If I were you, I would not hang around "The U" bars on Friday, you'll have plenty of time on Saturday for that. If you're up for a pretty good circuit on Friday I'd do a loop in the northeast (Nordeast when you're here) that includes:
Grumpy's
Link
Gasthof
Link
Psycho Suzie's
Link
(optional) The Sample Room
Link I think they still have a pretty good happy hour, but maybe not the scene you're looking for.
Not Optional: Nye's
Link This is not optional, because this is a must. Just go to the bar side, rather than the restaurant side and order a Polish. You will get a Polish beer (like from Poland). Just order it that way because no one remembers the names of the damn beers.
Then head back near your hotel, and you can get into some trouble near your hotel, just a few blocks northwest of your location. Many, many options there. That should be a pretty full Friday night.
I'd also say try to hit the Bulldog near Nye's (
link) if you have time. I'd say Northeast is a great location cuz it's not downtown (typical scene of bars like any other downtown) and you'll do campus (hopefully) after the game. It's got a little grit to it without being full of too many hipsters but will also have young people and is safe.
Other areas you could consider, depending on what you're looking for:
- Uptown area (Hennepin Ave and Lake Street in Minneapolis): Bars like William's (peanut bar with TONS of beer), Bar Abilene, Stella's Fish Cafe, and Herkimer Brewery are all co-located and can be fun. Or go a little up Hennepin for divey Liquor Lyle's and the Lowry. Uptown has its share of hipsters but is a good overall scene.
- Grand Ave in St Paul. Summit and Grand run parallel and are where all the old-timey mansions are (Summit) and lots of good food and some bars. Typically a better spot for dates (if the 4 of you are romantic types
) but also can be a good night out and some fun sight-seeing of one of the nicer neighborhoods in the TC. Some ok bars are the Wild Onion and Billy's.
- Seven Corners - technically close to the U and part of the "U bar scene" but also for non-students. Washington Ave and Cedar Ave just east of 35W and south of the Mississippi River. Town Hall Brewery, Republic, Bullwinkles, and Corner Bar are all decent spots.
- Do Stadium Village/Dinkytown after the game on Saturday. Sally's (SV), Stub & Herb's (SV), Big Ten Restaurant (SV), Burrito Loco (DT), Blarney (DT), and Library (DT) are the popular spots. Kitty Kat Club in Dinky is a little different feel but also fun. Walk from the stadium to DT by passing by the frats on University Ave.
You're probably going to be hungry. Couple suggestions for you if you can squeeze them in over the weekend, some not near campus:
- Do Al's Breakfast in Dinkytown. Honestly best breakfast in town. Tiny little joint on 14th between 4th and 5th Ave. Get there by 8 or lines start to form, as there are literally 12 seats along the bar.
- Cosetta's Italian Restaurant in downtown St Paul. Best pizza in town (IMHO), plus good other stuff. Cafeteria style but don't let that turn you away. They've recently done a HUGE project to basically triple the size of what was a quaint brownstone from the turn of the century, not sure if it's completed yet. It's right by the Xcel Energy center and a lot of the cool StP stuff if you're interested in walking around the city.
- Blue Door Pub on Selby Ave and Fairview Ave in St Paul. Small, but great burgers. Try the Jiffy Burger and you won't be disappointed. They also have Minneapolis' signature burger style, a juicy lucy (cheese embedded inside the burger meat), but for a better juicy lucy experience...
- The Nook on Hamline Ave and Randolph Ave in St Paul. Purists will tell you Matt's Bar or the 5-8 Club are where they were invented, but they suck (again, IMHO) compared to the Nook. Fun fact, right across the street is Cretin Derham Hall, a private school that Joe Mauer played at.
- You'll be downtown so you can try out Brit's Pub and do some lawn bowling on the roof. Decent food but fun atmosphere for downtown and not too expensive
- If you do go to Uptown, go to the Uptown Diner late at night for giant, giant portions of good breakfast food.
- If you're in Dinkytown out late and have the munchies, try out Mesa Pizza. You'll see the line. Lots of crazy pizza options by the slice.
That's all I'll give you. I'll be the first to admit here that our tailgate and gameday atmosphere will not rival the places you've been, but MSP can show you a very good time if you're looking to have fun.
