Restaurants close to Target Center

I am looking for a restaurant to go to before a concert at the Target center. Something fun maybe with a happy hour nothing to expensive and within walking distance. I would also like outside parking or street parking. What%26#39;s the parking situation like downtown?

Restaurants close to Target Center

You won%26#39;t find free parking in that area of downtown -- especially with a show going on. I think your best option is the Loon, a block away from the Target Center. Across the street from the Loon is a surface lot. It%26#39;s on the corner of 5th Street and 1st Ave. North. Perfect spot to park if you want to be outside of a ramp.

Loon is a bar with bar food that is pretty good. Not sure what day the show is but you likely won%26#39;t find much in the way of happy hours on the weekend before the show. At 8 (probably too late if you%26#39;re going to the show) a handful of places like the Refuge, Rosens, etc. have a $2 rail drink special. Drink (kiddie corner from Loon but no food) will likely have a special or will have girls in tiny shirts handing out Free Drink coupons.

Restaurants close to Target Center

Actually, another option you can walk to from that same lot is Imperial Room. A short walk down 1st away from the arena. It has been known to have some specials on all days -- depends if you like the drinks they have on special. Food is pretty good too (again, for a bar)./

There%26#39;s free parking on the street on meters that don%26#39;t charg after 6 p.m. Mon-Fri.

The meters in front of my building are like that - at 7th Street %26amp; 5th Avenue. About 5 quick blocks to Target Center.

The closer you get, then the meters are M-Sun til 10 p.m.

You have plenty of options for dining before. The ones by the Target Center get packed (O%26#39;Donovans, DrinkBar, Loon, Rosens, 409, etc.)

But consider a few maybe an extra block away -

Palamino, RockBottom, Ikes, Hells Kitchen, Brits, the Local, etc.

If you want to pay to park, there are huge ramps by Target Center, and it can%26#39;t be more than 10 - 12 bucks for the event.

I haven%26#39;t been to O%26#39;Donovan%26#39;s Irish Pub in a while but it was good and not overly expensive last time I was there.

Before the britt. spears concert last week I met some friends at The Ugly Mug on 1rst (like 4-5 blocks before the Target Center). The parking lot right before it on the right is $8 parking but you have to put cash in an envelope and write your parking spot # and license place # on the outside on the envelope.

Pretty affordable parking and right next to The Ugly Mug.

The Ugly Mug had drink specials that Fri. night. They were $2 rails or 1/2 price drinks and also $5 appetizers like nachos, wings, mini burgers, cheese curds etc.

If you%26#39;re willing to walk a few blocks east or north, there%26#39;s plenty of parking around 5, when folks are leaving offices downtown. Again, you%26#39;d need to plug the meter until 6:00. Just park near where you%26#39;re dining and you should be fine.

Downtown Minneapolis had lots of great suggestions. Most places have happy hour until 6, or 6:30 if you%26#39;re a little further out. It%26#39;s a great idea to park a little further down on the light rail, there are lots of options on Washington. Just don%26#39;t plan to be in a hurry if you go that route.

Keep in mind happy hours do fill up quickly if it%26#39;s later in the week. Therefore it might slow down your service or make it hard to find seating for the HH specials. A great site for HH specials is ThriftyHipster.com/Minneapolis.

Have we narrowed down what night the concert is? Seems as if everyone is assuming it%26#39;s a weeknight? I would stress that finding meters is hit or miss -- unless you%26#39;re willing to walk a ways to the Target Center and then back to the car. I think it%26#39;s worth the small parking fee at the surface lot on 1st Ave. N. It%26#39;s close to everything and there is no danger involved in walking there. And no time driving around an unfamiliar one-way grid to find a meter. I guess it has to do with the visitor%26#39;s comfort level and how much being parked close is worth it. I think parking is $5-$7 last time I used the lot. I would try to call and check in case it has changed.

And yes, if it is a weeknight then there will be happy hours. I was assuming it was a Saturday night.

Thrifty Hipster is a great resourse to find downtown happy hours.

I like the suggestion of Rockbottom brewery. There is also NBA City which is in the same building as the Target Center. The food in there was good and not too expensive.