularly flaky, with a slightly less sweet profile than some competitors. Cream horns and seasonal Dutch pastries round it out, rewarding repeat visits.
For those debating bakeries, Vander Ploeg is no replacement for Jaarsma – it’s an invitation to compare, contrast and appreciate the nuances of tradition in two ways.
Details: 711, rue Franklin, Pella, 641 628‑2293, pellabakery.com
The Cellar Peanut Pub, where Pella relaxes, is nationally known for its craft beer selection, with more than 50 on tap, many from Iowa breweries.
Finish with a drink: The Cellar Peanut Pub
Finish the exploration at the Cellar Peanut Pub, where Pella relaxes. Known nationally for its craft beer selection, The Cellar offers more than 50 taps, many featuring Iowa breweries, and an unapologetically delicious cocktail program. The Bloody Mary is the headliner – bold, spicy and generously garnished – but beer lovers will find plenty to explore, from crisp lagers to hoppy IPAs.
The atmosphere is lively without being overwhelming, a true neighborhood bar where conversations overlap and the bartenders know their taps. After a day of sausage and pastries, The Cellar offers balance: a place to sit, sip, and reflect on the flavor of small-town Iowa.
Details: 629 Franklin Street, Pella, 641-628‑4467, thecellarpeanutpub.com
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and food reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram, or message him at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: If you’re in Pella, browse these places to eat
