Best Bars Near Target Center for Games, Concerts & Events
Best Bars Near Target Center for Games, Concerts & Events
You've found the event, set the date, gathered your group and got your tickets. Now, as the event gets closer, it's time to find the perfect spot near the Target Center to meet up and grab a bite or drink beforehand. The Target Center hosts many different types of events, including Timberwolves and Lynx games as well as concerts and other live entertainment, so finding a practical place close by can help make your night from start to finish. Let's take a look at restaurants and bars near Target Center that can make your event experience even better.
Target Center Restaurants and Bars: What to Look for
Looking for restaurants and bars near Target Center in Minneapolis is not just about location. Of course you want something convenient to the venue, but you also want to consider food options, space layout for groups, TVs for pregame coverage, opening hours, atmosphere and whether the spot works for you before and after your event.
Target Center is an indoor venue, hosting Minnesota's basketball teams, the Timberwolves and the Lynx, as opposed to Target Field, which is an outdoor venue nearby, which hosts the Minnesota Twins.
Matching Your Plan with Where You Meet Up
| If Your Plan Is... | What you want to look for is a place that has… | Why this is important |
| A quick drink before Target Center doors open | Easy ordering and a convenient location | You do not want a long meal when event time is approaching |
| Dinner before the event | A full food menu and enough time to sit down to enjoy it | Gives your group one meeting point before heading to Target Center |
| To meet up with a larger group | Plenty of seating and space to gather | Makes it easier when people arrive at different times |
| To watch other games before your game | Multiple TVs and a sports-focused setup | Lets the group catch other games, previews, and pregame coverage |
| Staying out after the event | Food, drinks, and a social atmosphere | Keeps the night going without immediately heading home |
| Going to a concert | A casual meeting spot that works for mixed groups | Not everyone in the group necessarily wants the same type of bar |
Bars and Restaurants Near Target Center Worth Considering
If you are looking for places to eat near Target Center for pre-event meet ups or bars by Target Center for post-event gathering, there are several options that can fit the bill. Target Center is conveniently located to both the North Loop and Downtown areas, so looking at both North Loop bars and restaurants, and downtown Minneapolis bars and restaurants, can bring up good options, depending on what your specific needs are.
The Rabbit Hole: A North Loop Stop Before or After Target Center Events
If you are looking for where to eat before a Timberwolves game or to grab food and drinks before a Target Center event, The Rabbit Hole, located in Minneapolis's North Loop neighborhood at 411 North Washington Avenue, is a gastropub and sports lounge with much to offer. With a full food and bar menu, there is easily something for everyone in their 15,000-square-foot space. Some menu highlights include Korean wings, smashburgers, a grilled chicken teriyaki bowl, tacos, and mac n' cheese along with cocktails, mocktails, draft beer, wine, and THC drinks.
Known as both a sports viewing and live entertainment venue, The Rabbit Hole works particularly well for sports and entertainment crowds. It can fit well within what you need from Minneapolis game day bars, including a sport-focused viewing setup with 42 HD TVs, but also for drinks and dining before any type of Target Center event.
The Rabbit Hole also has a roster of live entertainment and weekly events with flexible areas for social gatherings and qualifying private events. It also features one of the largest and most relaxing patios in the North Loop for summer gatherings.
Overall, it is a practical North Loop option before or after Timberwolves and Lynx games, concerts, and other live events, or a great jumping off point for a full North Loop night out in this vibrant Minneapolis neighborhood.
Red Cow North Loop: Upscale Tavern Vibe for Pre-Concert Dining
One of the North Loop restaurants you can check out for places to eat before a Target Center concert or event is the Red Cow North Loop on North 1st Avenue. It offers an upscale tavern atmosphere with gourmet burgers and an extensive draft beer and wine list. It hosts a lively pre-event crowd and is within easy walking distance to the Target Center.
The Freehouse: A North Loop Brewery
Another one of the North Loop bars near the Minnesota Timberwolves venue is The Freehouse on North Washington in the historic North Loop building. The place features an award-winning on-site brewery but also serves handcrafted cocktails and American-style comfort food, including lunch and brunch favorites such as Eggs Benedict and French Toast to dinner specialties like fish & chips, steak and salmon.
Tom's Watch Bar: An Electric Pre- and Post-Game Stop
One of the downtown bars and restaurants near the Timberwolves arena is Tom's Watch Bar at 609 Hennepin Avenue, only about a block from the Target Center. It is a huge sports bar and a busy place on game days, as the name suggests, serving up plenty from its massive beer selection and large food menu, including prime rib dip and cornbread pancakes. The place makes it difficult not to catch its lively sports vibe.
Lyon's Pub: A Neighborhood Pub in the Heart of Downtown
Another downtown bar or restaurant near the Minnesota Timberwolves is Lyon's Pub on South 6th Street and 1st Avenue. The pub is connected to the lobby of the Embassy Suites and the Minneapolis Skyway System, which you can take directly to the Target Center. It captures a classic English-style pub atmosphere and serves up food from scratch and beer, wine, and cocktails.
Before a Timberwolves or Lynx Game
Whether attending a Timberwolves or Lynx game, what you want out of pregame bars in Minneapolis can include meeting up before tipoff, getting food beforehand, or using a nearby sports bar as your group's meeting point. Then, of course, after the game you can be looking to extend your fun at postgame bars in Minneapolis that are near Target Center. Spots with more sports viewing usually help keep the sports excitement going. It can also be helpful to find a place that is serving food along with drinks if you plan on extending your evening.
Before or After a Target Center Concert
Looking for Target Center bars and restaurants goes beyond finding a place for before and after basketball games. The venue hosts concerts from a variety of different artists throughout the year as well as other live entertainment. Recently, performers such as Kasey Musgraves and Doja Cat, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Florence + The Machine have headlined at the venue, along with stand-up comedy tours and other entertainment, like the Hot Wheels Stunt Show, family-friendly shows like Disney's Worlds Collide Concert Tour, or holiday favorites such as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This wide variety of shows can bring in an equally wide variety of patrons, which means the right pre-show bar and restaurant near the Target Center has to be a place that can accommodate different needs.
Getting to Target Center After Your Stop
One thing that all pre-event planning must take into consideration is getting from that pre-event venue to the Target Center for your main event. Make sure you factor in enough time to get from the bar or restaurant to the arena. If your Google Maps tells you it is a ten-minute walk, allow yourself double that time so you have a buffer for unforeseen delays. Target Center has visitor information that can give you more details on parking, skyway connections and other transportation details like the light rail.
Make the Stop Part of the Night, Not Just a Waiting Room
There's something special about enjoying a concert, live event or professional sports game with friends and family. It's a fun way to spend time together and make lasting memories. Meeting before the event gives your group somewhere to gather, eat, catch up and avoid coordinating everyone at the arena entrance, which can be a hassle. Finding restaurants and bars near Target Center, such as The Rabbit Hole, that offer flexible gathering spaces, diverse menu options and friendly service can help make your outing even more memorable. Finding the right place means you are not just looking for a waiting room but a stop that eases you into the rest of your evening.
FAQs
What are the best bars near Target Center?
This depends on what you are looking for and what type of gathering you are planning. The type of place you want for a quick drink may be different than a full menu meal or a flexible gathering spot for a large group. The time of day and the type of event you are attending can play into it too.
Where can I eat before a Timberwolves game?
There are a lot of options, including The Rabbit Hole, Red Cow North Loop, The Freehouse, Lyon's Pub, and others.
Are there sports bars near Target Center?
Yes, there are plenty of sports bars near the Target Center, including The Rabbit Hole, Tom's Watch Bar and The Freehouse.
Where can I get drinks before a Target Center concert?
The Red Cow North Loop, The Rabbit Hole, and Lyon's Pub are some of the options for getting drinks before a Target Center concert.
What neighborhood is Target Center near?
Depending on what direction you are coming from, both the North Loop and Downtown neighborhoods are near the Target Center.
Are there bars near Target Center for large groups?
Yes, the area, both in Downtown and the North Loop, have bars that can accommodate large groups. The Rabbit Hole is a larger bar and restaurant that is set up for this type of accommodation.
Where can I go after a Target Center event?
Many of the same places that are good for before a Target Center event, like the Rabbit Hole and Red Cow North Loop, can also be good after the event.
How early should I arrive near Target Center before a game or concert?
It is suggested to arrive at least 15-20 minutes before a game or concert at the Target Center so you have time to go through the entrance and find your seat.