Bottoms up: Minneapolis' top 5 beer bars, ranked

Bottoms up: Minneapolis' top 5 beer bars, rankedRed Cow Uptown. | Photo: Ian M./Yelp
Hoodline
Published on December 28, 2018

Wondering where to find the best beer bars near you?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top beer bars in Minneapolis, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fulfill your urges.

1. Penny's Coffee

Photo: susan p./Yelp

Topping the list is Penny's Coffee. Located at 100 S. Washington Ave. in Downtown West, the cafe is the highest rated beer bar in Minneapolis, boasting 4.5 stars out of 110 reviews on Yelp.

Yelper Melody S. said, "I can't say enough good about this place. The patio is amazing and looks very nice. Although the location is a little hidden, I really love it. Their candy and random cafe items are also really unique and the fact that they sell beer makes this place just that [much] more amazing!"

2. Pizza Luce

Photo: neel k./Yelp

Next up is Seward's Pizza Luce, situated at 2200 E. Franklin Ave. With four stars out of 228 reviews on Yelp, the beer bar and Italian spot, serving pizza and more, has proven to be a local favorite.

Cyndee H. wrote, "Came here on a Tuesday and their beers were $4 all night long! They had a good selection of local craft brews, including a s'mores beer that was garnished with marshmallows—that's a first! I had a salmon super greens salad and it was delicious! I would totally come back."

3. New Bohemia

Photo: trish d./Yelp

East Bank-Nicollet Island's New Bohemia, located at 233 E. Hennepin Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the gastropub, beer bar and German spot four stars out of 181 reviews.

Yelper Jamie L. said, "We really enjoyed our experience at this place! What a huge pretzel, it was delicious. So many beers to choose from. We love the atmosphere and the service was excellent."

4. Red Cow Uptown

Photo: stan t./Yelp

Red Cow Uptown, a beer bar and traditional American spot that offers burgers and more in East Isles, is another go-to, with four stars out of 128 Yelp reviews. Head over to 2626 Hennepin Ave. to see for yourself.

Heather W. wrote, "Solid burger place. I got the 60/40 burger, which has 40 percent ground bacon in the patty. It gave the burger a nice texture and flavor. The beer mustard that came on it was so good. They also have a good beer list."

5. First Draft Taproom & Kitchen

Photo: dan J./Yelp

Finally, there's First Draft Taproom & Kitchen, a North Loop favorite with 4.5 stars out of 44 reviews. Stop by 324 N. Sixth Ave. to hit up the beer bar, which offers tapas and more, next time you're in the mood.

Ellen S., who reviewed it on Dec. 5, wrote, "Staff was fantastic, beer was great, food was delicious! It was really fun sampling all the different beers."