Best Liquor Stores In The Twin Cities

As most Minnesota natives know, you can't buy liquor in the grocery stores here so we really need to make an effort to go search out our favorite retail locations to purchase our favorite alcoholic beverage. We figure, if we have to make the extra trip, it better be worth our time! Here are the ones that make the extra effort to impress their customers and offer great deals.

Surdyk's

303 East Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-3232
www.surdyks.com

Surdyk's has been a staple of the NE business community since 1934 and is locally known as THE place to get a bottle of wine for any occasion. Surdyk's is particularly proud of their selection of wines from all over the world. They also offer a variety of wine education classes, including Intro to Wine, Component Tasting, The Wines of the United States, The Wines of France, and The Wines of Italy. In short, they KNOW their wine! But why stop there, Surdyk's also features a 200-square-foot walk-in humidor making it the first local alcoholic-beverage store to take cigars seriously. The store carries over 250 different types of cigars. On your way out, stop by the Surdyk's Cheese shop. If a cheese is sold somewhere in the world, you can bet Surdyk's probably sells it!

Solo Vino

517 Selby Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 602-9515
www.solovinowines.com

Solo Vino is an independent wine shop located in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. Their inventory changes with the seasons and to keep up with the fast moving world of wine. Today, their inventory consists of about 95% imports and 5% domestic producers. They will special order any wine you bring in for them to find. The staff is top notch and really knows their stuff. Whether you're looking for a small, growers Champagne or your favorite Cabernet from Napa, go to Solo Vino and you will find it!

Strong Liquor

11048 Cedar Lake Road
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 303-4998
www.strongliquorstore.com

Tucked within a Cedar Lake Road strip mall, Stong Liquor has an extensive selection of beer, wine, and liquor, along with a friendly and helpful staff ready to help you make the right purchase. You feel like family when you stop to purchase items for a big event or simply to grab a bottle of wine on your way home from work. Stop in and see the store, say hey to the gang, watch the big game for a quarter or two, and try a few samples. Wine tasting is a daily occurrence here.

Zipp's

2618 E Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 333-8686
www.zippsliquors.com

Zipps has been around for 50 years and if you've been to a 'kegger' recently, chances are the beer keg came from Zipp's. Their Keg prices and selection are second to none. Students at the U of M have Zipp's on their speed dials. But they are more than just Kegs and Beer, Zipp's is a low-key neighborhood liquor store we like to call a cross between a large retail liquor shop and a small mom & pop shop. They have a great selection of libations that will appeal to everyone who stops in . On top of these selections we have a well trained staff who guide customers to the products that they like and want.

Chicago Lake

825 E. Lake St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 825-4401
www.chicagolakeliquors.com

Take a trip to South Minneapolis to experience this neighborhood liquor store in the heart of the Lake Street business district. They boast about being an 'urban liquor store with a serious attitude' and they're not kidding! Everyone is greeted at the door by first name and the customer service is top-notch. Combine that with their low prices, and the people watching, it's worth the trip. Planning a big party? Chicago Lake Liquors is Minnesota's highest volume spirit and beer retailer. Seriously, they will make sure everyone at your event goes home happy. Have a few taxi's ready!

Trader Joe's

Various Twin Cities Locations
www.traderjoes.com

Trader Joe's is the exclusive retailer of Charles Shaw wine, popularly known as Three Buck Chuck because of its $2.99 price tag. Everyone I know drinks '$3 Buck Chuck' and it's been a staple at every dinner party I've attended since this unique grocery store came to Minnesota several years ago. The fact that you can get an entire bottle of wine for ½ the price of your average bar bought Martini is very appealing and worth the sometimes 'hard to get to' store locations. Along with Charles Shaw, Trader Joe's is known for stocking a very large selection of California and New-World wine. The Beer selection always features hard to find European brands.

Haskell's

Various Twin Cities locations
www.haskells.com

Haskell's has been singled out by many Twin City natives as one of the finest wine shops in Minnesota. As a matter of fact, Esquire Magazine called Haskell's the finest wine shop between New York and California. There are currently eleven Haskell's locations throughout the Twin Cities. Haskell's continues to be in the forefront of the wine scene throughout the world. Their wine selection is quite simply one of the finest in the Twin Cities. The Haskell's nickel sale is famous! Several times a year, the stores hold this annual sale with select bottle of wine available or only 5 cents (with purchase of a regular priced bottle of wine). We've stocked up for an entire summer with this sale! Check the web site for dales of the next big sale.