Goby's Grille & Pub
472 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul; 651-690-5731
Cheap beer and big, tasty burgers are the main draws at Goby’s, which appeals to a clientele underserved by most other establishments in the St. Paul’s Mac-Groveland area—namely people who are interested in cheap drinks and foods that ooze. Goby’s management has never met a piece of sports memorabilia it didn’t like, and the place is always relatively dark inside, even during the day. Thursdays are buck-a-beer night, so a lot of people with less than ten dollars in their pocket head to Goby’s to make a night of it. On weekends, college students who can’t get into nearby Plum’s spill over and turn the place into an interesting social-science experiment. If you want to fit in, wear jeans and a John Deere hat.
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Great Waters Brewing Company
426 Saint Peter St., St. Paul; 651-224-2739
With great pub food, flavorful hand-crafted beer, and a beautiful patio in downtown St. Paul, Great Waters Brewing Company is an ideal spot to unwind after a hard day’s work. And since its walking distance from Xcel, RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins, and the Ordway, you'll never be too far from the action. Located in the Historic Hamm Building, Great Waters opened its doors in 1997, and has since produced more than 115 different beers, including the Gold Medal–winning Old Bastard Ale. Daily specials feature $3 drinks/ $5 plates.
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Groveland Tap
1834 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul; 651-699-5058
Easily the friendliest beer-and-burger joint in St. Paul’s Mac-Groveland neighborhood, The Groveland Tap is kid-friendly, family-friendly, buddy-friendly, ball-game-friendly—well, you get the idea. Young parents with kids pack the place during the afternoon and dinner hours, but after they’ve left the Tap becomes a great place to unwind, watch a few innings of the Twins game, toss darts, or shoot a rack of pool. They’ve got fourteen different brews on tap, and the full menu of burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers is available until midnight, including the famous Juicy Lucy and its zesty cousin, the Cajun Lucy.
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Grumpy's Bar
1111 Washington Ave. S./ 2200 4th St. NE/ 2801 Sne, Mpls.; 612-340-9738
This Washington Avenue haunt is much like its infamous menu item, the Mac N Cheese Bites: at first, you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get. (How exactly do they get the heterogeneous mixture into perfect little bites?) The crowd is a mix of bikers and pre- and post-game Mauer-jersey–clad Twins fans and Purple People Eaters. The décor is somewhat retro, somewhat divey, with neon beer signs at every turn. But with the oddly jovial staff, full bar, heaping baskets of tater tots, and adjacent karaoke joint, the place grows on you—and the Mac N Cheese Bites are killer.
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Hell's Kitchen
80 9th St. South, Mpls.; 612-332-4700
Walking into Hell’s Kitchen, you do feel as though you are underground, because you are—but don’t fret, the atmosphere is friendly. Black is the dominant color here, but there are lively Ralph Steadman drawings on the wall to liven the place up. There is free live music most evenings, and late night shows Thursday-Saturday. Breakfast and late-night dining are where Hell's Kitchen shines. In fact, you can get both on the excellent late-night food menu: the late-night American breakfast and monster caramel roll are favorites. Happy hour is seven evenings a week and all night on Sundays.
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Hexagon Bar
2600 27th Ave. S., Mpls.; 612-722-3454
Serving up a mean drink since approximately 1932, the Hex has become a hot spot for hipsters and neighborhood regulars alike. Boasting a Surf Night, Country Jam nights, and regular booking of up-and-coming local bands, this dive is as hot for its happy hours as its music. Plus 75-cent pool, dart leagues, meat raffles, and more.
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Honey
205 E. Hennepin Ave, Mpls.; 612-746-0306
The smells coming from upstairs at the Asian fusion eatery Ginger Hop are alluring, but the cavalcade of sexy coming from its neighbor below is even more tempting. An underground bar in the vein of hip New York City dance clubs, Honey’s chic, candle-lit lounge is a great place for a first date, a chance encounter, a secret affair, or any other romantic excursion you can think of. Some of the Twin Cities' finest jazz musicians and chanteuses play here, but check the music calendar, because they often start cranking hip-hop and club music after 10 p.m.
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House of Comedy
Mall of America, Bloomington; 952-858-8558
Lightening up the mood on the MOA’s fourth floor since July 2009, the House of Comedy is a solid destination if you’re looking for some laughs with your beverages or if you’re, you know, just bummin’ around the mall at night. And with some big names gracing the marquee, you won’t spend the whole act sipping your drink (the usual stable of beers, wines, and liquors) or spiked milkshake with a raised eyebrow while crickets chirp in the background.
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Hubert's Bar
601 Chicago Ave., Mpls.; 612-332-6062
Hubert’s is the de facto Twins/Vikings bar, since it’s just a line drive from the Metrodome’s F Gate. In the winter, Vikings fans pour in for a brew or two before the game, and those who couldn’t score tickets (or wanted to save their money for important things, like nachos) stay well into the fourth quarter, drowning their sorrows in PBR. Twins fans get the advantage of the three-season back patio, where they grill up brats and serve oversized cans of domestic and imported beer. Arrive early on game days if you plan on scoring a seat. And a warning: no game tends to equal no crowd, so you might want to get to Hubert’s before the slew of new stadiums are finished.
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Ike's Food and Cocktails
50 S. 6th St., Mpls.; 612-746-4537
Ike's Food and Cocktails has been one of our favorite downtown bars since its debut in 2003. With the retro booths, antique wood bar, and memorabilia-clad walls, this supper club–style restaurant is almost out of place among the skyscrapers and modern businesses. Strong drinks, delicious small plates, and some of the best burgers in town make this a great place to congregate with friends. Ike's is also one of the only downtown bars to offer ice cream drinks and shakes.
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