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Drinks Downtown West, Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront

First Avenue

A place for a drink in Downtown West, Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront, moderately priced ($$) and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

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Why go

Downtown music club since 1970, famous from Prince's Purple Rain, with silver stars of past performers on its outside walls.

It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront, alongside 3 places to eat, 2 sights and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Murray's and IDS Center. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.

Type
Drinks · Nightlife
Neighborhood
Downtown West
Price
$$
Time needed
4 hr
Best time
10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Murray's

    Family-run supper club on Sixth Street since 1946, known for the Silver Butter Knife Steak carved for two.

    Food · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    IDS Center

    The city's tallest tower, with the glass-roofed Crystal Court; its 50th floor hosts a ticketed New Year's Eve Crystal Ball.

    Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Manny's Steakhouse

    Big-portion steakhouse since 1988, now on the ground floor of the 1929 Foshay Tower.

    Food · 0.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Foshay Tower

    1929 Art Deco obelisk modeled on the Washington Monument, now the W Minneapolis hotel with an open-air observation deck.

    Stay · 0.3 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Brit's Pub

    British pub on Nicollet Mall with a rooftop lawn-bowling green and a long-running New Year's Eve party.

    Drinks · 0.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Spoon and Stable

    Gavin Kaysen's restaurant in a former horse stable in the North Loop, open since 2014.

    Food · 0.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

First Avenue is a stop on our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront

First Avenue is our only drinks pick in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Minneapolis

Our climate figures for Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront come from nearby Minneapolis. Average daily highs in Minneapolis run from 22°F in January to 84°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For First Avenue itself, we suggest: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Modelled monthly averages for Minneapolis from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Minneapolis weather by month (covers Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for First Avenue, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
44.97830, -93.27610
Destination
Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront, Minnesota
Website
first-avenue.com

First Avenue: quick answers

How much time do you need at First Avenue?

Plan on about 4 hours at First Avenue. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit First Avenue?

Our pick: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Insider tip: Its New Year's Eve show sells out; buy tickets when they go on sale.

Which TripsCircle routes include First Avenue?

First Avenue appears on Minneapolis New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add First Avenue to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront.

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Lists & regions

Also in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.