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Best Bars With Jukeboxes In Minnesota

The jukebox is a classic piece of the classic American bar. While the culture seems to be fading a bit with the advent of TouchTunes electronic jukeboxes that let you skip other people's selections and let other people skip yours, there are still a few bars left with a good old fashioned jukebox to enhance the experience.
Grumpy's
2200 4th St. N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 789-7429
www.grumpys-bar.com

Grumpy's has earned its place as a locals' spot, and you might get some looks as newbie stepping inside. But play the right song on this jukebox, and you're sure to win people over. For the best punk, new-wave, rap and some local classics, you won't find anywhere else. Come here without pretense, and enjoy it without pretense, and you'll have a great time at one of the best dives in Minnesota. The Grumpy's downtown is also a great place to jam out however, and they have a unique selection of tunes on the jukebox to flip through as well.

Matt's Bar
3500 Cedar Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 722-7072
mattsbar.com

While known for its Jucy Lucy (and a continuing battle with the 5-8 Club about who invented it), the jukebox at Matt's Bar adds a little something extra to your burger and beer experience. Many of the songs on this jukebox seem to be handpicked to accompany a cheese-in-patty burger washed down with a Summit, Grain Belt or something else local. At Matt's Bar, you can relax in true Twin Cities style.

Liquor Lyle's
2021 Hennepin Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 870-8183
lylesliquor.com

Lyle's is the type of place where you come, hunker down in a booth and stay until you're satisfied (or until you run out of money). Time doesn't matter while you're enjoying cold beer and good food. But the one thing that can make that experience even better is good music playing throughout the bar. The jukebox is there to make sure you're happy, whether you want to get up and dance or brood into your beer.

Related: Best Bars For Billiards In Minnesota

Keenan's Bar
620 7th St. W.
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 227-3840
www.facebook.com/Keenans-Bar-and-Grill

There are two reasons you should seek out this nondescript dive in St. Paul. First, the bar has an enormous selection of booze at ridiculously reasonable prices. Secondly, the jukebox has an enormous selection of classic music to choose from. Chances are you'll be able to play what you want, and you're sure to make a few new friends no matter what you pick. And depending on how you feel about enjoying a coney dog while you kick back and relax with some tunes on the jukebox, you might have a third reason to visit Keenans.

Jimmy's Bar & Lounge
1828 4th St. N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 788-1383
www.facebook.com/Jimmys-Bar-Lounge

Jimmy's Bar & Lounge is one of Minneapolis' best kept secrets for awesome food and drink, and perhaps an even more awesome jukebox. Classic songs fill page after page in this lounge that looks straight out of the 1950s. With this vibe and decor, Jimmy's is set apart from other dives. And when you sway slowly to a classic ballad or stomp your feet to a hard-hitting rock-n-roll song, you'll know why jukeboxes are such an integral part of the bar experience. Grab a cold one, and enjoy the night.

Related: Best Bars In Minnesota That Opened In 2015

Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.
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