Ames’s best local businesses

The 81 spots we’ve checked and stand behind — the ones we’d send a neighbor to. No stars, no pay-to-play.

BaseLocal's Best

81 businesses listed18 added this month8 categories

● Updated Aug 2

Find a spot

81 businesses across 8 categories — pick a shelf, or search them below.

Pinned in Ames today

This spot is open today.

Two pinned places a day in Ames — $10 here, $25 adds the newsletter. List your business →

Paid placements are always marked.

More spots

Businesses in categories too small for their own page — yet.

Clouds
Cafes
Clouds brings European-cafe comfort 100 feet up with proper coffee, flaky pastries, and an all-day menu. Rally the crew for a private event…
119 Stanton Ave · cloudsames.com ↗
The Cafe
Cafes
Smart yet unpretentious cafe featuring eclectic farm-to-table fare & a boutique bar.
2616 Northridge Pkwy · thecafeames.com ↗
Cooks' Emporium
Home & Garden
Cooks' Emporium has been Ames' go-to since 1979 for Wusthof knives, Nordic Ware bakeware, OXO gadgets, ThermoWorks tools and Viski barware.…
313 Main St · cooksemporiumames.com ↗
Hobby Lobby
Hobbies, Books, & Crafts
Chain carrying a variety of arts & crafts materials, plus party supplies, fabric & home-decor items.
620 Lincoln Way A · hobbylobby.com ↗
The Pumpkin Patch
Hobbies, Books, & Crafts
Family-run since 1978, The Pumpkin Patch happily marches to a different drummer with children's books, huggable stuffed animals, classic…
302 Main St · thepumpkinpatchames.com ↗
North Grand Mall
Other
Casual shopping destination featuring a playground, a theatre and an indoor golf venue, plus a range of stores.
2801 Grand Ave · northgrandmall.com ↗
Primelife, L.L.C.
Health & Wellness
Feeling foggy, flat, or not-quite-you lately? Primelife, L.L.C. focuses on functional medicine and sexual wellness, offering hormone…
2605 Northridge Pkwy · primelifeiowa.com ↗
Solutions Integrative Wellness
Health & Wellness
If your energy, hormones, or muscles need a nudge, Solutions Integrative Wellness pairs evidence-based functional medicine with IV vitamin…
2629 University Blvd · solutionsintegrativewellness.com ↗

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