Minneapolis has an outsized bar and cafe culture for its population — partly the result of a long history of innovative breweries (Grain Belt and Hamm's were Twin Cities brands in the 20th century; Surly, Fulton, Indeed, and dozens more craft breweries in the 21st), and partly because indoor life becomes essential during a Minnesota winter. The northeast neighborhood, the North Loop, and Uptown each have their own distinct drinking culture.
The best coffee is concentrated in the independent cafes of south Minneapolis and Northeast: Spyhouse Coffee (multiple locations) is the local chain that built its reputation before the national specialty coffee wave arrived. For cocktails, the North Loop is the current hotspot, with a density of craft cocktail bars that rival any American city of comparable size.