50 Best Cocktail Bars near Mendota

“J-Train Jazz was performing. They are out of this world spectacular!!

The food was not bad, only different from what I am used to eating.

What i had was well prepared, hot and with how busy they were my waitress did a pretty good job.“

“Stopped in for a late lunch on the patio. Was interested in a bitters & soda and the server recommended mixing the rhubarb and cardamom, which was delicious and refreshing. Followed that with the Chix Correa sandwich and a side salad. Wow! Really creative flavors and well-executed. Could tell everything was made from scratch and with high quality ingredients and care. Also the decor was fun and hip, the music top-notch, and the staff kind. I look forward to coming back soon!“

“This place is 10/10 and the people are 20/10! I was there last night to celebrate my husband’s birthday and they went above and beyond with helping me pull off the surprise. When some of the balloons I had floated off, they got a ladder to get them for me. I brought a cake with me, and they provided plates and cutlery for us which I did not expect!! Everyone was absolutely incredible and I’m so grateful for all they did. THANK YOU.The drinks are amazing and the atmosphere is beautiful. It’s a wonderful place for a date night, hang out with friends or a place to celebrate your birthday. I highly recommend!“

“What a great setting for the first meeting of our food review group. Attentive service, great cocktails, and decent food, all in a beautiful lounge-y intimate setting. Staff could not be more perfect.“

“Fun vibes, great staff and wonderful drinks!“

“Great menu for GF, Vegan, and Vegetarian as well as for meat eaters. Fresh and local ingredients. Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Friendly staff. Parking lot and located off a bus line in a walkable and bike friendly neighborhood. If you liked the food truck, then you will love this.“

“Amazing cocktails and food!“

“Steady Pour is great for any event! They have such a wide verity! Thier bartending team is wonderful. I also love to just purchase thier mocktails to take home and make out own.“

“Great service and food!!!!“

“Stopped in thinking it was a little Mexican joint, loved the vibe of the place, and staff were great. The decor and music instantly transported me back to one of my favourite bars in the world, over in Glasgow (Scotland) IYKYK.
Was disappointed when we saw the menu and found I had got it wrong and it wasn’t Mexican - that was until we ordered and got to try our food - absolutely phenomenal ??
Amazing American-Asian fusion snacks and plates, and the cocktails were BOMB.

Couldn’t speak more highly of the people working here, who were super nice, really attentive, and made us feel incredibly welcome.

Music choices were also fantastic, contemporary alternative pop/rock/punk with some alt-classics thrown in.

This would be a cool place to go just for the vibes, music and cocktails, but the food and the staff here make this one of my new favourite places here in the Twin Cities.

11/10, would Little Tijuana again ??“

“Bar+Cart offers a top-notch dining experience with a vibe that is unmatched in MSP, excellent food, and amazing cocktails. The attentive staff and warm hospitality make it perfect for any occasion. Highly recommended!“

“-Vinai MN- My friend and I wanted to try Chef Yia's restaurant due to being homesick and wanting hmong food. We were met with such great service and sat where we could see the work area. Chef Yia was so kind and started us off with a complimentary appetizer, rice Curry balls. We ordered and the food came so fast. As soon as I took a bite, my eyes started to get teary because it tasted like food from home. I started fanning myself to not cry which Chef Yia saw and asked if the food was too spicy. We then started to explain that we were not from MN and were feeling a bit homesick and how the food reminded us of home. Chef Yia then said, here let's do this. He returned with a pot of beef soup that consisted of mushrooms, bamboo shoots, beef and green onion and white rice and shared that this dish was one of those dishes that we would eat at gathering and events. We we so shocked and so at loss with his kindness and compassion. We both took a bite and immediately lighted up. It tasted like my mom's cooking 💓. As we were nearing the end of our meal, Chef Yia told us not to stuff ourselves too full and surprised us with a complimentary dessert which further awed us. We were so lost at words for Chef Yia's kindness, generosity and comfort. We chose the Lava Cake and it was soooo good! I normally don't like sweets but we devoured this 😋. 1000/10 would recommend.“

“Always delicious! A real treat.“

“I had the best experience here!!
Such a great cocktail room with the most delicious food I've had in ages
The menu is shared with their new restaurant
Laginappe(next door) and is New Orleans Creole style food and let me tell you it was fantastic
Having traveled to NOLA in the past I can attest that this is the best style closest to authentic that I know of in the cities - sorry Mr Paul's!!
The redfish is sooo delicious and I'm not usually a "greens"fan but those southern greens alongside the fish were a match made in heaven
The charbroiled oysters were good-just make sure u squeeze the lemon as it makes them taste better
The crispy boudin balls were a hit, that sauce was yum
The cast iron jalapeño cornbread was out of this world!!!
The apple bread pudding was soo good!! I need that recipe
Now the cocktails were all delicious- the Bee Sting, Hurricane, Chicken Hawk were perfection
Service was fabulous- and this place is amazing for their price point, I'll definitely be back!!
Parking - available in the small lot next to the building
*love that this is a community based operation and reopened after the MPLS riots- I hope they stick around“

“We hosted a small work dinner of 8 people and our group had such a good experience we decided do to a larger event at All Saints. We had a group of 20, the team at All Saints was excellent work with in planning this dinner. Again, our group had an excellent time. The food, drinks and service were incredible. We will be back!“

“having my clubACB getMC patch finally the recognition we deserve“

“Absolutely loved this place! Came here yesterday; and it has a really cool vibe. The bar is in the back of a restaurant and the overall vibe is very chill and upscale. Their alcohol list is insane! There’s over 100s of options and choices to choose from. I ordered a whiskey sour with parm fries and my experience was absolutely amazing. I would absolutely return! Also, the bartender working was absolutely amazing!! The drinks he made were delicious.“

“The Force is Strong with This One.

In a time of culinary rebellion, deep in the galaxy of Northeast Minneapolis, a hidden cantina has risen — Stargazer. Brought to life by the rebel minds of Travail and Jedi mixologist Robb Jones, this cocktail outpost channels the perfect blend of sci-fi style and stellar drinks.

No stormtroopers here — just barstools, glowing blue light, a starlit ceiling, and a menu Darth Vader himself would approve. The QR code drink list transports you through a galaxy of cocktail categories, each more inventive than the last.

Add in a snackable menu to keep your mission fueled, and you've got yourself one unforgettable night. Three drinks and two menu items came to $82 with tip — a small price for a trip through hyperspace. Service and cocktails? Out. Of. This. World.“

“Me and a friend of mine were lucky enough to get tickets to one of their first tastings and cocktail pairings. And it was fantastic. Wonderful spin on classic Lao dishes. You could tell every course and pairing was meticulously crafted, and well balanced. The Steak Costini flight was by far my favorite. So many different flavors with the perfect matching drink. Wonderful job! Can’t wait for the next one! Cathy! You did a wonderful job! Thank you!“

“Wow! Like stepping into an elegant dream. I don't normally like lobster, but I could down those lobster deviled eggs all day! Be sure to order a Fitzgerald and plan on spending some time here just taking it all in.“

“The hotel 🏨 was amazing 👏 from the moment we entered till we left“

“Two thumbs up for this place. Celebrated a family member birthday and what a treat it was. Relaxing, fun atmosphere. Unique opportunity to ride a Ferris wheel while dining. This place is the cherry on top for all your celebrating needs. Nice employees. Update: This place is now closed!“

“So good! Excellent customer service and the food is to die for! 100% recommend this restaurant to all my friends and family!“

“The venue is a little too “homie” for my tastes, but the food was amazing!“

“Just found out about these guys and was blown away!! Amazing selection of spirits and cocktail menu is A+. Bartenders know their ish. Will be back soon!“

“Taco Tuesday is sooooooo good the staff is so friendly- and Peanut has the best tacos in town 10/10“

“Perfect food and vibes. I’ll be back.“

“Great tour by Cade. Beautiful facility and even better whiskey. Can’t wait to go back!“

“Young Joni offers an a superb dining experience in all aspects - cocktails are fantastic, service is excellent and the food is creative and outstanding. We appreciate the variety of offerings on the menu including some very unique combinations in flavors. And...it is always such a special touch when Chef Kim brings the food to the table!“

“Phenomenal Panama Louisiana infusion! So delicious, I absolutely cannot wait to go back and try more menu items!! 🤤🤤🤤“

“We stumbled onto this place by picking it at random from google. We sat at the bar and had great recommendations from the servers / mixologists. We had a very enjoyable meal. Highly recommend finishing the meal with a fresh baked cookie 😀“

“Loved everything about this place! The food was delicious with good serving sizes. We all enjoyed our drinks, friendly and attentive server, and the atmosphere. It's a great place to celebrate a birthday!! 🎉“

“We hosted our son's first birthday party at Minneapolis Cider Company. The entire experience was five stars - from the friendly staff to the food and cold cider. We highly recommend having your event here or simply stopping in for a drink and pickleball.“

“Totally incredible experience. You come in, get a seat from the hostess in a cool and chill ambient bar, and then the bartender asks you about your preferences. You get a bespoke beverage - all of which were absolutely incredible - made to order. It was really exceptional. I definitely recommend!“

“We had an amazing time! The drinks alone were so good. Our server taught us how to eat the food correctly, and the vibes all around were amazing. We didn't eat much but what we tried was delicious. Brought the rest of the food home for dinner. Definitely a 10/10. The restaurant was also very clean and has nice decor as well. Perfect for a date night.“

“Had it delivered and everything was so good. I was ordering for the potstickers but the Orange Chicken was the best we've ever had. Would go back just for the Crispy Korean Chicken wings. Every one of the dipping sauces were great too.“

“We went here 6 years ago and enjoyed the food. Came back in February 2025, right before it was scheduled to close, and the food was pretty bad. Not sure if the quality digressed or our personal standards increased. Either way, sad it’s gone but the food wasn’t anything that will be missed.“

“Love this place. Kitchen is open late. Drinks are tasty. Food is excellent. Staff is so friendly. 😁“

“The meals are Chef Hand Crafted delights. Unique, Distinctive, Beautiful in Execution. Do Yourself a Favor and Enjoy the Alternative.“

“Food is amazing 🔥🔥🔥 the short rib was awesome“

“I visited the Bayshore location in Glendale, Wisconsin for lunch. I used the coupon for $5 off & it was absolutely outstanding. I will be back for sure.“

“Great food. Homemade taste. Locally sourced. Affordable. Friendly, efficient service.“

“I got the Bison Back Ribs served over polenta with a gastrique (that was a new one to me). Surprising to me, the polenta and gastrique stole the spotlight. I also got to try my friend's Ribeye Bolognese. It was hard to say which was better“

“You want a place to see music? You want to hang on the best patio in St. Paul? You want inclusiveness and culture and to meet people of all backgrounds? You want a great, local beer selection and amazing hand crafted cocktails?
Well then you best get yourself to The White Squirrel!
I’ve been going here for good times since they opened, it’s THE neighborhood place to be!“

“Excellent service! Abbi W was our server and she made the dinner so much better! Good food doesn’t matter without good service. We will definitely be back and ask for Abbi!“

“Unbelieveable experience and a must try. Freshest and tastiest food I've ever had.“

“New menu coming in March!“

“We went for drinks and dinner, and it was excellent! Our server did an amazing job remembering orders for 6 of us chaotically throwing food and drink orders at him. The drinks were creative and well-balanced. The food was delicious. The music list was fun without being intrusive. Just overall a really fantastic time - we'll definitely be back!“

“I’m giving 5 stars only because filet mignon and whipped potatoes best I’ve ever had and I’ve been all over nation and world.

GRADES:
Speed of service: D
Onion rings: C
Lemon drop martini: C+
Chocolate cake: B-
Bread: B
Atmosphere: B+
Class of entrance & decor: A
Old fashioned drink: A
Whipped potatoes: A+
Filet Mignon steak: A+

Frustrating it averaged us over 12 minutes every time we ordered a drink.
Waiter friendly but had to waive him down to order dessert.
But the steak & whipped potatoes made up for slow service.
Wine, if you can get it, tastes great with their food!
If want fast service, don’t come here. We decided not to order extra drinks not because of cost or afraid get too buzzed but didn’t want to risk another long wait.
But if time on your hands and like incredible steak & whipped potatoes this is your place!
Love the valet parking included on the bill because eliminates again fumbling for credit card. Parking system to get there & leaving hassle free.
Wish every expensive restaurant had this bill-included-system for valet after dinner!
Once they improve the pace serving drinks and the slow gaps between appetizers & main course & dessert this will be a gem for downtown Minneapolis.

We will be back.“