Jake O'Connor's Public House
200 Water St., Excelsior; 952-908-9650
This genuine Irish pub was a welcome addition to the small lake suburb of Excelsior. Since its opening in December 2006, Jake O'Connor's has been bustling with patrons of all ages. Owner Dermot Cowley, a native of Ireland, has been in the restaurant industry for most of his life (he also owns O'Donovan's in downtown Minneapolis). His newest venture boasts a menu of traditional and contemporary Irish fare, plus a full bar complete with Irish favorites like Guinness, Smithwick's, and Jameson. If you prefer wine, choose from more than 200 varieties on the impressive list. Jake O'Connor's has an authentic pub ambiance, created from the mahogany-wood bar and other furnishings that were designed in and shipped directly from Ireland.
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James Ballentine VFW 246
2916 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-823-6233
You won’t find a more mixed crowd than the one at the Uptown VFW. But if you’re strapped for cash and craving a way to unwind, karaoke at the VFW—Thursday through Sunday nights—is a surefire way to have fun on the cheap. The secret is out, though, so get there early to secure a table.
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Jax Café
1928 University Ave. NE, Mpls.; 612-789-7297
One of the oldest bar/restaurants in Minnesota, this classic Midwestern steakhouse has been serving Twin Citians for more than 75 years. The knowledgeable bar staff mix fantastic drinks and the stained-glass windows and wood-paneled walls provide a warm old-world feel. There is ample bar seating, as well as comfortable booths and tables. When the weather allows it, their outdoor patio is complete with a fireplace and running streams.
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Jetset
215 N. 1st St., Mpls.; 612-339-3933
You're in a gay bar in a state that's the unofficial home of 10,000 sports bars. Luckily, this place skips the drag queens, 3-for-1 drinks, and tacky chaos.
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Keegan's Irish Pub
16 University Ave. NE, Mpls.; 612-252-0880
You don't have to fly to Ireland for an authentic pub experience.
With a bar that was constructed in (and transported from) the Irish homeland, a wide selection of Irish brews, whiskeys, and grub, plus the presence of live Irish music, Keegan's is a great spot to find true pub culture. In fact, it's the only Irish Pub Concept (IPC) pub in the state, a guideline developed by Guinness Brewing Company. Keegan's also features two happy hour times, twice-a-week trivia games, and late-night weekend breakfasts.
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Kieran's
600 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612-339-4499
One thing's for sure: you'll always feel welcome at this lively downtown bar. Serving up Irish favorites such as Guinness, Jameson, Harp, and Finnegan's, plus a slew of specialty pints such as Black and Tans (Guinness and Smithwicks) and Snakebites (Harp and Cider), Kieran's may be one of the best pubs in the Cities. Need something to munch on with your Guinness? Try some corned beef and cabbage, a shepard's pie, or Kieran's "world famous" fish and chips. The Irish menu is authentic and extensive. A hot spot during happy hour (the patio attracts a crowd in the summer) and on Vikings and Twins game days, Kieran's is also
the place to be in Minneapolis when St. Patrick's Day rolls around.
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King and I Thai
1346 LaSalle Ave., Mpls.; 612-332-6928
Twenty-seven years in the restaurant business rates as almost an eternity, but that doesn’t mean The Lounge at King and I Thai is particularly dated. Still able to hold its own with Downtown newcomers, the scene here survives on its “infused” cocktails, which marry the likes of cucumber, ginger, and pineapple with top-shelf liquor and deep pockets—although the late-night happy hour has some deals. The décor and atmosphere keep this mainstay fresh and inviting, ensuring at least another few decades of reliable lounging.
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King's Wine Bar
4555 Grand Ave. South, Mpls.; 612-354-7928
Nestled in the Kingfield neighborhood, one of King’s biggest draws is that it features happy hour everyday from 3 to 6 p.m. The dark wood interior and white Ikea furniture make for a clean, almost antiseptic atmosphere, but you won’t be disappointed with their carefully chosen craft beers and lengthy wine list. Plenty of local brews are on tap, as well as some interesting international brews, and the wine list is quite lengthy and sophisticated. If you want to know more about the wine you're about to order, whip out your phone and check their website: all their wine offerings are explained there in impressive detail. Surprisingly, they also have a great selection of sakes.
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Kip's Irish Pub
9970 Wayzata Blvd., St. Louis Park; 952-367-5070
Kip’s wanted authenticity—so they had their interior built in Dublin, disassembled, shipped over, and reassembled by four Irishmen and one Irishwoman. The results are several beautiful rooms of wood and stone, adorned with whiskey barrels, a hand-painted ceiling map of Ireland, and, above the bar, a large copper keeve of the sort used for brewing spirits. As Kip’s sits adjacent to the Marriott in St. Louis Park, its clientele is about half hotel guests and half anyone interested in sipping some Jameson or Smithwick’s in a hospitable setting, especially during the twice-nightly happy hours or when live music’s playing.
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Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Ave. SE, Mpls.; 612-331-9800
Dinkytown is synonymous with beer specials and wings, not hip, sprawling lounges, the likes of which you really only see when venturing as far west as the sea. So when you're at Kitty Cat, order a Tilburg's Dutch Brown Ale, a twenty-two-ounce Sapporo, or a PBR in a can, along with an infamous burger—imported from the upstairs Annie's Parlor—and take note of the bohemia-meets-Montmarte décor, with dusty framed paintings, mobile lighting, and exposed stone infrastructure. You'll be equally taken in by the groove of the interconnecting spaces as by the connection going on between bohemian college kids soaking up the free Wi-Fi and BMW-driving boomers scattered about in singles, pairs, and groups. And when the live music—based on the night, it could be jazz, acoustic, rock, electronic, even rockabilly—begins on the café stage nightly, take a cue, kick back, and try a Delirium Tremens or Chimay for a change of beer pace.
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