From dive bar institutions pouring shots and distributing pull-tabs to nationally recognized natural wine bars serving funk by the glass, these are the tried-and-true bars of the Twin Cities.
The Twin Cities have been on the national radar as a culinary hot spot for years, but local beverage programs are also starting to gain recognition lately, most notably from the James Beard Foundation. Longstanding taverns that survived speakeasy status during Prohibition and a tradition of 3.2 bars established when liquor patrol limits were instated (then abolished in 1974) serve as the foundation that has given rise to now-classic queer bars and swanky cocktail spots serving avant-garde drinks.
Each bar included on this guide is at least a year old as of 2025, and their consistency and style contribute to the fabric of our local bar scene. As always, bars are listed geographically…