The Saloon
830 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55403
The Saloon Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
830 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN, 55403 - Phone (612) 332-0835
- Website https://www.saloonmn.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Ages Allowed : 21+
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Music : DJ, Music Videos
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
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Jennifer H.
The Saloon has the best dancing in town, IMO. Though it's predominately a gay male kinda place (hence the greased up beefcake dancing nekkid in clear go-go cubes by the entrance), I've never had a problem being one of the few females on the floor. The non-het female clientele tends to be couples, so it's not exactly a great place to pick up chicks. But if you want to get your dance on and not pay exorbitant drink prices, this is the place.
(4)Jane L.
The first time I went was around the time Palin was making an ass of herself and The Saloon broadcasted one of the many episodes of SNL. I have been back since and love the music and ambiance of it all.
(4)Tori M.
All in all, the Saloon is like an old queen. It looks tired and saggy on the outside, the inside needs a little work, but it's still a staple in the community. I have had many a fun time here and will no doubt in the future as well, even though I have mellowed out a lot more than I like to admit. The drinks are nice, the music's a little techno-dancey but it works, and all the party boys are just looking for some fun, which can be quite amusing. This is probably a good place to cut your teeth, especially if you're fresh off the turnip truck, but there are many better places to go for that kind of fun in this town.
(3)Evan G.
Karaoke! Bartenders doing the lift from Dirty Dancing! Cute boys with fauxhawks! FUN!
(4)Chris D.
3 gays, a mexican, a jew and a straight guy walk into The Saloon. They all come out well treated, equal and happily intoxicated. I think that says it all (by the way, I was the straight guy but I wish I was the Native American whom I did not include in the joke).
(5)Ninja S.
I'm to understand that this is where all the gay guys went after the straights started coming en mass to the Gay 90s down the road. This has been a recurring problem, I was also told. Apparently it goes something like this: Gay people make a cool venue. The straight girls who hang out with gay guys hear about it and show up. Those girls then being guys there. ... something happens ... It becomes a frat party. It has happened enough times so that people are pissed about it and don't want it to happen here. Thus I, as a straight guy, have not been inside and have been differed to other venues.
(4)Thomas S.
We had a blast at the Saloon. It started the evening. It ended the evening, er, um morning actually. The neon cowboy motif still puts the giddy in my up. Great drinks. Friendly and cute bartenders. We drank. We cruised. We played some lotto type game. Ahhh...too many Patron shots. We danced and yes, when we got back to the hotel, we passed out. The Saloon was a right of passage in my coming out in the 80s in Minneapolis. How great it was to share it with Rickie. We had so much fun. The music was great. Cover was nominal and we were allowed reentry. Back patio provided a respit from the smoke. All in all, this place is THE place for the mo's in the Minneapple.
(4)Michelle W.
Make no mistake this is definitely a gay bar, unlike the recommendation for a wild night on citysearch.com . I guess it could be a wild night, but if you don't know what you are getting into, then it could be a surprise. If you want to hang with your guy friends, then head to this place for fun karaoke in the back bar or good techno/house dancing in the front. Although don't be surprised if you are one of the few girls in this place.
(3)A W.
The atmosphere is awesome but this place is shady when it comes to bar service. They pour bottom shelve liquor into empty top shelf bottles. How is it that on two different days, different brands of top shelf vodka, and bought at their various bars, they plain vodka tastes like vanilla. Also, the bartender opened a "new" bottle of Gray Goose in front t of me bit turned around to do it, and I didn't hear the bottle safety seal crack. Watch for yourself and see them save the old caps and bottles. They do this to refill.
(3)Danny K.
When I was 21 I always went to the saloons. The drinks are pretty strong there. I always get a Long Island and one is all I need. Everything is good. It's just the music on the dance floor was alright. It's pretty much remixes of popular songs that you never herd of. My friend will always joke you need to be drunk to dance to the music there. I remember The first time I went they played the non remixes version of songs and I got pretty crazy on the dance floor. I don't get why they don't do that anymore. I like the music they play in the bar area. The food is pretty good. It can get pretty packed on the weekends. It's pretty much the roscoes of Minneapolis if you ever been to Boystown in Chicago.
(4)Kade K.
It's a gay bar, and it's not entirely populated by straight girls. And for that, it's a winner.
(4)Adam B.
My most frequented bar during my visit to Minneapolis! The drinks were made well and inexpensive. The music was really good. Brock is a cutie bartender who takes care of his patrons (the others were pretty hot and attentive too, but I mostly had dialogue with Brock). Check out the shower on amateur night and if someone offers to buy you a drink and then their card is declined, don't get duped into paying their bar tab - just sayin'. Their go-go dancer (Latino?) with the short hair is HOT!! Give him a buck - it's not easy staying that fit! So I definitely suggest The Saloon and will definitely go back when I return to Minneapolis!
(5)Jen L.
Strongest drinks in town! The bar service is amazing... everything else, Meh. Lots of bars to choose from, the best bartender I've had there yet is named Danny. He's in the back corner bar with the videos playing. They have a dance floor. Like anywhere, the later it gets the more hoppin' it gets. If it's of interest to you, they do have a "shower" that males get into and strip and dance for money. Depending on who is in there, you may see a ball or two.. maybe even the whole peen. So just be aware. Not a bar you would take your mother to... or is it?
(4)Gilbert A.
Each year, as a new generation of gay boys in the Twin Cities come out of the closet and enter the bar-hopping age, they invariably flock to the Saloon, where they are greeted (or rejected) by a group of habitués laying claim to the place. Eventually, they assume their position in the gay hierarchy for a few years, and when their time is up, the torch is passed to the next generation of out-and-proud homosexuals (and their loud, straight girlfriends). While one also sees an assortment of holdovers from the past (e.g., aging beauties, closeted married guys and starving chicken hawks), they have the look of houseguests that have overstayed their welcome. This is a place where youth rules. The Saloon has tried to diversify its target audience, but with the exception of Tuesday nights (the so-called "Latin Tuesdays"), it has failed in its attempt, as it continues to be the domain of suburban and farm-bred Scandinavian boys from Greater Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, and Wisconsin, as well as the occasional (and overly assimilated) Asian, African-American and Latino admirer, all of whom have a nearly exclusive preference for White meat. Fridays and Saturdays are the most eventful nights, as the music improves noticeably (earlier in the week, one would be subjected to bland 80s pop, goth and singing that barely qualifies as karaoke). If you envision a sleek setting with well-lit bars, inventive cocktails, and hiply-dressed men, look elsewhere--like Chicago, Illinois. This is the Uppermost Midwest, afterwall, so the club still has the dark corners, sports-bar food and cabin-like wooden interiors that were typical of gay bars in the 1970s. Efforts have been made in Minneapolis to replicate the jet-setting trendiness of gay night life found in LA or NYC, but these have all fallen asunder (e.g., Karma on Friday nights, Boom!, Empire, etc.). In the end, the youthful, not-quite-cosmopolitan in-crowd of Twin Cities gays inevitably returns to the Saloon.
(3)Lacey P.
Ok. The most important thing you need to know about the Saloon is that on Sunday nights you can get 2-4-1s, get drunk, and watch a man take a shower. If you have a dollar you can slip it through the slot and he will give you a special treat. Oh yes. Gay man city, with a dancing area, cute young ones in tiny shorts dancing on the bar, and a really nice hanging out room with couches and a fireplace. Why don't I go here all the time? No cover, and they play really good blasts from the past like Paula Abdul. And you get to watch a man take a shower.
(4)Jamie L.
Love this bar. Drinks and prices are great. The staff has always been really sweet. Most of the patrons are great. I love that they have a few different rooms that you can relax, play video games, dance, or chat in. I'm a smoker so it's also nice that they have two smoking lounges because one of them always tends to get really crowded. The only cons are the nasty women's bathroom and sometimes there can be some very rude people there.
(4)Ali W.
I went once on a Saturday at 5ish and it was quiet. I went again this past Sunday and it was packed. I didn't get charged a cover, drinks were good, and the food is just simple stuff that you order from a counter (deep fried food-nothing special). I was a bit worried being a straight female there as I've heard they don't like straights (especially females). But the staff and patrons all seemed very nice. Truthfully I think the reason some straight women complain is because they aren't necessarily the center of attention there like they are at straight clubs! There were several different rooms and entertainment including a leather competition, dance floor, and male dancers (saw 2), which didn't seem to draw too much attention. There was a portable shower and my (gay) friend said there is a shower competition Sundays, but we didn't see it. All in all I think it was a good place.
(4)Todd F.
The best and the only times to go are on Saturday and Sunday (it's a toss-up on inconsistent Thursdays), with the exception of well publicized events, other than that, don't go. It's a good boy bar once the majority of the people have their drinks down and the girls start to leave. Around 12:30 should do it for you. There are 3 main areas and two small outside areas. It's not a very large place, but this makes it exciting when it's packed. It's not clean like some of the straight bars, so don't expect that from any of the gay bars in this area. Maybe the new 90s? Boys tend to stand around to be seen a lot or pretend they are having fun, but you will see a few who actually are. Music is nice in the area video bar on most rotations. The floor area is usually more techno inspired and usually gets better as the night goes on or the drinks go down. Boys remove their shirts here to be seen. It's the thing to do for some. It's nice when it's the right guys. No complaints most times when the cute ones are dancing on the box. The bar is fun when compared to what is actually available in Mpls. Not bad if you want to actually dance and not just be seen. Other bars like Jetset and the Eagle don't really compare. Actually, if you go to either of these bars, the two mentioned plus the 90s, and look closely, you will notice that it's the same people you saw earlier, usually in a different shirt! It's the dump bar for the area, meaning it's where people come as they get bored or the other bars close down. The Eagle competes for the same type crowed in its Underground, but not exactly, because those are usually older guys in general and a different feel. There is really no comparison to St. Paul bars because that is so not a scene yet; therefore, I won't try to make a comparison. People keep trying to make St. Paul work, but it won't. It's good for locals who just want to try something different, though, and get away from the same old crowd.
(3)Chad Y.
Not bad place to check out, good & strong poured drink and with all of the different rooms, you are bound to find one that matches your mood. Crowds are ok and I would suggest going with a large group. If you are from out of town, be sure to go with someone, otherwise you are not going to have a good time at this place (although it seemed that was the case for any gay bar in the city). Fun place to check out and I'm sure you can have a good time there.
(3)Amber E.
Love, love, love this bar. The only downside is the ladies bathroom, which is pretty icky. So I usually pee in the boys room and they don't care. The bartenders know how to mix a proper drink and you can order tater tots once your good and sauced. The video DJ also humors my requests for Pantera and Ozzy in the middle of Lady Gaga and Madonna sets.
(4)Will B.
LOVE!!!! so may different rooms for whatever your looking for, great music no matter where you are and a great place to hang out with some friends. Oh and did I mention cheep food!!!
(5)Aaron E.
The Saloon is a gay bar in Minneapolis that does not take kindly to people jumping on stage. I was with a wedding party that started across the street at the Le Meridien hotel and The Saloon was logistically the first bar to visit. I got about 20 feet inside when the bride jumped onstage in her gown to dance a bit and was subsequently thrown out. That pretty much ended my visit. We did get to see Minneapolis Police slam tackle a drunk in front of The Saloon, which provided a moment of entertainment before we walked to The Union. ...and that is about it.
(2)Annie S.
Wednesday. At 9pm, drink are a DOLLA. At 10pm, 2 DOLLA. At 11pm, 3 DOLLA.... and so on till close. Not reason enough for you? Food is stupid cheap too. I always have a good time at the Saloon. Maybe that's because I'm a cool person, but it's just a fact. I like the bar in the back, because that's where the tap beer is. And I've yet to not LOVE my beertender. It's too big to be a dive bar, too dark to be anything else, and I really wish I could get the gig as the pull-tab seller... but I heard the waiting list may involve someone's will so, I'm not holding my breath. Swing by and have a cheap thrill. You might even come back
(5)Angelina B.
Its the Saloon, I don't know what you want me to say. I've been to the hard Mondays a few times and have had a pretty good time, plus you can't beat 3 dollar nordeast and grainbelt and 4 dollar shots of jag.
(4)Geoff S.
I'm slightly biased because I live a block away and this is my go to bar for all sorts of occasions. Reasons to enjoy: The hilarity that ensues at Bango on Wednesdays with mother Pearl. Cheap and strong drinks (even on weekends) Fun music videobar. Very friendly staff Wide variety of patrons. The Saloon has a little bit for everyone so it's hard to pigeonhole it into any specific category. Its clientele also changes throughout the day, so not everyone will feel in their element all the time, but there is something for everyone so try it out at different times throughout the day. Fridays and Saturdays are probably not going to be very chill so if that's not your scene, find a different place. That being said, it can be quite the neighborhood bar during the day. I feel totally comfortable stopping by on my way home from the grocery store for a drink and to say hi to a friendly bartender or an acquaintance. It's not as campy as the 90's and it's not as stuck up as JetSet. In my mind, a nice balance.
(5)William C.
Strong drinks, male dancers and greasy bar food in the back. I like sitting in the main bar area because they play random music videos and you can people watch while you drink. As it gets more packed, the other side opens up into a dance floor/bar which is always fun if you are with the right group of people. They have a pool table and the area in the back is more relaxed if you aren't into loud music and sloppy drunks. Came here once for the bingo night (or as they like to call it, bango) after work and it was thoroughly enjoyable. On weekend nights after midnight the bar turns into a pumpkin and nude shower dancers appear. Seeing the faces of my straight friends when they saw it for the first time? Classic, but the novelty wears off pretty quickly and we are back to dancing in no time.
(4)Thomas M.
So I'm in town for business and decided to go out tonight . I searched the Internet for the Minneapolis gay bars and chose The Saloon. Large bar that could possibly have potential with some work. The patrons range from young to old ......mix of guys and girls.....very very few hits.......but a lot of misses. The music wasn't all that great......the bartenders were very nice. The go go boy dancers were a mess and couldn't move. The only fun thing that happened was when two hot hot guys jumped into the shower together and started to strip and dance.......the only good thing of the night......the crowd got excited and gathered around......until.....the bar staff kicked them out of the bar.......so I decided to leave as well.........other than the two hot guys that got booted out.......I'd say it was a tragic train wreck of a night. There has to be a more enjoyable place to play in this nice city.........
(1)Barclay W.
Having been born in SF, and living in the LA area I have to say the Saloon was not the best thing I have ever experienced. The cover wasn't bad, only $5, but I regret having spent that $5 almost instantly walking in. It felt like a dive bar that was trying to be a hip club. The things I liked are that it was big and the drinks were not bad. The downsides were many though. I am no prude, far from it in fact, but when you walk in and there is a naked guy swinging his dick in a shower, and to give him money he has to take it with his dick, I tend to barf in my mouth a bit. It felt dirty and skeezy. There is the allusion of sexy and then there is just nasty. The club itself was so large too that the dancing wasn't that great. The dance floor had almost too much space. I felt like it couldn't decide if it was a bar or a club. I also found the guys here to be not the friendliest. Clubbing and bar hopping in the Castro can be a lot of fun. Here the guys just felt unwelcoming and cruising. The worst of the worst though was the bathrooms. I hate peeing in gay bars. I don't get how the clubs can be so nice but the bathrooms can be so nasty. This place was not the cleanest inside and was by far nastier then nasty in the bathroom. I had to help hold up my poor friend while she squatted to pee. I think the Saloon needs to figure itself out. I enjoy dive bars, I enjoy trash, I also enjoy class. Class and trash don't mix though, and this place couldn't figure out what it was doing. I would look elsewhere for fun.
(2)Cassandra D.
This is one of my favorite bars in the state. Depending on which night of the week you come in, there is either no cover, or a pretty small cover. The staff are amazing. I highly recommend the cheese curds. They are awesome! Also, the burgers and fries/tater tots are pretty darn good. ALL the food is good! The layout is pretty cool too. You walk in and you are confronted with ONE of the bars. Oh and the stage with the shower on it? Show up on a Sunday night and see what it is used for. I believe it is the 3rd Monday of each month that Mistress Jean Bardot makes use of that same stage. There are four other rooms. The video bar, what used to be the pool table room and is now a lounging room, the movie bar, and the fire bar. The fire bar is where you will find the kitchen to take orders. The drinks are awesome too! Duh it's a gay bar! Go to Adam, his drinks are the best! Each weeknight has a theme. You can check their website to see what special events are coming up. The bathrooms could use a little work, but then again, it is a bar. The men's bathrooms are easy to find while the ladies' restrooms are a bit of a challenge to locate. One of the two is located directly off the dance floor and the other is in the back of the movie bar. I can't speak for any other weeknight, but the DJ's they have on Monday nights rock! Their sets are amazing and the light show is amazing as well! If you are into Goth Industrial/EDM, come on in on a Monday for Hard Mondays. Hell come in on any night and shake what your mama gave ya!
(5)Bethany S.
This is the best gay bar in town! Ok, I'm a hetero woman but I'm friendly with one of the bartenders - he's my boyfriend's brother, so we hang out to bug him a lot of afternoons. Drinks are awesome, crazy-cheap bar food, and good music.
(5)Ben D.
Alright, we all knew that I would eventually revisit this review. I have to say, my experiences with the clientele here haven't changed a whole heck of a lot... But what has changed is my attitude when I am here. The staff here is so friendly, they are more than willing to hang out and chat with you (if they aren't busy), and depending on who you actually go to, you can get one of the greatest drinks in the Twin Cities. Oh sure, they will make it for you at LUSH, of course they can make it for you at Sneaky's... but when Brad makes you his "B-Raz" (which is NOT bacardi raz lol) it is literally like heaven in a glass with sugar spilled all over it! The music has gotten noticeably better, and with all the recent renovations I must say that I am beginning to actually, dare I say it, have FUN here! The food really hasn't gotten any cheaper, but after trying a few more of the items, I think I now understand why it's priced the way it is. It's DELICIOUS! I have a few more things to try before I can say for sure that it is all good, but for now I feel safe assuming :-) I look forward to this weekend, I know I will be out enjoying myself surrounded by friends!
(4)Reid G.
The staff is awesome. There are several different bar areas to choose from. The crowd is friendly, but just remember that Minnesotans typically don't speak to strangers unless you speak first...My friends and I have met lots of nice guys who were here on business (as well as locals, of course). All-in-all, a fun place. If you are in Minneapolis from out-of-town, go to The Saloon.
(5)Joshua N.
The shower is cheap, nasty, and speaks volumes about a significant percentage of clientele. But, great bartenders, strong drinks, nice fire room, amazing location, and a good variety of rooms.
(3)Gigi B.
The Saloon has definitely become my bar of choice since making the move to downtown mpls a couple months ago. I stop by after work most nights, but my favorite nights are definitely Wednesday (progressive night, $1 drinks at 10pm - hey girl hey) & Sundays (2-4-1's after 10pm). Always have the best time, always park right up at the video bar with the best bartender in the world (Brock!) and my friends and I get really loud and obnoxious while belting out Destiny's Child and Kylie Minogue songs, don't judge me - this is totally acceptable here. I love that there's a room for every mood i'm feeling. If I wanna just catch up and chat about the day I had, video bar. If I wanna dance and pretend i'm Britney, disco. If I wanna stuff my face with THE BEST CHICKEN FINGERS AND FRIES IN THE WORLD (as you can see i'm all caps serious about this one, insane amount of tenders and fries for $3.50) I go to the back bar. Overall, I've never had a bad night at The Saloon! I love the place so much, it's definitely my favorite spot downtown.
(5)Keith M.
I thought I'd stop in for some cheap beer what with this being a gay bar and the average Hennepin Ave bar charging $$$$ per drink. Turns out a bottle of Miller (Lite, no less) cost me $4 or so. Summit EPA was more reasonable at $5. Lots of tacky "art" with mostly nude guys abound. Music sucked (and not in a good way). Patrons were insufferable. Basically, your average gay bar: not much reason to go regardless of which way you swing.
(2)Scott M.
Because we were from out of town, and also because we walked up to the building from an angle that didn't allow us to see the photo-mural on the side of the building, my buddy and I had no idea what kind of bar this was when walked in. In fact, it wasn't until after we'd already plopped down at the rectangular front bar and ordered our beers that we noticed the artistic photos of nude men adorning the walls. "Ummm... uh-oh," my buddy said. "Don't worry," I replied. "we already ordered, just act natural." After all, when it's your hobby to travel around and visit every bar in a particular area, surprise gay bars are bound to happen. :) All in all, the bar didn't really make us uncomfortable at all. However no one would talk to us, which is rather unusual compared to other bars we've been to. We wondered if it was because we somehow were unknowingly broadcasting that we didn't belong here, or if it was because people though we were a couple and didn't want to bother us. It wasn't until my buddy needed to use the restroom that either of us really got a chance to explore the bar. Finding the restroom took him into the back and allowed him to see the other side of the establishment. "It was quite a bit more adventuresome back there," he told me. We got a kick about the fact that the bar was selling its own branded bottled water, so we returned a couple of days later to buy some as souvenirs. I still have one of them unopened on my desk.
(3)Joshua J.
Visited several times during pride and was Almost always a perfect experience. Bartenders were fair (didn't skip people), swift (multi-tasked with ease), and were fun (packed bar and were smiling). My only disappointment was when the DJ was very adamant about not taking requests. I understand that they are a professional and are talented, but they are also in the customer service business and should at least try to accommodate what their paying audience would like to hear instead of such a firm no
(4)Amy R.
A sea of sleeve-less, clingy t-shirts and party boys that spent hours working out at the gym to come and dance the night away perhaps hoping to nab a phone number. After years of passing this place by, J & I dropped in looking for a fun place to dance. We found it. DJ was playing some really good music the night we were there. A lot of Chicago house and power remixes that people lost their minds to. Dance floor was rarely ever empty. A fun place to come and let loose and enjoy the scenery. The guy dancing under the rain show had some interesting moves and I appreciate that he wasn't wearing socks with his speedo. What is with that? Down at the 90's on the first floor there is always some guy dancing around on the bar wearing socks with his bottoms of choice. It just looks strange to me. Saloon is fun. Sky's the limit for atmosphere..
(4)Kayla N.
Great bar. Drinks are extremely strong. Food is great also, I recommend the tots and the fries. This is a great place to really enjoy yourself, have some great drinks and good company, and dance the night away.
(4)Jonathan H.
I go here mostly for their Happy Hour on Fridays from 5-9. I love the people and the atmosphere here! This is a wonderful gay bar where I can take my friends. I love that the place has four different rooms with four different themes: video room, discotheque, TV room, and lounge. When I want to change the ambiance a little, all I have to do is walk to a different room. Every room has their unique good qualities that make this place worthy of a Friday night. I have met the two owners of The Saloon: John and Andy. They are both wonderful people and wonderful owners. They are also wonderful at giving back to the community, and I admire them for that. Part of the revenue from The Saloon is donated to good charities such as GLBT related, HIV, and other good ones. This is one thing that makes me more eager to go to The Saloon. For the most part, the employees do a great job at keeping everything organized. I understand there are a lot of drunk people there, and they tend to make a lot of drink messes. Even with that added pressure, the employees answer to those calls well. I love the drinks there. They make them almost like a lot of bars in Manhattan (that's a good thing). The best bartenders there are Eddie, Colin, Reggie, Ryan, and John (Colin being #1). They are knowledgeable of how to make almost every drink known to man. If there is ever a drink that is requested that is not of The Saloon's specialty, the bartenders are good at adjusting a similar drink to make it close to like requested. They also are great at carrying a good conversation on their slow times. They all seem to have high spirits, even when the place is crowded. Whether the place is slow or super-busy, they carry themselves quite well. The only employee there I have ever had a problem with is Jack (aka Jacksee). He has been working there for many years, and his performance as an employee still remains horrible. His drinks are weak, he is often rude to customers (including me), and he almost always has a bad attitude. Once, I saw him sneezing on the glasses and continued to use those same glasses to serve drinks without washing them. I also once saw him wipe snot on his hand when his nose was running, didn't wash his hands, and continued to serve drinks. He needs to go! Considering the high quality bar this is, I will continue coming back here. I look forward to more good nights here at The Saloon. P.S. To Ryan Coit, I love your photography. Keep posting them at The Saloon. It adds a good and unique taste to the place.
(5)Alexis A.
This is one of my favorite bars in downtown Mpls.! The bartenders are mostly sweethearts and often pour 7 count drinks, which is all the more beautiful when one of their nightly specials are running. The door guys and bar staff over all seem WAY nicer than the staff at the 90's (which I used to like, but had repeated run-ins with rude employees). There are 4 different areas, so if something you don't dig is going on in the big room, you can usually find a spot in the video bar, back bar (that used to be the patio) room, or corner bar. They also host a lot of fundraisers, so more than a few times, wandering in early on a weekend and making a contribution to crossover into the big room has paid off with crazy entertainment and cool food/drink deals. They also have a free drink for checking in online on Thursdays, and no cover with military ID. They have a GREAT deal on burger baskets (including non-meat), which is worth the trip alone, if you're hungry.
(4)Matt R.
A catch-all bar for the twin cities gay scene. I've been here many times (usually with others or to meet up with someone there) but have never left with a great feeling. The place lacks a common theme, unless you count sleazy men staring at other guys. Drinks are decent -strongggggg - and I'm glad they re-modeled what used to be an outdoor smoking patio into a high-ceiling lounging room. Why a 2-star rating? I don't like going there because I leave feeling cheap and dirty. Nude shower nights, staring creeper men, and urinals with spotlighting - no thank you Saloon. It would be nice to see another banner outside on the corner of the building instead of the same one with a group of guys together that's been up there for the past 5+ years.
(2)Whitney G.
I like the music and the crowd here. I'm definitely a 90's girl most of the time but the runway on a Friday night with my girls when we're glammed out is pretty great!
(3)Anya S.
I've seen a naked man in there. Go with your pals and you will have a very memorable night.
(4)Nathaniel P.
I'n from Las Vegas, so I thought I had seen some crazy enough stuff. But when I came to Saloon, I realized how wrong I was. The first thing I noticed after getting through security is the, literally, enclosed shower on the wall with a naked (semi hard) man inside showing off his good stuff. Needless to say, you're in for a treat. The dance area was a bit smaller than I expected than expected, but that's not uncommon. Its a very popular place so come expecting to "see and be seen" (i.e. wear your white pants). There are a couple areas in the building, including the bar/dance/ shower main room, and two smaller rooms in the back with videos playing on the plasmas and space for more tame and quiet conversation. Surprisingly, we ordered some food (very affordable), chicken fingers and fries, and it was so friggin good! Took awhile to get the food, but what do you expect from a white boi who is lucky he looks good?
(5)Wakako N.
Worst. Experience. Ever. My girl friend tripped in her high heels on the dancing platform and the bouncer sexually harrassed her by pushing her by her breasts and forcibly removed her. She was crying the entire time. The manager's response as to the bouncer's behavior? "Well he's gay" As if that justifies him touching her breasts. I've never been so offended in my life. I've had better experiences at gay dive bars in NYC than here. And that's saying a lot. Also, my vodka red bull? Disgusting; it was all vodka and probably an ounce of redbull. Bartender handed me back a practically full can of redbull with my 'drink'. And the music? Mexican Polka? I have no idea what was playing; the only recognizeable song was Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. Some guy there also tried to grope my girl friend's ass and I took his arm and twisted it and threatened to break every bone in his body if he ever touched her or any woman like that again and he backed off once his shoulder was about to pop. And the bathroom? I mean, the guy before me warned me that the user before hand took a poop, but when I looked, it looked like whoever took a shit missed the toilet seat and painted the walls brown. It was nauseating. And the "strippers"? Uh, I thought there was an age rule...like you have to at least be 18?? One of the kids looked to be15 at the most. And the other stripper? Uh, use a razor, dude. Your back hair is attractive to noone, straight or gay. I know this is a gay bar, but here's the deal there...it's strictly for gay men. Not lesbians, bisexual women, or women in general. They definitely discriminate. The manager, 'Keith' is definitely setting the gay scene back a few years with his actions. Pros: The fries were good except we had to wait for 10 minutes to get them despite there being no food line. We had to remind the chef that we ordered and finally got our food. Not sure if that's a Pro actually...
(1)MoMo A.
Great time. One of the better bars in Minneapolis! Bob the bartender was very friendly. Drinks were cheap and strong. My partner and I also had a veggie burger which came up to 7 dollars for the both of us, score!
(5)Dane K.
Strange mixed gay bar... one room was quiet another was full of maybe-not-18 go go boys getting fully naked dancing. it was quite entertaining to watch i suppose. i'd go back!
(5)Beth F.
I've been here a few times and have always had fun. Sometimes I dance, usually I drink and always, always I ogle boys with fake ID's. Yeah, I'm dirty. But so what? I used to be 19 and I feel like I've paid my dues and the world owes me some innocent ogling of 24-year-old men. So one time, I was here with a friend and a couple other acquaintances. We were scoping the place out and trying to find a place to land when all of a sudden, an unattractive 46-year-old man leaned into me and said, "You and I are invisible in a place like this." I was like, "Um, I guess." And he said, "And it's not fair. Because you and I are good people. But just look at them," he made a sweeping arm gesture towards all the boys on the dance floor. "They could care less that you and I are standing right here, watching them, lusting for them." "Yeah," I said, and I could feel the creepy tingling I get at the back of my neck whenever I'm approached in a bar by a depressed stranger who's just over shared. "I hate being invisible," he said. "I've been watching you since you came in so I saw your friend and I think he's very cute. Will you introduce me to your friend? I'm very lonely and you seem like a nice girl." WTF? UGH. Or perhaps Uffda.
(3)P J.
They have an aquarium, but with gay guys instead of fish. And they're dancing in the water, not swimming in it. But they are just as naked as fish. And they're lathering with soap, which, in a sense makes them cleaner and yet somehow not cleaner at all. I used to travel with a lot of gay men. It was like being in an upscale circus, but.... I can't think of any exceptions, so it was really just like being in the circus. People never believe me when I tell them that Minneapolis has a lot of gay bars and very, very hot men. Judging from my visit, The Saloon is where they go. If you find yourself here with the gay men in your life, who love you and always makes sure your tiara's on straight and would help you bury a dead body (hypothetically), but would also leave with some hot guy he met at the bar (not hypothetically), I would suggest you bring cab fare if they're taking you to The Saloon.
(4)Kirsten L.
I'm a quirky loud redhead, of course I love this place. I was made to have a million gay friends. They're the most accepting, sociable people and holy FRICK do they know how to have fun! Check out wednesdays for $1 drinks if you're on a budget as well ;) Going there as a girl and being pulled in all directions on the dance floor by beautiful gay men, flooding you with compliments is like getting a chance to be in high school again. And you will definitely feel like the most popular girl around. I have found multiple men love (at least for the night) as well, which is incredibly gratifying. Seriously and at the same time unfortunately for us straight ladies, all the men that are worth hanging out with in downtown minneapolis are at The Saloon. The only bad experiences I've had here have been with the stray straight man who comes here thinking women will actually give him the time of day, as if we come here to find men like him. Sweetheart, we come to get a break from you. The shower thing is definitely overdone and does make me uncomfortable, I'll admit. But I can look past it. Or just awkwardly avoid ever looking at it...
(4)Jamie R.
There are few places I love more than the Saloon on Friday after work. I have a standing "Casual Cocktail Friday" date once a month with an old coworker who I fondly call Jeffalicous. We always always always go to the Saloon. Why? Because the Saloon is fantastic. And because Jeff loves the boys and the boys love me. I may get slightly tipsy at the Saloon. It isn't my fault. The men love me and give me nicknames. And then buy me drinks. And then I drink them. And fun ensues. Plus on Fridays the Saloon boast buy one get one of anything. And they have a strong pour. Just don't take too long deciding what you want. The bartenders are famous for their amazing drinks and lack of patience. After a few cocktails, I always venture off my usual perch on the patio and into bar. There are several bars within the Saloon, each with its own personality. The front bar is the kind of place you flit around from group to group giving air kisses to people you know and meeting new people and asking lots of questions and telling jokes and touching and teasing and flirting. However, my favorite is the bar on the dance floor. It is always happening, and its also the kind of place where you get your groove on while you wait for your drink. And you will get your groove on at the Saloon. They have a great DJ and a great light show. They also have men in showers on the dance floor, but you have to see it to experience it. Really. Bottom Line: Saloon is totally fabulous for gay men and straight women alike.
(5)netta j.
dont let this place fool you, just because its downtown in the middle of everything doesnt mean its expensive, and if you want great bar food they happen to have the best burger basket in the twin cities! no doubt about it, also little known fact that once a year they have GOTH PROM, its a fun event were everyone dresses up in their goth finery, and has the best time you can possibly have for free! yes and I dont know how long its going to be like that but this year there was fire performers, dancers and all the bells and whistles and a lady in a glass coffin with boa constrictors and snakes of all kinds....what a show!
(5)Attention A.
We are out of town (California) and we went for a Saturday night to dance and WHAT CHURLISH place to dance. THE MUSIC, I never heard about , just CANT DANCE TO . I FOUND MYSELF ASKING THE SKINNY BAD LOOKING DJ for some music, at least one that I could dance. He never play any music THAT I REQUESTED . People trowing up and having a alcohol OD is ubiquitous. I asked the cashier white fat guy to borrow a pen, he just did not give me. Score 100 for the barman's very kindly and nice with everyone ( I bet why people got drunk easily) . never GO BACK AGAIN AND I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. IT HAPPENED ON 08/14/2010
(2)Queenie R.
Love this place! Always good for late night. Love the different rooms. Good stiff drinks. Great people watching, better people meeting. Photo booth, dance floor and fun!
(5)Kate C.
Perhaps I may not have the best position in which to review -- I've only been here once, and it was last year around this time. We students in our graduate program decided to take our incoming recruits here after getting thoroughly tanked on "pub row" down Nicollet. I don't know why we decided to come here. But it was great! Cover was really cheap and the DJ did a great job. It has a great upbeat unpretentious atmosphere on the dance floor, although it seemed like there was a different ambiance and crowd in each of the different rooms. It was fairly busy and we lost of of our group members (although our ability to pay attention was at a ... diminished capacity), including some of the recruits. Which must mean that the drinks were good. As a caveat, I would never use the restrooms here. Just sayin'. It was fantastic to go dance and not be hit on by creepers that walk up in the dark and hump a girl's leg. Really great. It was also fantastic to watch our very straight guy friends get free drinks from some of the fahhhbulous boys around the bar. I did, however, see the hottest guy I've ever laid eyes on to this very day. He had the most whoopass mohawk (real deal) and worked the bar next to coat check. I'd like to drag the incoming students there again this year just in the hope that he still works there and would be working the bar that night. Really, the most beautiful piece of man in the history of the world*. *May or may not have been influenced by copious amounts of beer and liquor. But seriously, I'd hit that, regardless of sexual preference.
(4)Ashley P.
Went there with my roomate last week when we were already drunk and ready to dance. Huge place, lots of rooms, on e including a naked man dancing in a glass cage. Woop Woop. I have heard they pour strong drinks, so it's an economical place to drink. Large crowd of dancers mostly men, lots of them had their shirts off, which is pretty awesome. Overall a fun place to dance. Club music and a dark dance floor, but be prepared for all the PDA, if you don't like seeing many pairs of guys making out on the floor, it's probably not for you. Overall this place made my heart swell, all the people I met were really nice!!! I would go there again and again!!!
(4)Brian J.
Dear Minneapolis, Love you! Your soon-to-return friend, -Brian Dane summarized The Saloon: "go gos with small p p but f-u-n" That sort of sums it up. But they weren't that small ;-) It's definitely worth a visit if you like twinky go-go dancers, hairy bears or just a friendly place to have a drink or dance. Everyone is accepted, anything is acceptable. Yes, F-U-N!
(5)Kathy C.
For gay males in the Twin Cities there is no better bar than the Saloon. Leave the queens at the 90's and take your ass on over to the Saloon for a California Cocaine, some dancing, and maybe some fries if you're feeling flush. The Saloon's bartenders serve em up strong, all for six bucks or less, and look good while they do it. The patio on the side is a great place to congregate and enjoy the weather, however, the newly added rustic room is a great place to smoke when it's a tad chilly or rainy outside. It's also a great place to people watch. There are at least four bars in the Saloon, I prefer the back bar because the drinks always seem a bit stronger and there isn't as much of a wait as at the front bars. Be warned though, if you do get a long island, it will be pretty much straight alcohol. (you are at a gay bar honey, hellooooo!!) My favorite part about the Saloon is, of course, the shower. On 21+ nights there are boys in the shower baring it all with nothing but a sheet of plexiglass and some suds between you and their cash and prizes. Make sure to tip them if your ogling exceeds a few seconds, these boys work hard for their money.
(5)Christina H.
Cheapish drinks and an ALL-NUDE male dancer gyrating in a REAL SHOWER stall set on the dance floor. Enough said. Excellent.
(5)Peters G.
Well it is a country gay bar. A lot of Tourist and a lot of dummies. So, people are kind of nice but some (most) of them are really upidy. They think they are the hottest gay guys of minneapolis. Not too nice. Drinks are really cheap and bartenders seemed to be kewl. Security guys are really funny. They really dont look like security guys. So dont be scared. Dancer!!!!!! well i went there on friday night and i have no clue where they found their strippers but they should hire new ones. NOT HOT AT ALL and one of them were probably 17YO. What the heck!!!!! MAke your own judgmenets
(3)Jen B.
I only ever come here when I am black-out drunk, and every single time, I fall on my face in front of my friends and a large crowd of attractive, semi-shirtless gay guys. It goes something like this....and keep in mind I am screaming the entire conversation: Jen: "HEY GUYS, WHO NEEDS ANOTHER VODKA REDBULL?" Friends: "Uh hey are you sure you're OK?" Jen: "FUCK YEAH, LET'S DAN..." *falls onto face* Jen: "I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW." I'm pretty sure the staff is going to get wise one of these days and stop letting me in. (I've heard of but never experienced the shower thing. My boyfriend says it's awesome.)
(3)Kim K.
This spot is a typical gay bar seen everywhere in the US. The boys are young n cute, and that is pretty much about it.
(2)