Great setting, but the bartender seemed less than interested that we were there. The smoked bourbon cocktail was like drinking a campfire. Way too much smoke. We also ordered a dirty martini and no olive juice was added. read more

The Rathskeller is my favorite bar, without question. It's such a cool environment. They also have a really great ragtime band that plays early evening every Friday. Cade, if you are reading this, I have to toot your horn a smidgen. Don't let it go to your head. :) He is the head bartender and has a huge specialty drink knowledge, including an award-winning smoked maple Manhattan. He keeps a great selection of bourbon and scotch. Not to mention the craft beer on tap. Go to the back of Tycoons and take the elevator to -1. :) read more

So I have been to many bars over the years. Never have I been anywhere where if the keg is tapped they make you pay for the 2/3 glass of beer that came out. The environment is nice but I don't want play full price for a 2/3 beer read more

I went to the Rathskeller right at open at 5pm on a weeknight. We were the first people in the restaurant's doors and the only people in the 'skeller. Some people may see this as a detriment, but I enjoy the freedom to chat with the bartender and not be interrupted by other annoying patrons. The doorman wasn't even on duty yet, so it felt even more covert. From what I had read, I expected a bar with a lot of hard-to-get beers on tap, but unfortunately I was not impressed. The tap list was pretty unexceptional. However, the bartender gave us a sampler of the Schneiderweiss on tap and it was excellent. I wish that I would have ordered that. The ambiance is awesome. You definitely feel like you're away from the world. I have no idea what this place is like when there are more than 2 people in it, but frankly, I don't really care to know. I loved the intimacy and the promise of great, personal service. I think this would be a great place for a fancy date. But personally, I'll stick with the Brewhouse. read more

The old brick work is remarkable. I am sorry to bring bad news... but we ordered a dozen drinks at least and found myself on the wrong end of a watery, cherry heavy manhattan. We actually ordered two and left both on the counter. I mentioned it to the bar tender and he said that we "DON'T KNOW WHAT A MANHATTAN TASTES LIKE!" Said that the girl who made it won several awards for making them. I'd guess he's lying but maybe they have Manhattan making contests in Duluth. Anyway, skip stopping in here, the staff was mean. read more

I really like this place and come here every time that I am in Duluth. The ambiance is great and if you come here on a non-busy time, I would ask the people that work here about the history of the building. The menu is fairly scarce downstairs, so we usually have a drink and dessert or appetizer. They will try to brag about the tap list, but I was slightly underwhelmed. With that said, I love this place and cannot wait to get back. read more

Beautiful space which is why I added an extra star. Came in on a Saturday evening with my boyfriend and found it very awkward that you have to stand in a single file line to order a drink even when it's not busy. I tried to order the pumpkin spice martini but they could not make it. I ended up getting an Irish coffee and chambord sour. My boyfriend got the written word. None of the drinks were anything special. Bartenders seemed young and inexperienced when we asked for any modifications to our drinks. I get it that this is Duluth and the craft cocktail scene is missing. This is trying to be an upper scale speakeasy but it's not giving. read more

Came here on recommendation of the Yelp reviews. His place is quite unique but hard to find. You have to go through to the back of the Blind Pig and take the elevator down. Best to ask the host at the Blind Pig for directions - they have the same owner they said. The Rathskeller isn't big, with low lights, candles on each table and a lot of stone and brick. They have a large drink menu and some apps/desserts. We got a few drinks and the fried cookie dough balls. The bartender was very friendly offered great suggestions. We were there about 7pm and it was about half full? The only reason we left and didn't order more drinks was because our meter had run out on the street. Otherwise we would have stayed which was a big bummer. I will definitely go back and recommend this to friends who visit Duluth! read more

We got into Duluth late Friday night and weren't up for more than a quick drink before bed after the drive. This obscure, historic basement bar was perfect. Cool, ambient atmosphere. There is a tight limit to the number of people they allow in at a time, so it was pretty intimate. Our bartender was super knowledgeable about craft cocktails, beer, and the Duluth area and very friendly. We came back Saturday night as well! read more

Very cool place for a cocktail. They had live music and great staff. I knocked off one star because my first drink was an old fashioned and it wasn't made right. They muddled a cherry and a very large piece of orange in it and it watered down the drink.. But then the server recommended a salted caramel manhattan and it was delicious! Also try the restaurant upstairs, tycoons. You can get dessert and appetizers in rathskeller, but the restaurant is worth going for a whole meal. read more

Do you want to live your dreams of experiencing the 1920's? Well, this secret bar is the closest you're going to get. Enter in through The Blind Pig, go to the back where the elevator is, and take it all the way down. There, you'll find a secret bar in what once was the City Hall jail. This is the coolest bar I've ever been in. The atmosphere is the best thing about it. There's lots of exposed brick, stone archways, mood lighting, old furniture, and jazzy music. It's definitely the place to be if you want to grab a drink and hang out while also feeling like a mobster. read more

I love this place, great atmosphere and fantastic beer! If you want a cocktail they do these well too. Used to be a speakeasy, which you know if you've spent any time here, and the ambiance is probably the best thing! read more

Time travel to a time you could only imagine to 1889. Very quite when I was here but very cool ambiance that you would be hard pressed to enjoy anywhere else. Unique, dark and sexy with a taste of historical class! Check it out. read more

Super cool atmosphere. Word of mouth only bar. But the service was terrible. There were two people walking around taking orders. Me and my girlfriend sat down. We needed a minute because they only had a list of bourbons, scotches, brandies and such. No beer list or drink list. Im sure they could make whatever but idk it was kind of strange. The girl "serving" us walked passed about 3 times. We even tried hailing her over, bht she just glanced and would straight up sit down and talk to people for 5 minutes and then walked passed is again. We just left. read more

This is one of my favorite places to spend time in Duluth! Go here!

Really funky bar with phenomenal bartenders that know all the tricks. Smoked drinks? Yes please. Grab some fried pickle and provolone spears to go with your cocktail. Really. Just do it. read more

We come here every time we are in town. I love coming here. The drunk selection is amazing and the atmosphere tops it off.

The bartender Ivan was absolutely amazing. Having him serve perfectly mixed cocktails was a pleasure. The magic tricks he performed within the ultra bricked basement setting made the atmosphere that much more enjoyable. If you're ever in Duluth, MN, you have to come in for a drink. Also, you cannot go wrong with the smoked drinks. It's truly a hidden gem. read more

Great location and fun cocktails. The Smokey Manhattan was a favorite - "best ever". The pickle small plate was really good. Our waitress Ellie was very fun and shared the history of the place. read more

Really cool atmosphere with unique seating options. Previous experiences at this establishment have been pleasant with perfectly crafted cocktails HOWEVER... we brought our friends from out of town here last night expecting to have the same service but received awful, overpriced, watered down cocktails. I ordered an old fashion but was given a soda water with muddled orange and maraschino cherry; when we confronted the bartender he just laughed - VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE WHEN YOUR CUSTOMER ISN'T SATISFIED!! read more

We loved the relaxing atmosphere. We were told that it was an old jail house below the the old police station. Would have been five stars except for bottled juice. read more

A serious place with serious beer. Go during the week and have this underground city hall cellar all to yourself. One of the hidden gems of Minnesota. One of my favorite places on earth. read more

I really wanted to love it! Such a unique look. After sitting for 20 minutes we went to the bar to order our drinks and drop off the dirty glasses that were on our table. Sadly, it then took another 20 minutes before any wait staff spoke to us (yep, that adds up to 40 minutes with no service) and then it was only to ask of she could steal our beer list to give to another table. We told her about our experience and she literally said "oh, ok"?! Not "sorry" not "I see your drinks have been empty for ten minutes, can I take care of that for you"......just "oh, ok". Disappointing but too many other really fab places to spend my money at. Won't be going back. read more

One of my very favorite bars...bar none! Great drinks, great staff, and stellar location.

What a find! Super romantic and chill. The cherry beer was worth the trip. You can tell there is a lot of history here. We will be back!

My Wife and I went down here for a quick drink. Love the ambient setting. They had a live jazzy band playing which was also entertaining. They have a decent selection in drinks. I would recommend check this place out. read more

My only complaint is I wish i found this place sooner. Such a relaxed place to enjoy whiskey, especially when it is half off.

As far as a cocktail bar goes for atmosphere - 10 stars. So, so cool. The beverages were just okay though and slightly disappointing. To be incredibly picky (and a pet peeve of mine) a cocktail with a maraschino cherry should be real, right? It was a grocery store jar cherry. That may be the millennial in me, but for the price I'm spending, a real maraschino cherry is a delight at the end of a craft cocktail. Overall I have to give them top reviews for coincidentally playing my wedding dance song on the weekend I'm celebrating my first anniversary. Would definitely recommend for a stop for the experience! Cheers! read more

I also frequent this bar and my favorite 3 things here are the duchess sour, the wings, and whiskey Wednesday. Since frequenting here, two of them have removed/don't have the duchess sour and the wings. The only thing that keeps me coming back is your bartender Kyle, and the good whiskey. Kyle is the best. They really do need to add the duchess back. read more

This place would be called "basementy" if that was a real word. Cool to check out once but not a place I typically visit due to the slow and unreliable service. It's not a huge place either so it's better if you've got a small group. They have a full bar. read more

This obscure and cool hangout is one of our favorites here. Great tap beer selection with a good balance of familiar/exotic/regional/international types. The menu is fine for a tasty late bite. The real star of the place is the room it's in, however. Totally awesome speakeasy-meets-European atmosphere. read more

Fabulous speakeasy!!! If you're in the Duluth you need to go to the speakeasy basement of tycoons!