Nice atmosphere but the food was not great. We tried a couple burgers. I got the Red Stipe it was just small (1/4 lb patty) I liked the Jamaican Jerk sauce. We all ordered MR burgers and they came out more MW. We also tried the nachos with chorizo it was better but also very small nothing like the picture. The best feature is it's right next to the theater. That would be the only reason I'd go back. read more

We popped in for a beer after a show at the Orpheum and had a pleasant time. This is one of those bars that is really long and narrow, so there's not a whole lot of wiggle room near the bar. The beer selection was good. About a dozen or so very good draft options. Didn't bother to look for more since that's what I was wanting. The bar staff was pretty friendly. Even though the place was really crowded, we were served pretty promptly. We stood around awkwardly for a few minutes before some genius in our group looked up and said, "Hey, there's an upstairs." The hallway/stairwell was not very well-lit, which might cause some problems depending on the sobriety level of your group. It also looked like there might be an actual outdoor patio, though the accessway was not open so we couldn't tell for sure. Once we got up there, we found an inside balcony basically with tables and even an additional bar. You can sit overlooking the floor and the main bar, and we found it to be pretty comfortable and actually pretty quiet, so we could converse easily amongst our group. We only stayed for one beer and didn't get anything to eat. But for a quick stop for a quick beer, MacKenzie did the trick just fine. read more

Mackenzie Pub - Pubs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I am a regular at this place, I work across the street and go here often for drinks after work, lunch, etc. I love the food and the beer is good. But very upset at the moment due to a recent incident. One week ago I went here to get drinks with a few coworkers, I left early and paid my tab out in cash. The next day I get a text message from my coworker telling me they were FORCED, as they were leaving, to pay my tab, which I had already paid! So I end up having to pay my coworker back and paying DOUBLE in total. I am disgusted that a server would do this, making my coworkers look like idiots and me like an a-hole. I am completely disappointed by this lack of professionalism. If this happened at the restraunt I work at it would not fly. Will NOT be returning. Avoid at all costs, you will be swindled and made a fool of. read more

I can't believe I gave this spot 5 stars, but here we are! We went for a holiday party, the kind where you wear ugly holiday sweaters, bring an Elf cutout abs someone loses their shirt off of their back. The server Maggie was great. For it being more of a dive they have a great wine selection and extensive bar. The food was good too! I'd absolutely come back again! read more

We go to the Orpheum often and always chose to eat at well known places around there. We finally decided to try this place last night before Hello Dolly. The yelp reviews were good and the menu looked like a lot of variety for all. We loved it. It is a bar/pub atmosphere and they do have an outdoor patio/deck. One thing I wasnt too fond of was they could smoke out there too. I smelled smoke here and there but it wasn't horrible. The patio is nice and it's by the entrance to the Orpheum performers. So kind of cool and security was present. We first ordered an appetizer of Scottish eggs since we were in an Irish pub. They were awesome and highly recommended. They came with 2 dipping sauces and they were great! I ordered one of the weekly specials, mango curry tacos with steak. They were savory buy had a kick of heat to them! There were 3 tacos and they came with chips and salsa. My husband ordered dry rubs wings with a side of some hot sauce. They were very hot and spicy. Too hot for me but my husband loved them! I ordered the Ginger Mint Polama. It was pretty smooth and tasty. It wasnt very sweet but refreshing cucumber taste. They had a special that I could keep the stoneware mug it came in. The server was so nice to get me a clean one in a bag because we were going to the theater. We will be back. We spent around $48 with a tip! read more

See all

I went with a friend on a Wednesday night, not too busy. The bartender and his wife who were running the bar were very nice and attentive to us. They even let us hang out for a bit while they closed and we chatted with them. Thanks for having us and being good company! read more

MacKenzie's has been one of my favorite watering holes downtown for a number of years. Sure, it's one of only a handful of bars downtown that I actually find tolerable, but regardless of location its still got a lot to like. MacKenzie's is first and foremost a bar and they do that quite well. They have two dozen well curated beers on tap and will pour you your favorite booze at a reasonable price. Service can run the gamut, but is usually quite friendly. Their menu has evolved over the years - while it's not upscale bar food by an means, it's certainly heading in the right direction. You'll find the typical bar staples (i.e., a burger, wings, nachos, etc.) as well a few trendier menu items (e.g., chicken and waffles, a Cubano). Temper your expectations and you should be satisfied. That said, the smoked jerk wings are a safe order at any time and are quite good. The patio, cozily located behind the building and away from Hennepin Ave, is a nice place to sip on a few beverages during the summer and its proximity to nearby theaters make this an easy call for any pre or post-show pit stops. read more

In a recent trip to the Pantages we stopped briefly Mackenzie because we had extra time. Upon stopping, we decided a fireball shot was the way to go. We got served pretty quickly at the bar but we're fairly disappointed at the size of the shots we received for $5 each. After tip we paid $12 for the shots in the attached photo. This was roughly the same price as two glasses of wine or two happy hour miso salmon wraps across the street at Marin. Next time we will stay at Marin, despite loving the atmosphere at Mackenzie. 5 for ambience, 1 for value. read more

Mackenzie Pub - Pubs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

This place gets popping, but it's worth the food and rare beer. Food: The weekly specials Any taco dish Wings Drinks: Ask about rare keg'd beers Beer Drawbacks: it can turn into a sports bar, which is fine, but they somehow enjoy rooting for the Cleveland Browns. I think it adds to the drinking atmosphere. -sidenote : I'm from Detroit, so it could be worse, ya dig! read more

MacKenzie's, where they are more concerned with what gender you identify with, than they are what you would like to drink. Old man George was guarding the men's room and decided who he deemed male enough to piss in the men's room. He even went as far as to ask me what I "have dangling between my legs"? And told me I would be 86'ed for life if I used the men's room. Pride weekend isn't the time to ask for gender id at the men's room. Just turn all bathroom to unisex bathrooms! Ri-cock-ulous!!! George even went further an hour and a half later and tried to tell security that I "pushed" him. I am not violent and NEVER laid a hand on him. read more

Best tap beer selection downtown (if not the whole metro). Great bartenders that know and like beer (at least they are trained on what they currently have on tap). Don't be afraid to ask for a taster if you aren't sure what beer you want. Nice large back patio that my friends who smoke love (and doesn't seem to be too smokey for us nonsmokers). I would give it 5 stars if it would have better bar food. (this IS Minnesota . . . invest in a deep fryer!!) Edit: Now with a new menu serving good bar food! (good cheese curds) read more

Mackenzie Pub - Pubs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My buddy and I were here before a Twins game and I ordered a Surly Furious. I got my regular mug, which is a $20 mug filled with any beer and then you can reuse it anytime you come back to this awesome beer bar. George runs the place and is a great bartender that takes care of you whenever you come in. I ordered the Cuban, my favorite here, and the pickles were stacked high and the mustard was perfect. juicy pulled pork makes it one of the best Cubans in the cities. Allie's is the only one that compares. The atmosphere is perfect, TVs along the bar with ESPN on usually and the prices are very reasonable. They now have a rewards card that gives you $5 for every $85 you spend, pretty cool. Love this place! read more

Beer (and craft brewery knowledge) were on point. The poutine made for a good base. They had about 20 taps and the menu was expansive -- everything is homemade. read more

Mackenzie Pub - Pubs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

My date and I stopped in here before a show at the Orpheum. It is conveniently located next door and if you're looking to have a drink or meet a few friends before a show, this is the perfect location. The atmosphere is just what you'd expect from a pub; relaxed and friendly staff. We had a little over an hour to kill so we decided to eat and imbibe. We started with a warm pretzel that was covered in what seemed like garlic butter (!!!) served with a side of beer cheese. For my dinner entree I ordered the special; fried rice with egg rolls and my date ordered the Sloppy Jose. I would say that we waited well over thirty minutes for our food to arrive. As soon as the waitress set down my plate I regretted ordering Asian food at a Scottish pub. Same for my date, he regretted ordering Tex-Mex here. I also had to remind the waitress that according to the menu, the special came with two egg rolls not one. I am so glad I reminded her because the egg rolls were my favorite part of this meal and were surprisingly fantastic. They should be offered as an appetizer because they really do stand on their own. They are homemade and filled with a yummy very tasty brisket (?) and served pipping hot. The Sloppy Jose includes a pickle spear and fries. The Sloppy Jose is a chicken, guac, cheese, ranch (eww) burger served on a kaiser roll. The ranch really over powers all the other flavors. We also ordered mixed drinks - a margarita and cranberry lime vodka drink, I can't remember the name of either of these drinks, but I would stick to ordering from the beer menu. Our server was friendly, attentive and helpful. If I return, I plan on ordering a beer from their extensive beer menu and requesting two egg rolls, hold the fried rice. Also, on cold days, i would sit towards the front. Staff coming in and out of the bar creates a very cold, uncomfortable draft. Classic pinball machines (Ghost Busters!) are towards the back. read more

See all

This is your typical pub. We went here for the super bowl and it wasn't as crowded as I expected. The food is pretty solid, my friends got a burger and chicken sandwich. Nothing spectacular but they have a good beer menu. Our first waitress was really nice and attentive considering how many tables she had to handle but once we closed out of our tab with her, we were done drinking at that point and the next waitress seemed pretty pissed that we weren't ordering any more drinks. We ended up leaving at that point and watched the game at a different bar. read more

This place and Eli's are the *only* neighborhood bars for those of us who live on the northwest side of Hennepin, for which they get a whole star right off the bat. The other establishments nearby are too suburban-bro-infested or too fancy to get that distinction! The tap list here is a thing of beauty, and easily in the top ten for beer geeks looking for something from elsewhere in the USA. They don't have a ton of local offerings, but make up for it by having absolutely incredible one-off kegs from Surly that are near impossible to find anywhere else. What prompted me to write this review after so many years of loving the place is that, once again, I had my socks knocked off by one of their weekly specials - a french dip sandwich with habanero mayonnaise and a touch of Surly's limited release Porter in the Jus. It was straight-up the best french dip I have ever eaten in the Midwest, period freaking end - I used to live in Los Angeles, the home of the classic french dip, and had spent most of the past six years wallowing in mediocrity when trying to fulfill my craving for one. Other specials in the past that have really stood out are a monte cristo quesadilla, which was so wrong on paper but so, SO right the rest of the time. If you find yourself in a gaggle of yuppies who want to "party downtown" and all you can wish for is swift death instead of cowboy jack's, try and convince the gang to swing by here instead. They do literally everything better than the warehouse district's sprawling mess of appalling mediocrity, all for the same or lower prices. read more

Awesome homemade food. Healthy pours. Hard to find any better deals downtown. Try the scotch eggs or whatever flavor of the week they have going on for the wings. Smoking area out back. Heated in winter read more

I judged this book by it's cover and thought it would be a pit stop for theatre goers (it's next door to the Orpheum). I was wrong. Great little pub with a nice selection of microbrews that rotate regularly. Menu is somewhat limited but just fine for a pub. A block or two off the beaten path for bar hopping but worth a stop. read more

I've been going to MacKenzie since I turned 21, 7+ years ago. It is by far my favorite bar downtown. I love the atmosphere. I love the beer selection. They have tasty food. A great staff. TOUCH TONES and arcade style games. It is a great place to meet for a few drinks before heading to a show or someplace else, but it's also a great place to park your butt for the whole night out. In the summer they have the whole back patio/deck area open up with a lot of comfortable seating tucked back behind the building. In the winter, they convert the back area into an "icehouse" type room with lots of seating and heaters for the smokers. Their wait staff is very attentive and will always get you what you need. MacKenzie is a great, laid back, fun watering hole in the heart of down town Minneapolis. read more

Struggled with how many stars to give MacKenzie. I love this place to death, which makes me think it deserves a 5. But, at the same time, the reason I love it is because it's really a solid 3 star bar. It is not trying to be fancy, it is not trying to be a dive, it is not trying to be hipster or anything else. Just a good, plain bar. Relaxed, cold beer, just effing solid, ya know? If you're looking for a 5 star bar, this isn't your spot. You probably won't fit in if that's your game. read more

Even though I've lived a block away and walk by it probably 3 times a week for almost 6 months I've never been in until tonight, and I was pleasantly surprised. There weren't many people in there, but then again there was a snow storm outside. (which created an $3 special on Snow Storm beer) But it is a very cool local bar where you could get comfortable and spend hours before you realize how long you've been there. The bartenders were very nice and friendly and I even got to create a drink with one of the bartenders that turned out pretty good. But I'll be back and hopefully I'll be able to turn this into my local bar... read more

A Brown's Bar? In Minneapolis? What the hell am I doing here? Just happened to wander into this place on a Tues night. I'm glad I did. They have a great selection of beers. I'd be curious to see what the weekend crowd is like read more

I am a fan of this pub for several reasons. They are The Brown's Backer bar. The fish tacos are my favorite only second to Nicos. The owners and staff are fun, personable, and have always been responsive to my drink or food requests. Support this local. read more

I wandered into MacKenzie for the first time a couple years ago to grab a beer and food on our way to a Timberwolves game and I've been going out of my way to go there ever since. I'm a sucker for old-school pubs, and this place fits the bill. A simple narrow room lined with tables on one side and bar on the other. The upstairs is a lofted seating area, although it's only open when the place is packed. There's also a few Golden Tee and Buck Hunter machines if you're into that sort of thing. Out back they have a large deck/patio are which is always awesome when Minnesota weather cooperates. The food is above average bar fare, nothing more. Sandwiches, fries, wings, etc. It's a good bet before a Twins or Wolves games when other spots are crowded, but nothing you're going to remember beyond that night. I recommend grabbing a bite somewhere else and then stop in here for a beer - this is where they earn their stars. MacKenzie's tap beer selection is unparalleled downtown and the owner (and often your bartender) knows his stuff. He's more than happy to talk about beers and even gives a sample here and there if you engage him in conversation. They have about twenty taps, each one an amazing example of craft beer and the selection rotates frequently. You'll find the usual suspects like Surly Furious (which alone rates this place highly in my book) but you'll also find more obscure offerings that you won't see in any other bar in town. The bottom line is simple - If you're into beer, stop in and be amazed. If you're rushing to a Twins game, Wolves game or concert and you're looking for a quick bite, check it out. If you're dressed to the nines and looking for something upscale, this isn't your kind of place. read more

Rude staff. We showed up around 11pm on sunday and seated ourselves, 20 minutes later the waitress showed up. She asked for our id when we asked for water ( wow!) One of our friends left his id in his car and she told him that he couldnt get any beer or so, of course he was fine with that and she left.......then 10 minutes later, the rudely BARTENDER yelled across the bar in a demeaning tone to get us out...because we didnt have our ID! There were people watching us too....SO RUDE AND WE ARE NOT GOING BACK! AND WE DIDNT EVEN GET OUR WATER WHEN WE SHOWED THE WAITRESS OUR ID!!!! HORRIBLE!!! read more

Love this place! AlwAys here to serve! Food is great and love the company! A must if you're in the Cities!

Every time I tell people that MacKenzie is the best beer bar downtown they treat me like I've never been to the Local or Brit's or something. Look, MacKenzie is what a beer bar SHOULD be - tons of taps and a huge variety of styles is so important. This is a great place before or after a show, for happy hour, for late night... for anytime, really, especially since it's laid back enough for you to relax but usually busy enough that you won't get bored. Mostly, this is a great place to bring people and show them that there are more intricacies to beer style than 'dark' and 'light.' Their beer menu changes periodically and usually for the better and sometimes they even have tastings and release parties from local and big named breweries. read more

I'm pretty much a fan of any place that is considered a "hole in the wall"...and since MacKenzie definitely fits into this category...I am a fan. MacKenzie has a nice/relaxed/welcoming/cozy atmosphere with knowledgeable & attentive bartenders. Their beer selection is pretty decent - they have the staples that everyone expects - but they also have a lot of unique beers & locally brewed offerings. The location makes this place super convenient...and it's definitely worth checking out... read more

Pretty decent dive bar in a good location. The reason I haven't tried it sooner is because the clientelle outside the door is usually kind of sketchy looking. Once inside though the beer selection is great, the bartenders are friendly, and the upstairs is quiet and a nice place to chat with one or two other people. You will probably find me drinking a few Surly's frequently at Mackenzie. read more

I can't believe I've lived in Minneapolis this long and have never been to MacKenzie! Right down from the craziness of Hennepin, we walked on a Saturday night and loved it from the start. We hung out at the bar and was taking care of by the attentive staff. I've never been to a bar in Minneapolis where the beer selection is awesome, unpretenious bartenders serve you and you don't feel like a piece of meat. It was just a fun place to hang out with the girls! AND....LOVED that the whole bar just starts singing "Hey, Jude" for no reason! One thing I wish they'd do is dim the lighting a little. Felt a tad bright for 1am ;) read more

Once again, the problems of a 5 star system. I can not give MacKenzie 5, even though I think that more than 4 should be an option. But whatever. The only gripe I have about this place is that the usually cute and fast wait staff and always affable if a bit gruff in a good way bar staff do not allow human cock fighting. Please allow me to elaborate, which I will now do. One of the s**t faced (and I do mean S**TFACED) sous chef's at the Dakota ( that would be the jazz club one on Nicollet for those yelpers that don't know the scene or live in the actual city of Minneapolis) spilled beer on me here and I don't believe that MacKenzie allows for a mixed martial arts ring in the basement. What a pisser. It wouldn't have been so bad, but he managed to spill on other people too and even my friends' friends from a smaller town in South Dakota thought he was a lameoid. Oh well, I've been that guy too I guess. If you have read this far you can probably guess that MacKenzie is an "industry" bar. In that respect it is pretty cool. I wouldn't call it a dive bar. For those who want to know what a dive bar actually is in Minnepaolis, I give four examples. Example one: Stand up Franks (novelty, and full disclosure, I have actually never been there) Example two: Porters (not to be confused with Porter and Frye but then again I would bet my last ounce of caviar and ego that at least half of their kitchen staff has either shot or smoked something [somehting other than venisson or gravlax if ya know what I mean] at this joint. Porters used to be by Little T's. Porters is now alass closed. Example three : Waldos . Scarry. Great place if you want to get a bat to the back of your head and drink listerine by the tracks. It changed its name after the last shooting or whatever I think and used to be on Lyndale and 40th or so (that would be da Norff side for all da playaz out there) Don't believe me? Fine. Example four: The Commodore. Hmm how to put this. Well, it burned down for one. And for two, if the property values around this former Bloomington and 25th bar did not actually go up after the fire, than I'll go work the deep fryer at McDonalds and start drinking Budweiser. MacKenzie is not even really a dive bar compared to Tracy's (still open, good joint) or The Poodle Club (not still open, but I'll try and review the place that took its place in a week or two). So there ya have it. Oh yeah, great beer selection, but if you want good food, there are plenty of other options (Solera, Chambers) very close. Anyway MacKenzie is great. Oh yeah, the other gripe I have is the Juke Box. Good money maker, but not so good for guests. Oh well. It is downtown after all and nothing downtown is cheap. So there ya go. read more

An amazing beer selection and an even better outdoor patio to enjoy it on. While the crowd can really vary from night to night, the vibe is always laid back and really enjoyable. To be honest, I have maybe spent a total of 30 minutes in the inside of the bar, but that's not to say it's bad at all - it's more or less your standard Minneapolis Irish pub-fare. Not bad, but not exactly memorable either. read more

Going to places like MacKenzie make me realize how special Minneapolis is, and how I take for granted all of the small, hidden gems this city has to offer. I haven't been to this bar enough in my time living here. MacKenzie has a GREAT beer selection. Check out the list on their website, there is literally at least one offering of pretty much every type of brew you could think of. I enjoyed a Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball and a Founder's Nemesis...both beers I haven't seen anywhere else in my travels around town. Coupled with a basket of fries, it made for a low-key, tasty evening filled with good conversation. The bar is open, and very warm. The bartender was on top of his game, and very friendly. Happy Hour was from 4-8 Mon-Thursday, and the prices were very reasonable. The bartender upsold me to a large basket of fries, since during happy hour they are the same price as the smaller basket. Cool. Being that the bar is next to the Orpheum, I hazard a guess that you might run into artists that are playing there from time to time. MacKenzie is a long-standing tradition on Hennepin, pay it a visit...you'll be back for more. read more

MacKenzie has a good beer selection, a decent patio out back, and the worst service I've ever experienced in Minneapolis. The waitstaff usually just slow, but recently I also had a bad combo of a slow server and a super rude server. The chances I'll ever go back are pretty low. read more

Living in the downtown area, I love going to this place due to it's generally calm crowd, good beer selection, good prices and friendly staff. I frequent this bar and hopfully spend a night on the weekends with good friends here. The patio is fantastic on those cool nights but you're still comfortable to put back a few beers. The only time I will be inside is when it's less than hospitable outside. So most of the year... My main gripe is ever since they have gotten a digital jukebox the night can be a total toss up of pure crap music to some decents tunes. The crowds will variy and that will never be a problem, but with these variances will lead to some strange music, but they will start skipping songs if someone apparently wants to hear Jay Z's "It's a hard knocked life" three times in a row. Catch me there maybe twice a week! read more

Never thought to go here before but stopped for a drink after a show at the Orpheum while waiting for the parking ramp to clear out. Strongbow on tap! Why would I go anywhere else now? read more

Love this place! We went before seeing a show at the Orpheum. My group of friends and I were discussing why this place isn't more packed! We totally dig it. They have a killer beer list, which my beer-drinking friends loved. They also play really great music. The food is pretty good too. They also have darts in the back! Yes! The reason I think MacKenzie isn't more popular is because it's downtown. If this bar was in Northeast, it would be packed every night. It just isn't the type of place that trendy downtowners like to hit up. However for hipster beer drinkers like my friends, it's perfect! read more

A divey, hole in the wall which serves as a hangout for actors, hipsters, 9-5 office workers and offers a slew of mirobrews? Sounds interesting, but then that's not what you get. This is in no way a dive, let alone a divey hipster bar with a mixed crowd. If it was, the interior would be falling apart and PBR would be in the $2 range. You'd think it was the only bar for miles with a decent selection of microbrews when it's far from the only one and it certainly doesn't have an atmosphere to match. I didn't even bother with their selection since the happy hour is only $1 off beers and I went outside of HH. And prices are not on the menu. It was $4.25 for a can of Nordeast and $4 for a PBR: $8.25 before tip. It's a generic sports pub devoid of character or anything else noteworthy to top it off, so it's not like there's a good justification for paying so much and with the scotch undertones I was expecting dim and woodsy with character, both from the bar and patrons, but instead got a run-of-the-mill sports bar experience. I'm in no rush to return. read more

Looking for some amazing wings. Look no further. I am very fussy about my wings. Don't want any chewy fat just want tender flavorful wings and these meaty ones hot the spot. Plus they have great dipping sauce and a flavor of the week. Great bartenders and friendly servers make this one of my favorite spots read more

Very much a hipster bar. Could have just been the nights (democratic national convention), but like it's like this every night....dark rimmed glasses, beards, sideburns, hats, etc. Great bar back, stained glass, mirrors, all the regulars mugs (not sure of the criteria to obtain one), HDTVs, beer taps, and liquor bottles. Many craft beers on tap & bottle. Bar top is worn wood and slate with a small lip. 15 or so wooden stools. Pole at end of bar with beer signs is unique. Bartenders kick ass. 5-6 hdtvs, not great but good enough. Music is mostly classic rock, but I will assume they would put on game sound assuming a MN team or monday night football. Not 100% sure though. Never been upstairs or on the back patio . Lower tables opposite and past bar Games just past the bar on left. Brick walls (industrial look) aside from behind the bar, nice medium to dark wood. Uniquely there's a clock to the left of the center stained glass above the bar back. Maybe a college crowd, more male, definitely much younger. The theater is next door which helps to dictate the crowd. Food was very good, good weekly specials as well. Tab was cheaper than expected given food & fancy beer. read more