The Best of Minneapolis Bars and Pubs in 2009

Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar
1400 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN (612) 824-8862
Minneapolis is about as far from the coast as one can be, but that doesn't mean patrons have to suffer from a lack of delicious seafood. When you sit on the roof looking to the Minneapolis skyline, sucking down oysters and drinking beer at happy hour, you'll feel like you're dining on the coast. The food and drink specials are just as enjoyable during the frigid Minnesota winters as well, including their standard 2-for-1 specials and other non-seafood related appetizers like the jalapeno cornbread. Stella's may be best for larger groups and co-workers looking for a good happy hour locale, as during these winter nights and weekends the crowds tend to reach cramped levels. If you plan on visiting, don't be shy to fork over the extra cash for the rooftop patio seating and take in the best of what Uptown dining and drinking has to offer.
www.stellasfishcafe.com

Ike's Food & Cocktails
50 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN (612) 746-4537
If you're is looking for the whole dinner and drink experience in downtown Minneapolis, Ike's is one of the more popular choices, especially for groups of co-workers looking for great specials at happy hour. For being located in downtown, Ike's keeps the atmosphere low-key and the bar from getting too cramped with club-goers. As far as the food itself goes, Ike's offers one of the largest specialty menus in the city. Just for starters, the menu boasts a list of ten specialty burgers, not to mention deep-fried lobster if you're looking for something to tell your friends later. And since everyone knows that the decor of a bar is one of the most important aspects, it's hard to beat the old-style, nostalgic aura at Ike's.

Keegan's Pub
16 University Ave Ne, Minneapolis, MN (612) 252-0880
Most patrons of Keegan's will say that it is so much like an authentic Irish pub that it appears to have been disassembled in Ireland and rebuilt right in downtown Minneapolis. After coming off a 'Best Beer of 2008' award, Keegan's Pub still offers the same great selection at the same fair prices. Like the other bars and pubs in Minneapolis, Keegan's also takes great pride in its attentiveness to decor and atmosphere. As stated before, the pub has an authentic Irish feel, all the way up to its regularly scheduled Irish live music. Aside from being known for its great beer, Keegan's is also known for its wonderful, personable service. The food is a bit more scant than other bars, but does offer breakfast at midnight for those a little more inebriated looking for something to fill the stomach, as well as standard Irish pub fare like 'bangers and mash'.
www.keeganspub.com

Herkimer Pub & Brewery
2922 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN (612) 821-0101
Where other bars will offer specialty foods, the Herkimer also serves specialty, homemade beers alongside the regulars, and with 2-for-1 specials at happy hour it may be hard to only try one. While the beer alone is reason enough to check out this Uptown bar, the appetizers and dinner specials are worth checking out as well. From their homemade macaroni-n-cheese with hot dog to the delicious Puerco sandwich, there's enough of a selection here to match the great beers for washing it all down with. Like most bars in Minneapolis, the Herkimer has outside seating that always appears available. You may want to stay indoors, however, to play the popular 'cornhole' game. While the Herkimer appears to be one of the better bars in Minneapolis, Vikings fans may have a few more tiffs with the bar, as during football season it is a safe haven for Green Bay fans throughout the metro area.
www.theherkimer.com

Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN (612) 338-6424
The Nomad World Pub is a unique sporting pub filled with an enormous beer selection of drinks from around the world. If you're looking for a place that plays sporting events outside of the normal football/basketball/baseball fare, then you should get in line to see games from outside the US, including the upcoming World Cup. Knowing how Minnesotans like to keep active during the short time we have to be outdoors, the Nomad has a great outdoor area for bocce ball and even allows dog-walkers (AND their dogs!) inside for a quick pick-me-up on special nights. Lastly, the Nomad also features entertaining, eclectic live music for free, or a small cover charge on the weekends. If all this isn't enough to get you over to the Nomad, then perhaps you'd like to know that it's one of the few bars in the metro area that will validate your parking!
www.nomadpub.com

...and for the more seasoned pub-crawler, you may want to check out:

Best Martini Lounge:
Manhattans Restaurant and Bar
800 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN (612) 339-3600
Alongside its namesake drink, Manhattans also offers around 25 martini concoctions to sample inside this very classy, upscale restaurant.
www.manhattansmpls.com

Best Hookah Bar:
Elixir Lounge
332 S 1st St, Minneapolis, MN (612) 746-4004
The Elixir Lounge gives hookah lovers a place to surround themselves in aromas and music once thought lost to the Minneapolis bar scene.
www.elixirmpls.com

Best Tequila Bar:
Barrios
925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN (612) 333-9953
Barrios offers a wide selection of tequilas outside of the standard nightclub fare to go with its delicious, authentic Mexican dishes.
www.barriostequila.com

Best Drag Shows:
The Gay Nineties
408 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN (612) 333-7755
While this popular, and somewhat famous, night club has lost some of its 'gay' flair over the past decade due to flocks of bachelorette parties and other gawkers, it's still the best place for drag shows and revues in the entire Midwest.
www.gay90s.com