St. Paul’s chic Emerald Lounge follows up on the promise of its name, incorporating vivid green details throughout its cozy, living room-esque space. Here, cocktails range from a fall-spiced Old Fashioned to La Petite Mort, a low-proof, effervescent blend of orange aperitivo, cava, and absinthe. Oh, and the bar claims to make the coldest martini in town. Emerald Lounge also offers food and desserts — curl up in one of the booths with a maple and clove creme brulee.

Nestled into St. Paul’s Mac Groveland neighborhood, Chip’s Clubhouse is an understated space with a nostalgic clubhouse style. It serves fresh takes on British pub classics, and has an excellent cocktail menu: Try a Tomcat Collins, made with local Tattersall gin, creme de fleur, lemon, blueberry, or a lime-and-orange Tee Tai.

In March, chef Kevin Manley and Anna Morgan transformed the former Stewart’s space on Cleveland Avenue into Gus Gus, an intimate, subterranean spot that’s by turns quirky, elegant, and exceptionally fun. From the drinks menu, Gus Gus’s trademark is Jell-O shots made with Aperol and Tattersall bitter orange, served as shimmery cubes on a plate. If you’re more in the mood for a sip than a bite, any cocktail here is a great bet, from the brown butter bourbon served neat to the effervescent Spritz Salato, made with Fino sherry.

Meteor made for an inspiring story during the pandemic. A long-time dream by expert barmen and co-owners Robb Jones and Elliot Manthey, the bar almost didn’t come into fruition due to COVID-19 — but a year and a half later, Meteor is standing strong. The interior is all walnut and brick and black leather stools, never trying too hard. But the drinks are imaginative and complex, changing week to week with the bartenders’ latest obsessions. Recent inventions include a pineapple toddy and a solera-aged egg nog.

Skaalvenn Distillery quietly debuted a lounge in late 2020, putting Brooklyn Park on the map of exceptional cocktail spots. Owners Mary and Tyson Schnitker put their life savings on the line to open their distillery, and have fostered a remarkable team of alumni from Travail, Fig + Farrow, and other Twin Cities hot spots. (Bonus: They offer health care benefits and PTO to their staff.) The cocktail lounge melds Japanese influences with Skaalvenn’s Nordic bend. The cocktails are nuanced and imaginative, like the Kornstock ‘99, which blends butter bourbon with nixtamalized corn orgeat, orange liqueur, and queso fresco.

Billy After Dark is the clandestine complement to chef Billy Tserentbat’s swanky North Loop sushi restaurant, Billy Sushi. Wander down the alley to the right of the building, and find the back door market with a neon sign. B.A.D. is both sleek and cavernous, the ceiling flecked with L.E.D. stars. Gaze on the collection of fine Japanese whiskies encased in an elegant, back-lit wall display. It’s best to make a reservation in advance.

Miaou Miaou is the cocktail component to Blondette, chef Danny del Prado’s new “French punk” restaurant at the Rand Tower Hotel. The bar keeps the French theme but infuses it with juicy tropical notes of guava, mango, and passionfruit. It’s a sleek spot for a nightcap.

Bar Rufus, concepted by local chef and restaurateur Danny del Prado, is the newest tenant of the historic Rand Tower Hotel. The bar and restaurant is cloaked in swanky shades of emerald, midnight blue, and bronze — it’s an homage to Rufus Rand, a World War I pilot and the namesake of the hotel. The cocktail list has a sophisticated French influence, from the effervescent kir royale to the Bonne Nuit, made with Rittenhouse rye and anise.

Arts + Rec, an art-themed spot in Seven Points shopping center, is Uptown’s latest bar. The menu is fun and snacky (think Dorito-crusted cheese curds and ham-and-pickle croquettes), but the cocktail list is a little more reserved. The August Bar, an homage to homegrown theater legend August Wilson, takes on a Jean-Michelle Basquiat decor style. Try the Heavy Hitter, made with ancho-infused Dampfwerks gin and lemongrass syrup, or a cranberry Collins.

This reborn neighborhood bistro has a cozy bar featuring co-owner Travis Serbus’ citrus-forward drinks. As of late, cocktails feature notes of avocado, grapefruit, and lime — the Moon Dog, made with mezcal, green chartreuse, and tamarind is a highlight. Try a non-alcoholic Negroni with juniper and bitter orange, or a tepache milk punch. Food from James Beard-nominated chef Jorge Guzmán makes for excellent pairings.

Talented beverage director Trish Gavin crafted the cocktail menu at Khâluna, chef Ann Ahmed’s latest venture on Lyndale Avenue. The restaurant is designed to emulate a tropical beach resort in Asia, and the bar menu deftly follows suit. The Balinese fruited tonic, made with jujube, calamansi, jackfruit, and frangipani is a highlight.