Minneapolis’ Best Bars: A Guide to the Twin Cities’ Nightlife

Minneapolis has a bar scene that runs from large brewery taprooms in Northeast to basement cocktail rooms and neighborhood bars where the beer list matters more than the lighting. The places below are grouped by what they do best. Addresses and signature drinks are included so you can plan a route instead of guessing.

Craft Beer: Brewery Taprooms and Beer Bars

Northeast Minneapolis is the center of the city’s brewery cluster. Several taprooms sit within walking distance of one another, which makes it possible to sample a few without moving the car.

  • Surly Brewing Co. Destination Brewery (520 Malcolm Ave SE): Surly’s destination brewery is the big-room option, with Furious IPA and Bender Oatmeal Brown Ale on tap, a full restaurant, and a rooftop beer garden. It is a good first stop if you want food with your beer or are showing out-of-town guests the local scene.
  • Indeed Brewing Company (711 15th Ave NE): In the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, Indeed pours Day Tripper Pale Ale alongside rotating seasonals. The taproom hosts events and gets busy, so check the calendar if you want a quieter visit.
  • Dangerous Man Brewing Co. (1300 2nd St NE): Dangerous Man is the experimental stop. The taproom has an industrial feel, and the beer list changes often, which makes it worth ordering a flight rather than committing to one pint.
  • Bauhaus Brew Labs (1315 Broadway St NE): Bauhaus leans on German-inspired lagers and playful branding. Wonderstuff Pilsner is the crisp default, and the large taproom often has food trucks or live music.
  • Pryes Brewing Company (1495 NE Marshall St): Pryes sits near the Mississippi Riverfront in Northeast. The taproom is built for groups, and the patio is the reason to go when the weather cooperates.

Cocktail Bars: Craft, Ambience, and a Little Theater

Minneapolis cocktail bars range from dim basement rooms to polished hotel bars. The common thread is a short, deliberate drink menu and bartenders who know how to balance a spirit-forward cocktail.

  • Marvel Bar (50 1st St N): Marvel Bar has the basement speakeasy feel: low light, exposed brick, and a cocktail list that moves between classics and house creations. It is the kind of place to order one well-made drink and stay for a second.
  • The St. Paul Grill (350 N Market St, St. Paul): This is across the river in St. Paul, but it belongs in a Twin Cities cocktail conversation. Inside the Saint Paul Hotel, the Grill is formal without being stiff, and the martinis are the draw.
  • Bradstreet Crafthouse (1930 Hennepin Ave): Bradstreet focuses on spirits and an inventive cocktail menu in a warm Uptown room. Ask the bartender what they are working on rather than defaulting to the menu’s safest option.
  • Parlour (267 13th Ave NE): Parlour is known for its burger, but the cocktail program is just as deliberate. The room is intimate, which makes it a better date-night stop than a large-group bar.
  • Diamond Lil’s (401 E Hennepin Ave): Diamond Lil’s is the unpretentious cocktail stop: friendly, comfortable, and capable of mixing a proper drink without ceremony. It is a useful bridge between a dinner reservation and a later bar stop.

Neighborhood Bars and Pubs: Low-Key Minneapolis

Not every night needs a tasting menu or a reservation. These bars are for a beer after work, a game on TV, or a patio table when the weather finally turns.

  • Holman’s Table (6444 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie): Holman’s Table is at Flying Cloud Airport, which makes it a different kind of bar stop: classic cocktails and a full menu with planes taking off and landing outside. It is a suburban detour, not a downtown crawl stop.
  • Bulldog NE (4018 N 4th St): Bulldog NE is a no-frills Northeast bar with a large beer selection and a patio that fills up in summer. Go for cheap drinks and a crowd that is there to stay awhile.
  • Grumpy’s Bar & Grill (2801 NE 5th St): Grumpy’s is a Northeast institution with solid drinks, bar food, and live music. The patio and the regulars give it more personality than a generic sports bar.
  • The Dubliner (2161 Marshall St NE): The Dubliner is the Irish pub option in Northeast, with stouts, ales, and traditional pub fare in a cozy room. It works best for a relaxed evening with friends rather than a loud night out.

Unique and Themed Bars: A Different Kind of Night

Minneapolis has its share of bars that are destinations in themselves. These two are worth planning around rather than stumbling into.

  • Psycho Silo Saloon (2036 157th Ave NW, Cedar): Psycho Silo is a biker bar north of the city with a large outdoor space and live music. It is not a polished downtown lounge, and that is the point.
  • The Speakeasy (3121 Hennepin Ave): The Speakeasy hides behind a deli and leans into the vintage speakeasy idea with a cocktail menu to match. It is a good date spot if you want a little novelty with your drink.

Practical Notes for a Minneapolis Bar Night

  • Plan around Northeast: If you want to visit multiple breweries, base the night in Northeast Minneapolis. Surly, Indeed, Dangerous Man, Bauhaus, and Pryes are close enough to combine, but pick two or three rather than trying to hit all five.
  • Use ride-sharing for brewery crawls: Metro Transit works for some routes, but parking in Northeast can be tight on busy nights. Ride-sharing is the simpler option if you are moving between taprooms.
  • Check event calendars: Surly, Indeed, and Bauhaus all host events, from music to food trucks. A quick check before you go can change the kind of night you have.
  • Take advantage of patios: Minneapolis summers are short enough that a good patio matters. Pryes, Bulldog NE, and Grumpy’s are all better stops when the outdoor seating is open.
  • Use happy hour: Many Minneapolis bars discount drinks and appetizers in the late afternoon. It is the cheapest way to sample a cocktail bar before committing to a full evening.
  • Look beyond downtown: Northeast, Uptown, and South Minneapolis hold many of the city’s best bars. Downtown and the Warehouse District are useful starting points, not the whole map.

Minneapolis does not have one bar scene. It has a brewery cluster, a cocktail-bar layer, and a neighborhood-bar base that locals use on ordinary weeknights. Pick the category that fits the night, check the hours, and leave room for one stop you did not plan.