We enjoyed this place. Three of us stopped here for a drink and a snack. Our server was pleasant. Our drinks came quickly. We ordered a cheese curds appetizer. It too came out quickly. It was real tasty as well. This was my first time here. I looked at the kitchen and around the dining areas. I'd love to come back here for a meal next time I'm in town. read more

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What a cool place! Love the super classy vibe! They have nailed every single detail so that nothing "breaks" the atmosphere they're going for. They have a great menu selection, comfortable seating (that's nice and spaced out), and great service. Drinks and food were all great and priced well! Not much else needs to be said, awesome place! read more

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A Duluth downtown staple for cocktails (and mock tails). Since reopening the food menu has gotten smaller. We split edamame and spinach and artichoke dip. Both were a little cold. Our server was very attentive. For being closed for so long I expected more updates. read more

I only sat at the bar, have not dined in the restaurant. I can tell you the bartender we had was great as was the general manager (Lilli?). The drinks were wonderfully made. Nice live jazz music that night as well. Perfect volume. The food menu is very limited at the bar and I cannot comment on it since my food order never came. It was a mixup and the GM made it right by us. I'll be back next time I'm in town read more

Black Water Lounge - Perfectly made martini - Lounges Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Reopened!!! Yea! I love this place but had to drop it down in my rating from before. Doesn't offer happy hour specials anymore and menu has less options. I had two good drinks! But with tip $40 bucks. I'm not cheap by any means but service was just okay, atmosphere is really good, food options are okay, and no happy hour specials, with limited beer options. Bottom line a lot of places now do good drinks these days, atmosphere is great, food options are limited. What used to be a go to anytime we were in Duluth now has become less of a priority. Although atmosphere especially on a date night is tough to beat. read more

Black Water Lounge - menus and wine glasses - Lounges Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Us gals checked out Blackwater for the first time since the reopen. So glad we did! We each started out with a signature drink. I did the "Pool Boy" which was a mango, pineapple & habanero mix. Delicious and went down fast. Moved on to my old standby, dirty gin martini, extra dirty. Mmmmmm, how I missed those so! Next we went for some food. The app menu is pretty limited, but all food came out excellent. A friend and I shared the fondue for two, which I used to love there back in the day. Same deliciousness now. Other friends had the sliders and spring rolls. I didn't try any, but they said they were all very tasty. I hope this place is visited more by the locals, because it really is a gem of a place. Service was great too!! read more

Black Water Lounge - a drink in a martini glass - Lounges Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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I've been in Duluth almost 3 years, and THIS is the place I've been waiting for! It reminds me so much of the martini bar I used to frequent back in Milwaukee. Great music, atmosphere, drink selection, and food menu. We had the surf and turf sushi and bites and frites and they were both delicious. The fries are VERY good. While I was assuming it was going to be exactly like Tavern on the Hill or Black Woods, it's not. Definitely a notch up and a little something different on the menu! Can't wait to go back again and again read more

The restaurant is reopened. It is the same feel it always has been. The martini bar is great and the food is good. A great date place

We came for a drink and light appetizers: the fondue is Amazing and the chicken and sirloin tips were flavorful and tender; staff was attentive knowledgeable about the extensive cocktail, bourbon and whiskey list. The "absinthe pour" from a classy ice fountain is such a classy experience! Loved the live jazz music and it was not too loud, romantic and the "speak easy" decor is top notch, comfortable and romantic; high- end feel for a reasonable price; great location next to the Sheraton Hotel read more

I love this place, they have the most awesome drinks and app's of anywhere in Duluth!! I only live a few blocks over so I don't have to worry about parking or driving! I spent my birthday there just me and a friend, however there was a dude with the same birthday and he was having a huge bash in the big room! I met him after we already ate app's and a beverage at the bar! He said come in and have something to eat so we did and it was awesome! Like I said, I love this place and I am always inviting people over! We have a big group coming for St. Patties day and we will all be at Black Water after work at 10:30ish! Awesome!! read more

We went here for drinks and hoping to get get some food. The drinks were decent. The service was terrible. Our waiter Ben was extremely rude to our party. When we asked if we could get food he acting like we should know that the kitchen closed. I never saw a time on the food menu in which the kitchen closed. He made sparky remarks each time he came to the table. It was not the best way to end our evening. read more

Thursday night = 50% off sushi, $5 martinis, live jazz, and a collection of the hottest chicks in Duluth. My waitress was an absolute babe. She absolutely murdered it with that corsette. I wish i mustered up the balls to hit on her more. In general I am pretty sure they successfully got all good looking girls in town to work here. Good job! As to the food, I was also afraid of having sushi out in the midwest, but this place did not dissapoint. For a ton of sushi apps and drinks on thursday night we came in under $30 pp. Solid meal overall. I would have probably given it 3-stars but my waitress was hot so 4 it is. Hey, that's business. read more

Black Water Lounge - Legit filled our table with food. Holy shit. - Lounges Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Went in for a late night drink with coworkers after a function upstairs. The beer was awful, not a comment on the lounge, but the way the server handled it was bad. It tasted like the line was dirty or just plain a bad beer. We were there for about 40-45 minutes going over notes and reviewing the evening. I'd had 3-4 sips of my beer - so bad I didn't want to drink anymore. Server never asked how it was, never checked in on us except to ask if there was more she could sell us. We paid our tab and left with my beer still 90% full. The corsets are a weird move... We didn't try any of the food, sushi looked good. Mostly a commentary on the poor service. read more

Come for the drinks, stay for the food, tolerate the service. The martinis are amazing - kudos to the bartenders! The sushi is probably the best I've had in Minnesota. It's so fresh and flavorful, and you get quite a number of pieces in one roll. I'd have to say the Rock N Roll is one of the best! Ahi tuna, shrimp, cream cheese (just the right amount), and a crisp outside with just the perfect spice level. For martinis, I personally enjoy Pretty as a Peach. Obviously, it's very peachy, but it comes with a Peach Ring as garnish! I also like the Iced Chai. The Lavender is pretty popular - lots in my party got that one. Service wasn't great. The party I was attending had a VIP room and while service was consistent during the first half of the visit, we barely saw our waitress the second half of the night. One of my friends had to order a water FOUR times before getting one. Our waitress was nice, and it must be challenging serving a large party amongst other tables, but service made the experience subpar. read more

Very cool lounge vibe. Lots of dark lighting and colored furniture. We went on a Friday night and there was live music that fit the smooth feel. Martinis on happy hour were $5 each, and considering the size and alcohol content, they are a great deal. There are a variety of flavors from spiritus to fruity to sweet. As a party of 6, we ordered a variety of small plates and appetizers. The lobster bisque was heavy and creamy and decadent. The sushi was fresh and not fishy tasting at all. Any meat dish was cooked well and came with flavorful sauce (albeit a little sweet for my taste, but thats just me). Wear something a little nicer and make a night of it. read more

Great martini bar. Old world supper club vibes. Their menu used to have more variety but now limited to small bites. This time around we just stopped by for drinks. Lillie the GM must be hardest working GM ever. Superior customer service, and helping the staff all around. Justin one of the bartenders is so creative and knows how to create an amazing Martini! You must try the Blind Squirrel or the chocolate covered cherry martini! So delicious!!! Love this place! read more

Been here a few times--gets better each time. Recently came here during happy hour--great deal!! Great martinis, cool atmosphere, beautiful and friendly servers, and EXCELLENT drinks! Will not miss coming here when in town!! Although it's a bit sexy, I don't mind (hubby doesn't for sure!) and I like the jazzy music!! Hard to leave! read more

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Great place to listen to local band dance a little, order one of their delicious drinks with a yummy appetizer.

I used to go to this place all of the time with friends!! Missed it so much!!!!!! Great sushi, beautiful staff and music, and the martinis are to die for!! Cheap too!!! read more

Amazing cocktails - our favorites were the Key Lime Pie and Cucumber Press. Great food, especially the Roquefort Medallions, which were cooked perfectly. Very Loungy, as the name suggests. The atmosphere is a little mixed. Live music (pianist, drummer, and singer) and low lights seem romantic, but then tons of TVs in the bar, and servers, while very attentive and nice, well... it's the "uniform" - a corset. Ick! If they're catering to a mature clientele, they might want to have their servers dress like women (or men if they actually hire any), not sex objects. Regardless, my husband and I had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to return. read more

Came on Saturday night. They have live music (Jazz) from 6pm to 10pm Thursday through Saturday. The seating is simple - you find a spot and sit. We were able to find good-ish seats even though it was busy. Our waiter was attentive and came around often enough to keep bringing drinks and food without us waiting too long for her. Live music was relaxing and not too loud (still being able to have a conversation without having to scream). Food we ordered: cheese curds, tenderloin medallions, and lady Godiva fondue. All pretty good. Not really any complaints. Only reason why is not 5 stars is because it didn't "wow" me. But everything was great. If you are debating to come here, I would give it a try. I don't think you'll regret it. Come grab some drinks (they are reasonably priced and great options). read more

Black Water Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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While this place seems super upscale for the Duluth area, I didn't enjoy my visit as much as others here appear to have. My husband was asked to remove his ball cap for "dress code" however a few teenage boys were also in hats and hockey apparel and not asked to remove theirs at all. Also, this place makes Hollister look like a fluorescent warehouse. So dark I couldn't read the menu and had to embarrassingly use my phones flashlight. I will say their martinis are incredible. The bartenders here are clearly trained well and know their stuff. It is a unique atmosphere and quite classy, I just wish it was more inviting. read more

My absolute favorite martini bar. From the food, to the drinks to the gorgeous ambiance, I CANNOT wait until this place opens back up!!!!!

I've visited black water multiple times. Every time it transports me back in time. Nice jazz band playing, awesome bar and great happy hour. $5 signature martinis and apps. This particular trip I expected nothing less. However the pours were very inconsistent barely filling the glass halfway in some instances. I was surprised because I've always had great service, drink and food here. Our waitress was training and she had a trainer with her but only occasionally. This led to people at our table not being served, food not being ordered and drinks going unfilled. I was very disappointed this trip. read more

The reviews I see on Yelp I see regarding this place confuse me. Plenty of Elite Yelpers from the Twin Cities giving this place 5 stars. And knowing what kind of place in Minneapolis/St Paul would compete with this place, and the quality of the food and drink that those places have...., well this place just doesn't measure up. Could I have a 5 star experience? I suppose. If I came for some lounge music and had a beer or wine or champagne I'd say yes. But I've never had the 5 star experience and I've been here several times. And it seems hard for me to comprehend that so many others have had that. In light of that..., The Good: Ambience, Decor, Music, some Food. This place is a really cool space and well decorated. Multi level and just the right amount of dark. Every time I've been here the music has been good and at the right volume. Also, it's appropriate music for the theme of the place. I've had some good food here too. The Thai chicken flatbread I had the a couple nights ago was really good. Not great but solid. I've had other dishes in the past here that are also pretty good. Good and friendly service as well. The Bad: Sushi and Cocktails. Please skip the sushi here. My wife and I have had it 3 times and I've had it a couple other times. You know Einstein's definition of insanity? Doing something over and over and expecting different results? Yeah, we are insane. We keep thinking it wasn't that bad but it really kind of is. Is it edible? Sure. But it doesn't taste fresh -- it tastes pre-made and while I don't know for sure, I doubt there is someone back in the kitchen making fresh sushi rolls. And for the price it should be made to order. Her miyagi roll was overly hot and also did not seem fresh. Go to Hanabi or Osaka for your sushi in Duluth. The cocktails almost made the Ugly list because they tasted watered down. My wife and I looked at each other after the first sips and each asked each other if they tasted watered down. Which is kind of crazy if you're "known" for your martinis and cocktails. But they aren't awful. Just nothing special. I've have yet to have a cocktail here that is really good. The Ugly: There really isn't an ugly here to my perspective. It's really too bad that this place is mediocre in some ways because it promises so much more. Just like Blackwoods the space is great but the execution of the full experience ends up wanting when you compare it to similar places in the region. Take Parlour in the Cities for a good comparison. Blackwater has a long way to go to reach that level. My advice. Come here and get beer, wine or Champagne. Have the bar appetizers and listen to some good music and it'll be pretty good. Skip the sushi for sure and beware of the cocktails as they wont live up to expectations. read more

Visiting Duluth for a few nights and decided to check this place out. I'm not sure why but ordered the sushi here. I should have known better ...I did, but I had been craving for sushi and the waitress said it was good. Got the Ahi Tuna Roll. Yuck. The rice was mushy and you were lucky if there was tuna in there. The mussels were so salty even after I poured water into the broth. The only silver lining was the live jazz music. Drinks were standard fair. Can't wait to get back to the Twin Cities to eat some real food. read more

I booked here for a bachelorette party in April. I was told I would receive complimentary appetizers and a champagne toast, as a part of a package I received by booking my wedding with Greysolon Ballroom. However, we did not receive any of the promised food or champagne. However, the room they put us in was nice, it was more secluded so we could be together as a group and hear each other, and the drinks were very good. I would recommend going here for a casual get-together with friends, but don't make reservations or try to plan a large group gathering, because it seems you will not receive what they promise you. read more

I've always enjoyed the drinks and atmosphere at Black Water Lounge. When I was a student a large group of us would frequent "Ladies Night" at the bar. The sushi and martinis had us coming back, but I would never rate the service any higher than one star. The cocktail waitresses would always prioritize the male customers, I mean a better chance for better tips I suppose. There would be times where my group would be ignored for nearly 30 minutes before even getting waters, the drinks would take forever and food would take even longer. It grew frustrating as we could literally guarantee poor service and treatment everytime we went to BW. I would say, treat all customers well... That way you can depend on everyone for good tips. read more

First time in last night and drinks, food and service were all amazing. A relaxed atmosphere to sip a delicious martini or drink of choice. We had 2 of the flatbreads, sliders and the dessert fondue!! I am in Duluth for business once a month and I will be back!! read more

Really great atmosphere and had great music. The martinis were excellent. Great for a low lit date or girls night out chatting! Key lime martini! read more

Black Water Lounge - Delicious key lime martini, my favorite! - Lounges Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

This was my go-to place when I was in college. The sushi was always great and the lavender martini is my favorite thing in the world!

We love visiting Black Water, especially when Maxie Childs is performing (we tolerate Steve's bad Viagra jokes because we figure he needs the support). Great sushi and fondue to... plus martinis! read more

I love Black Water. I've been here countless times and everything- the food, drinks, service and atmosphere are all great. My favorite food item is the fondue for two. Delicious steak, chicken, grapes, apples and crostinis served with a smoked Gouda cheese. This place is a little more on the pricey side, but if you go earlier (4-6) or on Thursday night (Ladies Night), some drinks and food items are cheaper. The drink menu is extensive. The food menu isn't as wide, but everyone can still find something to eat. If you are going with a big group, I recommend calling ahead and setting up a reservation as BW gets very busy on the weekends. Overall, this is a great place to go with great drinks, food and service. read more

As a man I naturally started out by ordering a "mantini". I sat in the lounge with another couple next to the fireplace. They had live music & incredible food. I highly recommend the fondue for two. My favorite drink of the night infuses science with alcohol and goes by the name of June in January. We also ordered: Marghertia Pizza, Boneless Thai Chicken Wings, Fresh Mozzarella Crostinis. Most importantly the lady's ordered the lavender Martinis & like everything else they were delicious! Incredible date night. 5 Stars. read more

Came here with my best friend, were told we could sit anywhere. Once we sat down, we were served within 5 minutes and Abby was extremely pleasant. We had constant plates of food coming and had a bottle of fine wine that she poured for us. We probably spent 3-4 hours there and paid 120 +40 dollar tip. Every cent was worth it. Definitely our favorite spot in Duluth for chill vibes, interactive live music (they take requests) & the atmosphere is just amazing. I love that theres a dresscode. Had their black berry smash drink, was delicious. Next time we come, we plan on spending all day there and trying everything! read more

This place gets an extra star for being in Duluth, because it's the nicest thing for hundreds of miles around that I know of. It's really a swank-looking place, with prices to match. My cosmopolitan came to $7.90 with tax. Also, who doesn't just charge you a price for drinks that will come out to an even dollar amount??? Ummm I was under the impression that this was a bar (lounge, whatever), not a restaurant. I have never seen this anywhere. Just charge me $8 upfront. Service was VERY attentive and friendly. I walked in here with dirty sneakers. Apparently, there is a dress code, but I guess I was lucky enough to walk in when the doorman was away. Average age was maybe 30 or 35, but there were plenty of people representing from the 20's and 40's bracket. Comfy chairs to accommodate everyone! Just crowded enough on a Saturday night. Nice place. Next time, I will go earlier in the evening and try the sushi. read more

Very Classy place. I went here with my boyfriend for a family birthday on my most recent trip to Duluth. Although a few of the girls had corsets that were not laced up properly, the rest of the service was good. They ended up having to move us at the end of our gathering so we got a some free champagne. Wahoo, Get drunk! The place was very cozy with a nice intimate, not over the top touch to it. I absolutely adored the decor and the vibe was very relaxed. I will be back for any special celebrations that I have while I am in Duluth. read more

This place is a gem! I have so many good things to say about it from the inviting yet upscale decor, to the refreshing and unique drink menu to the comforting jazz music. We had a fantastic dinner by choosing to eat tapas style and sample most of the menu! Favorites include: cheese and dessert fondue, thai flatbread and the lobster bisque--to die for! I would also recommend the cucumber cocktail with muddled cucumber and pineapple infused vodka. I really wish BWL was closer to the cities--I'd be a regular! read more

This place is very hip and trendy. the food is good and the drinks are good.. The atmosphere is very up beat and the service is good. I have been to black waters about 5 times and i have never been disappointed with the service. The drink menu is very large and the bar tenders know what they are doing. The place is a bit more pricey than other bars in the area but you get what you pay for read more

If you are in the mood to get dressed up and head out on-the-town in the OH so fabulous city of Duluth, Black Water is the place to go. It is actually one of the only places to go. Located in the center of the city, it has amazing martinis and a wide variety of mixed drinks. (The wine is great too). Some of the college crowd heads out there, but for the most part the local business people call this their stomping grounds. I love Blackwater! On a side note: Leave the kids at home. It is more for the older crowd. read more