Best Cocktail Bars In Minnesota
Craving a craft cocktail? Satisfy your craving at these best cocktail bars in Minnesota.
Marvel Bar
50 N. 2nd Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3929
www.marvelbar.com
Marvel Bar, which was once one of Minneapolis's best-kept secrets, is now widely known for mixing up some seriously creative cocktails. Tricky to locate upon first visit, Marvel Bar is tucked below The Bachelor Farmer, its entrance found at the rear of the building, down a flight of stairs and through a purple door. You'll marvel not only at its selection of unique and classic cocktails, but also at the obvious skill and expertise the bartenders possess, which can be witnessed as they carefully craft each cocktail. If you're feeling adventurous, the Oliveto is a must, consisting of olive oil, egg whites, lemon, Licor 43 and Gordon's and then shaken to create a lovely, froth-topped libation. Toast to your good fortune if you're lucky enough to snag a seat amidst the trendy lounge interior.
Bradstreet Crafthouse
601 1st Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 312-1821
www.bradstreetcraftshouse.com
Located on the first floor of The Graves Hotel, the Bradstreet Crafthouse is known for serving up some of the best cocktails in the city. Whether you appreciate a well-executed classic or are feeling a bit adventurous, the bartenders at the Bradstreet Crafthouse hand-craft each libation on order, using everything from tried-and-true to innovative techniques to achieve the perfect cocktail. Fresh-pressed juices and house-made bitters and syrups elevate Bradstreet's cocktails to new heights. Whiskey fans are encouraged to sample Bradstreet's signature drink, The Bradstreet Cocktail, featuring Jim Beam Rye, lemon, jasmine syrup, egg white and Bradstreet bitters. Sip your specially crafted libation in the intimate space that captures pre-prohibition era opulence.
Related: Best Secret Bars in Minnesota
Eat Street Social
18 W. 26th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 767-6850
www.eatstreetsocial.com
Ask any cocktail aficionado where to go to get a lovingly crafted alcoholic beverage in the city and Eat Street Social will more than likely be on the list. Enjoy classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned the way it was meant to be enjoyed, perfectly prepared using the finest ingredients. Or, if you're brunching, try a Breakfast Old Fashioned, a quirky Eat Street Social spin on a classic made with bacon-infused Rebel Yell, maple-brown sugar syrup, walnut liqueur and bitters, or sample one of the signature Bloody Marys which feature its house-made mix. Eat Street Social's cocktail menu changes seasonally, each drink collectively paying homage to the current season. Soak up your seasonal favorites amidst the sultry dark woods and exposed brick interior.
Icehouse
2528 Nicollet Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 276-6523
www.icehousempls.com
This popular "Eat Street" destination is a just a hop, skip and a jump from Eat Street Social; that's right, two fantastic cocktail bars located within two blocks of one another. Icehouse is known for slinging some of the most creative cocktails in the city. A cursory glance at its comprehensive cocktail menu will leave you struck with indecision as classics like Olive Shade of Green (your choice of gin or vodka martini, served with a side of olives for $1 more) to unique libations like the Wonder-Twins Powers-Activate (lemon sour or collins style, served with a popsicle) tempt your tastebuds. Such debates are best settled by ordering both cocktails and casually sipping them as you enjoy live music.
Parlour
730 N. Washington Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 354-3135
www.boroughmpls.com/#!parlour
If you're finishing up dinner at Borough, a post-dinner cocktail at Parlour is a must. Parlour is a lower-level cocktail haven located beneath Borough, known for serving up fantastic cocktails. If you're looking for an after-dinner cocktail in lieu of dessert, try a Sunny Place for Shady People (Fernet Branca, Pineapple, Barenjager, lime, lemon oils and Bittercube B.S.B). Or if you're looking for a twist on a classic favorite, you can't go wrong with a Parlour Old Fashioned or a seasonal Manhattan. Cozy up to the bar in Parlour's intimate space and cheers to a well-made libation.
Cafe Maude
5411 Penn Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 822-5411
www.cafemaude.com
A proponent of civilized leisure (a nod to Maude Armitage, a community leader who lived by the motto and helped Minneapolis come of age in the 20th century), this intimate bistro is home to classic, civilized cocktails. Each cocktail is lovingly crafted from scratch; order a classic like the daiquiri and you'll wonder why you ever bothered to drink those made from pre-made mixes. Specialty drinks like the Corpse Reviver (guaranteed to cure what ails you and made with gin, Cocchi Americano, Cointreau, lemon and absinthe) and the playful Tomgirl Named Maude (grapefruit vodka, pama and hint of cayenne) are sure to tantalize and satisfy. Cheers to a great woman (Maude) and to civilized leisure with a hand-crafted drink.
A Minnesota native that was born and raised Up North, Minneapolis is where Christina Kalinowski currently calls home. Christina appreciates irony, loves bacon, enjoys a hearty libation (drink responsibly, folks), and is an avid proponent of the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
