Brian Nagele
Minneapolis is a bustling Midwestern metropolis along the Mississippi River that has a lively urban scene that you can enjoy year-round.
Thanks to its intricate system of window-enclosed sky walkways, Minneapolis’ downtown is easily navigable during the winter.
Its countless parks, bridges, and skyscrapers supply locals and visitors with plenty of epic views and picturesque settings.
Minneapolis’ restaurant and bar scene are on par with its bustling and lively urbanity while also providing customers with stunning views of the city skyline and waterways.
There’s a wealth of restaurants and bars with great happy hours to take in Minneapolis’ cityscape during the golden hour with a cocktail in hand.
Read on to discover my list of spots with the best happy hour in Minneapolis.
The Blue Door Pub
Multiple locations
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The Blue Door Pub is a beloved neighborhood burger joint and brewpub that started in St. Paul in 2008.
Their legendary burgers known as “Blucys”, are their claim to fame, offering unique and diverse takes on the famous cheese-stuffed burger called “Juicy Lucy”.
They have two locations in casual and quaint spaces, painted blue, in University and Longfellow.
Happy hours vary by location, but they both occur during the evenings and after dinner hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with late-night happy hours on Saturday and Sunday.
I delighted in a discounted pint of beer with half-priced deep-fried pickles.
The Sonder Shaker
130 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-353-6557
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Another Northeast Minneapolis favorite, The Sonder Shaker is a fashionable bar and globally inspired eatery inside a historic building.
The black walls are lined with random works of art, clocks, and pop culture portraits overlooking cozy black leather booths.
The expert mixologists make delicious craft cocktails using house-made infusions, mixers, and garnishes.
Every day of the week there’s a different special, and there’s also a happy hour from 4-6 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 pm-12 am.
I delighted in their discounted signature cocktails with a gourmet plate of braised pork sliders. My favorite cocktail is the Swizzle, with tequila, mezcal, lime, watermelon, jalapeno, and Peychards.
Bev’s Wine Bar
250 N 3rd Ave #100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-337-0102
Bev’s Wine Bar is a casual, and cozy industrial-chic wine bar in an old brick building in Minneapolis’ warehouse district.
There’s an artsy brick sign overlaying the washed-out brick building, making it an alluring place to stumble upon.
You won’t be disappointed in what you find inside, either. The service is as warm and welcoming as the atmosphere.
Bev’s happy hour is from 5-6:30 on weekdays with discounts on house red and white wines as well as their tap menu of craft beers.
There’s either live music or a great vinyl soundtrack playing in the evenings. I enjoyed a house wine with a plate of brie and baguette.
Cuzzy’s Grill & Bar
507 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-339-6211
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Located in downtown Minneapolis a few blocks from Target Field, Cuzzy’s Grill and Bar is a casual, friendly burger joint and diner.
The bar area’s walls and ceilings are covered in dollar bills, and the big-screen TVs always have a variety of sports games playing.
They’re a favorite spot for cheap craft beers and over-the-top burgers. Happy hours are weekdays from 3-6 pm with discounts on beers and drinks.
Their drinks are strong, so be sure to order a hearty burger or platter of loaded tots to soak up the alcohol.
They have 12 rotating beers on tap from local and global breweries. I recommend the SOB Burger with jalapenos, sour cream, and pepper jack cheese.
Constantine
1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-353-6207
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Located inside the hip Hotel Ivy, Constantine is an old-school speak-easy style bar in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.
The vintage leather booths and tables are lined with wax candles, making for a charming prohibition-era atmosphere. They offer a small but expertly crafted menu of classic cocktails and decadent bar fare.
Happy hour is weekdays from 5-7 pm with discounts on old fashions, beer and a shot, house wine, punch, and highball.
They also offer discounted burgers, tots, and gelato. Their old fashions are delicious, made with bourbon, piloncillo, sarsaparilla, chocolate, and orange.
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
50 South 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612-333-2277
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The Oceanaire Seafood Room is a fine-dining seafood restaurant and cocktail bar committed to serving the freshest daily catches flown in daily from sustainable purveyors.
The stellar kitchen team creates a gourmet and creative menu to highlight Minneapolis’ pronounced seasons along with an award-winning wine menu.
Teetering between Central and West Downtown, The Oceanaire Seafood Room is an elegant, modern space, and the cocktail lounge has an unbeatable and extensive happy hour food and drink menu.
I went for their delicious espresso martini with vodka, Kahlua, and espresso. It paired perfectly with a happy-hour-priced plate of fried calamari.
NOLO’s Kitchen & Bar
515 N Washington Ave #100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-800-6033
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Located inside a beautifully revamped iconic hardware store in the Maytag Co. Building in North Loop, NOLO’s Kitchen and bar is a modern American comfort food bistro and cocktail bar.
The upscale yet lively atmosphere is a great setting for decadent meals and cocktails with friends or a fun date night. Executive Chef Peter Hoff puts a modern, chef-driven twist on classic comfort food meals.
The happy hour is from 3-5:30 pm on weekdays with a discounted selection of craft cocktails, draft beer and prosecco along with a menu of deliciously comforting small plates.
I went for the lobster fried rice and a cheap yet high-quality glass of prosecco.
Palmer’s Bar
500 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone: 612-333-7625
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Palmer’s Bar is a gritty and rowdy dive bar serving exceedingly strong drinks in a fun atmosphere in Cedar-Riverside.
The bar is a cash-only establishment and a favorite for after-hours fun. There’s live music, silly murals, and an outdoor patio sandwiched between buildings in the back alley.
They have different happy hour specials each day, like 8$ pitchers of beer on Mondays and 4$ tallboys Tuesday- Thursdays.
I also found that there’s a daily deal of double pours on just about anything most nights. It’s a hipster’s haven for cheap, domestic lagers and great people-watching.
Upstairs Circus MPLS
135 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-216-2229
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A novel concept bar in the heart of North Loop, Upstairs Circus MPLS is the fun marriage of social crafts projects and booze.
There are two menus at Upstairs Circus: a drink menu and a project menu. You and your friends can choose from several DIY projects to try as you sip a cocktail.
You’ll leave tipsy, happy, and with a self-made souvenir. Happy hour at Upstairs Circus means discounted projects and drinks from 3-6 pm Tuesdays through Fridays.
I made an awesome silhouette art piece for my living room while sipping a strongman’s punch with sangria bubbly wine, soda water, lemon, lime, and orange.
Kieran’s Irish Pub
85 N 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-259-8840
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Located across the street from the Target Center in Downtown Minneapolis’ warehouse district, Kieran’s Irish Pub is an authentic Irish pub and eatery in an old-world atmosphere.
The dining space has hard-wood floors, booths, and tables with stained-glass windows and vintage light fixtures. It’s an authentic and homey place to grab fish and chips and a Guinness.
Kieran’s Irish Pub has the best happy hour in town, daily from 11 to 6 pm with two dollars off a long list of tap beers and three dollars off signature cocktails.
I love Irish whiskey, so I ordered the Big Ginger with Irish whiskey, ginger ale, and a lemon and lime garnish. I paired it with their famous corned beef Reuben and fries.
Barbette
1600 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-827-5710
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Barbette is a trendy brasserie that is female-owned and operated. The atmosphere is a mix between an old-world French café and a lively cocktail lounge with French art and classic wood chairs you’d see at any Parisian café.
Located in Calhoun Isles a few blocks from Bde Maka Ska Lake, Barbette is a charming place for both a lone morning espresso and a lively happy hour.
Happy hour at Barbette is from 2-5 pm daily with discounts on bottles of wine, cocktails, and high-quality snacks.
I loved their Sidecar with brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon. I paired it with a perfectly cooked plate of mussels and their thick-cut fries with aioli dipping sauce.
