The honest situation: the best dedicated pool halls in the metro sit just over the city lines, which is very Twin Cities. The in-city options are dive bars and neighborhood spots with genuinely good tables. Both are worth knowing. If you want serious pool on a Diamond or Gold Crown, Jimmy's in Columbia Heights is the answer. If you want a beer and a table in a room that is already the vibe, the South Minneapolis options handle it.
The best pool hall in the metro by wide consensus, run by former pro player Jimmy Wetch. Diamond Pros and Gold Crown tables, a full kitchen with hand-cut fries that actually deliver, and a room that takes the game seriously without being unfriendly to casual players. Six dollars per person per hour on weekdays. Monday nights women play free. No liquor, but beer and wine, which is the right call.
Read full entry →A South Minneapolis dive operating since 1932 with Diamond tables and a room that has not been renovated once, which is a compliment. Two pool tables, a dance floor, live music, pull tabs, and very affordable drinks. The go-to for pool in South Minneapolis among people who know.
Read full entry →A 38th Street neighborhood bar with a dedicated game room and four Diamond bar-box tables, plus darts and bingo. Full bar, sports on the screens, open for breakfast through late. The pool tables are the reason to come specifically, but the room is worth staying in.
Read full entry →A dedicated pool hall in Northeast Minneapolis, pool-focused and relaxed, without the sports-bar noise that makes some venues hard to actually play in. Good for practice, casual games, or an afternoon session. The most in-city option for anyone who wants a proper hall without leaving Minneapolis.
Read full entry →The Northeast Grumpy's is the one with pool tables, a Minneapolis institution in a room that has been welcoming regulars and skeptics alike for decades. Several tables, fifteen taps, the booths, the TVs. Walk in, grab a table, settle in.
Read full entry →Primarily a candlepin bowling destination, but the bar has a pool table and the whole complex is a good evening if you want more than one game on the agenda. Full restaurant, full bar, an NE institution. Best as part of a longer night rather than the dedicated pool destination.
Read full entry →The former Billiard Street Cafe, once named one of the top ten billiard rooms in North America by Billiard Digest. Forty-three tables including Diamond seven-footers and nine-foot Gabriels, a full restaurant with an elevated bar overlooking the tables, and an on-site pro shop for cue repair. Suburban, worth knowing if serious pool is the goal.
Read full entry →Sixty-plus tables, thirty-plus TVs, darts, a full bar, and the Masse Cafe inside. The largest pool hall in the state by table count, anchored in Burnsville. Drive-worthy if you want options, a league night, or just the sheer volume of tables to find a seat on a busy weekend.
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