318 Café
318 Water St., Excelsior; 952-401-7902
While it's a café/coffee bar by day, Excelsior's 318 is a lively music venue and wine bar by night. Local and national artists play music in the intimate fifty-four-seat setting every Wednesday through Saturday, and a notable happy hour brings in an early crowd from 3 to 5 p.m. Every Thursday is Girls Night Out from 5p.m. to 9p.m. In short, if you're searching for a cozy spot outside the Cities, with consistently great made-from-scratch food, a good wine selection, and top musicians, 318 is your answer.
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331 Club
331 13th Ave. NE, Mpls.; 612-331-1746
In 2005, Northeast’s neighborhood bar got a makeover—a coat of paint and a slew of other improvements. It was time, since it’s been a fixture since 1899. But the 331 Club remains a cozy, railroad–style watering hole: narrow enough to keep things intimate, but not so cramped that the furniture kills elbow room. Local musicians keep the room lively nearly every night, and a novelty jukebox stocked with classic-rock gems and Gen-X faves provides wicked tunage. Roped-off tables along University Avenue allow smokers to chat comfortably. Generous drink specials and a menu stocked with bar staples make 331 Club an ideal starting point for a night out
and a logical stop for a reuben sandwich before stumbling home.
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400 Bar
400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-332-3844
Go for a show, stay for the…show. The black exterior of this corner bar more or less previews the sparse, dark interior. But ambience and mood lighting are not the characteristics that have drawn crowds to the place for decades. The 400 Bar is a music landmark here in the Twin Cities, attracting up-and-comers, living legends, and the occasional big name—all for a low cover charge. Prepare to talk tunes with other music-minded locals, grab a Pabst Blue Ribbon, and you’ll fit right in.
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508 Bar
508 1st Ave. N., Mpls.; 612-339-0036
The people behind North Loop hotspot The Loop snatched up the former Old Chicago space on First Ave. and slapped up 508, following The Loop’s successful formula—a sleek interior, plenty of Red Bull/vodkas, a dance floor, and some pretty girls thrown in for good measure. This space has two levels and is much larger than the tiny Loop space, so hopefully patrons can spend a little more time inside and a less time waiting outside behind the velvet rope.
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7th Street Entry
701 1st Ave. N., Mpls.; 612-332-1775
Some of the most influential and revered bands of all time have rocked the stage at the Entry—before hitting it big. With that in mind, any show at First Avenue’s minor-league stage has the possibility to turn into tomorrow’s lore. Other than the chance at witnessing history in the making, the Entry is the quintessential box where local and national acts cut their teeth in a club the size of a walk-in closet. The scene can be physically uncomfortable or inspiringly intimate, depending on why you’re sweating and who you’re sweating next to. But there are those special nights, when that band you’ve never heard of kicks into high gear and the roof starts to levitate, and you suddenly feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself—because you’ve stumbled on the Next Big Thing before anyone else, and can’t wait to tell the world about it. Just being able to say, “I saw these guys at the Entry,” will give you street cred for a year.
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Acadia Cafe
329 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-874-8702
When you stop by for a beer and some tunes, don’t expect to hear any Beatles tribute bands or
Stairway to Heaven covers. Acadia only books artists who perform original songs, most of which are local acts and often come back multiple times. The menu is by no means stingy either. Everything from breakfast favorites to salads and burgers are reasonable and diverse. The beer is where Acadia really shines, however. Tap selections of organic local ales and Irish stouts from Cork complement both the innovative music and neighborhood atmosphere.
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Acme Comedy Company
708 N. 1st St., Mpls.; 612-338-6393
Some nights you may be more in the mood for a laugh than a look. On a show night, walk down the flight of stairs into Acme's bar and there's an energy that can't be found at any other nightclub in town. Local comedy stars such as
Last Comic Standing's Josh Blue, Bil Dwyer, and Ty Barnett can be seen sitting in the corner talking to owner Louis Lee, laughing along with whichever national headline act is performing. Thanks to Lee's attention to detail—he does everything from booking the shows to coming up with the menu (try the homemade potato chips)—Acme is one of the top clubs in the country. The Monday night open-mike show at Acme comes closer to what a Monday night in New York feels like than any glitzy dance club in town.
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Al Vento (Wine Bar)
5001 34th Ave S, Mpls.; 612-724-3009
The candlelight in this South Minneapolis Italian cucina creates a golden glow that'll remind you of Tuscany, and its extensive list of Italian red wines will get you that much closer. At the bar, you can snack on bruschetta while you while sipping a glass of red, or go for a designer pizza—the smoked salmon and goat cheese, perhaps. Bottles are half-price every day from 4:30-6 p.m., or all night on Sundays and Mondays.
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Alarys
139 E. 7th St., St. Paul; 651-224-7717
Alarys is a bit like Hooters, but not quite as classy. So there are a LOT of dudes, and a lot of cops—the bar is dedicated to the Boys in Blue and decorated with cop memorabilia from around the country. It is also, oddly enough, the only Chicago Bears bar in the city, so on game day, refugees from Chi-town have a home here. So to recap: boys in blue, booze, and Da Bears. Also, word on the street is that the servers don’t put on “the outfits” until 9 p.m., so plan accordingly.
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Amore Victoria
1601 W. Lake St., Mpls.; 612-823-0250
Amore is the perfect place to start or end a first date. The quaint little bistro is just off Uptown’s beaten path and draws a quieter crowd than most of its surrounding sibs. It’s not a place for a guy’s night out, but it’s perfect for unwinding over a glass of wine and an appetizer or two. Summer brings great outdoor sidewalk seating, where the buzz from nearby Barbette provides the background to your conversation over crème brûlée. That’s amore.
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