Minneapolis punches well above its weight in the drinking department. The craft brewery density is among the highest in the country, the cocktail bars are creative and well-run, and Minnesotans — despite the “Minnesota Nice” reputation — know how to go hard when the occasion calls for it. Winter drives people indoors to drink; summer drives them onto every available patio. Both seasons produce excellent results.
Marvel Bar
North Loop — Tucked beneath the Bachelor Farmer restaurant space, Marvel Bar is Minneapolis’s crown jewel of cocktails. The menu reads like poetry and drinks like it too. Reservations aren’t taken — just show up and wait. It’s worth it. Order: whatever seasonal creation catches your eye. The bartenders here don’t miss.
Tattersall Distilling
Northeast — A craft distillery with a gorgeous cocktail room that serves drinks made exclusively from their own spirits. The space is huge, the cocktails are excellent, and you can buy bottles to take home. Order: a cocktail featuring their Bootlegger botanical spirit, or a flight to sample the range.
Grumpy’s Downtown
Downtown — The downtown outpost of Minneapolis’s beloved dive bar chain. Cheap drinks, a great jukebox, and the kind of sticky-floor authenticity that can’t be manufactured. Order: a Hamm’s and a shot of Malört if you’re feeling brave (it’s a Midwest thing).
Surly Brewing Co.
Prospect Park — Surly’s massive destination brewery changed Minneapolis beer culture when it opened. The beer hall is enormous, the outdoor area is a summer paradise, and the beer — especially Furious IPA — is iconic. Order: Furious on draft. It’s the beer that started it all.
Parlour Bar
North Loop — A subterranean cocktail bar beneath the Parlour restaurant, known for its smash burger upstairs and expertly made drinks downstairs. The space is dark, stylish, and intimate. Order: a Manhattan or their seasonal menu highlight — and yes, get the burger first.
Dangerous Man Brewing
Northeast — A small, cash-only taproom in the heart of the Northeast brewery district. No distribution — the only place to drink their beer is right here. Lines form on weekends and it’s always worth the wait. Order: the Chocolate Milk Stout. It’s a dessert in a glass.
Eat Street Social
Whittier (Eat Street) — A cocktail-forward restaurant and bar on the vibrant Eat Street corridor. The drinks are inventive and the patio is prime people-watching territory in summer. Order: their rotating punch or a mezcal-based cocktail.
Palmer’s Bar
West Bank — Minneapolis’s oldest bar, a West Bank dive that’s survived everything the city’s thrown at it. Cash only, strong pours, live music, and a clientele that ranges from grad students to old-timers. Order: a Grain Belt Premium — the local lager — and a bump.
Brit’s Pub
Downtown — A British pub downtown with a rooftop lawn bowling green. Yes, lawn bowling. The patio is one of the best in the city during summer, and the beer list balances British imports with local craft. Order: a proper pint of cask ale and a round of bowls.
The Northeast neighborhood is brewery central — you could spend an entire weekend there. North Loop has the cocktail bars and upscale spots. Uptown is the classic going-out neighborhood (younger, louder). Minneapolis has a skyway system connecting downtown buildings, which means winter bar-hopping doesn’t require braving the cold — use it. Our Minneapolis venue directory and Minneapolis city page have the complete guide.