Best Lounge Bars In Minnesota

While a classic setting for American pop culture, a lounge is still an essential piece of modern nightlife. At one time or another, everyone needs a place to kick back and let the stress fade away into dim lighting and comfortable seating. After a long day at work, or before a white-knuckle dinner with the in-laws, lounges are a safe haven for anyone in need of a well-crafted cocktail. Here are the best lounges Minnesota has to offer.

Marvel Bar
50 2nd Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-2939
www.facebook.com/MarvelBar

One of the more recent additions to Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood, the Bachelor Farmer has been one of Minneapolis' most talked-about new restaurants. Downstairs from the restaurant, however, Marvel Bar has gained its own notoriety for the unique, expertly made cocktails and the colorful, eclectic lounge in which to enjoy them. With seasonal and house-made ingredients, and a little extra TLC from the bartenders, the drinks are a one-of-a-kind experience. But first you have to find the obscure purple door to get inside.

Bradstreet Crafthouse
Graves 601 Hotel
6011st Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 312-1821
www.bradstreetcraftshouse.com

At the base of the impressive Graves Hotel lies one of the earliest members of Minneapolis' craft cocktail craze and one of the city's coolest lounges to boot. Bradstreet Crafthouse is a state-of-the-art time capsule in which to enjoy Gatsby-esque elegance while sipping on a Manhattan. Whatever your drink of choice, the unflappable mixologists guarantee to make it just right. Just sit back and let yourself be transported to simpler times.

Heartland Restaurant
289 E. 5th St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 699-3536
www.heartlandrestaurant.com

It seems we can't go two minutes without hearing something about how cool Saint Paul's Lowertown neighborhood is. Well, if you still need convincing, the lounge at Heartland should do the trick. The loft-style lounge is dimly lit and sexy, spacious and comfortable for a group of friends out celebrating, but still cozy enough to enjoy a romantic nightcap with a loved one. And be sure to arrive hungry. The menu, comprised entirely of ingredients sourced from Minnesota and Wisconsin farms, is one of the very best in town.

Blackwater Lounge
231 E. Superior St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 740-0436
www.blackwaterlounge.com

Like Winterfell in the "Game of Thrones" television series, Duluth is the last metropolitan outpost before heading into the wilds of the north. Blackwater Lounge, located in Duluth's Old Downtown, offers warm hospitality and a creative menu with items like gouda fondue and fried lobster. The city hosts dozens of events and festivals during the summer and this is the place you want to find yourself for late-night drinks and live jazz. If you're ever heading further north to the Iron Range or the Boundary Waters, stop by the Blackwater Lounge for one last cocktail before heading into the wilderness.

Honey