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Best Bars For A Blind Date In Minnesota

Blind dates are awkward enough, so when deciding on a location for a first meeting, it's wise to play it safe. Strip clubs and fetish bars are obvious no-nos, as are loud clubs and bars that attract an obnoxious-when-drunk clientele (if these types of bars are your scene your date should be spared on the initial introduction). If you've got a pending blind date, give these suggested bars a try.

MN Wine
(credit: CBS)

Lucia's Wine Bar
1432 W. 31st St.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 823-7125
www.lucias.com

Lucia's is a great place to get to know someone you've only just met. It's a small, intimate venue and a perfect place to grab a late-evening glass of wine. If the weather permits, enjoy sipping a glass of wine outside on the cozy patio as pedestrians and their pooches casually stroll by. If the date goes well, a romantic, leisurely stroll along the lake is the perfect nightcap. If the date tanks, you can always grab a post-mortem drink with a friend at a neighboring establishment.

Muddy Water's Bar & Eatery
2933 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 872-2232
www.muddywatersmpls.com

A vast majority of first dates take place at coffee shops (at least according to the movies), so why not meet up at a coffee bar? Muddy Waters combines the best of both worlds, offering specialty coffee drinks made hot and fresh as well as a selection of libations. Cozy, yet intimate, snag a seat inside or cozy up on the understated patio with your drink selection. If the date goes well, a hot cup of joe will keep you alert so you can stay up late getting to know one another. If it heads south, drown your sorrows in chicken-fried bacon.

Related: Best Bars For Groups In Minnesota

Beer Generic
(credit: Cate Gillon/Getty Images)

St. Paul Grille
350 Market St,
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-7455
www.stpaulgrill.com

If you really want to impress your date, the St. Paul Grille is just the place to go. With an impressive libation list which includes beer, wine and a selection of fine scotches and martinis, you and your date can sip on a favorite beverage or explore something new. The atmosphere is upscale, yet classic, creating the perfect environment for getting to know someone new. If the date goes well, a jaunt in Rice Park which the Grille overlooks may be a suitable ending to a great date. If it goes downhill, let the bartender pour you another as you as you share your stories of woe.

The SIX15 Room
615 2nd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 288-8888
www.six15room.com

Not your ordinary hotel bar, the SIX15 Room is urban sophistication at its finest. Located at the Grand Hotel, creative cocktails and an eclectic, swank decor will give you and your date an immediate conversation starter. Nibble on locally sourced goodies if hunger pangs strike while lounging on a couch or cozied up at the bar. If the date goes really well, booking a room is as easy as walking into the hotel lobby. If the date tanks, disappear into the hustle and bustle of downtown Minneapolis.

Beer
(credit: Jupiter Images)

Republic
221 Cedar Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 338-6146
www.republicmn.com

If trying to decide on a first date meeting location is causing you anxiety, stop over thinking it. You can't go wrong with a well-kept bar with a casual and laid-back atmosphere like Republic. A full bar, craft brews and rotating taps combine to offer a good libation selection and a great happy hour means late-night drinks won't break the bank. If the date goes well, spring for some snacks and share an appetizer. If the date is far from amazing, drown your sorrows in a neighboring dive bar.

Related: Best Bars With Local Brews In Minnesota

A Minnesota native that was born and raised Up North, Minneapolis is where Christina Kalinowski currently calls home. Christina appreciates irony, loves bacon, enjoys a hearty libation (drink responsibly, folks), and is an avid proponent of the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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