The Gay 90's on Hennepin Avenue is the largest LGBTQ complex in the upper Midwest, six bars and three dance floors across two buildings, with the La Femme Lounge drag shows upstairs.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. La Femme Lounge drag Wednesday to Sunday; Kinky Fridays and burlesque add to the calendar.
Address: 408 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Berlin opened February 2024 across from Spoon and Stable as an 85-capacity European-style jazz and listening room, with state of the art sound and ticketed Friday and Saturday shows.
Tip: No reservations except for ticketed Friday and Saturday shows. Most weeknights run no cover. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Dakota on Nicollet Mall runs a seated jazz listening room with two sets a night, a chef-driven menu and world-class touring bookings seven nights a week downtown.
Tip: Two sets nightly. Reservations open by ticket purchase; the front row seats book first. Kitchen close varies by show.
Berlin opened February 2024 across from Spoon and Stable as an 85-capacity European-style jazz and listening room, with state of the art sound and ticketed Friday and Saturday shows.
Tip: No reservations except for ticketed Friday and Saturday shows. Most weeknights run no cover. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Small Hours opened September 2024 in Northeast Minneapolis as the city's first dedicated hi-fi wine bar, with Klipsch La Scala speakers, Luxman turntables and a Sam Cassidy record collection.
Tip: Wednesday to Thursday close at 23:00, Friday and Saturday at midnight, Sunday at 22:00. Tinned fish and bread to pair with the natural wine list.
Dakota on Nicollet Mall runs a seated jazz listening room with two sets a night, a chef-driven menu and world-class touring bookings seven nights a week downtown.
Tip: Two sets nightly. Reservations open by ticket purchase; the front row seats book first. Kitchen close varies by show.
Mortimer's at the corner of Lyndale and Franklin in Lyn-Lake has been a no-nonsense Uptown dive since 1976, with strong cheap drinks, a back patio and a regular crowd of musicians.
Tip: Kitchen runs late and the burger menu is the order. Walk in, cash and card both work, expect a wait on weekends.
The CC Club on Lyndale traces its roots to Prohibition and remains the dark, working dive at Lyn-Lake. Cheap drinks, kitchen open through the night, regulars from Replacements days.
Tip: Open daily until 02:00. Kitchen runs late, jukebox loud. Cash friendly but card accepted; weekend crowds pack the booths by 22:00.
Grumpy's Northeast is the Fourth Street NE dive bar that anchored the neighborhood's brewery row before craft beer arrived. Tight room, full tap list, regulars across the bar.
Tip: Small one-room dive; the downtown sister closed years back. Cash friendly, kitchen serves bar food, jukebox loud.