The Bar Guide 2015: Bro bars

The Loop West End *NEW*

5331 16th St., St. Louis Park • 952-681-2684 • www.theloopwestend.com

Long dominating the Warehouse District and Uptown, bro bars are suburban-sprawling — particularly in the Shops at West End. None is hotter than the Loop West End, which retooled the old, large, awkwardly laid-out Figlio space. A large central bar and more open floor plan make mingling and gyrating to Top 40 and '90s rap easier for twenty- and thirtysomethings afraid of street parking.

Yard House *NEW*

1665 Park Place Blvd., St. Louis Park • 952-417-0490 • www.yardhouse.com

With a McMansion-sized list of 130 unique taps, it's hard not to find a suitable beer at this national chain's St. Louis Park location. The spacious beer bar occupies 10,500 square feet of West End real estate near Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill — so if you left your overalls at home, stop here after your Costco run. Just don't be the bro who orders a 3-foot-tall glass (seriously) of an imperial stout.

Alary's

Bar 508

508 has a little bit of everything: a $3 happy hour, restaurant seating, dance space and 24 rotating taps. Be there when the downstairs is open and jumping — that's what makes the self-applied "party bar" moniker apropos. (508 1st Av. N., Mpls. • 612-339-0036 • www.bar508.com.) (S.D.)

Bar Louie

At night, the high-energy sports bar-gone-Miami-chic pumps commercial dance music, while a reliably bro-leaning clientele flanks the ample barstools, booths and high-tops. Craft-beer fans can find something to sip on the 40-deep tap roster, and its full food menu is available till close. But the crown jewel is the wading pool on its expansive patio. Is it July yet? (1348 Lagoon Av., Mpls. • 612-824-1529 • www.barlouieamerica.com.)

Blarney Pub & Grill

Chino Latino

It's no wonder suburbanites flock to this flamboyant fusion joint, with its glitzy facade and festive sake bombs, replete with a samurai headband. A sexy bar area and backroom lounge have nightclub pizazz. (2916 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. • 612-824-7878 • www.chinolatino.com.)

Cowboy Jack's

The Cowboy Jack's fleet planted a flagstaff in the party-bar heartland with this Warehouse District cowboy bar. A cap should be tipped to the beer-slinging buckaroos for offering home-game specials so close to Target Field. (126 N. 5th St., Mpls. • 612-224-9950 • www.theaftermidnightgroup.com.)

Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit

Jackson's Hole

The watering-hole vibe here is well manifested in a faux-rustic wood decorum. The second floor points to the change come evening: It's a wide-open dance floor with a second bar, games, scattered seating and a stripper pole. A 4-7 p.m. happy hour features $2 specials. (106 N. 3rd St., Mpls. • 612-343-5930 • www.jacksonsholempls.com.) (S.D.)

The Library

Driven by cheap drinks and specials, the Library is a TV-laden college drinking mecca. (1301 SE. 4th St., Mpls. • 612-604-1900 • www.librarybars.com.) (S.D.)

The Pourhouse

Stella's Fish Cafe

This casual seafood eatery lures lushes year-round with daily, early and late happy hour deals. If it's too cold for that skyline-spotting terrace, park it at the oyster bar and pretend you're in New Orleans. (1400 W. Lake St., Mpls. • 612-824-8862 • www.stellasfishcafe.com.)

Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill

If ever there was a time to attempt to pull off a Tapout T-shirt with cowboy boots, a night of countrified clubbing at Toby Keith's would be it. Hoist a mason jar of Miller Lite (probably) or watch weekend bands get the ranch-sized barroom rodeo rowdy. Cowboy ballers can procure VIP "barns." (1623 Park Pl. Blvd., St. Louis Park • 763-450-9999 • www.countrybarmn.com.)

William's Uptown Pub & Peanut Bar