Bunker's on North Washington has anchored Minneapolis funk and rhythm and blues since 1976, with a small stage and a Friday house band that has booked Prince sit-ins over the years.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Cover when bands play and the room is tight; arrive before 22:00 for a seat. Late-night kitchen serves through closing.
Address: 761 North Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Union Rooftop on Hennepin Avenue runs the only year-round retractable glass enclosed rooftop in Minnesota, with skyline views over the theatre district and a late-night dance crowd Thursday to Saturday.
Tip: Late-night dance floor opens 22:00 Thursday through Saturday. Brunch Saturday and Sunday morning is the easy walk-up entry point.
Brit's Pub on Nicollet Mall has poured British ales since 1990, but the draw is the 10,000 square foot rooftop lawn bowling green open mid-May through mid-September.
Tip: Reserve the lawn bowling rink an hour at a time from May through September. The rooftop bar stays open year-round; lawn closes in October.
The Rooftop at Hewing Hotel sits six floors above Washington Avenue in the North Loop with indoor and outdoor seating, a year-round heated pool deck and full skyline views to downtown.
Tip: No reservations, first-come, first-served. 21 and over only. The pool deck stays heated in winter; the bar runs all four seasons.
Crave on the LaSalle Plaza corner of Hennepin Avenue runs one of the largest rooftop patios downtown, with sushi, an American kitchen, drag brunches and dance party bookings.
Tip: The rooftop is the patio half of the LaSalle Plaza location; drag brunches Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 are the easier reservation.
Icehouse on Eat Street took over an 1868 lake-ice storage building in 2012 with a two-story listening room, a full kitchen and a calendar that includes JT Bates Jazz Implosion every Monday.
Tip: Monday's Jazz Implosion series runs from 21:00 with a low cover; book the mezzanine for the clearest sight line over the floor.
The 331 Club on 13th Avenue NE has anchored Northeast Minneapolis since 1899 and books live music every night of the week. Never a cover, every band of the night gets the room.
Tip: No cover any night. Mondays at 21:00 brings the Roe Family Singers; Wednesdays 19:00 is Harold's House Party on KFAI radio.
Union Rooftop on Hennepin Avenue runs the only year-round retractable glass enclosed rooftop in Minnesota, with skyline views over the theatre district and a late-night dance crowd Thursday to Saturday.
Tip: Late-night dance floor opens 22:00 Thursday through Saturday. Brunch Saturday and Sunday morning is the easy walk-up entry point.
Brit's Pub on Nicollet Mall has poured British ales since 1990, but the draw is the 10,000 square foot rooftop lawn bowling green open mid-May through mid-September.
Tip: Reserve the lawn bowling rink an hour at a time from May through September. The rooftop bar stays open year-round; lawn closes in October.
The Rooftop at Hewing Hotel sits six floors above Washington Avenue in the North Loop with indoor and outdoor seating, a year-round heated pool deck and full skyline views to downtown.
Tip: No reservations, first-come, first-served. 21 and over only. The pool deck stays heated in winter; the bar runs all four seasons.
Crave on the LaSalle Plaza corner of Hennepin Avenue runs one of the largest rooftop patios downtown, with sushi, an American kitchen, drag brunches and dance party bookings.
Tip: The rooftop is the patio half of the LaSalle Plaza location; drag brunches Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 are the easier reservation.