Cowboy Slims
1312 W. Lake St., Mpls.; 612-353-5156
Wow, can't change an old Campiello's more than turning it into a cowboy bar. But somehow a cowboy bar works a little better in the rollicking area of Uptown than a classy Italian joint, so more power to Cowboy Slims.
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Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612-332-1010
Now that locals and tourists can actually find the Twin Cities' top jazz club, don't be surprised if you swing by for a nightcap only to be turned away by a packed house.
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Dan Kelly's Bar & Grill
212 S. 7th St., Mpls.; 612-333-2644
Dan Kelly’s sounds like it might be an Irish bar, and it might, but only if serving Guinness and tacking a shamrock or two on the wall makes it so. What Dan Kelly’s really is is a comfortable, middle-of-the-road watering hole/burger joint that does a killer happy-hour business because of all the nearby office buildings and thirsty workers therein. The action tapers off after the dinner hour, when it becomes an odd and rather subdued oasis in a part of town where there isn’t much action after 7 p.m. It’s also a popular rallying point before and after Vikings and Twins games at the Dome. The burgers and sammies are tasty, the appetizers huge, the prices reasonable, and the staff friendly—so if you’re in the mood to just drink, eat, and talk, DK’s will suffice. Just don’t ask for much more.
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Dixie's on Grand
695 Grand Ave., St. Paul; 651-222-7345
Dixie’s is a restaurant/bar that bills itself as specializing in “Southern hospitality,” which means they’ve got ribs, steaks, chops, and coconut shrimp on the menu, and plenty of bourbons and whiskeys behind the bar. When the dinner crowd clears out after 10 p.m., a relatively civil crowd settles in on Saturday nights to listen to an eclectic mix of live rock, jazz, blues, and R & B, depending on the band. Thursday night is karaoke night, and every Friday is live salsa night—so pick your poison. Like nearby Billy’s, the outdoor patio scene at Dixie’s can be lively on weekend nights, especially those warm, sultry evenings that remind everyone of life down on the bayou—whatever that means.
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Donny Dirk's Zombie Den
2027 N. 2nd St., Minneapolis; 612-588-9700
The lady behind Psycho Suzi's and Saint Sabrina's resurrected the old North Minneapolis favorite Stand Up Frank's into this kitschy new club. Come on, vamps and zombies are all the rage right now.
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Driftwood Char Bar
4415 Nicollet Ave. S, Mpls.; 612-354-3402
Driftwood is the ultimate hole-in-the-wall joint where people come to relax, have a drink and enjoy one another’s company. There's live music almost every night, from an eclectic range of local musicians. Juicy burgers, big sandwiches, plenty of great wine and beer—what’s not to love? It's easy to hang out here all night, and many people do. Play an arcade game, shoot a round of pool, catch a football game on one of several TVs.
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Drink
1400 Lagoon Ave., Mpls.; 612-824-3333
After a successful run in its downtown locale, the people behind Drink, "the original fun bar," opened a second Minneapolis nightlife spot in 2005, complete with a giant rooftop patio overlooking Uptown. While the daily drink specials and cheap-but-tasty appetizers bring in a modest crowd during the week, DJ-spun music and energetic, bottle-flipping bartenders keep Uptown's Drink packed with partiers on weekend nights. Those inclined to dance take over the main bar area, but there's also space to sit, play pool, and people watch. Plus, if the thumping bass and younger crowd gets too loud, the rooftop offers a more peaceful place to relax and enjoy the breeze.
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Drink (Downtown)
26 N. 5th St., Mpls.; 612-659-9000
The long line outside the door most Friday and Saturday nights tells us this downtown spot is doing something right. After 10 p.m., the bar is packed with sleek young twentysomethings grooving to top-forty hits and '80s favorites. Attention-grabbing bartenders (they do tricks!) work hard to please the crowd, but a difficult-to-access bar often leaves patrons thirsty. The time to frequent the downtown Drink is during Friday or Saturday happy hours. From 4 to 7 p.m., a complimentary buffet features everything from cold cuts to meatballs, and select drinks are on special (martinis and domestic brews on Friday, cocktails and imports on Saturday).
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Dubliner Pub
2162 University Ave. W, St. Paul; 651-646-5551
This modest St. Paul pub is known to pour some of the best Guinness in town, and can be a lively place to have a drink, especially on St. Paddy's Day. They host a variety of Irish folk music groups pretty much every night, and even have Irish dancing on Wednesdays. Many of St. Paul's so-called "Irish mafia" hang out here, but they don't look any different from anyone else—except that sometimes they're friendlier. If you're looking for a casual, authentic Irish experience, you could do worse than the Dubliner.
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Dulono's Pizza
607 W. Lake St., Mpls.; 612-827-1726
Come Fridays and Saturdays for the no-cover bluegrass and acoustic, stay for the hot pizza and cheap beer, plus imported beer and wine.
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