Skaalvenn Distillery & Cocktail Lounge

This place has been on top of my list to impress guests from out of town for more than 2 years now
1. Fire vibes
2. Great service
3. Small but perfect snacky menu for an intimate little venue like this
4. Overall one of my favorite spots in Twin Cities…

Did I mention, ample parking? Amazing cocktails?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My cousin made reservations for this place and I had never heard of it. By the end of our reservation, I had to put this place as one of my favorite bars in America.
Every single thing is meticulous and frankly, special. The art and decor are immaculate and the drinks are simply amazing.
I am a simpleton when it comes to drinking and in most regards, a white claw will do.

But the effort, the style, and the taste that goes into each cocktail is what defines this place as a great distillery.

The owner was there as well and if you’ve never met him, he’s an excellent human, by all accounts. A veteran owned bar, he has made a really lovely place to visit!

Any time I ever travel back to Minnesota, I will ensure I have a stop at Skaalvenn because it was magical!

Tip: Please make a reservation first, as to guarantee a great experience, though.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

All of my experiences at Skaalven have been a 10/10. The vibe and art is so unique, with a new detail to notice every time you’re there. The drinks are just as unique and the knowledgeable staff make you feel comfortable to explore. Trygve had great suggestions and I overall felt so relaxed and welcomed in this space🌈❤️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What an eclectic place with exceptional customer service and drinks (they have a very limited menu if you are trying to eat FYI)! I tried their Shichimi Syndrome drink (actually spicy which is rare to find in Minnesota due to the spices carried back from Japan. So incredible! But it's temporary so get there ASAP!) We stumbled upon this place as we were waiting to eat dinner in Maple Grove. I didn't know what to expect walking through what seemed like an old school business park, and then ended up at this unique place. Try it for a cocktail! What a unique and wonderful experience!

Edited October 2025: we've been to this place 4 to 5 times and I continue to love it more each time! Everything is such a wonderful experience!!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Top notch cocktails and ambiance. Their Taste of Japan menu was super creative and showcased both their liquors and their creativity.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

An office park speakeasy? Don’t mind if I do! Awesome music, great service, very interesting and flavorful drinks (I recommend the Fjord Horse - excellent ginger beer - and the Old Fashioned - almost a cross with a whiskey sour, and perfect snacks (olives, Japanese mix). Glassware was a nice touch too. Looking forward to visiting again and trying the drinks our party didn’t have!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If you want a unique experience, including wandering the building to get there, this place is a rare gem. It resides in an industrial looking building, there are signs on getting there. You won't get lost (hopefully). Their drinks are unique and something you won't find anywhere else. They also have classics, in case it gets too overwhelming and the staff are always fun and accommodating. One of a kind experience here in the cities.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went to go check out the cocktail room, because my friend recommended this place for good mocktail options. I was super happy with how many NA/mocktail options were available, especially at a reasonable price!! Staff was fun, and the atmosphere was great.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Everything about this place was awesome, we really really enjoyed our time here. Speakeasy vibe, awesome drinks, snacks. Wasn’t -in your face- social like some other places are which we really enjoyed, perfect date/hangout spot. All in all we will certainly be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hidden gem! Incredible drinks, atmosphere and
crew.

We had a small group visit this bar on a whim to celebrate a birthday, and boy are we glad we did! Chase, our server, was absolutely fabulous. He provided great personable conversation while also being professional and informing us of the cocktail flavors and the best ways to enjoy them. He also made sure he was taking care of those of us who had any dietary restrictions. The atmosphere was also really great, the decor and the music created a very enjoyable and fun atmosphere. You can tell this place is run by very genuine and all-around good people. The location is a little odd but absolutely well worth it! I’d highly recommend visiting if you’re looking for a good cocktail and good company. Will absolutely be back soon!

Such a fun and unique place with a speakeasy vibe. You won't find drinks like this anywhere else. The Milk Tyson and Fjord Horse are always a go-to; excited to try the Thai Pod Challenge (middle school nostalgia mmmm). The owners and staff are thoughtful and attentive.

What a great find! This distillery/cocktail bar is hidden within a nondescript office building, but the bar space itself is one of the better lounge interiors we've seen in the cities - everything was well thought out from the lighting, to seating and music. The cocktails are unique with new flavors you probably haven't tried. The staff (and owner if you catch him) are all really friendly with stories to share. We will definitely be back soon.

Outstanding!!! My husband and I love the speakeasy style cocktail lounge and this is probably our new favorite. Although it is an hour drive for us to get to, it is easily worth the drive. Great atmosphere, service and cocktails. We didn't have any food, so I cannot comment on that. All four of our party were very pleased with the experience. We had privacy and it was not loud like so many other bars and restaurants. My husband continues to talk about the Mukiwa drink he had. It's probably a good thing we don't live closer because we would probably be weekly visitors to Skaalvenn. Will absolutely be back again.

This place was great. The moment we walked in, we were greeted and seated immediately. I highly recommend making a reservation as it does get busy here and reservations take priority. I had made a reservation for 2. The atmosphere was great with a nice vibe to it. Music was not too overly loud and the crowd was not too loud. The food/snacks were not too bad. We got the return of the Mac hotdog and the Japanese party mix snacks. The hotdog was nice and juicy. The toppings for it was a good addition to boost the flavor. The party mix was a good blend of many different crackers and nuts that were all delicious. For drinks we got the koku, the Thai pod challenge, Japanese highball, and the lychee chuhai. All the signature cocktails were super strong and tasted great though. Our favorite was the chuhai because it was really flavorful without being able to taste the alcohol. Which will make this a creeper for sure. Overall, great staff and vibes and the drinks and food were all pleasant. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back