Dakota ★ 4.8
$$$North Loop{'monday': '17:30-23:00', 'tuesday': '17:30-23:00', 'wednesday': '17:30-23:00', 'thursday': '17:30-23:00', 'friday': '17:30-00:00', 'saturday': '17:30-00:00', 'sunday': '17:30-23:00'}
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 Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.2
$Uptown{'monday': '16:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '16:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '16:00-02:00', 'thursday': '16:00-02:00', 'friday': '16:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': '11:00-02:00'}
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.
CC Club ★ 4.3
$Uptown{'monday': '15:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-02:00', 'thursday': '11:00-02:00', 'friday': '11:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': '11:00-02:00'}
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 Bar Northeast ★ 4.2
$Northeast Minneapolis{'monday': '11:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '11:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '11:00-02:00', 'thursday': '11:00-02:00', 'friday': '11:00-02:00', 'saturday': '11:00-02:00', 'sunday': '11:00-02:00'}
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.
Jimmy's Bar and Lounge ★ 4.1
$Northeast Minneapolis{'monday': '15:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-02:00', 'thursday': '15:00-02:00', 'friday': '15:00-02:00', 'saturday': '12:00-02:00', 'sunday': '12:00-02:00'}
Jimmy's on Fourth Street NE is the cash-only Northeast dive with the wood-paneled bar, vintage signage and a back patio. One of the densest pockets of dives in the city.
Tip: Cash only, ATM on site. No food kitchen. Open afternoon to 02:00 daily. Crowd thickens after 22:00 weekends.
Vegas Lounge ★ 4.2
$Northeast Minneapolis{'monday': '12:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '12:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '12:00-02:00', 'thursday': '12:00-02:00', 'friday': '12:00-02:00', 'saturday': '12:00-02:00', 'sunday': '12:00-02:00'}
Vegas Lounge on Central NE is the tiny holdout dive that refuses to update its decor, with karaoke nearly every night, pool tables and a patio out back. Mid-century paneling intact.
Tip: Karaoke nightly; arrive before 22:00 to put your name on the list. Cash and card both accepted, no cover.