Fine Line on First Avenue North opened 1987 on the main level of the Consortium Building and reopened in 2022 after a flood, with a 650-capacity room booked by First Avenue staff.
Tip: Doors usually 19:00 with show at 20:00. The balcony around the floor offers the cleanest sight line; main bar at street level.
Address: 318 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
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.
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.
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.
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.