For your next burger and beer, check out one of these Minnesota dive bars that have stood the test of time.
Dive bars might as well be synonymous with cold Minnesotan winters and the beer our state is so well known for brewing. Conjure an image of King of Clubs, the bar in the opening scene of Fargo—with its dark ambiance, neon signage, leather seats, and pool tables lit with trapezoidal lamps emblazoned with beer logos—and you will have conjured the very essence of The Dive Bar.
You may also have heard of this little-known rivalry between two South Minneapolis bars that claim to have invented one of Minnesota’s most important culinary contributions—the Juicy Lucy. It goes without saying that dive bars are a staple of the Upper Midwest, and the lore of Matt’s Bar and The 5-8 Club is as Minnesotan as, well, Juicy Lucys.
Some of Minnesota’s most iconic dive bars are known not just for their long history, but for their food. That’s why Matt’s and The 5-8 (a former speakeasy) are household names even if you’ve never set foot in either. And it’s why the cheese-stuffed burger is famous, even if you’ve never eaten one.
These timeless dive bars in Minnesota have endured neighborhood changes, economic shifts, relocations, fires, and even Prohibition. So skip the shiny new cocktail bar and patronize these classic dives instead.
1. Bryant Lake Bowl
Imagine a theater inside of a bowling alley inside of a dive bar, and you’ve got Bryant Lake Bowl. While the establishment served as an Uptown bowling alley as far back as the 1930s, it has evolved over time. In 1993, part of the space became a live theater, hosting nightly comedy, music, and performances.
Even if you don’t visit the theater or the lanes, Bryant Lake Bowl is a casual, iconic neighborhood spot for a drink. Sidle up to the bar and settle into a long conversation, or grab a bite to eat. BLB serves a dynamite breakfast menu until 3 p.m., extra plates for dinner after 5 p.m., and elevated bar food and bowling-alley snacks the rest of the time, like nachos, sliders, pretzels, and more.
2. Mayslack’s
This mainstay has been comforting Nordeasters since 1955 (and for nearly 50 years before it became Mayslack’s). Home to the neighborhood’s community of working-class Polish, Czech, and Ukrainian immigrants who worked in Minneapolis’s mills, breweries, and lumberyards in its early days, the tavern has stood loyally at the corner of 15th and 4th throughout the neighborhood’s history.
If there’s a meat-lover in your midst, they may be a fan of Mayslack’s, whose slogan is “Nobody Beats Our Meats.” Beyond the pints and rail drinks you’d expect, Mayslack’s is a restaurant in its own right. Its extensive bar-grub menu features famous garlic roast beef sandwiches alongside all the usual casual American eats.
3. Dusty’s Bar
Dusty’s Bar is a good ol’ Northeast Minneapolis dive. Inside, it looks exactly as you’d imagine. It’s a narrow room with that tight-knit, rustic, wood-paneled feeling, complete with an old phone booth, pull tabs, and a weekly meat raffle. Somehow, they even manage to fit musicians and DJs in here! Outside, there’s casual patio seating perfect for summer nights with friends.
This cozy little dive is known for serving “dagos”—as its quizzical exterior signage will tell you. “What is a dago?” you may ask. Well, it’s a burger made with pork sausage instead of ground beef (or Impossible, for the veg-heads who want to be included). The limited menu (including tuna melts) is part of the fun.
4. CC Club
Anyone who has spent their twentysomethings in Uptown has been to the CC Club. This dive is a quintessential, no-frills neighborhood hangout with an edge, serving as a watering hole for Minneapolis alt-rock alums like Hüsker Dü and The Replacements, and sitting kitty-corner to the iconic Oar Folkjokeopus record store (now Lucy Cat Records).
Its unique layout manages to feel cozy and low-key no matter where you grab a seat, illuminated by lamps and Christmas lights. The CC has everything you need from a dive and nothing more—booze, pool tables, a patio, a jukebox, and atmosphere. Until writing this article, I didn’t even know they served food, but the CC Club also happens to have a generous menu of bar food from hot dogs to pickle fries to carry you into the night.
5. Neumann’s
Neumann’s is one of the oldest bars in Minnesota—though there are a few competitors for the official title of “oldest.” Regardless, Neumann’s has been serving burgers and beers to the people of North St. Paul for nearly 140 years, all the way back to when the area was known as Castle, and that is a very, very long time. It even managed to stay in business during Prohibition, by operating a speakeasy upstairs and doing lawful business on the main floor.
Today, Neumann’s is both a destination and a reliable neighborhood dive bar, serving an array of humble bar eats, including breakfast and bloodies.
6. The Nook
Between Mac-Groveland and Highland Park sits one of Minnesota’s crown jewels of dive bars: The Nook. The Nook never claimed to invent the Juicy Lucy—but many argue they’re the best at it.
The Nook is more than just a burger joint (though it’s that, too), dating back to the 1930s. While the main floor features an exceptional restaurant with several variations on the Juicy Lucy, epic varieties of cheese curds, and a mouthwatering lineup of grilled and fried favorites, the party really happens downstairs. The basement is a true dive bar in the subterranean sense, featuring a vintage bowling alley and a bar plastered floor to ceiling with dollar bills.
7. The Spot
This unassuming West Seventh bar is another one of the oldest dive bars in Minnesota, established in 1885. The Spot has a lived-in, casual saloon vibe—a friendly, welcoming atmosphere that would make anyone want to pull up a chair and stay a while. Entertainment includes darts and pull tabs, and they serve just enough food to remain within the bounds of the law.
8. Gopher Bar
A bastion of downtown St. Paul since the 1930s, the family-owned Gopher Bar is a historic dive with attitude, lively decor, and a quirky food menu that draws newcomers and keeps regulars loyal.
Nosh includes fan-favorite signature coney dogs (some claim they’re the best in the state, or even the region), wildcard eggrolls (Reuben-style or taco-flavored), and high-brow chef specials like pork belly ramen and panko chicken rice bowls. Cash only!
