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Best of 2007: Beyond the club

Superclubs used to be the rage, but in 2007 a variety of bars took center stage.

August 17, 2012 at 9:06PM

While drinking never gets old, where we do it changed a bit in 2007.

Nightclubs didn't dominate the year's best new bars, as they have in the past. While two newbies stayed busy, the club scene as a whole sagged, according to some owners. Oversaturation, anyone?

But that's where the year's surprises come in -- and there were several. First off, the gay bar scene was rejuvenated with three new spots. In south Minneapolis, several busy bistros did a good job of keeping the neighborhoods awake on weekends. And in downtown Minneapolis, we saw a new wave of party bars -- those big, beer-swilling joints that run in opposition to VIP nightclubs.

10 new bars that matter


File photos. From left: Bank, Aqua, Restaurant Miami and 414 Soundbar. Aqua

It played nicely to the scene's mainstream tastes with a big dance floor, lots of VIP room and Top 40 club music. Celebs dig it, too: Timbaland and Fabolous partied there recently and celeb-dater DJ AM was a hit in November.

Envy

This slick nightclub was the next step for owner Deepak Nath, who already had a popular club with Fahrenheit. He closed that place, moved down a block and upped his game with a spot that's bigger, sexier and has better bathrooms.

The Loop

No one expected nightclub-like lines to be snaking out of this casual bar in the condo-heavy North Loop. Now its owners want more. Come February, their version of a party bar/restaurant will open in the vacated Old Chicago space on 1st Avenue.

Cafe Maude

Neighborhood nightlife heated up in south Minneapolis this summer when this bistro opened with a mix of boho-artiness and fine dining (plus drinks by guru Johnny Michaels). Six months later, you still need a reservation at dinnertime. Late nights are good, too, with jazz and world music on weekends. To accommodate larger groups, the owner plans a sister space across the street called "Maude Too" for April.

Pi

This lesbian bar filled a void left by the closing of two like-minded hangouts. The space in Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood houses a restaurant, nightclub and art gallery.

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Camp

St. Paul got new blood when two gay bars opened downtown. While Innuendo is nice, Camp is beautiful. It recently expanded into the space next door and outfitted a mezzanine for its coming VIP bottle service.

Soundbar

Club maestro Johann Sfaellos returned with an intimate nightclub that features an Omnitheater-like dance room, a roving violinist and house music. It's a bit different, but worth a look.

Restaurant Miami

What a ride it's been for this '80s haven, where "Scarface" ridiculousness meets "Miami Vice" cheese. After opening with a bang, business tapered off during Lake Street reconstruction. With a 2 a.m. license now, the place is making a comeback.

Bank

Yep, it's a hotel bar. But with its sweeping 34-foot ceilings, you can get dizzy even without one of its fine cocktails.

Sneaky Pete's

Downtown loves party bars, and this rookie knows how to do it. Ain't nothing wrong with ladies dancing on the bar, pouring shots, right?

Two that debuted in late '06 but ruled in '07

Bootleggers

The concept is simple: cover band, no glitz, lots of beer. Now its owners want to make it a chain. A second Bootleggers is expected to open next summer in Milwaukee.

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The Bulldog N.E.

What a year it's been for this beer pub -- and let's not even talk about the chef-squirting-mustard incident. The second Bulldog helped make East Hennepin a destination for beer geeks. Now its owners want to open another.

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about the writer

Tom Horgen

Assistant Managing Editor/Audience

Tom Horgen is the Assistant Managing Editor/Audience, leading the newsroom to build new, exciting ways to reach readers across all digital platforms.

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