Aqua
400 1st Ave. N., Mpls.; 612-232-3232
Known for its celeb-spotting appeal (mostly because the club pays D-listers to come drink for a night), high style, and plenty of skin, plus themed weekend nights and cheap drinks that make for a classic clubbing experience. Finding a way to get free cover isn’t difficult either—from multiple ladies nights to coupon promos, Aqua lets you save your money for the bar.
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Artists' Quarter
408 St. Peter St., St. Paul; 651-292-1359
If you can actually hear the musicians over a handful of regulars grumbling, "I liked the old location better," this jazz club is as close as it gets to catching some swinging cats in the Village. In the dark basement of the Hamm Building, the AQ, with its candlelit bar, black walls, intimate tables and chairs, and velvet curtains behind the stage, looks and sounds exactly the same as it did in Lowertown. Musician-owned, it attracts the best local, national, and international touring ensembles. This is a jazz purist's heaven. Live music Monday through Saturday.
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Aura
3001 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-821-0008
It’s a little slice of calm in Calhoun Square’s nightlife scene, a solid choice for the post-college crowd that wants to avoid the over-imbibed at the Independent and Figlios. Aura has a few dozen tables, a full bar, and a wine list—plus wood-fired pizzas and some upscale snacks. There’s no standing room, so full tables mean a full bar, and the late-night DJs fill the remaining space with dance beats, despite the lack of a dance floor. The beauty of Aura? Happy hour means happy afternoon, evening, and night—drink and food specials last from 4 p.m. to midnight.
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Bank
88 S. 6th St., Mpls.; 612-656-3255
Bank's booths and lush couches cater to a crowd that loves to hit happy hour after a long day of wheeling and dealing, but doesn't need the drink specials or free buffet.
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Bar Abilene
Lagoon and Fremont, Mpls.; 612-825-2525
The southwestern-themed bar and grill calls itself the “Texas Margarita Grill”—though it should take a cue from the Lone Star State and adopt the slogan, “Bar Abilene is for Lovers.” It’s the kind of place that gets wild after 9 p.m. on the weekends—the DJ warms up, the dance floor gets packed with tequila-shooting partiers (the place offers just about every tequila imaginable), and suddenly, you’ve met the love of your life (or some alternate duration). If you are offended by PDA, head to Stella’s down the street.
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Bar Fly
711 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612-333-6100
Despite its prominent location on the Hennepin strip in downtown Minneapolis, Bar Fly hasn’t been the hottest spot to drink or dance in a long time. The ongoing exodus to newer, hipper clubs has left Bar Fly looking dilapidated and mediocre, which it mostly is. Inside, the place is a kind of time capsule for Hennepin Ave.’s seedier side—you know, the side the city is trying desperately to eliminate. Still, on an occasional Saturday night when drink deals are on, the floor can draw a crowd, and if you are in the mood for some retro grunge, Bar Fly might be your place. Then again . . .
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Bar La Grassa
800 N. Washington Ave., Mpls.; 612-333-3837
Sister restaurant to the delicious 112 Eatery, this award-winning restaurant/bar is buzzing with life in an open-concept, warehouse-district space that features brick walls, wood paneling, and elegant wine-rack partitions. It’s like sitting in a chic wine cellar with people who know their grapes. And they do, so ask for recommendations. There's a large selection of wines by the glass, in addition to the full bar. A wide array of inventive antipasti and bruschetta can also be snacked upon. For a special treat, try the soft eggs and lobster bruschetta. Sounds weird, but it's great, trust us.
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Bar Lurcat
1624 Harmon Pl., Mpls.; 612-486-5500
The hipster clientele wandered down the block to Nick and Eddie, leaving the groups of ladies from the Hills and the Lakes to gossip and giggle among the foodies and downtowners who mingle around the curved bar—there for the edgy comfort food and Italian–rustic-meets-Italian–contemporary décor. While the bar still attracts plenty of groups, the wall of windows and view of Loring Park makes for one of the most romantic settings in town.
Prime time: Early evening provides the most divine view, and we’re hard-pressed to find a vista in the Cities that captures the sunset like Lurcat’s does.
Try the: Wine list, characteristically D’Amico.
Crowd: As close as we’ve come to a café society—beautiful people and bright young things in artfully arranged duds—both designer and thrift.
Late-night bite: The wine-infused sliders are superb.
Don’t be surprised if . . . you stay for more than one bottle of wine.
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Barbette
1600 W. Lake St., Mpls.; 612-827-5710
This lively Bohemian bistro may be best known for its simple French fare, including, of course, its salade Niçoise. But it's also great for after-work cocktails or late-night eats.
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Barley John's
781 Old Highway 8 SW, New Brighton; 651-636-4670
Tucked inconspicuously amid a twirl of suburban freeways, in the shadow of the Golden Arches, this modest brewpub meddles in alcoholic alchemy. In addition to more standard ales and porter, the owner, a former brewer for James Page, offers seasonal barrel-aged brews, multiply fermented, which stretch the definition of beer itself by packing a punch of up to 15 percent alcohol. The endearing staff are happy to answer brew and non-brew-related questions alike, and the cozy interior, even if it feels more like a pizzeria than a pub, provides a comforting place to drink whatever comes out of the taps.
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