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    Public Domain

    4.1 (56 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Public Domain Photos

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    PUBLIC DOMAIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Public Domain

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    Reviews With Photos

    Crystal D.

    Public Domain is upscale and full of character. This bar has been around for 100 years and they give you a post card to show it. I love the post card as a keepsake for your night out. The cheese lumpias were a good snack, my fav part being the hot honey. But would pass on ordering these in the future. All the drinks are made to order, they do not have a set menu. I was looking for something unique and my drink ended up being a little off the mark but I think there is so much potential with this concept. I will definitely be back to enjoy this beautiful space soon!

    Interior
    Kayla B.

    THERE IS NO MENU HERE. This is intentional and by design. Public Domain is a bartender's wet dream. You, the customer, take a seat, and the bartender asks you what flavors and vibes you're feeling. You give them some answers including if you tend to lean towards specific liquors. They then craft up a cocktail from their memory bank of 150-600 cocktails and serve it up to you. The service is probably my favorite part of the experience. As they serve it, they tell you every ingredient in it as well as the cocktail name. (Every drink they've served I've been able to Google and find the recipe, so they're legit "accepted" cocktail options.) They've also been surprisingly accepting and knowledgeable about my dumb questions - like why a specific drink is served in a specific glass or why they chose that type of ice for it. Attention to every detail of your cocktail here is the name of the game, and the service here is pretty much textbook from the "how to be the best cocktail bartender". As soon as you sit down, you're greeted with a napkin and glass of water - even if the bartender is busy on the other side of the bar. When the bartender serves you, it's like their full focus is on you - even if it's a bar full of people. I got to chatting with a couple of the bartenders on a couple of my visits, and it was really interesting to learn how long they "train" to be allowed to work up here. It sounds like at least 3-6 months of working and excelling at the Tiki Bar in the back (which has a pre-set menu) while memorizing recipes and the reasons behind them before you're allowed to work up at Public Domain's bar. I will say that this is a place to expect a bit of a wait. I've only seen the bartop full (with none of the tables full), and we had a bit of a wait to cash out or ask for a new drink. This is not a place to rush in with a work deadline afterwards; this is a place to chill, relax, and socialize in the best of ways. This is seriously a high-end cocktail bar, and if you're a cocktail person, it's going to be hard to drag you out of here. If you like cocktails but aren't a "cocktail person", their attached Tiki bar (in the back) is a great fit too with a menu full of balanced and well-mixed drinks (not just sugar bombs) but with a menu to choose from to not scare you off. Two unisex, single-stall restrooms. Most of the seating is high top chairs/bar stools. There are a few booths. I don't remember seeing any low-top tables that would be wheelchair accessible.

    Jeffrey W.

    Amazing service, great drinks and chill environment. Little pricey per drink but a fun place to go for before dinner drinks.

    Spring rolls
    Ingi E.

    We scored a booth for our group of 6 when we got there but a line formed pretty quickly. Definitely seemed like a popular spot! The drinks and food that our group got were all delicious. I recommend being specific about your description of what you like in a drink and mentioning anything you definitely *don't* want (ex: dairy, smokiness, or certain fruits). The atmosphere is cozy and the service was perfect.

    Custom cocktails
    Paige P.

    Such a great spot for delicious drinks with a unique atmosphere in Minneapolis. No drink menus, just tell the bartender what you're in the mood for (whether a specific drink, or just a flavor profile) and they will mix pretty much anything. If you've ever been to Attaboy in either NYC or Nashville, this spot is almost the same! Definitely recommend it for a unique date night, or just a fun thing to do in a weekend.

    The Too Soon?  Orange, gin, cynar, lemon, syrup
    Jennifer B.

    It's a cocktail bar with no menu! You actually have to talk to your server/bartender. For example, you could choose a spirit or an ingredient to start ("I want a drink with: gin/cucumber/coffee") or give a general description ("I want a drink that is herbal and fruity/ smokey and with fall flavors/ citrus and spicy"). Them the bartender might ask you some more questions about what you like/don't like, or want/don't want and will disappear behind the bar to get to work. Since every drink is a craft cocktail, don't expect your drink to come out immediately. Instead, enjoy chatting with you companions while you pretend you are all secret FBI informants waiting to do an information drop (it is super super super dark inside of the bar). Did I mention it was dark? If you go while there is any daylight left and are sitting facing the door you will not be able to see anything because of the contrast between the light outside and the extremely dim interior. While not as bad at night, it is still very very dark. Cocktails are on the expensive side (approx $17-22) but I don't begrudge it because they are each carefully made. I have been twice, and everything I ordered has been delicious. 5 stars for quality of drinks, 4 for ambiance because sometimes I like to see people's faces when I am speaking to them. There is a small snack menu available. 4.5 stars overall.

    The front bar
    Mitchell M.

    Such a fun experience! There is not cocktail Menu, the mixologists/bartenders are amazing here and will craft fully custom cocktails made exactly to your taste. The bar is cozy, but still classy adding to the full experience. The appetizers/bar snacks were good, but are not the main reason to come here. If you have ever been to Attaboy in NYC or Nashville, this is a very similar experience!

    Steve S.

    You'll love this speakeasy style cocktail bar. Drinks are creative and strong. Staff is friendly and attentive. Pricing is transparent - $17 for cocktails with lower price points for beer and wine. Don't sleep on their $10 small plates menu. Enjoyed your yuca fries, Mexican queso spring rolls, and empanadas.

    Beth G.

    My boyfriend and I decided to stop in here the other night while trying to find a bar and this was a great stop! They run off no menu and make your drinks based off what you're in the mood for. The drinks were amazing and absolutely worth it but it was nerve wracking not knowing what they cost. It would be nice if that was mentioned before we get the bill. It's a cute moody spot that was fun for a spontaneous date night.

    Tierra SheReviewz Z.

    I can see walking in how this place has so many high reviews, it's beautiful. Overall the service was great. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of flavor of the food but maybe my expectations were different. There's a cozy dim light vibe that would be perfect for a date. But not my go to spot for a place for dinner. Parking can also be a hassle trying to find something in the street but I believe they have valet.

    a neon sign for a business
    Jeremy S.

    Our first time here. We waited for our table in the neon tiger room, it's a back bar used for overflow, they offer limited drinks and slushies. Once we got to our table, the personalized service was great! They don't have a drink menu, but they will make you anything you want. The server asks what kind of drink you typically go for and they concoct something for you. I said I liked smoky drinks. The waiter returned with the "Huntsman" cocktail. It was amazing!! Two of the ingredients were scotch and fernet. It was exactly what I wanted. We will definitely be back!!

    Menu
    Sam T.

    This place just opened up in North Loop and is a cute spot for cocktails and snacks! We walked in right when they opened which I recommend as it filled up pretty quickly. The bar has no cocktail menu, you explain the types of drinks / spirits you like and they craft something for you. Personally not my favorite experience as more often than not the drinks are just okay and they don't have vodka for those that are vodka drinkers. The ambiance is dark and casual, so don't expect anything super fancy. Cute place to checkout but wouldn't go out of my way for it!

    2 Besties enjoying their cocktails
    Teri Anne L.

    A friend told me I should try public domain because they curate the drinks... honestly a concept of you tell me what I'm feeling and you come up with the drink was dope to me and they did not disappoint. I also love the fact they don't serve vodka lol!! I opted for a tequila, strawberry crush type drink. Her's was French 75 inspired, the bartender rocked these! They even give you your recipe to take home if you like, no menus!

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    6 months ago

    Just meh. Good place to go if you want to keep it real low key. Difficult to get service at peak times.

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    9 months ago

    Excellent cocktails. Great bartenter..Stephan.. very old historic building. Must give it a try when in Minneapolis

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    10 months ago

    I've never had the food here but the drinks are very good and the staff are very friendly.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Public Domain

    Review Highlights - Public Domain

    We waited for our table in the neon tiger room, it's a back bar used for overflow, they offer limited drinks and slushies.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    We had heard about Prohibition before, and given its historical significance in the Foshay Tower,…read morewe had to check it out! Located inside the Foshay Tower, there's street and valet parking available! We entered through the W hotel lobby and took the elevator up to the 27th floor! We were met by a fun, retro-inspired lounge with many couches and tables available in a 360-degree set up. It has Prohibition-themed decor, but I wouldn't quite call it a speakeasy, as there wasn't any guise to entering or accessing the space. My only critique is that the space is quite dated, but not in a cool way. It could really use an update to the paint and interior to maintain itself as a "destination" versus just another hotel bar with a view. The bartenders were quite friendly and helpful during our visit. We had an Old Fashioned and a Paper Plane during our visit! Both cocktails were absolutely delicious and perfectly made. Now, at around $26 each, I would expect that level. Overall, a cool, historical spot to grab a drink!

    Easily one of the best bars I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. It has a laidback, speakeasy…read morevibe with an assortment of comfortable seats arranged in nooks. Their drinks are well-made and aren't shy on the spirits. Take the elevator to the 27th floor. It's up to you how you figure out how to get to that floor (suggest asking the front desk.) The elevators open up right into the bar. It's very cool.

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    Star Bar & Bistro - SHRIMP AVOCADO TOAST

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    I come to MSP often for work, and it's always a challenge to find a decent, healthy meal late in…read morethe evening downtown. Fortunately, the Earth Bowl at Star fits the bill and will probably be a go-to on future trips. It's a nicely seasoned, balanced, and clean-tasting assortment of greens, other vegetables, grains, and optional protein (shrimp was a good choice). And the generous pour of cab sauv complemented it well. Food aside, the space is very inviting and calming (and geometrically interesting, being circular in design), perfect for catching up on some reading during my meal. Service was also pleasant. The only thing is that there wasn't much else on the menu that appealed to me personally, so I'm hoping the bowl isn't something temporary or seasonal. In any case, I look forward to my next visit.

    I've been wanting to hit up Star Bar since it opened. I had a good feeling about the happy hour…read moremenu. It didn't disappoint. The food was great and the drinks were too. They even have hh in Friday. There's a lot to choose from on the hh menu. My friend and I shared wings, crab cakes, Brussels sprouts, and the whipped feta toast. All were delicious and portions are generous. Wings had a nice crisp and were substantial, not tiny. The whipped feta toast is a sleeper though, and prob the one I enjoyed most. Lots of accoutrements, super tasty. The sidecar was great and so was the Benedictine Manhattan cocktail. Strong but well balanced. We were greeted with a warm and thoughtful welcome, esp considering what's happening in our city rn. Staff were friendly and service was prompt. Nice, upscale ambiance and decor. It makes for a great after work happy hour downtown or a great spot for a more formal date night. Located inside the Indigo hotel. Plenty of on street metered parking on surrounding blocks. Will be back.

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    Went on Thursday night at 12. Not super a lot of people there. The dance floor was pretty empty…read more Seemed like most people were out on the patio. There were a bunch of different rooms, which all had different music playing. Didn't explore that much. Mostly just out on the patio and on the dance floor, but I saw pool and other bar games. There was also a photo booth, which we used. Overpriced, but I guess you have to expect that from photo booths. Drinks were so cheap ($4)! And good dance music from the DJ. Biggest complaint is that there is only one stall in the bathroom (the rest are urinals). So it was always busy because obviously there are a lot of people who are trying to use the stall. Had to plan your pees.

    Had my first experience at The Saloon for Twin Cities Leather Weekend early November!…read more The thing that struck me most is the impressive square footage of the place. It essentially has four-ish connected but separate "chambers." You come in on the corner into the first one which has a typical bar set-up with lots of bar stools to sit at. Further back there's more table-and-chair style seating because it's nearby their kitchen where they serve hot food; there's also a pool table and darts throwing in this section. Deeper in there's a couple more bars in smaller segmented dual rooms, which is nearby the main restroom (there are several, at least three restroom locations inside). Quite a lot of urinals in this establishment, but a lack of stalls to sit and do your business, which was a little frustrating for someone like me whose equipment requires sitting to pee. No gender segregation though, which I'd expect in this day and age of a queer bar, but still nice to see. The final room is by far the largest, as it has a bar but also a large open area like a dance hall and stage. For this particular weekend it was utilized for hosting the contest, but also a puppy mosh (iykyk). Even as big as it was, it was PACKED during the contest portion of the weekend, making it difficult to see or hear the contest. (I think they could use a more up to date sound system.) We got food while we were there, and it was great. I got a BLT for just $9 and it was piled high with bacon- they did not skimp. Eating it all was a challenge for li'l ol' me. Meals come with ruffled chips that are very salty, but you can upgrade to other side options like french fries, onion rings (which my husband did), etc. for $2. The food was honestly affordable, especially for the amount they give you; I think they do this to discourage you from leaving the bar to go somewhere else for food, which is a solid strategy, haha. Parking around here is... tough, as you might expect in downtown. There is a nearby garage though just across the street behind the bar that I think is just $5 for evenings? I'm sure I'll be back for future events. I myself am not a casual bar-goer, so I don't really go out to these types of establishments unless they're hosting something fun. Always nice when a place is a community gathering space in addition to their regular business. I appreciate this place exists and serves the queer/kink community in that way.

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    NA Beer

    The Saloon - Drank

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    Drinks

    Public Domain - bars - Updated May 2026

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