I’m going to be in Minneapolis seeing Hamilton next week. We have matinee tickets, and will then stay Saturday night. Anyone familiar with the area have suggestions on where to eat and where to go out for the evening? Ideally somewhere with live music, although taking suggestions for any good bars for two couples in their forties who like to pretend that they are still in their thirties. I’ll probably get a hotel near whatever neighborhood we plan on ending up that evening.
Thanks.
Lots of good restaurant choices. What type of food do you like?
Two classic places for music are the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant for jazz and upscale dining, and First Avenue for rock/pop music and drinks. Prince launched his career at First Ave which is much beloved by generations of Minnesota music fans.
There’s also a thriving craft beer scene. Surly Brewing is particularly popular, and their beer hall is a fun and lively scene with casual dining.
Farther afield, the Commodore Bar and Restaurant in Saint Paul is a recently revived 1920s-era Art Deco bar steeped in local color. It was a well-known speakeasy during Prohibition, frequented by Saint Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald and various Chicago gangsters who hid out in Saint Paul when things got too hot in Chicago, under protection of the O’Connor Rule, an informal (well, you might say extra-legal) arrangement between longtime Police commissioner John O’Connor by which the Saint Paul police promised to tolerate the gangsters as long as they refrained from committing any crimes in the city. (Neighboring Minneapolis didn’t fare so well; there are wild tales of gangsters committing crimes in Minneapolis then hightailing it down Larpenteur Avenue to get to Saint Paul and beyond the reach of the Minneapolis police, the cops hot on their trail). Today’s Commodore features a pretty solid upscale menu and fine craft cocktails.