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1029 Marshall St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413
612-379-4322
http://www.the1029bar.com There's an air of unusual traditions at the 1029, at least if the dozens-if-not-hundreds of brassieres hanging from the walls are any indication. But that's more whimsical than tacky, and the 1029's casual Nordeast atmosphere keeps things lighthearted and neighborhood-friendly. More >>
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19 W. 15th St. Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-871-5553
This laidback, come-as-you-are bar has been around since 1952. It's changed ownership a few times, and if you visited back in the day you'll notice that it's expanded just a bit. The brick walls and parquet wood bar are still there, along with numerous trophies won from pool leagues. Most of the patrons are regulars, and you may notice the bartender calling out your name with your choice of drink waiting if you're one of them. In 2010, City Pages dubbed it the best place to meet single gay men -- but it's certainly not a 'meat market' kind of place, so no skinny jeans necessary. 19 Bar doesn't cater to any specific demographic, so you'll likely find an overall feeling of being welcome once inside. More >>
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1750 Hennepin Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55403-2115
612-253-3410
http://www.wolfgangpuck.com 20.21 unites two famous brand names: the Walker Art Center, where fine-dining restaurant 20.21 is located, and Wolfgang Puck, the grand old titular chef and international businessman. What results is a restaurant that dazzles with style, polish, and pop, but lacks any particular heart. But will you care? Perhaps not. The room itself is all white angles and stark super-modern chairs, and it actually has an angular glass window wall cantilevered out over Hennepin Avenue, giving it one of the prettiest views in town. The food is highly skilled Asian fusion, much of it with a sugar-sweet edge. Desserts are excellent, and visitors should not miss the chocolate mousse cube tribute to the Sculpture Garden's famous Spoonbridge and Cherry--it's a souvenir and a delight, in one. More >>
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2121 University Ave. NE Minneapolis, MN 55418
612-789-9876
This is probably your dad's favorite strip club, and quite possibly yours too. Finally, something you and the old man can agree on! Described as one of the few places in town where the most heavily-tattooed women can find gigs dancing (and are indeed most welcomed), the "Deuce Deuce" or "Double Deuce" as it's frequently called by locals is an unassuming spot, blending in seamlessly with other Northeast bars nearby. Part of its appeal is that one side of the bar looks like any other bar in the neighborhood, replete with pull tabs, meat raffles, and jerky in plastic tubs with screw-on tops. But the other room? A teeny catwalk, pole affixed, and dancers who are much more casual than at other locales. And that jukebox? Don't touch it - the ladies are in charge of it. Tip generously, and maybe they'll let you put in a request. More >>
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318 Water St. Excelsior, MN 55331
952-401-7902
http://www.three-eighteen.com This little café with a big heart brings laid-back scratch-cooking to downtown Excelsior. The kitchen serves simple-but-tasty soups, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods, along with a nice selection of coffee drinks, wine, and beer. Plus, there's patio seating and live music for when you want to linger. More >>
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331 13th Ave. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413
612-331-1746
http://www.331.mn A Northeast Minneapolis destination for years, the 331 has all the amenities of a neighborhood bar -- unpretentious atmosphere, tasty bar food, a generous happy hour -- with a few touches of unique character. Stop in on Sunday during brunch hours to try out their build-your-own-pancake menu, or drop in anytime during the evening for shows from numerous local bands, including resident gigs by local country/folk stalwarts Glen Hanson and the Roe Family Singers. More >>
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400 Cedar Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-332-2903
http://www.400bar.com One of the longest-standing rock-club landmarks on Minneapolis' West Bank, the 400 Bar sits on the corner of Cedar and Riverside like a monument to local venues everywhere. Aside from their live showcases of Twin Cities regulars, typically with a $5 cover or less, they have the tendency to land shows by touring national acts you won't see anywhere else, as well as buzz bands right on the verge of blowing up. More >>
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400 3rd Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-338-3083
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4171 Lyndale Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55412
612-886-3635
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5800 Cedar Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55417
612-823-5858
http://www.5-8club.com As one of the dueling "original" Jucy Lucy restaurants (5-8 uses the "i" in its Juicy), you'd expect the 5-8 Club to offer a classic rendition. And so it does, serving up a large, competent patty stuffed with plentiful (if not terribly flavorful) American cheese. The onions are a stringy, caramelized mess, but otherwise the bun and toppings are of solid quality. The club is surprisingly antiseptic and chain-restaurantesque, but that cuts both ways; it's easy to get seated, and there's plenty of room. More >>
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508 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-339-0036
http://www.bar508.com One of the newer generation of sports bars to benefit from the close proximity of Target Field, the 508 isn't just a crash pad for Twins fans left without a ticket -- it's a booming, two-level club with sidewalk patio seating and better-yet-cheaper-than-average bar food. More >>
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719 Dale St. N. St Paul, MN 55103
651-489-9683
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701 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55403-1327
612-338-8388
http://www.first-avenue.com Call it First Avenue's auxiliary wing if you want, but this small-capacity offshoot of the venerable club is every bit as integral to the venue's identity as the mainroom. Since the early '80s, the Entry has been an ideal venue for local showcases and indie-friendly touring bands, and the room's size -- cozy without being crowded -- guarantees that you'll always have good sightlines to the stage. More >>
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800 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55402
612-349-5717
http://www.8thstreetgrill.com In this skyway-strewn downtown, some of the best after-work hangouts still sit at street level, and the 8th Street Grill is one of them. The subdued decor and emphasis on homestyle cooking make it a subtler alternative to the garish whimsy of your typical chain restaurant, though the real reasons people go to those places -- namely a broad selection of appetizers and burgers, along with a massive tap beer list -- are still present. The 8th Street Grill also makes the most of its location sheltered beneath a parking garage: the entrance ramp doubles as the roof of an all-weather patio, complete with heat lamps. More >>
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329 S. Cedar Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-874-8702
http://www.acadiacafe.com Ever since they moved into their current location at Cedar & Riverside on Minneapolis' West Bank, the Acadia has made itself a welcome presence in a neighborhood with no shortage of great bars. Part of that owes to the club's bountiful beer selection, with more than two dozen tap brews and more than 40 bottle beers to choose from. Less-thirsty patrons, meanwhile, congregate there for their frequent no-cover shows, which run the gamut from rock to folk to experimental music. More >>
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139 E. 7th St. St. Paul, MN 55101
651-224-7717
http://www.alarys.com Alary's reputation as a "cop bar" notwithstanding, this downtown St. Paul institution with the amazing art deco facade and more flatscreens than Best Buy is a great destination for any kind of crowd. Gameday shuttles to and from the Xcel cater to Wild fans and tournament-goers, and if you're looking for somewhere to cheer for Da Bears without being set upon by a purple-clad horde, you've got a home away from home. More >>
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400 Southdale Center Edina, MN 55435
952-229-4262
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6 W. 6th St. St. Paul, MN 55102
651-222-3990
http://www.amsterdambarandhall.com Don't let the downtown St. Paul location throw you: having spotted a gap in the area's live music department, Amsterdam has jumped into it feet-first. A destination bar with a focus on live music and DJs, this venue from the same Oulman-family braintrust that gave Nordeast the 331 has a modern, open-floor layout with a well-balanced distribution between booths, bar seating and dancefloor space. Eclectic bar food with a Netherlands twist complements a wide bar selection. More >>
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251 Burnsville Burnsville, MN 55337
952-746-8890
http://www.parkwaygrillemn.com
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14521 Granada Drive Apple Valley, MN 55124-7418
952-431-1776
The Apple Valley American Legion Post #1776 has the easy-going vibe and older group of patrons one can expect from a veterans or fraternal organization bar. At this location, you can expect karaoke, live bands (sometimes on the same night), friendly staff, pull tabs and affordable drinks, as well as event rooms available for rent. More >>
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400 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-232-3232
http://www.aquampls.com Aqua is emblematic of the 21st century mainstream club scene: candy-colored lighting, Top 40 hits throttled through a booming sound system, and an atmosphere of good, clean debauchery. The club's all-modern decor and post-Maxim attitude make it feel like the kind of zeitgeist-heavy place where nothing before the year 2002 actually exists -- which makes its location in one of downtown Minneapolis' oldest buildings that much more unusual. More >>
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500 Central Ave. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-623-3245
Atypically for Northeast, Arones offers a very "mom & pop" atmosphere with the low chatter of regulars and the background noise of the television set. The bar offers a few pool tables, a bookcase of worn soft-cover novels, a lottery-sale booth, well-played chess sets, and endless free popcorn. The bartenders provide nightly specials and cheap drinks in the cash-friendly bar, as well as a full food menu in the attached restaurant. More >>
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408 St. Peter St. St. Paul, MN 55101
651-292-1359
http://www.artistsquarter.com Home to a number of local and touring jazz acts -- as well as their own popular weekly Hammond B-3 organ night -- the Artists' Quarter stands as one of the most reliable hot spots in the Downtown St. Paul area. This artist-owned and operated club also features free weekly open poetry sessions and all sorts of musical offerings from classic bop to modern fusion. More >>
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125 SE Main St. Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-3138
http://www.aster-cafe.com St. Anthony Main's Aster Café is located in what is arguably the most beautiful and picturesque slice of Minneapolis. The space features an extensive and quirky beer and wine list, simple but highly intelligent (and very local) breakfast, dinner, and dessert menus, specialty tea-infused cocktails, and an ambiance that is at once cozy and relaxed. Whether you're sitting at one of the copper-topped tables, at the hand-crafted wooden bar, or on the expansive outdoor patio, you've got the delightful view of the river against the backdrop of downtown. If you're around in the evening, things get very intimate as the lights are lowered and the stage is lit up for live music. More >>
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424 Hennepin Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-333-7652
Located within stumbling distance of one of the northern-most light rail stops, Augie's features exotic dancers who may look slightly less like your second cousin (whereas Skyway, to the west, or BJs, to the far northwest, are likely to feel like your golt-darned family reunion), but at a cover charge and ambiance vibe worlds away from venues like Choice and Déjà Vu just to the north. More >>
