I enjoyed Masa & Agave, located downstairs in the Hotel Ivy, where I almost lived in a condo above the hotel. It's in an area of downtown that can get desolate after the workday, which is why I chose not to live there. However, after an event at Orchestra Hall, Masa & Agave was perfect. Gorgeously appointed, Masa comes across as classy, with prices to match. This is not your rowdy taco joint. Service was good, if a bit casual for such an elegant place. My short rib tacos were delicious, juicy, and flavorful. I enjoyed them. Cocktails were okay, but they lacked any originality. That was what I felt overall at Masa. The restaurant lacked an identity and came across as very corporate. If I were within a block and a half, I would return to Masa & Agave, but it wouldn't be a destination restaurant for me. read more

So far I have been here twice, and I would easily classify this place as a great spot for drinks, while an okay spot for food, with some highlight items. As a speakeasy, this place has very good vibes and allows conversations to happen in an intimate setting. The drinks tasted very well, too. I also found out later that it's located in Hotel Ivy. Prior to them changing the menu, I loved the birria tacos the most, primarily because they served the right amount of consommé for the birria they served. The meat was juicy and the cheese was fried very well, which honestly made it more like a quesabirria instead. The nachos were great as well, especially with chicken added. They layered the dish very well ensuring that one bite contained meat, nachos, cotija cheese, and the sauce all at the sam time. The pollo tacos were okay. I couldn't really highlight anything about them. The tres leches overally tasted pretty good, although I would recommend ensuring the base layer had more liquid milk texture so that it could be more of a "tres leches" if that makes sense. In terms of drinks, my favorite was the passionfruit margarita, because it had the right amount of tequila to maintain the fruity flavor along with alcohol. The diablo mule was very strong because it contained both ginger syrup and fever tree ginger beer. My friend ordered it, and I tasted it a little bit. It was pretty good. I had mixed feelings about the Mexican "Firing Squad" Special mainly because the ancho reyes was very strong and seemed to have overpowered the other ingredients, including the reposado tequila that was supposed to be the main factor. The drink had angostura bitters in there as well, which I believe gave the drink an aromatic taste. I have to mention that it was a bit tricky to locate the place. One will need to go down to the basement upon locating the side door of the hotel because another door would lead to another restaurant. I wouldn't have been able to find it if my friend who had already been there didn't lead me there. read more

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Been here a few times. Each time has been delicious! This trip was a late night snack. Just some tacos and drinks. Tacos were super tasty. My favorite drink every time is the Masa and Agave. It may sound strange with masa infused mezcal and corn milk (what?!) but trust me it is worth being adventurous. I also love that it has that speakeasy vibe since it's underneath another restaurant. And bonus, it's open late night, even midweek! We will be going back soon. read more

Masa & Agave - Fish Baja - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Went to Masa & Agave for a birthday dinner. It's such a gorgeous place! Located beneath a hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Parking is atrocious! But, I was able to get free valet for dining at Masa & Agave. Our servers were lovely. Very attentive and helpful. We ordered guacamole and chips with queso. The appetizers were good! The bummer about the tacos is they don't allow you to mix and match, you have to get the same tacos -- would recommend changing that. But otherwise, we each ordered tacos and shared them. The corn tortillas are VERY soggy and just disintegrate. The flavors didn't really live up to the hype, but it was okay. I'd go back for the vibes and ambience, but probably not the food. read more

Just finished a dinner at Masa & Agave. It seems to be a great place for drinks with a date, but I would never eat here again. The ambience is nice, dark, low ceilinged, soft Hispanic music playing. The service is attentive and VERY fast - WAY TOO FAST. I ordered chips and salsa, and a margarita, which was quite good. I believe the salsa was good but I had time to eat only 2 chips before a cook placed my birria quesadilla in front of me. The quesadilla was not good. The birria inside was delicious but made up only about 20% or less of the volume of the food. The fact that the food arrived so quickly means that it had been quickly microwaved or had been waiting in the kitchen under a heat lamp. My esquites side was good, but a small serving. Then they brought the check, which was incorrect. I pointed this out and they corrected it. In summary this is probably a decent place for a drink, but I won't be back. read more

Masa & Agave - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Found this spot from Tik Tok and added it to my list of must-trya during my stay in Minneapolis. The ambiance is beautiful and gives cozy feels. Definitely a great date night 1st stop spot for couples - apps and drinks. I had a 8pm reservation and was sat upon arrival. The menu is very straight to the point, limited options. The guacamole and salsa was the star of the show. Not so much the tacos. I did the order three and they make you choose the same three. I would have loved to have some versatility with my three choices. The street corn with my tacos was good though. read more

I used to love this space as Constantine, so glad they got something new here. Tying to find parking isn't always fun cause its pretty much street parking. Made reservations for a late dinner. Dimly lit lounge perfect for date night. Had some tacos and a few cocktails. Everything was delicious and came out in a timely manner. Sat close to the bar and the bartender served us. Really friendly staff and were very understanding of me being late lol. Will definitely be going back, maybe for my birthday! read more

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Masa Agave is what happens when aesthetics get all the attention and flavor is left behind. Yes, the space is gorgeous, romantic, chic, definitely Instagram-worthy, but once the food arrives, the magic fades fast. I ordered the *tabalones* (if I'm even pronouncing that right) it was short rib that was cooked well, sure, but somehow managed to be completely forgettable in taste. It was giving "slow-cooked disappointment." The fresh guac was the standout, but it felt like an accidental win in a sea of mediocrity. The menu is basically a greatest hits of Basic Mexican 101. Basic nachos. Basic mocktail. Basic everything. The kind of place that looks like it should wow you but delivers the culinary equivalent of a shrug. We were there for a work dinner, so I didn't have a say in the choice, and believe me, I wish I had. On the upside, the servers were kind and did a great job managing our big group. Too bad the kitchen couldn't match that same energy. All in all, Masa Agave is a beautiful backdrop for a bland meal. Minnesota, I expected more. read more

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This place has some amazing tacos and agave cocktails. I definitely found my new favorite, the Birria, it's two tacos with melted cheese and braised beef, served with an amazing dipping broth. Super rich, however every bite melted in my mouth. read more

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Delicious Mexican food awaits here! The atmosphere was nice - quiet and dark, great for a date night. The taxis were flavorful and reasonably priced. The chips and dip (not complimentary) were good but prepare for spice. I loved the traditional margarita but the tamarind one was not for me- very sweet. Service somewhat slow but good. read more

Bit overpriced on the food for restaurant week, but overall taste was pleasant. No free parking is a ding against them. I can't recommend this place though because they overcharged me on the bill, thankfully I kept the receipt. When I called, they understood the error and said the would make it right. Weeks had passed, still nothing, so again I had to call and escalate and get the right person (Hailee) on the phone and it was eventually resolved. Can't trust a place that doesn't charge the correct amount the patron intended. read more

Met up with a couple people here and didn't even know it existed. It was a little hard to find, but once I did, I was happy. You will need to street or ramp park because it's downtown. Is located in the downstairs of a hotel. We sat at the bar and both bartenders were super friendly and one was great at making drinks based on the general conversation. It was dark inside like a speakeasy, the ambiance in general was very chill. I ordered a passion fruit margarita that was recommended by the bartender. It was amazing. Not overly sweet either. I'd definitely go back. read more

Masa & Agave - Passionfruit Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Was looking to have a final dinner before I flew out the next morning and decided to try Masa & Agave. It's inside Hotel Ivy, down a flight of stairs. Vibes were cool, calm, and collective. Very speakeasyish. Quickly sat down and had a nice spot to myself. The waitress was amazing. She recommended the birria and elotes and I was excited to try. The dish speaks for itself. Crispy tortillas with cheese and plenty of birria with every bite. Onions were pickled perfectly and I could have drank that consume. Elotes was on the Cobb which was different than usual but I wasn't complaining. Nice hit of spice with every bite and the lime cut into it well. I ordered the churros for dessert and was expecting a few but instead had a mound of churros. I did my best but the churros won. Cinnamon and chocolate were spot on and each churro had a perfect bite. So happy this was my last meal of the trip in Minny! read more

Masa & Agave - Birria and Elotes with a Margarita Tradicionale - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This place has great food, greag drinks, and great vibes. It has a Speakeasy feel, that is so fun, with a sophisticated element. The guacamole is peak flavor, I highly recommend! The drinks are strong, smooth, and come in fun glasses. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was friendly and fun. The music can get a little loud, so sometimes conversation can be difficult across a table, but I can't wait to spend more fun and fabulous evening here! read more

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I visited Masa & Agave with a group of coworkers. The space was particularly dark, but I appreciated it was quiet enough on a weekday to have a conversation across the table. We started with chips and salsa with guacamole. I opted for a couple of classics - Red Sangria and Enchiladas Divorciadas. The sangria was scrumptious and refreshing. The Enchiladas were tasty and could use a bit more seasoning in my opinion. read more

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Stopped in on a whim as was staying in the hotel Sat at the bar as no reservation and we had great service from the bartender. Our cocktails were delicious but be advised on the stronger side -not a bad thing The guacamole and chips were also really tasty The atmosphere when I was there was perfect not too loud ,not overly crowded yet! Loved the speakeasy vibe Heard a DJ comes after 9pm so imagine it would be very busy and loud Great place for drinks with a date or friends night out read more

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The ambiance was great, but the portions way too small. If you go here, dont expect to get full. Almost tapas-like. Cocktails were good.

Masa & Agave is in a great location at the Hotel Ivy on the lower level. I have been waiting for it to open since Constantine closed. It is fun to see the changes that they have made to the space. I enjoyed the decor and the bar chairs were extremely cute and comfortable! There was a DJ that came on at 9 pm and the music made the atmosphere feel more alive. When my group arrived we were told that there were no open seats without a reservation. We were able to sit at the bar right away and ordered a round of drinks. The Passionfruit Margarita had flavors of passion fruit and pineapple. It was a refreshing choice and the sweetness was perfect in this margarita. Loved this drink. There is a guajillo salt blend on the rim and recommend not trying it or getting near it when sipping your drink. The Spicy Mezcal Paloma was both spicy and smoky. I would say this is a must try drink for even those that do not normally like spicy or smoky drinks. The Tajin rim is the perfect addition. For food the guacamole and chips were the best appetizer to share. The guacamole was chilled, fresh, and had such a great flavor. The Beef Birria Tacos were unfortunately not worth it. The was no flavor and the meat was overdone, it was chewy in some places and burnt in others while the tortillas were soggy and falling apart. I would focus on the drinks and guac! read more

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Very nice place in Minneapolis near the convention center. Ambiance is cool, with some great decor. My only problem was it was super dark. Im a little older so maybe it more of a generational thing, I used my phone light to read the menu, but probably would appreciate the dimly lit atmosphere if I was huddled up in a corner booth with a date. Mexican Firing Squad was a great drink to start with. Served up in a smaller clay "glass" like you see the the huge punchbowl sized margaritas you see in Mexican resort you tube videos. The chips and salsa was pretty good. The chips had the perfect amount of salt on them to be good by themselves and the salsa, red and green. Next drink was the Masa and Agave and it was the sleeper of the meal. The corn milk gave it a silky margarita vibe, but it was perfectly balanced between the sour/sweet that a good "margarita style" drink should have. I ordered the Birria Tacos.............they were good, but they were NOT Birria Tacos. Being from Texas I know what birria tacos are and again, these were good but they were served open faced, no oaxacan cheese melted inside. The consume had a good beefy flavor, but was not the salty, silky meat flavored broth it should be. Maybe everything is tweaked for a more northern flavor palette than a texas palate. Got the elote, its used served on the ear but the waitress said they could take it off the ear and that was a more enjoyable version because I could just get a spoonful of everything all in one bite. Finished it off with Tres Leches......YES. Specacular. If you're in MSP around the conference center, hit this place read more

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Very cool place. The have a parking lot located right next to the building which is helpful. When you walk in the door, if you go straight, that's a different place but the door on the right has steps down to the basement where you will enjoy amazing food and drinks. My girlfriend and I shared a couple apps and then had some Burria tacos. The servers were very helpful and kind and made accommodations for a toddler to enjoy. This restaurant is unique and really cool. I enjoyed the space as well as the food. Another spot I will come back too! read more

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Great food and decor at a restaurant within a really top-notch hotel. My critique here is (and I say this as a single person in their 30s who doesn't mind a good party): Is there a reason why the music is set to a million decibels??? I was sitting a foot and a half away from the two people I came there with for a 5PM happy hour, and the techno music was set to a level that was on par with a Las Vegas New Years party. We weren't able to hear each other at all. Literally shouting to have a dinner conversation. The waitress even kept having to ask "what?" multiple times when trying to take our order. My friend asked the waitress if the music could possibly be turned down, and she apologised for the noise, but there wasn't really any change from what any of us could tell, so we left and went somewhere we could actually hear eachother for a proper happy hour involving the ability for conversation. I would recommend this place if you like a club-music vibe at top volume. However, if you're looking for conversation and good food amongst friends, there are lots of other places to be had in Minneapolis within walking distance to Masa & Agave that would fit the bill and won't leave your ears ringing or wondering what on earth the person sitting across from you just said. read more

Service was quick and attentive. Ambience was great as well. Drinks were definitely a 10/10. For food, I had the tuna ceviche which was a 10/10 and refreshing. As far as the steak tacos, they were fine just a bit dry and lacking flavor. I would give those a 6/10. Will maybe try something else next time. Will definitely be back! read more

Fun atmosphere with a speakeasy vibe down the stairs in the hotel Ivy. We got agave cocktails which had the right amount of flavor and alcohol. There are a ton of different cocktails so we'll want to go back. They have food as well which we did not try. Seating at tables, bar. Fairly big for being downstairs. read more

Masa & Agave - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I want to give this a higher rating but just not there yet. We walked in to have a drink or two before dinner. The bar was full so we got seated at a small table which was fine, however, we never ended up getting any service. When two spots opened up at the bar we went there thinking that may help. It was about 10 minutes before we were even greeted after flagging someone down. They were busy and I know this spot is still new so I understand that the kinks are getting worked out! The menu itself is simple and cute. Really cool drink options, especially if you're a tequila drinker! We tried the sangria, which I know seems odd at a Mexican place, but it sounded good and it delivered. The food smelled amazing but we didn't try anything this visit. Definitely a spot worth trying and they supposedly have a dj later evening to bring more atmosphere. It's a cool spot for the area it's in as there are no other big cocktail bars in that part of downtown. We plan to come back again to try some other things! read more

Everything we tried here was delicious; I wish I'd been hungrier! Our table shared the Quesadillas & Papas Fritas. Both were super tasty, with large chunks of mushroom in the quesadilla & tasty salsa to dip in. The papas fritas taste like McDonald's with the perfect amount of seasoning. I tried 2 cocktails (plus we passed all of ours around to try) & I loved that the "Mexican Firing Squad" came in a fun glass. Our server was excellent & the entire vibe of the restaurant is comfortable & cute; I could see it being difficult to read the menu at night, but that's what phone flashlights are for :) read more

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We love a speakeasy and we found a new one in hotelivympls where Constantine used to be. Welcome to masaandagave a cantina serving craft cocktails and small plates. We had a great time. This is another place with stellar service and food! Our only warning is don't get the corn unless you have a high heat tolerance. I found out the hard way . read more

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The food was good. We had the tuna ceviche, chips and salsa, fish tacos and chicken tinga tacos--I would eat all of it again. The service was fine too. The reason for the 3 stars is for the horrific furniture and drink menu. All the chairs are so wildly uncomfortable it made for a negative experience. Also they should add some mocktails to their drink menu given the huge sober curious movement rn. The bartender made me a "nonalcoholic margarita," which was literally just lime juice. They should explore some NA spirits, shrubs, etc, for the alcohol-free crowd. read more

Masa & Agave - The salsa verde had mint and was SO good - Mexican Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The food was really basic and the drinks were really basic considering how expensive the whole experience was. I received an espresso martini with no espresso in it. The tacos are just like any other tacos you've ever had in the city but twice the price. And it's unnecessarily dark in there. read more

I had a really disappointing experience at Masa & Agave Cantina in Minneapolis on a Saturday night. The restaurant was nearly empty, so I expected decent service--but what I got was unacceptable. We arrived at 10:20 PM, were seated by 10:25, and waited... and waited. No menus, no water, no greeting. Finally at 10:45 PM, someone told us that the kitchen stopped taking orders at 10:30 PM--even though their own menu says the full food menu is available until 11 PM. The worst part? Our waitress blatantly ignored us while checking on every other table nearby--including a group that came in after us and got their food before we were even acknowledged. It felt like we were invisible. After 30 minutes with zero service, we left. This was a bad customer experience from start to finish. If you're looking for great hospitality or even basic acknowledgment, this is not the place. Poor communication, unprofessional service, and no accountability. I won't be coming back, and I don't recommend it. read more

I found this restaurant to be just ok. The food (guacamole and enchiladas) and cocktails were fine, but I could not get over how dark the restaurant was (yes, I'm old). Also, I know they are new but there were a few glitches with servers bringing food out to the wrong table or wandering around the restaurant trying to find which table gets the food. That happened to our party a few times. In conclusion, there are other Mexican restaurants that have better ambiance, food and service so I don't feel compelled to go here a 2nd time. read more

We tried the birria, rice and beans, and guacamole. Honestly.... Maybe I'm spoiled because I live in Southern California but it was a bit bland, and lackluster. read more

Below average food...don't get the oyster mushroom tacos, bland and no flavor I enjoyed the cocktails though and fun atmosphere read more

This place is beautiful! I love the decor, the seating, the plating, everything looked great. The service was super welcoming as well and everyone was very kind. They also had a DJ when we were there that was playing all the right music. The waitress recommended the passionfruit margarita and it was pretty good. I do love spice but I felt the spice in this was kind of just thrown in there, and I wouldn't order it again. We also tried the paloma but I did not like the taste at all, and was not able to drink it. The drinks were very strong though which we appreciated! We had some chips and salsa which were alright, but only the red salsa was good to eat as the green one was too salty. I was hoping this would be more authentic as they had the aesthetic down, but the menu was pretty disappointing and pricey. Overall I enjoyed the experience but unfortunately I would not go back. read more

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Black beans & rice are vegetarian but bland. Margaritas are odd - all seem to be missing sweetness, even on a build-your-own that I specifically asked for Cointreau in. It's just meh hotel grade stuff. read more

Ambiance is great! Cocktails were good, guacamole was good and the birria is awesome! One star docked because the chicken tinga tacos were flavorless. Big bummer! For $7 a taco, it was a miss read more

We had a wonderful rehearsal dinner on May 2nd at Massa & Agave. As mother of the groom I worked closely with Erica Wolfe, Associate Director of Catering and Events at the Cleveland Westin. Erica was helpful as I had to plan the rehearsal dinner from out of state. I met with her a few times to discuss the Tacos and Tequila menu. Erica answered all my questions thoroughly and showed me different options on room set up. My timing the night of rehearsal dinner was tricky as I the wedding rehearsal was 40 minutes from Massa & Agave. I asked Erica if I could bring in the decorations (vases of flowers, signage, pictures of the couples, etc.) early afternoon and she agreed to have the tables set up so all I needed to do was decorate. When I arrived, she had a cart ready for me to load all the decorations. The ambiance of the room was casual and simple which was exactly what we wanted. Erica introduced me to the manager, Austin; the bartender, Anthony; the chef, Felipe; and servers Corrine and Herman. What a wonderful staff as they catered to every need with a smile. It was evident they all had a great time ! I have never seen a staff so attentive and engaged with the guests. The food was absolutely wonderful from the Chicken Tinga to the fresh guacamole. It was constantly replenished and served warm. The guests kept telling me this was the nicest rehearsal dinner they had ever attended and complimented the staff. The food was muy sabrosa. Felipe even left the kitchen at the end of the night and mingled with some of the guests. One in particular was my special needs nephew who so enjoyed speaking with Felipe. It was so wonderful to see my nephew so engaged. Felipe made his night! Thank you Erica and staff for everything! read more

Our server Abbey was wonderful. She was very sweet, attentive was knowledgeable about the menu and was very open to giving suggestions. We had previously been to the attached restaurant upstairs, but,This was our first time at Masa. We were seated in a really cute comfortable nook area just under the windows when we arrived we were maybe the only other table there we stayed for a couple hours and people started to trickle in but the cute underground speakeasy feel of the place absorbed any of the other activity around us. The drinks we had were great twists on old standards such as the Moscow Mule and margaritas We had two drinks each and they were just as different as they were amazing. The food was beyond our expectation as it had a great authentic look and taste to it and definitely defied our expectation. The nachos were my favorite and I would definitely come back and have those again. And to end our evening we had the tres leches, which was the perfect nightcap to our meal. I also really liked the feel of This cute little spot because you could sit and have a more intimate or quiet dinner with just two people or you had room to have a party of six or 12 and still maintain that cozy intimate feel. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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My wife and I attended this place on a date. Fully enjoyed our experience there. The staff was very polite and attentive. The food was delicious and the drinks were well prepared. Very nice low light setting. WE will definitely revisit this establishment. read more

The margaritas are sooo delicious and refreshing. i had the tamarind flavor and was superb. Great place to start your night with friends.

Our group had four of the seven entrees on the menu. No raves. In fact four people ordered the carnitas. A chunk of extremely dry, flavorless pork was served. It was so tough we had to ask for steak knives. Even then it was a fight to cut through. We all gave up. Staff was pleasant and service was great. Wish the food was edible. read more