Final Four Weekend – The Tailgater’s Guide to Minneapolis

College basketball’s most exciting weekend is fast approaching. The 2019 Final Four games will be hosted at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota and we thought it only fitting to explore the city and guide you through the best that Minneapolis has to offer. Minneapolis is a pretty amazing city with tons of things to do when you’re out of the stadium, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorites.

Whether you’re tailgating or couldn’t grab tickets to the game, here are some of the most popular sports bars in Minneapolis to hole up, grab a drink and some food, and enjoy the game on TVs in a fun atmosphere!

The 2019 Final Four will be held at the U.S. Bank Stadium in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The stadium is also the home of the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Gophers. There are a ton of fun bars within walking distance to the stadium. Here are a few favorites:

THE CORNER BAR
Easygoing, airy tavern with a pool table serving typical American grub & draft beer.
1501 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454

THE BULLDOG DOWNTOWN
Laid-back bar & grill that pairs the American classics – hot dogs and burgers – with the worldliness of Belgian Beer.
1111 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

8TH STREET GRILL
Contemporary American grill offers a variety of casual eats & draft microbrews, plus a heated patio.
800 S Marquette Ave #107, Minneapolis, MN 55402

The University of Minnesota is the 6th largest college in the nation and supports 25 Division 1 men’s and women’s sports. With great facilities and even better collegiate programs, it’s great to get a spot right in the middle of all the action.

STUB & HERBS
Stub & Herbs has been a longtime landmark of the U of M campus and with an extensive and premium beer selection and great food options, it’s a great gameday staple.
227 SE Oak St, Minneapolis, MN 55414

MAC’S INDUSTRIAL SPORTS BAR
Laid-back sports bar with a wide variety of beer & classics like burgers & pizza served late.
312 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

PEPPER AND FRIES
Kitschy sports bar & eatery with a baseball theme whipping up burgers, burritos & other pub grub.
3900 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Nestled along the Mississippi River, Northeast Minneapolis has a great vibe of old meets new – new businesses have set up shop next to historic landmarks. Whatever part of the region you happen to be in, you’re never far from a restaurant, brewery, and/or distillery that are as diverse as the businesses around them.

BUNNY’S BAR & GRILL
Upbeat watering hole serving burgers & beer in an old keg warehouse with huge flat-screen TVs.
34 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

STRAY DOG
Convivial bar offering gourmet pub grub with many vegetarian options & a wide selection of beer.
401 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414

THE 1029 BAR
Neighborhood hangout offering cocktails, seafood-centric pub grub & karaoke in an unfussy space.
1029 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Uptown Minneapolis is known for its youthful glow with tons of global cuisine, local retail, and lively nightlife fused with beautiful nature and sights like Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun). Uptown offers a lot of favorites for rooftop brunch, but if you’re seeking a place to watch the games, there’s a multitude of bars in this region as well.

HERKIMER PUB & BREWERY
Cool neighborhood brewpub features small-batch craft beers & casual grub in a laid-back atmosphere.
2922 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

COWBOY SLIM’S
Rustic-chic bar & grill offering American eats, a full bar, outdoor patio & occasional live tunes.
1430 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

THE FREMONT
Modern sports bar & burger joint with popular food/drink specials plus DJs & dancing at night.
1300 Lagoon Ave #100, Minneapolis, MN 55408

If you’ve got a spare day or two while you’re in Minneapolis, here are some of our favorite spots to see:

Perfect for those traveling as a family, Nickelodeon Universe is located within the Mall of America with roller coasters and thrill rides that are kid- and family-friendly. And you won’t want to miss other attractions in the Mall of America: SEA Life Minnesota, Crayola Experience, The Escape Room, and the American Girl store.

Located only about a 20-minute drive from Minneapolis, Mall of America is one of the Midwest’s biggest attractions, drawing people to the town of Bloomington, MN from all over. Mall of America opened in 1992 and it is the largest mall in the US and the 12th largest in the world.

Known for being the nation’s first-ever sculpture garden, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was recently renovated and reopened. It is definitely a Minneapolis must-see!

Sticking with the artsy theme, Minneapolis is well-known for its theater and music scenes and art is quite literally canvassing the city in the form of colorful, commissioned murals strewn throughout the city. For a comprehensive list of the city’s most popular murals, click the link here.

Did you know the University of Minnesota is one of America’s Public Ivy League universities? You’ll learn that and even more awesome facts about the school with a tour of the campus and an exploration of their events. To learn more about the school or to schedule a tour, visit their website.

The Minneapolis Skyway System is the largest, continuous system of enclosed bridges in the world with an astounding 9.5 miles of pathways connecting 80 city blocks. You’ll find that even in the cold temperatures, Minneapolis is a very walkable city because of the Skyway system.

There are, and we kid you not, over 100 options for skyway-connected restaurants including some popular, national chains and quite a few local favorites that are native to the area – La Loma Tamales (Mexican), Sorrento Cucina (Italian), and Allie’s Deli (sandwiches) to name a few – so the options are pretty much endless if you get hungry along your second-level city tour.

If you don’t already have tickets for Final Four Weekend, what are you waiting for?? Enter our giveaway for the chance to win 2 tickets to both Saturday games and the National Championship in Minneapolis!