The Saloon

The staff treats my husband and I well. I think it’s because I got married and stopped going out so much that I no longer find The Saloon to be a fun place to hang out. I guess I’m aging gracefully and knew when to leave the scene.
I want to be shocked when I go to clubs. I want to see things that will remove my last shreds of innocence. Sexy showers, strippers, strung out twinks and S&M fetishists are so boring… show me performers with chainsaws in corsets reciting menu items with Rocky Mountain accents while destroying effigies of politicians we don’t like and have me sign a waiver before entering the club. Then give me a show which will wake me later that week with screams of terror. Such terror that I hold my husband close and whisper «Let’s do that again.»
I don’t know… I“m older now. It takes more to stimulate me.
Hmmm…I guess I could do something shocking. I wonder? «Underground venues» are fun to find, but even then it’s hit and miss.

I have been going here (and worked here for a bit while at Aveda in the 90’s) It was a blast back then and I love the owners (John?Andy) The manager Tim is awesome as well. The staff is always there to make sure you have a greta time! I have seen the bar grow into the 90’s, and the millennium. I still love the events and all the remodeling they have done… Pride is a must here !!! Hugs all. Morgan Taylor

I have a funny story about the first time I was there… My nephew and I walked in. There was this C-​pop song about chicken noises that was playing on the TV. The song was awful! At the same time, there were a bunch of people who were flapping their arms and acting like chickens. I thought we were in the wrong place. Then I realized we were in the right place and that this was just a weird moment.
This is where I took my nephew when he visited town for a little while. He just came out of the closet so I wanted to show him that I can still be the coolest aunt in town (so I like to think). My friend from work told me about this place so I went there.
We had a blast! The bartenders catered to us kindly, and we felt so welcome. Everyone was delightful. The drinks and food were terrific. I can’t believe how cheap I can get a sandwich basket and still be tasty. The drinks are good too. Some bartenders make their drinks stronger than others. We felt so welcome by everyone. Since then, I brought my nephew here a couple more times, and we had a good time.

Primier gay bar of the Twin Cities! (Although maybe eagle popularity is growing) this place has everything a gay man would desire. I’d rather not have Lots and lots of older men at the tank, but come on now, that’s kinda expected. Still plenty of twinks every now and then. Its just a fun place to bring friends and have a few drinks. Even your straight friends won’t mind it. Just get them through the door and not on a Sunday night food is delicious, at least in the greasy good nice type of way. I like the chicken fingers, chicken wings, and fries the most. Although I’ve had one bad memory at the saloon, over had many many more great ones! They lose a star because of the touchy/​feely security guard that should please keep his hands to himself! (Wednesday night) Despite this, the saloon is typically a happy go lucky, comfortable, place to hang out an mingle.

My favorite spot to be a DJ! And catch up with friends over a good stiff drink. The staff is more like a family, the atmosphere energetic, the cheapest but best burger baskets evarrrr, and the music and visuals are fantastic. I’ve grown up with the Saloon and it’s second to none for a night-​out destination, and THE place to visit when you’re in town from elsewhere. See you on the dance floor! :) –djtr

The food is fabulous… with lots of entertainment. and Dancing yes the music is loud. so if you like your hearing bring a set of ear plugs…
Fun place to hang out on Friday and Saturday…

Worst gay bar in the town. I come to town for Leather weekend only to find out that a crazy person Nicholas Dobie and his sex slave boyfriend had the club ban me. Only thing the club messed up was. I was never in there place on the day they claimed I threatened staff or employees and made trumped up charges on a fake order. The lawyers are all over this one. Guess if people want to do things the correct way they should at least put the true facts and not lies. Guess what. I was never in MN on that date.

I used to go here way back in 90… have no idea what it’s like now. Must be good if it’s still around. You had to dig for everything back then. Live in LA now… to go back… no way.

Straight or gay, this is the best dancing in the twin cities. The music is loud, the drinks are strong, and the crowd is always fun. They also gave really fun daily events. I have so many fond (hazy) memories of dancing. When friends from out of town want a good dance venue, this where I lead them.

The Saloon is my favorite bar in the cities! They have whatever you are in the mood for, whether it be relaxing in the back bar with a drink that has more of a coffee shop/​bar vibe, the back bar with pool and darts, the dance floor bar where you can go party once you’ve had enough drinks, the bingo bar where they make the drinks way to strong or the upstairs bar with the stripper polls, I mean all you could ever ask for for a complete night of fun and great company! Check out «bango» on Wednesdays as well!

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.

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, discothèque, 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.
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.

Its full of shady white twinks and their snow queens what else is there to say it has dance floor two bars a back area with seats and a fireplace and they also serve bar food really cheap.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.