Wonderful, intimate spot in Minneapolis. On our last night before returning home, Flora Room seemed…read moreas if it would fit the bill for our cocktail fix. Relatively easy to find, though you do have to hunt a little bit, Flora Room sits behind a nondescript metal door leading down a short hallway to the entrance. Take a long moment to allow your eyes to adjust if you're coming before sunset; this space is DARK. It's also perfect. Once your "night vision" kicks in you're surrounded by a nice bar, numerous bistro-style tables and booths. Candles adorn the tables creating a nice, cozy place to settle in for drinks. Once seated in comfortable chairs at a table, we were quickly greeted and provided with menus. The cocktail selection is relatively "small" but really nicely varied. Prices seemed a tad steep but frankly, given the quality of the drinks I'd say quite worth it. I started out with the Evita, a nice flavorful gin-base cocktail topped with a nice egg white foam. Very tasty. My wife opted for the Tapaculo, with gin, mezcal, pineapple, banana and bitters over ice. Also quite good. There are also bites available from the associated restaurant I can't recall the name of mine but I can say it was delicious. Bread-like bites with a really tasty dipping sauce. To close out the visit I selected Palo, a smoked aged rum cocktail that was really nice and rich. My wife chose the Nahualito with rum, walnut, amontillado and white chocolate. All should be on your radar. Flora Room really fit the bill for a nice, intimate speakeasy-style spot to spend time. Dark and cozy. Savory cocktails and friendly service will stand out and make you want to return. I know we'll seek it out if we return to Minneapolis again. I hope so.

Wow, this place was cool!…read more The entry is pretty hidden and parking requires a bit of work unless you do valet. We went on a Saturday night, so we had to wait a bit in order to be seated. However, it was worth the wait for us. There is a dark moody vibe and while my group went in for drinks, there are also options for food. The place itself is pretty loud - both with music and talking, so maybe not the best location for a first date. The drinks are expensive, but the experience was worthwhile for us. I enjoyed the meditteránea. I'll very likely be back! What a neat spot.

This was such an awesome bar!…read more Our bartender Tim took care of all night, with great cocktails, and he even tried out some new ones on us. This is such a swanky little place. You can go in shorts and flip flops, or dress up fancy. The hours are sort of funky because they work around the play schedules for the Guthrie, so maybe call ahead, but the whole building is a fun place to just go hang out in even if you are not going to a play.

$3 house wines after the show. Low lighting. Amazing view of the river front and downtown. Super…read morechill spot for your friends or a date. Love the Target Lounge. I reviewed it separately from The Guthrie itself because it is it's own little slice of amazing within this beautiful building. Take some time to sink in to the couches, look at all the lovely people and surroundings and enjoy some tasty wine post show.

We had heard about Prohibition before, and given its historical significance in the Foshay Tower,…read morewe had to check it out! Located inside the Foshay Tower, there's street and valet parking available! We entered through the W hotel lobby and took the elevator up to the 27th floor! We were met by a fun, retro-inspired lounge with many couches and tables available in a 360-degree set up. It has Prohibition-themed decor, but I wouldn't quite call it a speakeasy, as there wasn't any guise to entering or accessing the space. My only critique is that the space is quite dated, but not in a cool way. It could really use an update to the paint and interior to maintain itself as a "destination" versus just another hotel bar with a view. The bartenders were quite friendly and helpful during our visit. We had an Old Fashioned and a Paper Plane during our visit! Both cocktails were absolutely delicious and perfectly made. Now, at around $26 each, I would expect that level. Overall, a cool, historical spot to grab a drink!

Easily one of the best bars I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. It has a laidback, speakeasy…read morevibe with an assortment of comfortable seats arranged in nooks. Their drinks are well-made and aren't shy on the spirits. Take the elevator to the 27th floor. It's up to you how you figure out how to get to that floor (suggest asking the front desk.) The elevators open up right into the bar. It's very cool.

While not exactly a replica of the ōshentikku bā or cocktail dens of Japan, it comes close…read more Elegant with a serious attitude towards classicism and drinking, Gori Gori Peku is unique in Minneapolis and the United States. There are similar bars in NYC and San Francisco, but nowhere else that I'm aware of. Small and a bit hidden, these dens provide a cocktail zen experience. Our spirit zen master at Gori Gori was Sophia, and she guided both my spouse and me well. Gori's take on a classic Manhattan named the A 5 was one of the best cocktails I've had, with layers of deep, meaty flavor. We live a few minutes away and will enjoy stopping into Gori Gori Peku often.

After returning from our trip to Japan, I knew I had to bring my family here! It had been on my…read morelist for a while and we were already missing Japan. The space is cute! It's up the stairs above Sanjusan and right next to Kado No Mise: just a little speakeasy-style bar. Seating is first come first serve. Service was a bit formal and curt: the space was empty and our group of four asked to take the corner seats, and they told us we could "for now". I was surprised how limited the cocktail menu was! I appreciate just sticking to a few things and doing them really well. They have a more extensive list of Japanese whiskeys. We got the old fashioned, collins, and kuri cocktails and each one was very good! Bold, impressive flavors and a clear craftsmanship. The prices are quite steep, but it's mainly because there is no tip line - all gratuity is included in the menu price.

I recently visited The Living Room bar located within the W Hotel. I had previously visited another…read morelocation in Hollywood. I will say the music was good, and the bar overall looked clean. I approached the bar and asked for a dirty martini, specified my vodka preference and requested a lesser amount of the brine. Brandy (the bartender), began preparing the cocktail and I knew immediately that she didnt know what she was doing. I tasted a sip of the prepared cocktail and was very disappointed. I asked Brandy if another bartender could prepare the cocktail. Brandy found Dylan. Dylan was excellent. Dylan asked questions about my preference in vodka, how much brine I's like and asked if I wanted a vermouth rinse. Dylan measure the ingredients well and prepared the perfect cocktail. I was so impressed, I continued to order cocktails from Dylan for the remainder of the night and tipped him well. Later in the night, Brandy reapproached me and asked, "You don't trust me to make you a drink?" I explained to Brandy that once I have a bad experience with a bartender or server, I rather try a different server/bartender. It wasn't personal, but I refuse to pay for bad or mediocre service. While Brandy wasn't rude or mean, I believe she could benefit from more training in cocktail crafting and delivering an experience to the customer. I spoke to Hannah who was kind and receptive to my feedback. I would visit again and hope the next time my experience is even better.

Located on the first floor, The Living Room is the hotel bar for The W. I made several visits While…read morein town to celebrate Prince, I stayed at The W and made a few visits to The Living Room. The W was one of the host hotels for the official Prince Celebration 2022 festivities and the official welcome party was held at The Living Room. As to be expected, this party resulted in lots of people who came to dance, drink and to celebrate the 'Purple Yoda from Minnesota'. Surprisingly, this space was an excellent option for the party it has a dance floor area along with a large well-stocked bar which easily accommodated everyone's drink choice. Add to that, they had a few Purple drink specials for the night which were tasty. The bartenders did a great job in processing the nonstop drink orders and the servers were kept very busy throughout the night. When not used for parties, the ambiance is much more laid-back. As the name says, it has more of a 'living room' feel. In addition to the long bar, there are many sections of lounge seating (chars, couches, etc.) which are perfect for unwinding. Even after the party, the bar continued to be well-stocked; so well-stocked that a friend and I made a couple of discoveries while sipping one afternoon. To our surprise, they had a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle (10 year) along with a bottle of Weller Single Barrel. It's rare to find either at a bar; having both made for an amazing find. My friend and I quickly made it our mission to empty both bottles so we would each have a souvenir from The Living Room (we succeeded). Following the welcome party, the bartenders could have been a bit tired but that was far from the case, they were as energetic and welcoming as they were at the party. If interested in food to go with your adult beverage, they work directly with Manny's Steakhouse (also attached to The W) which means anything from appetizers to a complete steak dinner can be ordered and enjoyed while in The Living Room. On future trips, whether staying at The W or not, I will make a point to stop by The Living Room for an adult beverage or two.

This was my first time going out in Minneapolis, and it'd been a while since my local friend had. I…read morewas recommended this bar by commenters on Reddit who sounded adamant that this is the vibe I was looking for. I used to live in Atlanta, currently live in Austin, and have experienced nightlife in Nashville/Savannah/Miami. Thus, my expectations were sky high. Based on my research it appears the Twin Cities have limited options compared to the above 5 cities. And promising options like "Fool Me Once" were listed as already closed. There was a short line outside & it was chilly so I couldn't wait to be let in. There was no cover which usually means expensive drinks and that's exactly the case ($13-$14 per shot). The main floor was quite empty when we arrived around 11:30pm so I made a beeline for the basement hidden behind the bar, which I didn't see until I posed for my neon sign photo. Downstairs there is another bar to the right when you are at the foot of the stairs, and the famous disco room is to your left. We went on Saturday night and it was packed to the brim! I moseyed my way up to the DJ booth but it was annoying having to jostle the vacant & occupied VIP tables. My friend and I danced a little but left within an hour because it was so stuffy. But you know, that reminded me of a similar basement at Dark Horse Tavern in Atlanta where I used to go almost every weekend.

They make awesome cocktails here. I was impressed with how fast the bartenders were moving…read more They bartenders were making all type of unique drinks. One of the drinks was an espresso martinis. They actually put two beans on top. The beans floated to the top like a happy child on an inter-tube in a water park.

Cute spot with great service! The wine pairs are fun to…read morecompare two wines. Our server lets us guess which is which and explained the differences/how to know. They also have a decent food menu.

Met friends here for dinner on a weekend. The ambience is super cute. The upstairs area is…read moreadorable. Service was really great - they didn't rush us at all and our orders were accurate. I want so much to rate higher, but the food was just ok. Grilled chicken salad was good, but everything else we ordered was okay, and very very small portions. Wines were just okay as well - we tried 3 full wine flights (whites, reds, sparkling) Cute space and great vibes, but all of us thought the food and wines were just average.

Cozy (but sometimes loud) cocktail bar in NE with a variety of menu items (many Asian inspired)…read more For cocktails, we were recommended to try "Off the Vine" which packs a powerful punch of ginger! Maybe a little too much ginger but otherwise delicious. I also tried the Mandarin sidecar-- which is very orange juice forward. So, if you don't love the taste of alcohol, these might be good options! Food: We got a few things to split. The cucumber salad was very refreshing with an Asian zing taste. Xoxo beef chow fun and General gao's chicken were both delicious and I'd definitely recommend! Service was fast, and the staff were very helpful in offering their recommendations. Check it out!

Stopped into Steady Pour for a nightcap and it was bumping!…read moreThere was a private party in the bigger room, and lots of smaller tables filling the room with lively chatter. I was very interested in the mini cocktails ("Little Guys")-what a great idea- I will have to go back in order to try a few. But we ended up picking drinks off of the Holiday Menu. We chose the Cranberry Spritz and the S'Mores Egg Nog. The Cranberry Spritz was good, but a little light- I could have handled some more intense cranberry flavor. The Egg Nog was spectacular and I don't even like egg nog. It was just a super flavorful and unique drink. Steady Pour is a great little local place and I can't wait to go back!

I'd seen rave reviews about this place, so we decided to go here to celebrate a personal…read moreaccomplishment last weekend! It's a really cozy moody interior, with *no big lights* aka great low lighting and comfy seating options. When we went, there were just a few other parties there so pretty quiet. I liked that we had a whole corner to ourselves with a sectional couch of sorts and some chairs. They close at 10pm on a Friday night, which felt absurdly early for a cocktail bar. But, we were able to order and drink one drink during the ~45 minutes we had. They closed up shop promptly at 10pm. They had a classics and a "rumors" section of the menu. I didn't think the signature drinks were overly unique, with classics like Paper Plane making that menu side. I had a pomegranate mojito which was good! Consensus was that the cocktails were good not exceptional, especially for the $16-17 price point. We ordered churros for the table which were a table favorite! I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but we enjoyed our time and could see this being a good option if you lived in the neighborhood and don't mind the early close hours.

The interior of this place is incredible, such a cute spot with moody lighting, intimate seating,…read moreand vibey music. It's a great place for drinks and appetizers. The drinks were good, and they also have a solid selection of beer on tap. The food portion are a bit small imo but I will say the Mac and cheese was pretty darn tasty!

Was at a big vendor party that took up the entire rooftop. It's got a decent view and was…read moreappropriately hot and humid up on the roof, with the semi-enclosed bar and food area being even hotter due to the evening sunlight from the day's heat wave penetrating the glass. Drinks were pretty solid, the food was actually okay, but again, as a vendor did this, had no real control over the menu. Mostly remember the service at the bar being pretty good, and the beef that had been ordered up was surprisingly decent in quality. Not quite sure what the situation is downstairs, but given the bar literally is named Union Rooftop, not sure how much that's something to be concerned about?

I was looking for a nice restaurant near the Orpheum since we had tickets for a show. I actually…read morehad no idea this restaurant existed but it looked good online and I liked the idea of a rooftop meal. As luck would have it, we dined here on an absolutely GORGEOUS evening. We were seated promptly at a two-top on the edge of the patio, so we had a glorious view of downtown, the Orpheum sign and the sunset. It was truly glorious. Food: -I got the Ginger Smash cocktail, which was absolutely fabulous. If you are a whiskey drinker, this is a positively lovely drink. I had two and quite honestly could have kept going. My husband got the mocktail with blueberries and Red Bull (didn't catch the name) and liked it enough to get a second one as well. -For apps, we got the mini Wellingtons, which were really really yummy. And we got the fried dumplings, which were absolutely baller. Like I want to go back and have them again. So our app choices were on point and both were really good. -For entrees, I got the chicken cordon bleu just because it's so unusual to see that on a menu these days and I love it. My husband ordered the sea bass. In a way, the dishes complimented each other because the fish came on a bed of corn and pea succotash with a delicious sauce, and my entree came on a huge pile of velvety mashed potatoes. So between the two of us, we had potatoes and veg covered. -The cordon bleu was decent, but I'm sad to say the chicken was pretty dry. I get it. You're stuffing a chicken breast and rolling it, so the cook time is long. And you definitely don't want to serve raw chicken. But the chicken was not juicy or succulent. It was a shame. However, the plentiful sauce and the luxurious potatoes helped a lot, and overall I think it was still decent. I just wish the cook on the chicken had been a bit better. -My husband's bass was amazing. The sear was absolutely impressive, the sauce was delicious and that veg underneath it was really yummy. I appreciated the freshness and crispness of the peas a lot. -We both could not get over how large the entree portions are here. Like they could easily be 20% smaller and still be perfectly adequate. Plenty of food for your buck. -Turtle cheesecake for dessert was delicious with candied pecans. Unfortunately, we did have an issue during an otherwise stellar dining experience. My husband discovered a piece of metal in his meal and almost swallowed it. We brought it to the attention of our waitress, and the manager came to visit shortly thereafter. I believe she said her name was Kendra. To be honest, I kept this at four stars because of her response. She apologized profusely. She owned the mistake and explained that the metal had come from one of the scrubbers used during the dish washing process. She covered a round of drinks, my husband's entree and our dessert, essentially cutting the bill in half. I was happy with that resolution but my husband said he thought she should have covered the whole check. That would have certainly been going above and beyond, but I felt that it was an adequate enough resolution and the type of resolution that I would have expected at a higher end dining establishment. That said, it would have been nice if they had covered the whole check. Our waitress (whose name I forget) was excellent. And if you are reading this, I am sorry because I realized I undertipped you (I picked a percentage based on the reduced check and not what the meal would have cost without the comps). In all, a totally good dining experience and I will be happy to return.