The Saloon

The Saloon is one of my favorite places in Minneapolis. Great service, wonderful people, fantastic music. ❤️

I've been coming to the Saloon since the moment I came out. It has been my home, a place I've always felt welcome. Strong drinks, good and friendly service. My husband and I were regulars, going so far as to hold our engagement party there. I've given this place plenty of cash over the years. In the last 6 months the place has gone significantly downhill. The tipping point for me, somebody who held his engagement party at the Saloon, was going in for a quick drink tonight before a show. After waiting 5 minutes for the bartender to quit chatting with a coworker who was off for the night and on the customer side of the bar, he then turned his attention to his phone. He looked at us and awaythree times before we finally got served. The bar was not at all busy. None of us could taste alcohol in our drinks, which is the antithesis of what one expects. We went back to the bar and asked the bartender to make it right, he defended his pours, and when we protested basically said "well, it is what it is." We will not be returning to the Saloon. The management ownership needs to get it together and understand who they are serving and what purpose they have in this community. It's personally very sad for me to see how far this place has fallen.

Dj was actually good and knew how to phrase mix in key which was refreshing as there is a lot of bad DJs out there taking up space. Not sure if they were a resident dj but I would go again. Sound system was good really bassey but not too bassey. Drinks were made right which was appetizing and delishious. Not a long line to get in security was good.

We just moved to Minneapolis and naively had no clue what downtown is like on a Vikings home game day. Having tickets for a concert at the Pangeas Theater, we wanted a cocktail at a lounge nearby. Good luck, Sammy! No way, Jose. We couldn't find a bar with any free seats. Not only was there a Vikings game, but a Lynx game had just ended, and a Louis CK performance was at the same time as our "Here Come the Mummies" concert. After checking out about ten bars, we stumbled into the Saloon and found two empty seats at the bar. Our bartender worked his butt off and was able to get us our drinks, recognizing my need for a cocktail. My wife pointed out the Saloon was a gay bar, and I almost stood up and applauded. As a straight, white, 75-year-old man, I have seen most of the world change. There was a time when gay bars were furtive, lonely places, avoided by straight people. The Saloon was a bar, and it didn't need any label. Bravo! I left the saloon happy, buzzed, and refreshed by our changing world. Let's not regress despite what some people want to legislate.

The bar itself is great — fun atmosphere, good vibes, and solid drinks! However, the tab system really needs work. If you open a tab at one bar station and move just a few feet to another, you have to start a new one — and they keep your original card. It’s a bit inconvenient and confusing, especially if you like to move around or chat with different bartenders. My advice: find one bartender you like and stick with them for the night. Definitely room for improvement here, especially since other gay bars manage tabs without holding your card.

Very busy high energy place where I prefer to go to really dance. Great bartenders also the food service is great. 4 different areas to talk, play games or throw it back at the disco.

Kind of trashy, but I still go here often. It is nice for socializing with strangers and just getting out of the house. Some of the regulars and employees are not pleasant, though.