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Best College Bars In Minnesota

There's a specific type of bar that caters to those who are still enrolled in classes. Places of cheap drinks, nightly events and dance parties, where those stressing about that last exam unwinding with a few drinks reign supreme. This is the college bar. Minnesota is known for its plethora of higher learning institutions, and as a result, there are plenty of places for students to get their drink on.

Please note, this list is limited to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, where the highest concentration of colleges and universities, including one of the largest schools in the nation (University of Minnesota), is located.

Kitty Cat Klub
(credit: Kitty Cat Klub)

Kitty Cat Klub
315 14th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 331-9800
www.kittycatklub.net

A little different than your average cheap beer and rail drinks-type college bar, the Kitty Cat gives U of M students something a little cooler. The interior is low-key cool, with a type of mysterious vibe normally reserved for more upscale lounges. Weekends see some of the best music and dancing in Dinkytown, and the outdoor patio offers some of the best view of downtown Minneapolis.

Groveland Tap
1834 St Clair Ave
St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 699-5058
www.grovelandtap.com

Beer is something that has helped many a college student enjoy their post-high school education. The Groveland Tap's extensive list is one that will make beer snobs happy, without the beer snob mentality that often accompanies the craft movement. It's so close to Macalester College you can almost hear the revelry while you're stuck in class. But you always know you can stumble right over for some deep fried pickles, burgers, and of course, cold beer, as soon as your day is done.

Kitty Cat Klub
(credit: Kitty Cat Klub)

Stub & Herb's
227 Oak St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 379-0555
www.stubandherbsbar.com

College is often about tradition. And for a campus pub that has stood the test of time, you won't find anywhere better than Stub and Herb's. Thursday night, with their infamous "Kill the Keg" night, is part of any young student's education. While this might be the bar that your dad and granddad also drank at, it hasn't lost any of its charm, and it's a great place to watch a Gophers game, drink cheap beer and get a little rowdy with your friends. It is tradition, after all.

Related: Best Bars For March Madness In Minnesota

The Library
1301 4th St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 604-1900
www.librarybars.com/minneapolis

It's big, it's loud, it's cheap, it's fun. Everything you really need from a college bar can be found at the Library, where students from all walks of life gather to drink and dance and maybe strike up the nerve to talk to the cutie from Psych class. Cheap is one of the key words here, as both the food and the drink can be had at broke-college-kid prices, and if you want to know where everyone is starting their Friday night, this is usually it. Head upstairs to grab a seat and maybe watch some sports, or head to the basement to hit the dance floor.

The Wild Onion St. Paul
(credit: wild-onion.net)

The Wild Onion
788 Grand Ave
St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 291-2525
www.wildonionbar.com

This is a pure example of a college bar. For those who try and continue the fun at Wild Onion after their college years are behind them, well, good luck. St. Thomas students are joined by those from the other surrounding colleges, Hamline, Concordia, St. Kate's, to turn the weekends into the true college party. Add nightly specials and parties, cheap drinks, a pour-your-own-booze Bloody Mary Bar on the weekend and you got yourself a bona fide college hotspot.

Related: Best Bars With Ladies' Nights In Minnesota

Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.
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