Volstead's Emporium Uptown
Lyn-Lake, Minneapolis
Bar in Minneapolis, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Volstead's Emporium Uptown is worth considering for a flexible Minneapolis bar night on W Lake St, especially if atmosphere matters more than published menu or wine-list detail. It is a better fit for drinks before or after dinner than for a food-led booking, a large group plan, or anyone trying to assess value from confirmed prices in advance.
About Volstead's Emporium Uptown
Use Volstead's Emporium Uptown as a Minneapolis option with an evening schedule and smart-casual dress code. It is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday; open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 PM to 12 AM; and open Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 1 AM.
Plan around the evening schedule
The planning read is simple: this is an evening-only Minneapolis stop. It is not a lunch option. For menu format, pricing, happy hour, seating, reservations, or beverage program details, confirm directly with the venue before building a night around it.
The strongest planning signal is timing. Wednesday and Thursday work for a 5 PM to midnight visit, while Friday and Saturday offer the latest window, running until 1 AM. Because Sunday through Tuesday are closed, do not treat it as a flexible daily option.
Who should choose it, and who should cross-shop
Choose Volstead's Emporium Uptown if the hours and smart-casual dress code fit the plan. Cross-shop if the group needs food details, published pricing, a specific menu, or daytime availability.
For another Minneapolis option, Up-Down Minneapolis may be worth comparing. Pizza Lucé Uptown, Hoban Korean BBQ, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, and Vicinity Coffee are also options to consider depending on the outing you are planning. For Volstead's Emporium Uptown specifically, keep the plan anchored to the key facts: Minneapolis, smart casual, and Wednesday-to-Saturday evening hours.
Planning details
- Location
- 711 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website
- volsteads.com
- Phone
- +1 310 985 4355
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Volstead's Emporium frames itself through history rather than theatrics: a cocktail bar that nods to the Prohibition era while remaining firmly rooted in Uptown's everyday life. The copy leans into the neighborhood's 'historically layered' character and the rhetorical provocation of its name, favoring thoughtful references to American spirits and mixing over costume-drama speakeasy trappings. The result is an understated, locally focused room where serious cocktails and a sense of place take precedence — an approachable, historically minded bar that feels like it belongs to the street it anchors.
Best For
This is primarily a neighborhood cocktail spot for locals seeking carefully made drinks rather than social-media spectacle. It suits intimate date nights, late-night rounds, and small special occasions when you want craftsmanship without pretense. The bar's positioning off the polished downtown corridors also makes it a natural after-work stop for neighbors and a reliable option for casual hangouts among friends. Because the program emphasizes history and technique, visits work best when you come wanting to savor drinks and the quieter, community-oriented Uptown atmosphere.
Ordering Tips
Approach the bar expecting a research-driven cocktail program that references American-mixing history: ask the bartender about historically inspired takes or classic preparations rather than theatrical gimmicks. Share your taste preferences and let staff recommend a focused, thoughtful pour; the place emphasizes craft and context. Because Volstead's is framed as a neighborhood bar rather than a destination showroom, favor conversation-led service—ask questions about spirits or the thinking behind a drink to get the most out of the menu.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dark, moody, low-lit with dim candlelight, cozy, and vintage 1920s-inspired atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Speakeasy
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Live Jazz
- Live Music
- Yes
Signature Pours
- Bee's Knees
- Cuppa Cheer
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 711 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If the group needs food to anchor the night, choose Pizza Lucé Uptown. If the priority is a social group plan with built-in entertainment, choose Up-Down Minneapolis.
Bar context
How it compares in Uptown and nearby Minneapolis
Volstead's Emporium Uptown is the cleaner pick for a drinks-first night when the group wants a moodier bar stop and does not need food to carry the plan. Up-Down Minneapolis is better for groups that need built-in activity and looser pacing; choose it when conversation is less important than keeping everyone occupied.
For value and predictability, Pizza Lucé Uptown is easier to justify because food is central to the visit. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ and Hoban Korean BBQ are stronger choices for a planned dinner with drinks around it, especially for groups that want a defined meal format.
Vicinity Coffee is the daytime or low-alcohol cross-shop, not a direct night-out substitute. Pick Volstead's Emporium Uptown when the decision is about evening ambiance; pick the peers when the decision depends on food, activity, or daytime utility.
Explore Minneapolis
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Volstead's Emporium Uptown guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Volstead's Emporium Uptown
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Volstead's Emporium Uptown | Minneapolis | No published awards |
| Up-Down Minneapolis | 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 Volstead's Emporium Uptown Minneapolis compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the crowd like at Volstead's Emporium Uptown?
For planning, note that Volstead's Emporium Uptown is in Minneapolis, has a smart-casual dress code, and opens Wednesday and Thursday from 5 PM to 12 AM and Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 1 AM.
Is Volstead's Emporium Uptown good for groups?
Does Volstead's Emporium Uptown have happy hour deals?
For happy hour details, check directly with the venue. The schedule is Wednesday and Thursday from 5 PM to 12 AM, Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 1 AM, and closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Is the food good at Volstead's Emporium Uptown?
If food is central to the plan, compare other Minneapolis options such as Pizza Lucé Uptown, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, or Hoban Korean BBQ, and confirm current details directly before going.
Is Volstead's Emporium Uptown good for a date?
It may fit a date plan if the evening hours and smart-casual dress code match what you want. For Friday or Saturday, the closing time is 1 AM; for Wednesday or Thursday, it is 12 AM.
