From Concept to Kickoff: The Rabbit Hole's Journey to the North Loop

It's official! The Rabbit Hole — one of the newest bars in North Loop — has been open and satisfying patrons for a year! Ever since February, 2025, we have seen our dedication to fun, community, and a great menu get rewarded with some of the best crowds in the neighborhood.

The North Loop has long been a hotbed for great bars and restaurants, but there was one thing it was missing. There was no real North Loop sports bar that combined the energetic, fun atmosphere of a neighborhood pub with the class and refinement that makes the North Loop such a great destination in the first place.

When a 15,000 sq ft space became available, The Rabbit Hole's ownership group jumped at the chance to create the best sports bar in Minneapolis. But even more than that, they saw the opportunity to make a space that people always had a reason to come to — no matter what sport is on TV.

That's the biggest reason the place is called The Rabbit Hole. You come in on game day in Minneapolis for the big screen TVs, but then you get the food, and then you come back for trivia night and pull tabs, and then you pop in for live music, and on and on. There is always more to discover the deeper you go. 

You know. Like with a rabbit hole.

Designing the Perfect Game Day Atmosphere

When creating The Rabbit Hole, the goal wasn't simply to make a unique sports bar concept into a reality. The goal was to create the best sports bar experience possible. To that end, one of the owners, Jay Ettinger, personally verified that every seat in the place provided a good view of at least two TVs so that no one would have to miss out on the game they came out to see.

But the design of The Rabbit Hole has more depth than that. The sports bar atmosphere is uniquely Minnesotan and caters to every way different patrons like to watch sports. 

• Layout: Featuring group tables, reservable private areas, solo seats, and standing bar room, sports fans can get the exact game day experience they prefer.
• Screen Placement: There are 42 big screen, HD TVs throughout the bar, with a 200 inch LED screen for featured games. The sound system applies live music quality to the game day experience with lighting that sets a perfect mood for any event.
• Local Art and Design: Accented with work by local artists and full of subtle design flourishes made with Minneapolis culture in mind, The Rabbit Hole always provides a special, local sports bar experience.
• Versatility: With the different seating options and all the different screen options, The Rabbit Hole is suited to everything from weekday lunches to Sunday kickoffs.

Crafting a Menu that Goes Beyond Bar Food

The North Loop is full of some of the most famous Minneapolis foodie spots, and even though it is primarily a sports bar, The Rabbit Hole fits right in with the neighborhood. With a chef-driven menu designed by Chef Thomas Pivec, you will not believe how delicious game day can be.

• Locally Sourced Ingredients: In keeping with the goal of offering a unique, Minnesotan experience, The Rabbit Hole provides a bar menu with local ingredients.
• Elevated Bar Classics: The Rabbit Hole is the home of incredible, elevated bar food. Think Korean wings, truffle fries served with bearnaise, and a giant mozzarella stick that can stretch up to eight feet — and those are just some of the appetizers.
• Signature Cocktails and Local Brews: Fast becoming a staple of North Loop nightlife, the local beers and signature cocktails at The Rabbit Hole are second to none. And take note: some cocktails aren't on the menu proper. Take the time to investigate, and you'll be blown away!

What's Next at The Rabbit Hole?

Just over one year into our existence, the future is looking bright. We have established ourselves as more than just a sports bar with craft cocktails. The Rabbit Hole has become a place that has something for everyone, with more great stuff coming all the time.

When you look at the Event Calendar, you see how many different events and activities you can already enjoy. But at The Rabbit Hole, we are always looking to provide more ways for our patrons to enjoy their time with us — whether they come on a game day or a random Tuesday.

Here are just a few great things to look forward to:

• Weekly Events: On game day, you can have a great watch party in downtown Minneapolis, but on other days of the week you can enjoy bingo, trivia, karaoke, live music, DJ sets, and more. 
• New Collaborations: Having established ourselves as a great presence in the North Loop, you can look forward to more collaborations between The Rabbit Hole and local breweries, restaurants, and community groups
• Seasonal Menus: One of the great things about having a chef-led dining philosophy is letting that chef develop ideas that take advantage of seasonal flavors and ingredients. Look for interesting, limited-time dishes to join the menu in the months and years to come.
• Evolving the Space: Even a great place has opportunities to improve. As we have become a year-round hangout space, we are always looking for ways to improve the patron experience through improving traffic patterns and incorporating more ideas for our patio.

Take a 3D Tour

Experience the North Loop's Best Sports Bar for Yourself

There are always sports to watch in Minnesota. There's football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey, soccer, and even niche events like curling or other Olympic sports that everyone gets weirdly obsessed with every four years. You can have an incredible time watching all of them at The Rabbit Hole.

Plus, you can rip some pull-tabs or play some trivia or watch a band or get down to a live DJ while sipping on great cocktails, cold beers, or taking a break with some upscale bar dining. The sky is the limit.

The great thing about hitting our one-year milestone is the opportunity to look at what we've done and see what great things we can create for our patrons in the next year and beyond. We got off to a great start, and we plan to follow it with a spectacular sophomore year.

So what are you waiting for? You need to get over to the biggest and best North Loop sports bar the neighborhood has ever seen to experience it for yourself. You can reserve a spot for your group, walk in by yourself, or grab a table with a few friends. There's no one way to fall down The Rabbit Hole.