After Dark

Place to Hail a Cab
House Band
Improved Rock Club
Karaoke
Place to Go When You Don’t Know Where to Go
Dive Bar
Music Hangout
Nonalcoholic Late-Night Hang
Place to Pick Up a Sugar Daddy/Sugar Mama
Neighborhood for a Pub Crawl
Morning-After Grub
First-Date Destination
Patio
Art Party
Late-Night Happy Hour

Place to Hail a Cab
It’s Saturday night in Minneapolis, you’re all partied out and ready to go home—or ready to move on to the next spot. Problem is, this is Minneapolis, not New York. So where do you find a cab? The ultimate weekend hot spot for finding a taxi is at the corner of 9th Street and Hennepin, where there’s a constant stream of foot traffic from Chambers, Solera, Palomino, and the Saloon. [top]

House Band
Every Monday night, jazz collapses on itself at Jazz Implosion in the Turf Club’s Clown Lounge. For the past few years, local trio Fat Kid Wednesdays has made this basement venue its home base. Saxophonist Michael Lewis, bassist Adam Linz, and drummer JT Bates have built a loyal following and are increasingly sharing their stage time with other local and national groups. 1601 University Ave., St. Paul, 651-647-0486 [top]

Improved Rock Club
Curiously, right around the time First Avenue announced that Prince was going to play the third show of his Minneapolis day of music this summer, the club announced it had redone its air-conditioning system. Also this summer, the venue’s acoustics improved dramatically, poising it for a renaissance as the club for up-and-coming Minneapolis music. 701 1st Ave. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775 [top]

Karaoke
Whether you’re a voyeur or an exhibitionist, if the idea of strangers singing in front of other strangers is your bag, you simply must make an appearance at U Otter Stop Inn. This is where serious karaoke aficionados gather. The tiny podium in the corner attracts everyone’s eyes and ears, so pick a song, take a deep breath, and go for it. 617 Central Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-331-4169 [top]

Place to Go When You Don’t Know Where to Go
There’s always something to do at Bryant–Lake Bowl. Between the bowling, music, theater, eating, and drinking, you’re bound to hang around longer than you intended, and chances are you’ll run into somebody you know. 810 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-825-3737 [top]

Dive Bar
The tiny, quintessential dive bar in Northeast Minneapolis that is the Vegas Lounge has won our hearts for its stubborn refusal to update its décor. The gruff but charming bar staff makes it easy to see why the regulars here haven’t left their stools in years. 965 Central Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-378-1873 [top]

Music Hangout
The Turf Club straddles the line between happening rock club and casual hangout spot. Its unpredictable lineup moves from hip-hop to indie rock to Americana faster than you can say “Riot Act Reading Series.” Booths lining the dividing wall upstairs and filling the Clown Lounge downstairs ensure that whether it’s a quiet night in the club or a packed crowd, you can rest those weary gams comfortably. 1601 University Ave., St. Paul, 651-647-0486 [top]

Nonalcoholic Late-Night Hang
Caffetto cranks the best tunes through its PA, has rotating art shows, comfy seating, free wi-fi, and tasty coffee and snacks. No wonder its urban clientele is so loyal. 708 W. 22nd St., Mpls., 612-872-0911 [top]

Place to Pick Up a Sugar Daddy/Sugar Mama
The silver foxes are out and on the prowl at Chambers Rooftop Lounge. The mix of the classy, upscale bar crowd and young professionals makes it the best place to pick up a lady twenty years your junior or a man twenty years your senior. 901 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-767-6900 [top]

Neighborhood for a Pub Crawl
When it comes to bar-hopping, our neighborhood pick is Northeast Minneapolis. Start your crawl with a margarita and salsa dancing at Conga Latin Bistro, head down to Bulldog NE for good eats and a beer, then make your way to The Times and Jitters for killer martinis and live jazz. If you’re still going strong, enter Nye’s Polonaise Room for sing-alongs and polka. Other stops: U Otter Stop Inn for karaoke, Keegan’s Irish Pub for a true “pub” experience, and Terminal Bar or Whitey’s saloon to chat with neighborhood regulars. [top]

Morning-After Grub
Some mornings are painful. Nurse yourself back to health with some home-cooked grub from Hell’s Kitchen. The downtown eatery has been serving up its award-winning breakfast fare since 2001. We love the Lemon-Ricotta Hotcakes, the Classic All-American Breakfast (eggs, potatoes, toast, and your choice of bacon, sausage, or ham), and the colossal cups of life-sustaining coffee. 89 S. 10th St., Mpls., 612-332-4700 [top]

First-Date Destination
First dates are undeniably awkward, so choosing the right locale can make all the difference. Couples can’t go wrong with The Sample Room, a charming Northeast Minneapolis haunt located on the banks of the Mississippi. With an energetic atmosphere, a bevy of sample plates, wine flights, and a long list of ’tinis and ’tails, you and your date will surely find something to keep the conversation going (and fulfill your appetites).  2124 NE Marshall St.,612-789-0333 [top]

Patio
Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge offers a little slice of paradise in the middle of the city. This Northeast bar has become famous for its sprawling patio, complete with tiki torches, colorful lamps, large straw umbrellas, and rum concoctions. The place is filled with hipsters and yuppies alike during the summer, so get there early to stake out your spot. 2519 NE Marshall St., Mpls., 612-788-9069 [top]

Art Party
When else are you going to sip a Targetini, grub on Wolfgang Puck’s cuisine, hear live music—oh, and bask in the beauty of a priceless Picasso or captivating Kahlo? Walker After Hours had us hooked even before the tres chic new building. [top]

Late-Night Happy Hour
The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant offers the perfect combo of cutting-edge jazz and haute cuisine. Late Night at the Dakota, the club’s Friday and Saturday happy hour, continues this tradition. Starting at 11:30 p.m., the stage is filled with local bands playing for a $5 cover, and edibles range from the restaurant’s revered French fries and sauce ($3.50) to a half-pound shrimp cocktail ($4). Simply unbeatable. 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-332-1010 [top]