Reader Mailbag: I Wanna Get My Drink On Downtown

Dear Girl Friday,

OK, what downtown Mpls. bars would you recommend for out-of-town visitors? Staying at Hilton, already got plans for the Local.

Twitter Follower Person

My downtown favorites, with something for everyone:

Brit's (now that's a patio), Barrio (over 100 tequilas) Masa (great cocktails, people-watching on the relaxed patio), McCormick & Schmick's (food happy hour!), Prohibition at The W (classy but not pretentious, beautiful view), Ike's (always friendly, killer Sunday brunch), Mackenzie Pub (no frills and they like it that way), Eli's (great food specials, neighborhood-y atmosphere) Grumpy's (Strongbow and tater tots, yo), Bradstreet at the graves 601 (the ultimate classic mixology experience).

No one in your party could possibly complain.

Dear Girl Friday,

I am old. We are taking a friend of mine out to dinner and dancing Saturday night, where should we go? It should be somewhere hip... whatever that means!

Your Sister

I'll start with the obvious, which is Azia Restaurant/Anemoni Sushi & Oyster Bar/Caterpillar Lounge. It's a one-stop shop for great food and drinks, with the added bonus of music in the lounge starting at 10:00pm. As my sister, you should know this.

There's also the Loring Pasta Bar, with its a mecca of tasty Italian plates, plus salsa music every Saturday night starting at 10:00pm.

If salsa isn't your friend's thing and you want to go someplace without being hit on, have dinner at Origami Sushi then walk across the street to Jetset. Jetset is a sleek, straight-friendly gay bar with pretty martinis, plus my pal Bryan Gerrard DJs there every Saturday.

Comments

[Your Sister]

Thanks Lex!