The Loring feels like an extremely cool Italian bistro run by an eccentric genius, and the food is as creative as the décor. Continue Reading

Even if you’re definition of Bavarian charm isn’t sausage-eating men in lederhosen or yodeling blondes in dirndl, you’re still going to have to check your coat at the door and head downstairs. Mario’s Keller Bar, in the basement of Gasthof zur Gemütlichkeit, serves up an array of southern German beer staples by the half liter, liter, or two-liter “boot.” This is the only place in town where you can pop a snuff board, drink from a boot, and swig apple schnapps while dancing to polka in the early evening and hard, sometimes very alternative rock after midnight. Mario’s is the kind of place where even teetotalers find themselves having one or two too many, which is why cab service to and from Mario’s is so great. Continue Reading

A dive bar is a dive bar is a dive bar, unless it’s Mayslack’s. In 1955, former professional wrestler Stan Myslajek started serving what has become the establishment’s legendary roast beef sandwich. If the taste doesn’t do it for you, then you’ll be satisfied with what lifting it can do for your physique. Take your friends and disappear into one of the many cavernous wooden booths, or come for the meat raffles every Wednesday and Saturday. A popular hangout for young, irony-tinged Northeast locals, Mayslack’s turns its small stage over to area musicians on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—often with a cover—and trivia every Wednesday. Continue Reading

Your blues and soul headquarters. This venue, decked out with Minnesota music memorabilia, hosts performances seven nights a week. Continue Reading

Nostalgic for the Old Country? Located in the shadow of the elegant St. Paul Cathedral, Moscow on the Hill offers all the best of Eastern European dining—borscht, vareniki, caviar, and, of course, crisp, smooth vodkas to lighten the meal in a lively atmosphere (don’t miss the accordion music on Friday and Saturday night). Head to the funky, eclectically outfitted lounge side for a drink. Try their house-recipe, horseradish-infused vodka distilled in Wisconsin, but don’t be surprised to find yourself tempted by the food. Continue Reading

Man’s best friend deserves a night out too. And the laid-back folks at Nomad welcome you and your (leashed) dogs any night. The scene varies from night to night, depending on the musical act, but it doesn’t stray too far from its hippie-organic, soccer-appreciating, bocce ball-playing soul. A lot of good vibrations and sincere, save-the-world sentiments get expressed here, to knowing nods. So leash up the dog, throw on your soccer jersey, and try some beer from their long list of options. Continue Reading

Settling into a seat at the Northeast Social feels like settling into an old leather chair: comfortable, classic, and inviting. The dark green hues, low lights, distorted portraits on the wall, clean interior and low-key-yet-classy atmosphere make the place feel like a contemporary hideout for the Victorian crowd. The Northeast Social lives up to its name, as it is a perfect place for an intimate evening with no distractions. Music pipes quietly out of the stereo, just enough to provide some background beats without ever overpowering the conversation. The patrons are a mix of ages and styles, and the friendly staff welcomes all. The menu offers a modest selection of seasonal, contemporary American dishes with European influences, making the Northeast ideal for a dinner date or appetizers and a drink. The Northeast serves quality beers and hard-to-find wines – no liquor – and for the teetotalers, there is Orangina and Mexican Coke (you know, the kind with real cane sugar) among other unusual and tasty selections.

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There is someone wandering the streets of Nordeast, holding a copy of Esquire's 2006 edition of Best Bars in America, looking for the beautiful, brightly emblazoned sign reading Nye's Polonaise, a holy marker of what a bar should be. This place, they expect, will change their lives. They'll find hope in a lackluster nightlife scene. They'll find originality among the cookie-cutter culture of clubs. But, of course, in reality they will find a half-supper club/half-dive-bar concoction where patrons of just about every age, make, and model ignore the Formica tables and flowered carpet for the sounds of Ruth Adams' Most Dangerous Polka Band. This person, Esquire in hand, will find themselves looking quizzically around the room, along with other first-time patrons, asking himself, "This is the infamous Nye's?" Yes, it is. In all of its kitschy glory. Enjoy.

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No need to hop on a plane to get a taste of the Irish life, feel like a true Celt at O’Donovan’s. Some eats are imported, like Glatee Black Pudding and Banger. But if the names alone scare you off, there’s still plenty of corned beef, salmon, and potato soup to please the crowds. $4 draught pints during Happy Hour and Irish tunes on weekends round out this classic pub experience. Continue Reading

When O’Gara’s opened in 1941, you could grab a pint of beer and get a haircut at the same time. The barbershop of Carl Schulz (father of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz) occupied what is now the game room at O’Gara’s. You can no longer get a buzz at O’Gara’s . . . well, OK, you can. You can’t get a trim, but if you like the idea of listening to live jazz, big band, or local music while sipping freshly brewed beer from the O’Gara’s Brew Pub, this is the place. Continue Reading