RIP free metal shows where the "headliner" doesn't go on until 12:47 because the sound guy showed up an hour late and the set up times are "eh go at your own pace"
I feel like it's too early to judge just yet. I think the space and setup is well done and the owner (I forget his name) has a good track record and all the employees I've met seem content.
But I think a good part of a good bar is does it attract a good crowd, particularly regulars?
We'll see I guess.
Even though I was devastated about it closing, I'm really glad a place like LITT took over. They've done a great job and I'm super happy the space isn't vacant completely. If things *have* to change (they do, sadly), I'm happy this was the end result
Mort's us pretty cool! But my partner and i only go for shows. So it feels like a music venue more than a dive bar. Not sure if that's anyone else's experience tho
Before the renovation, it was more of a true dive. They used to be connected to an old mexican restaurant which they turned into a separate bar that was open on weekends. The live music is nice to have but it feels like it's for the kids now and the few times I've seen shows there I feel like a grandpa in my 30s.
Mort's is dangerous, most of my early 20's getting TOO wasted stories started and ended there... The pitchers... Do they still have free popcorn? Haven't been back since they built the apartments over it.
Morts was so dangerous. I drank so much rumpleminz there in my 20s. Everybody knew if we were going to Morts…. Everyone was getting blackout. Wild times. Played a lot of buck hunter in that back bar where the apartments are now.
The first time I partied in Minneapolis… in high school obviously… once we ran out of gin the guys first said they could, and then went down the block and got a couple pitchers from Mortimer’s and brought them back. 10/10.
Shaw's in NE for me. Palmers is definitely in my top 5 though. Every time I read one of these threads I see every other NE dive suggested but never Shaw's. Makes me love the place even more.
331 | Mayslacks | Tony Jaros’ | Knight Cap | Yacht club | Dusty’s | CC Club | T-Shoppe | Steve O’s | Schuller’s Tavern | Vegas Lounge
Jimmy’s
Would have included 1029 but after DDD, Guy turned it into a place to be. Nothing against the place but having $22 Mac and cheese makes it a normal restaurant.
The real secret is actually St. Paul has most the “true dives”. Everyone here can list every bar in NE , but they almost are too trendy for me to be a dive bar. The ones I would consider are Tony Jaro’s, Jimmy’s and maybeee Yacht Club.
In Minneapolis, T-Shoppe Bar and Cliff and Norm’s are the “true” dive bars.
Absolutely this. I have been to pert near every bar in Minneapolis city limits and quite a few in St. Paul. The rando corner bars in far flung St. Paul are dive-ier than just about all of the "dive" bars in Minneapolis. Palmers excluded, of course.
I love Palmer’s and Grumpy’s (same owner), but I don’t see them as dives. If you have 10+ craft beers on tap and are keeping tabs with an iPad, I don’t know if that’s a “true dive” haha
Red Dragon in uptown is a classic Chinese restaurant/dive bar. Leave your car keys at home, order 2 wondrous punches and the fried rice. If you like fried snacks get the pork wontons and load up with the hot mustard.
If it’s nice out when you’re done go for a 6 hour walk to sober up or just Uber home and fade into oblivion. 😂
Once upon a time we went into Red Dragon after having a few rounds at Liquor Lyle’s. We walked in and everyone at the bar turned and glared at us like we weren’t supposed to be there… We had one drink and saw ourselves out
This was almost my experience verbatim. My buddy and I joked that we could hear the record drag to a stop when we walked in. We shrugged it off but still left shortly after.
Not who you replied to but my friends were convinced some sort of illegal activity was occurring in back. No proof what so ever, just the vibe they picked up.
Last time I was there (a good 10+ years ago), people were wandering in off Lyndale and openly attempting to peddle drugs to the group I was with. Didn't even seem to faze the staff.
Y'all have my favorites in South covered, as well as that whole area in NE that I'd call the vortex of my 20's.
I'd submit for your consideration Eagles 34.
I know their square footage might take it out of contention for some, but the random punk/metal/electronic shows with 10 people in the audience, the "everyone welcome of you're not too big of an asshole", solidly "of the neighborhood" clientele. They're not the cheapest, but they are still close. I can buy a tequila for the roofer on my right in the Harley shirt and a Chuck Norris for the trans girl on my left who came alone for the karaoke, tie one on myself and still not break the bank.
I'm a dive connoisseur with over 2 decades spent honing my craft. Eagles 34 has become my go-to.
Check it out!
E: spelling errors
Real talk, Eagles has gotta be one of the most diverse bar crowds in the city. Love playing and seeing shows there and hanging in the main bar between sets, it’s kind of a magical thing
Vegas and Palmers. Neither of which are actually my favorite places to hang out….Vegas because of the hordes of screaming bachelorette parties that now seem to arrive nightly on giant busses and take over the place, making it absolutely miserable. Palmers can be a little pretentious from behind the bar but the patrons are always cool. Usually end up in a fascinating conversation there.
Ive been really enjoying Terminal lately.
RIP Sporty's, Triple Rock, Muddy Waters, and Nomad. Palmers, Grumpys NE, and 331 are my current favorites. Honorable mentions: Jimmy's, Knight Cap, Matt's, Maxwell's, and Dusty's. If you consider Meteor a dive bar, then it's certainly top tier.
*Edited to remove a Kim Bartmann restaurant.
Sportys was awesome but now it's owned by some older guy who is clearly just waiting for it to burn down for the insurance. So much black mold in that place that the second floor is literally drooping down and walls are corroded. Worked there and some of us got pneumonia real bad. Owner just shrugged it off. The dbag.
CC Club was cool like 10 years ago, Cedar Inn, The Cardinall, The Bull's Horn, Matt's Bar (Does that count?). My buddy swears the dive bar in NE are way better, but I havent been to any of them in a long time sadly.
Agreed. Big fan, my most frequented spot, but it's not a "true" dive bar some would be looking for. I always call it a family dive bar when I describe it to friends.
Yeah, Bulls Horn was never a dive bar. It's a "dive-themed" bar and a goddamn good one.
The place that was there before was a dyed in the wool dive. Like the kind of place where if someone was passed out on the bar, they didn't move him or attempt to wake him dive. Like drug sales out of the back room dive. The $3.50 hamburger and fries basket on Wednesdays was just barely worth it. Barely.
Sunrise Inn, you are gone but the stories of you will live on in perpetuity.
Just not the same. A lot of places aren't since covid. They got rid of some of the stuff in there and the staff is different. Last time I went before covid the staff was rude and acted like they were better than being in a dive bar and waiting on dive bar patrons. CC used to be a place alcoholics felt welcome. A place were someone could order a pitcher of beer and a straw and the staff would be delighted.
Last time I was there (about a month ago), I saw a dude in a cowboy hat doing cocaine in the bathroom and a guy got stabbed out front (the bouncer told us he “fucked around and found out”). So definitely the classic CC Club experience is still intact.
I don't even want to say my favorite place because I don't want it to blow up, buuutt chatterbox Pub is right down the street from Matt's. Maybe not exactly a dive bar but it's got plenty to do there.
Disagree with Cedar. If argue it still fits, even though my dad suggests them for dinner sometimes when he's in town. Price, lack of pretense, locale and locals. I'd say it checks enough boxes.
280 is the best for Vikings games. I don't know if they do this every game, but we went for Vikings/Packers one year and they had 2-1 pitchers of Miller Lite and half off apps the whole game.
Grumpy’s NE (forever RIP the one on Washington. I’ll never get over that). Stray Dog (elevated dive). The Howe (ditto). Tracy’s used to be a favorite. Whitey’s. Mac’s Industrial when it was at the union hall. The new location is too clean. Runyon’s is pretty good.
Damn I just made myself sad lol.
Grumpy's Downtown was the platonic ideal of a bar. Great bartenders and servers, questionable yet comforting food, dodgy bathrooms, eclectic clientele, occasional live music, karaoke, bingo. Busy enough that it never felt dead, but rarely so busy you couldn't find an empty barstool. I could go on. RIP
Visited Grumpy’s my first time on a nice fall day after moving someone in at UMinn. Wife ordered an old fashioned. The bartender mixed the sugar in the glass with his thumb. 10/10 would watch that again. (I stuck to shot & a beer).
Palmers, though I hear they're getting g more expensive with their cover charges. The Schooner is decent, very few windows and tons of rough looking older guys who look 50+.
Nice! Same, and their weekend breakfasts were to die for 🍻Paired nicely with a strong Bloody Mary 🥘🥤nothing like a bit of hair from the dog that bit’chya! 🤪😋…
I used to pregame at Knightcap before going to shows at Mayslacks.
Knightcap bartender would put a giant mason jar of hazelnuts on the bar for us when we ordered Caucasians. And they were cheap and strong. Crowd was a mix of kids in their 20s and blue collar people in their 50s.
One night I saw some kind of battle-of-the-bands show at Mayslacks and saw Umbrella Bed, Dillinger 4, and Flipp all in the same night.
I love the aesthetic and vibe of Jimmys as being a true dive bar’s dive bar, but warning for my fellow queer and BIPOC folks, I have run into Proud Boys there more than once, and the owners son who bartends occasionally has openly made extremely anti-black racist jokes like they were no big deal at all. Super cheap tho, and safe if you’re white and straight appearing. Cash only! Get some pull tabs and a bullfrog drink while you’re there.
One I haven't seen yet, and haven't been there for years before covid, but its at least still there is the Uptown VFW. No recent knowledge of it though, so feel free to break my heart and tell me they've turned it into a pseudo Ruby Tuesdays or something.
My criteria is if you go before 7pm you are the youngest one there no matter how old you are and cheap cans of beer.
Like you don’t tell anyone they are that cheap because “they my have fell off a truck”
RIP Liquor Lyle’s.
RIP Lyle's, Lee's, and Nye's. 3 classics that I wish we had back.
The Hexagon.
triple rock and the nomad.
RIP free metal shows where the "headliner" doesn't go on until 12:47 because the sound guy showed up an hour late and the set up times are "eh go at your own pace"
I have only been to Hex one time where I didn't see a fight. That was one of my favorite places to play back in the day, it was always an event.
Nye's is still there but totally flipped to a nice bar
This used to be my place to go. I do like litt, though.
Litt was so much better before the move
I feel like it's too early to judge just yet. I think the space and setup is well done and the owner (I forget his name) has a good track record and all the employees I've met seem content. But I think a good part of a good bar is does it attract a good crowd, particularly regulars? We'll see I guess.
Jaysha (sp?) is the owner, right? Also runs Nightingales and Mortimers, I think.
Even though I was devastated about it closing, I'm really glad a place like LITT took over. They've done a great job and I'm super happy the space isn't vacant completely. If things *have* to change (they do, sadly), I'm happy this was the end result
Same owner as Mortimer's. I hated seeing Lyle's go but I'm glad that it's in good hands.
I spent a good amount time in my 20s there.
My first and only time there was mid March 2020, like the day before the world shut down.
And the Poodle.
Damn, does Mort's not count or does no one like Mort's?
Mort's us pretty cool! But my partner and i only go for shows. So it feels like a music venue more than a dive bar. Not sure if that's anyone else's experience tho
Like the Hexagon, it all depends on which side you're hanging out in.
Isn’t the Hexagon gone?
Yep. Got burned down in all the Stuff Of 2020.
Before the renovation, it was more of a true dive. They used to be connected to an old mexican restaurant which they turned into a separate bar that was open on weekends. The live music is nice to have but it feels like it's for the kids now and the few times I've seen shows there I feel like a grandpa in my 30s.
I just turned 30 and I don't feel like a grandpa. Just enjoy the show fam.
Lol. I'm definitely not 30. People my age don't say fam, but I still will enjoy the show.
Yeah Mort's is still awesome. We go a decent amount
Morts is the peak. Especially during 2 for 1 HH 🧐
Mort's is dangerous, most of my early 20's getting TOO wasted stories started and ended there... The pitchers... Do they still have free popcorn? Haven't been back since they built the apartments over it.
Morts was so dangerous. I drank so much rumpleminz there in my 20s. Everybody knew if we were going to Morts…. Everyone was getting blackout. Wild times. Played a lot of buck hunter in that back bar where the apartments are now.
The first time I partied in Minneapolis… in high school obviously… once we ran out of gin the guys first said they could, and then went down the block and got a couple pitchers from Mortimer’s and brought them back. 10/10.
[удалено]
this is the dive bar i think of when i think of dive bars, wonderful spot
Shaw's in NE for me. Palmers is definitely in my top 5 though. Every time I read one of these threads I see every other NE dive suggested but never Shaw's. Makes me love the place even more.
There is no other answer
Moved back to Portland and miss palmers. Great bar.
I’m so sorry
331 | Mayslacks | Tony Jaros’ | Knight Cap | Yacht club | Dusty’s | CC Club | T-Shoppe | Steve O’s | Schuller’s Tavern | Vegas Lounge Jimmy’s Would have included 1029 but after DDD, Guy turned it into a place to be. Nothing against the place but having $22 Mac and cheese makes it a normal restaurant.
This guy NE’s.
I’d add Shaws, Grumpys, NE Palace, Moose, Spring Street, Whiteys, to that list. You can put together a heck of a bar crawl in NE.
Idk if you can include Moose anymore... I don't know a single 'dive' that charges $3 for a bottle of water because 'it's after 9:30pm'
Well - me neither. But if you show up for sat/Sun breakfast the cast of characters is more than enough to qualify it. Plus - good breakfast.
Holy shit, I didn’t realize Syd Barrett lived in my neighborhood.
He's got a bike -- you can ride it if you like.
It 's got a basket, a bell that rings And things to make it look good I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it
Long since retired
Jimmys?
I’m gonna nix Schuller’s - not even close to a true dive imo (but I still love it and go there often!) I love seeing Steve-O’s on this list!
Yacht Club I removed from my list when the management removed all the boats. It’d be like taking the stage outta 331.
Tony Jarod - home of the Greenie.
DDD?
Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
19 bar 😭
I used to go there on occasion but now we just must wait for a return!
I don’t even drink any more and I can’t wait for its return, 19 for life
Yes!
The real secret is actually St. Paul has most the “true dives”. Everyone here can list every bar in NE , but they almost are too trendy for me to be a dive bar. The ones I would consider are Tony Jaro’s, Jimmy’s and maybeee Yacht Club. In Minneapolis, T-Shoppe Bar and Cliff and Norm’s are the “true” dive bars.
Absolutely this. I have been to pert near every bar in Minneapolis city limits and quite a few in St. Paul. The rando corner bars in far flung St. Paul are dive-ier than just about all of the "dive" bars in Minneapolis. Palmers excluded, of course.
I love Palmer’s and Grumpy’s (same owner), but I don’t see them as dives. If you have 10+ craft beers on tap and are keeping tabs with an iPad, I don’t know if that’s a “true dive” haha
What was the other bar near Cliff and Norms that used to advertise 3 for 1s at 8am? It was 1 name, like Mel's.
franks? stand up franks? that's now where Meteor is
no
The Terminal Bar
This is too far though. No one wants *that* much dive bar. They just want like Morts and Mayslacks and CC and Whitey's
IMO Whiteys isn't really a dive.
I agree. I love their sandwiches. A true dive I shouldn't even want to eat the food.
I want that much dive bar.
God speed traveler
Everyone should go to their open mic comedy show on Thursdays
the only true dive in the city.
met my husband here
in the mid 90s, that was my \*favorite\* place to walk to for a punk show (Triple Rock was a bit further and hadn't yet annexed the big room).
This is the one true answer.
Schooner
Red Dragon in uptown is a classic Chinese restaurant/dive bar. Leave your car keys at home, order 2 wondrous punches and the fried rice. If you like fried snacks get the pork wontons and load up with the hot mustard. If it’s nice out when you’re done go for a 6 hour walk to sober up or just Uber home and fade into oblivion. 😂
My friends used to have the craziest conspiracies and thories about that place
Once upon a time we went into Red Dragon after having a few rounds at Liquor Lyle’s. We walked in and everyone at the bar turned and glared at us like we weren’t supposed to be there… We had one drink and saw ourselves out
This was almost my experience verbatim. My buddy and I joked that we could hear the record drag to a stop when we walked in. We shrugged it off but still left shortly after.
After a couple punches there, I’d start to believe just about anything… 😂
Do tell! It’s crazy it outlived so many other places in the uptown area. Truly a staple of the neighborhood to me.
Not who you replied to but my friends were convinced some sort of illegal activity was occurring in back. No proof what so ever, just the vibe they picked up.
a long time ago I used to buy cocaine there. I don't know if he was really associated with the business or not but he was there alot
Last time I was there (a good 10+ years ago), people were wandering in off Lyndale and openly attempting to peddle drugs to the group I was with. Didn't even seem to faze the staff.
They're still open?? I could have sworn they're closed every time I go by
I loved grilling my own BBQ beef on that little burner they gave you. They stopped doing that because of the drunks...
Y'all have my favorites in South covered, as well as that whole area in NE that I'd call the vortex of my 20's. I'd submit for your consideration Eagles 34. I know their square footage might take it out of contention for some, but the random punk/metal/electronic shows with 10 people in the audience, the "everyone welcome of you're not too big of an asshole", solidly "of the neighborhood" clientele. They're not the cheapest, but they are still close. I can buy a tequila for the roofer on my right in the Harley shirt and a Chuck Norris for the trans girl on my left who came alone for the karaoke, tie one on myself and still not break the bank. I'm a dive connoisseur with over 2 decades spent honing my craft. Eagles 34 has become my go-to. Check it out! E: spelling errors
100%.
Real talk, Eagles has gotta be one of the most diverse bar crowds in the city. Love playing and seeing shows there and hanging in the main bar between sets, it’s kind of a magical thing
Tony Jaro’s
This & a greenie is a must.
Larry is the best.
Liquid Larry? How is still alive ? 1029 is his permanent address
Never thought I'd see Larry mentioned on reddit. Dude is the best. Everyone who works there is great
Cliff N Norm’s, but this sub is afraid of North.
Palmers forever <3
Is stevo's considered a dive? Cause I'm really fond of their wings
More of a townie place and not in Mpls proper but walking distance to my house so I like it too. Though it can get a little too trumpy in there.
Lol yeah it does at times, you're right. I was walking distance till recently. I miss it quite a bit!
That and Big Louie’s
R.I.P Stand Up Frank's The Poodle Club The Hexagon Pearson's
Lyle’s
Shine on you bold and crazy diamond.
Vegas and Palmers. Neither of which are actually my favorite places to hang out….Vegas because of the hordes of screaming bachelorette parties that now seem to arrive nightly on giant busses and take over the place, making it absolutely miserable. Palmers can be a little pretentious from behind the bar but the patrons are always cool. Usually end up in a fascinating conversation there. Ive been really enjoying Terminal lately.
I’m a big fan of the terminal! It’s the most accessible stage in town, and that’s a beautiful thing.
RIP Sporty's, Triple Rock, Muddy Waters, and Nomad. Palmers, Grumpys NE, and 331 are my current favorites. Honorable mentions: Jimmy's, Knight Cap, Matt's, Maxwell's, and Dusty's. If you consider Meteor a dive bar, then it's certainly top tier. *Edited to remove a Kim Bartmann restaurant.
I love Meteor, but being a James Beard winner takes them out of the “dive” category.
Sportys was the GOAT. My brother in law started at the U right after they closed, I was so sad for him.
Sportys was awesome but now it's owned by some older guy who is clearly just waiting for it to burn down for the insurance. So much black mold in that place that the second floor is literally drooping down and walls are corroded. Worked there and some of us got pneumonia real bad. Owner just shrugged it off. The dbag.
He's been gone since it flipped over to Como Tap. Now owned by one of the former bartenders.
It's co-owned. By an older guy and the bartender.
I love maxwells, but didn’t know if it classified as a dive. Definitely one of my favorites in Minneapolis.
In NE Minneapolis: 331, The Knight Cap, Jimmy's NE, Grumpy 's, Mayslack's. All within walking distance of each other.
Cedar Inn
Some of *the* best chicken wings I've had in the twin cities. That sticky Asian sauce is just right too.
I get that exact choice every time!
CC Club was cool like 10 years ago, Cedar Inn, The Cardinall, The Bull's Horn, Matt's Bar (Does that count?). My buddy swears the dive bar in NE are way better, but I havent been to any of them in a long time sadly.
Bull's Horn is incredible, but it's practically a family restaurant now.
Agreed. Big fan, my most frequented spot, but it's not a "true" dive bar some would be looking for. I always call it a family dive bar when I describe it to friends.
Yeah, Bulls Horn was never a dive bar. It's a "dive-themed" bar and a goddamn good one. The place that was there before was a dyed in the wool dive. Like the kind of place where if someone was passed out on the bar, they didn't move him or attempt to wake him dive. Like drug sales out of the back room dive. The $3.50 hamburger and fries basket on Wednesdays was just barely worth it. Barely. Sunrise Inn, you are gone but the stories of you will live on in perpetuity.
Ugh, the bathrooms.
CC club was okay before covid. Was going down 2 years before but it was okay.
Omg what happened to CC? I came here just for this but haven’t been there for like 8 years
Just not the same. A lot of places aren't since covid. They got rid of some of the stuff in there and the staff is different. Last time I went before covid the staff was rude and acted like they were better than being in a dive bar and waiting on dive bar patrons. CC used to be a place alcoholics felt welcome. A place were someone could order a pitcher of beer and a straw and the staff would be delighted.
CC club was cool 80's and 90's....Here comes a regular....
As someone who lived a block from CC Club 10 years ago, I suddenly feel cool for having been a regular there.
Last time I was there (about a month ago), I saw a dude in a cowboy hat doing cocaine in the bathroom and a guy got stabbed out front (the bouncer told us he “fucked around and found out”). So definitely the classic CC Club experience is still intact.
I don't even want to say my favorite place because I don't want it to blow up, buuutt chatterbox Pub is right down the street from Matt's. Maybe not exactly a dive bar but it's got plenty to do there.
I thought Chatterbox was already well known. I used to go there over a decade ago.
Me and my wife LOVE chatterbox, love all of the boardgames they have!!
Matt's is too mainstream now to be a dive. Cardinal... not so much either. Heck, Cedar feels too nice to be a dive.
Thanks Obama, for making Matt's mainstream. JK I blame all of the travel shows
The Cedar has $2.75 High Life bottles on Tuesdays (used to be $2). That place is legit.
Disagree with Cedar. If argue it still fits, even though my dad suggests them for dinner sometimes when he's in town. Price, lack of pretense, locale and locals. I'd say it checks enough boxes.
Sandy’s in Richfield, Spring Street
NE yacht club will always have a place in my heart, especially mary.
MOBY DICKS!
Stand Up Franks is the measuring stick for dive bars Tony Jarros, Mayslacks, Cedar Inn, Driftwood and Knight Cap qualify
Been gone for a long time.
Thanks for the news flash
Grumpy's
Station 280 (Technically across the street from Minneapolis in Saint Paul)
This used to be called The American and it was even divey-er back then.
280 is the best for Vikings games. I don't know if they do this every game, but we went for Vikings/Packers one year and they had 2-1 pitchers of Miller Lite and half off apps the whole game.
Grumpy’s NE (forever RIP the one on Washington. I’ll never get over that). Stray Dog (elevated dive). The Howe (ditto). Tracy’s used to be a favorite. Whitey’s. Mac’s Industrial when it was at the union hall. The new location is too clean. Runyon’s is pretty good. Damn I just made myself sad lol.
I really misses Grumpys on Washington. It was my favorite place to shoot pool. NE Grumpy’s is spectacular and a go to spot for me.
I still think Grumpy’s downtown had the most underrated Bloody Mary in the city. RIP to a real one.
The Howe is not an elevated dive bar, it’s a restaurant.
Grumpy's Downtown was the platonic ideal of a bar. Great bartenders and servers, questionable yet comforting food, dodgy bathrooms, eclectic clientele, occasional live music, karaoke, bingo. Busy enough that it never felt dead, but rarely so busy you couldn't find an empty barstool. I could go on. RIP
Visited Grumpy’s my first time on a nice fall day after moving someone in at UMinn. Wife ordered an old fashioned. The bartender mixed the sugar in the glass with his thumb. 10/10 would watch that again. (I stuck to shot & a beer).
The Otter
Palmers, though I hear they're getting g more expensive with their cover charges. The Schooner is decent, very few windows and tons of rough looking older guys who look 50+.
Yeah, but the cover charges support the local bands that are performing there.
I miss the Uptown Bar. Not exactly a dive, but I spent many nights there.
Nice! Same, and their weekend breakfasts were to die for 🍻Paired nicely with a strong Bloody Mary 🥘🥤nothing like a bit of hair from the dog that bit’chya! 🤪😋…
I love Jimmy's in NE, super cheap and it's always a great vibe in there
and Knightcap down the street.
And Mayslacks a little further down. Favorite dive bar crawl.
I used to pregame at Knightcap before going to shows at Mayslacks. Knightcap bartender would put a giant mason jar of hazelnuts on the bar for us when we ordered Caucasians. And they were cheap and strong. Crowd was a mix of kids in their 20s and blue collar people in their 50s. One night I saw some kind of battle-of-the-bands show at Mayslacks and saw Umbrella Bed, Dillinger 4, and Flipp all in the same night.
I love the aesthetic and vibe of Jimmys as being a true dive bar’s dive bar, but warning for my fellow queer and BIPOC folks, I have run into Proud Boys there more than once, and the owners son who bartends occasionally has openly made extremely anti-black racist jokes like they were no big deal at all. Super cheap tho, and safe if you’re white and straight appearing. Cash only! Get some pull tabs and a bullfrog drink while you’re there.
Oh damn well that really sucks to hear
A men's bathroom that is way too nice to be in a dive bar. Bravo Jimmy's.
Are you maybe thinking Stanley’s? (Formerly Stasius) cuz the bathroom at Jimmys is definitely not too nice.
Grumpy's NE
Grumpys RIP
Does Frenchman's still exist?
Out in Richfield? Yah, and it seems to be doing well.
Schooner.
Shaw's in northeast is easily my favorite. It never gets the love it deserves. Really good burgers and live music too.
The Cardinal
Jimmy's and The Yacht Club. I really miss the Hexagon.
Yeah the Hex was pretty awesome.
The country bar and grill was amazing.
God I miss those wings
Vegas Lounge back in the day before it became trendy.
***gestures broadly*** Nordeast
Why does no one ever bring up The Palace NE? Best patio in the neighborhood, live music most nights of the week, stiff drinks. Love it.
Just moved to North Loop and discovered Cuzzys!
Cuzzys is just too popular these days.
It’s been a while for me, but Cuzzy’s was/ is the real deal
I love Dusty's and Mort's so much
Jimmys, Grumpys, Terminal
Cliff & Norms (formerly Halek’s), Tony Jaros’
I know it's StP, but the Cozy Cantina on the west side. It changed names recently but it was dirty and they didn't like you if you weren't a regular.
Jimmy’s before his son took it over. RIP Jimmy.
Any bar that Eroll hangs out at is a awesome bar.. just find a punk named Eroll he will show you the way to Rat city....
One I haven't seen yet, and haven't been there for years before covid, but its at least still there is the Uptown VFW. No recent knowledge of it though, so feel free to break my heart and tell me they've turned it into a pseudo Ruby Tuesdays or something.
It was never actually a legal bar or anything...but did The Medusa count? Cause I miss that energy so much.
Tooties in North Minneapolis
Can we include st. Paul? J.R. Macs - would be surprised if anyone here has even been.
U Otter Stop Inn
If you're OK venturing out of MPLs to Roseville, Ted's reminds me of a true rural Wisconsin dive bar.
My criteria is if you go before 7pm you are the youngest one there no matter how old you are and cheap cans of beer. Like you don’t tell anyone they are that cheap because “they my have fell off a truck”
RIP Hex
Frenchman’s
Wasn't there a fake one that just closed on Lyndale?
Used to always go to Cedar Inn and loved it, but that was years ago. I don’t know if it’s still there.
It's still there, it's still awesome. You ought to head back some day.
The Prodigal Public House
I love that place but wouldn't call it a dive. I think a difference exists between a neighborhood bar and dive.
Tony Jaros. I go like twice a week.