Up-Down Minneapolis
Lyn-Lake, Minneapolis
Bar in Minneapolis, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Up-Down Minneapolis is worth choosing when the plan needs built-in activity and late-night flexibility in Uptown. Treat it as an arcade-bar stop for groups or casual dates, not as a food-led destination or quiet cocktail room. Booking difficulty is easy, so it works well as a backup when dinner plans are loose.
About Up-Down Minneapolis
Use Up-Down Minneapolis as a casual Minneapolis option with late hours. Details such as cuisine, chef, awards, price point, or reservation format are not readily available. It is in Minneapolis, the dress code is casual, and it is listed as open until 2 AM every day.
The clearest planning value is timing. Up-Down Minneapolis opens at 3 PM Monday through Friday and 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday, then runs until 2 AM each night. That makes it easier to consider for an afternoon-to-late-night plan than venues with shorter evening-only hours, but details beyond hours and casual dress should be confirmed directly before you build a night around them.
Use it as the active part of a Minneapolis night
Given the limited information, the safest way to plan around Up-Down Minneapolis is to treat it as a flexible casual stop rather than a fully documented dining destination. It may fit a low-pressure plan where the exact meal format is not the main concern. If the plan depends on specific food, seating, service style, accessibility details, or event logistics, confirm those details with the venue first.
The hours are the most useful detail for planning. Weekdays run from 3 PM to 2 AM, while Saturday and Sunday run from 11 AM to 2 AM. For more Minneapolis planning, use our full Minneapolis restaurants guide, our full Minneapolis hotels guide, our full Minneapolis bars guide, our full Minneapolis wineries guide, and our full Minneapolis experiences guide.
Where it beats a dinner reservation, and where it does not
Pick Up-Down Minneapolis when casual dress and late hours are more important than specific dining details. It is less suited to plans that require specific cuisine, chef information, pricing, awards, or a clearly documented meal format, as such details are not readily available for the venue. That does not make it a poor choice; it simply means the most reliable planning hooks are location, hours, and casual dress.
Other options should be chosen by the job of the night and checked against current details. Pizza Lucé Uptown, Volstead's Emporium Uptown, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Hoban Korean BBQ, and Vicinity Coffee are other named options to compare depending on what your group needs, while other Minneapolis dining and nightlife choices can fill in around the plan.
Planning details
- Location
- 3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website
- updownarcadebar.com/minneapolis
- Phone
- +1 612 823 3487
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Up-Down Minneapolis presents itself as an adult arcade where the machines set the tone. The room hums with the electronic percussion of pinball and the vintage blips of arcade cabinets; sound and motion dominate over hushed conversation. The aesthetic leans retro—restored arcade machines and a casual layout invite playful, unselfconscious nights out. Staff and programming prioritize speed and accessibility rather than cocktail ceremony, so the energy remains loose and social. This is a place built for movement and noise: expect a convivial, throwback atmosphere that favors game-led fun over traditional bar refinement.
Best For
This is a natural fit for groups and anyone after a casual, high-energy night out. The adult-arcade format encourages moving between machines and the bar, so it works best for group outings, relaxed social hangs, and late-night sessions where the point is shared activity rather than quiet conversation. The Minneapolis location speaks to a younger, local crowd and touring regulars who prize a lively, informal scene. It is not intended for contemplative, slow sipping or formal dates—plan visits around playing and socializing.
Ordering Tips
The drinks program is designed around the room’s pace: prioritize drafts and canned options for quick service, and lean toward straightforward cocktails rather than labor-intensive, multi-step builds. The bar emphasizes domestic and craft drafts at approachable price points and keeps cocktails familiar to match distracted sessions. Be prepared for modest entry or token fees for games depending on the night; factor that into your budget. In short: order easy, fast pours so you can spend more time on the floor and less time waiting at the bar.
Venue details
Ambiance
Nostalgic retro gaming atmosphere with arcade lights, competitive energy, and casual bar vibes.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Beer Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Background Music
Signature Pours
Macha Man Randy Savage
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Planning details
Location
3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Volstead's Emporium Uptown, Notable alternative
- Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Notable alternative
- Pizza Lucé Uptown, Notable alternative
- Vicinity Coffee, Notable alternative
- Hoban Korean BBQ, Notable alternative
Bar context
How It Compares
Volstead's Emporium Uptown is the stronger choice for a cocktail-led night; Up-Down Minneapolis is better when the group needs activity and a looser pace. If ambiance matters more than games, choose Volstead's. If the night needs movement and easy drop-in energy, choose Up-Down.
Pizza Lucé Uptown is the safer pick when food is central, while Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ and Hoban Korean BBQ make more sense for a planned group meal. Up-Down is easier to use as the after-dinner move because the experience does not rely on everyone ordering the same way.
Vicinity Coffee fits daytime conversation; Up-Down fits the later, louder version of an Uptown meet-up. For value, the deciding factor is what the group wants to pay for: conversation and food elsewhere, or built-in entertainment here.
Explore Minneapolis
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Up-Down Minneapolis guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Up-Down Minneapolis
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Up-Down Minneapolis | Minneapolis | No published awards |
| Volstead's Emporium Uptown | Minneapolis | No published awards |
| Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ | Minneapolis | No published awards |
| Pizza Lucé Uptown | Minneapolis | No published awards |
| Vicinity Coffee | Minneapolis | No published awards |
| Hoban Korean BBQ | Minneapolis | No published awards |
How Up-Down Minneapolis compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Up-Down Minneapolis open late?
Yes. Up-Down Minneapolis is listed as open until 2 AM every day: 3 PM to 2 AM Monday through Friday, and 11 AM to 2 AM on Saturday and Sunday.
Is Up-Down Minneapolis good for a date?
It can fit a casual date if the timing and dress code work for your plan. The venue offers a casual Minneapolis outing with late hours, but specific atmosphere, seating, and service details should be confirmed directly with the venue.
Is the food good at Up-Down Minneapolis?
Food details, including cuisine, chef, menu format, and pricing, are not available. If your plan depends on a specific meal, compare current information for options such as Pizza Lucé Uptown or Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, or confirm details directly with Up-Down Minneapolis before going.
What's the best time to go to Up-Down Minneapolis?
Up-Down Minneapolis opens at 3 PM Monday through Friday and 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday, and it is listed as open until 2 AM every day.
Is Up-Down Minneapolis good for groups?
It may work for a group seeking a casual Minneapolis stop with late hours, but specific group policies, reservations, seating, and event details are not available. For plans where food is the main concern, compare current details for Hoban Korean BBQ, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, or other Minneapolis options.
