Where to Find the Best Cocktails in Minneapolis
Minneapolis raises the bar for all future cocktail experiences. Watch the process of carefully crafting the perfect beverage. Local ingredients. Exceptional flavors. Unique combinations. We’re talking house-made syrups, fresh-squeezed juices, collaborations with local coffee shops. We know what we’re doing (or at least our bartenders do). Check out the best places to grab a cocktail in Minneapolis.
Tattersall
Crafting a cocktail at Tattersall is a science. Using house-made liquors, syrups and sodas is just the start of their creativity. Each ingredient is carefully selected to create an exceptional flavor profile that’ll have you wanting to try every cocktail on the menu. Not sure which one to start with? Tell the bartender what you like and they’ll whip something up for you.
Norseman Distillery
Modern twists on your favorite classics and new inventions with unique twists. Will you order from the books or from the lab? Norseman Distillery is characterized by a beautiful, bright space, hand-crafted liquors and fun cocktails to keep your taste buds on their toes.
Billy After Dark
Wander down the alley to the right of Billy Sushi in the North Loop you'll find a back door with a neon sign. Inside is Billy After Dark (B.A.D.) — a swanky, cavernous speakeasy where you can order fine Japanese cocktails. B.A.D. is only open 5:59 to 11:59 pm because "nothing good happens after midnight."
Parlour
This industrial, yet cozy, cocktail lounge underneath Borough is the perfect spot for both your tried and true cocktails, like martinis and gimlets, and new age creations with house-made syrups and craft spirits. Sip and relax in this swanky, intimate spot. Pro Tip: Order the burger. One of the best in Minneapolis.
Cobble Social House
Cobble Social House is a trendy and up-and-coming lounge in the North Loop. With a speakeasy on the first floor and 29 dining tables on the second, Cobble Social House is an intimate spot to go to with friends before or after your dinner reservations in the neighborhood. Cobble Social House is easy to find – just look for golden eye.
Volstead’s Emporium
Shhh – we’ve got a speakeasy on our hands. Accessible only by the dark alleyway, you may think you took a wrong turn. Keep going until you see the red light, and often times a long line of people waiting to grab a drink at Volstead’s. Grab a small group of friends or head here for date night. The dimly lit, yet intricately decorated cocktail room is a popular gathering spot for those who know about the hidden entrance. Once you enter, you’ll feel like you’re in on a secret. Grab one of their incredible cocktails and some snacks, and enjoy being an insider for the night.
Miaou Miaou
Miaou Miaou is the 5th floor cocktail lounge at the Rand Tower Hotel. This spot looks to honor post-prohibition cocktail culture while ushering in the innovation of the now. Leaning French in ingredients, but with a sleek, almost tropical flair, Miaou Miaou features show-stopping sips.
Bar Rufus
Bar Rufus honors the multi-faceted patriarch of Rand Tower Hotel, Rufus Rand. An accomplished pilot in the Lafayette Flying Corps in World War I, innovator in American aviation, father, and husband, his essence is celebrated with recognizable cocktails, featuring inventive ingredients and flavor combinations that deviate from the classic.
Du Nord
Head to Du Nord for seasonal cocktails, classics like their Fitzgerald & Tonic or a L’Etoile Martini, and a few scientific creations. At Du Nord, the bartenders are encouraged to play around with flavors and ingredients. On any given night, they may have a special cocktail for you to try. But no need to be a cocktail connoisseur. If you don’t know what an ingredient is, just ask. The bartenders want to ensure your cocktail-sipping experience is top-notch.
Basement Bar at Sooki & Mimi
At this basement bar, 70s rec room meets cocktail lounge. This place feels like a hidden secret — you enter through a door in the alley into an dark, intimate, and vibey lounge. Their curated list of craft spirits can be sipped neat or mixed up in the classic cocktails we know and love.
Icehouse
The cocktails at Icehouse will intrigue you. The garnishes are just as creative as the drinks themselves. Marcona almond stuffed olives, smoked salt rimmed glasses, vanilla cream foam. Let the bartenders at Icehouse show you what they can do. Bonus: they have live music almost every weekend.
Giulia at Hotel Emery
Giulia's lush atmosphere accentuated with marble and plants makes for the perfect spot for a happy hour with friends. Try the Dodger, a lovely concoction of vodka, lime cordial, mint essence and soda, or the Maria, I Hardly Knew Ye — rum, pineapple, maraschino, and unrequited love. Afterwards, you'll probably want to stay for a tasty Italian dinner.
Young Joni
If you’re not stopping by for their food (which, you should) then it’s imperative that you get here to try out their cocktails. Grab a seat at their bar, let the bartenders recommend a drink, and stare in awe at the beauty of their interior. If you’re feeling more adventurous, head to the “Back Bar,” a hidden cocktail room in the back. Look for the red light in the alley.
The Butcher's Tale
At The Butcher's Tale's Beer Garden you'll find much more beer. Their cocktail menu is filled with innovated and delicious drinks. The Banana Bread Old Fashioned, which celebrates their banana-infused whisky, and Strawberry Fields, somewhat of an updated margarita, are the highlights of the drink menu. And depending on the time of year, they have stellar seasonal cocktails, like a Pumpkin Sour.
Earl Giles Distillery
At Earl Giles in Northeast Minneapolis, you'll enjoy unique craft cocktails and delicious bites, so come hungry. They create and specialize in non-alcoholic cocktail mixers, tonics, and garnishes for professional bartenders and those of us who are less experienced. Relax for a quick drink or bite among the luscious greenery throughout the space, or stay a little longer at their restaurant.
Day Block Brewing Company
Located in a building with storied past that includes once being a hospital, a furniture store, an undertaker service and a plumbing supply store the Day Blocking Brewing Company is definitely rooted in Minneapolis’ history. So it’s no wonder they’ve gotten into the local spirit with specialty cocktail ideas reflecting the city, like Purple Rain and Winter Wonderland. If you’re the spontaneous type, the “Cocktail of the Moment” which is a rotating selection of hot cocktails, may be a refreshing new option to try.
Minneapolis Cider Co.
Cocktails at a cidery?! Yes. Trust us. While Minneapolis Cider Co. has some delicious and innovative ciders on tap, they also have some truly creative cocktails made using their very own "Royale," a spirit made from apples. Pair with a charcuterie board and some pickleball, and you have everything you need for a great evening.
Mara Restaurant & Bar
This signature restaurant within Minneapolis' Four Seasons Hotel is the vision of James Beard award-winner Chef Gavin Kaysen. The lively lobby bar crafts amazing cocktails and is perfect for date nights, celebrations, and anything in between. Try the rose and jasmine-flavored Arpege or the gin-based madHAUS.
