10 North Shore Minnesota Bars and Breweries

A trip to Minnesota’s North Shore is full of adventure with endless hikes and miles of wilderness. And I don’t know about you, but all that fresh air makes me thirsty! Luckily, you can find something right up your alley when it comes to North Shore Minnesota bars, whether that means dive bars, breweries, taprooms, new-age spots, and local watering holes.

Small towns along the shores of Lake Superior? Sounds like prime real estate for the perfect bar setting!

North Shore Minnesota Bars and Breweries

Make sure to fit in as many of these North Shore Minnesota bars as you can! You will enjoy the variety, meet locals, try new beers and cocktails, and experience the true north.

1. Hoops Brewing—Duluth

Best for: a quick stop in Duluth before you hit the scenic byway

A large, classic beer hall located in the historic Canal Park. Hoops Brewing has big community tables with floor-to-ceiling windows that show off their entire brewing system. It’s a casual spot with wood beams, a copper bar, and a long beer list! Stop in here to get your vacation started!

What to Order: Your Go-To Craft + BYOF (food)

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2. Castle Danger Brewery—Two Harbors

Best for: breaking up the North Shore drive with a beer

Located in Two Harbors, Castle Danger is a great stop shortly after making it onto Highway 61. It overlooks the shores of Lake Superior and you can take advantage of their outdoor patio in the warmer months. Brewed with the clean waters of the lake, the North Shore is present in every sip!

What to order: Cream Ale

3. Green Door—Beaver Bay

Best for: catching the game on Sunday Funday

This dive bar is so much fun. It could have been the nearly 2 shots of vodka in both Bloody Mary’s the bartender poured me, but regardless, I won’t forget drinking (somehow), watching the Vikings, and eating cheap frozen pizza here. The bartender was hilarious. The locals were awesome. And it was the perfect stop on our way back south to extend our vacation just a liiittle bit longer.

what to order: Bloody mary and a pizza

4. Papa Charlie’s Tavern & Stage—Lutsen

Best for: warming up after a day of skiing

Ready for a sports bar? Here is one of your best options! Papa Charlie’s has big-screen TVs, pool tables, live music, and pretty mountain views. It’s a tough spot to beat after a day on the slopes. And if you’re around for a Minnesota sports game, stick around and enjoy it with some rowdy fans!

What to Order: Papa’s Deluxe Hand-Tossed Pizza and a beer

5. Gunflint Tavern—Grand Marais

Best for: enjoying live outdoor music with a beverage

Gunflint Tavern is both modern and rustic with an extensive beer menu, seasonal cocktails, and tons of fresh food options. This is my favorite bar in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Their restaurant/bar is split into a few different sections and I highly recommend The Ravens Nest, their rooftop deck complete with a full-service bar, a view of the harbor, and live music. They are even able to close the space off for the freezing Minnesota days. If it’s still too chilly to be outside, try to sit in The Raven, a timber-framed pub across the hall from the main bar. It has an awesome atmosphere.

What to Order: seasonal cocktail or beer & Grilled walleye sandwich

Seriously, if you plan to eat, don’t skip the walleye sandwich!

6. Birch Terrace—Grand Marais

Best for: drinking too much light beer

You might not find this place on too many Grand Marais recommendations lists. We were having a tough time getting in anywhere (welcome to Grand Marais in the fall…) and settled for Birch Terrance. They have both a supper club (quieter, fancier) and a bar (full of locals, rowdy), and we opted for the bar. And you guys, this bar has carpet. LOL. If that’s not a dive bar, I don’t know what is. But honestly, it was a lot of fun! And their food is above average bar food.

what to order: draft beer and a burger

Note: Parking is in the back. And there are separate entrances for the bar and the supper club.

7. Voyager Brewing—Grand Marais

Best for: drinking craft beer on a patio

One of the busiest places in Grand Marais. Voyager Brewing has a rooftop patio that overlooks Lake Superior with the best seats in the house. But don’t worry, you can still see the water from the taproom and the inside adds a cozy fireplace for the perfect ambiance.

What to Order: Your Favorite Craft Beer and Wings

8. Poplar Haus—Gunflint Trail

Best for: hand-crafted cocktails on the deck overlooking Poplar Lake

This is one of the more trendy and new-age restaurants/bars on the North Shore. And Poplar Haus is 100% worth driving 40 minutes up the Gunflint Trail. Their food/menu resembles that of the Minneapolis foodie scene vs. a small town up north! The inside is super clean and spacious. And it’s cozy with a fireplace and funky lighting. That said, if it’s nice enough, you can’t beat the outdoor deck.

Their Google rating is a 4.9 so that’s really all you need to know!

What to Order: Your Favorite Cocktail and Duck Wings

9. Gunflint Lodge—Gunflint Trail

Best for: enjoying a relaxing beer in the woods overlooking the water

If you are going to make your way up Gunflint Trail for Poplar Haus, you might as well drive the extra 5 miles to check out Gunflint Lodge too! (The best way to do Gunflint Trail is bar hop! Get the details in my Gunflint Trail post.) Warm, cozy, and peaceful. This place definitely makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the wilderness. And it’s perfect for a beer and an appetizer.

What to Order: Beer on Tap and Walleye Cakes

10. Hungry Jack’s—Gunflint Trail

Best for: chillen out with a beer in hand

Another stop on your Gunflint Trail bar crawl! While the other bars on the trail give you both trendy and a wilderness lodge vibe, this is your classic bar, located in the basement of the Hungry Jack’s Lodge, 2 miles off the Gunflint Trail. It has a full bar, high-tops, low-tops, and a log interior, naturally touched up with some animal mounts. Stop in to catch some of a game, warm up inside, or enjoy the outdoor space with a beer!

What To Order: Light Beer and a Pizza

Visit Bars #8-10 when you spend a day exploring the Gunflint Trail – get all of the details.

North Shore Minnesota Bars and Breweries

You will most certainly get a variety of options when it comes to North Shore Minnesota bars. Mix it up and try dive bars to breweries and everything in between. It’s the perfect way to get a feel for the area and culture, as well as meet locals and try new drinks. (BONUS: Read Road Trip Stops Off I-35 in Minnesota for a few more on your way up!

Wake up with a headache?

Read North Shore Minnesota Coffee Shops and Cafe’s to get everything back to equilibrium!

What did I miss? Comment below with your favorite North Shore MN bars!