Last updated on December 21, 2022 by Wandering our World
Sioux Falls is known for being packed with activities. There are cultural attractions, waterparks, aquariums, and, of course, the Falls Park. However, it also has an active nightlife with an incredibly varied bar scene that to enjoy.
Sioux Falls’ bars are numerous in quantity and many are of great quality, however some truly stand out. They tick almost all the boxes: good atmosphere, excellent drinks, varied gastronomic offerings and plenty of entertainment.
And if it’s your first time checking out the bars in Sioux Falls we’re here to help! Below we introduce you to the likes of a cocktail bar housed inside an old bank vault, a bar with over fifty arcade games, an Irish bar which has free drinks in its happy hour deals, and a tiki bar, among several others.
Enjoy!
CONTENTS:
- The Three Best Cocktail Bars In Sioux Falls
- The Three Best Bars In Sioux Falls For Food
- The Two Best Bars In Sioux Falls For Entertainment
- The Two Best Bars In Sioux Falls For Beer
The Three Best Cocktail Bars In Sioux Falls
1. Carpenter Bar
Elegant cocktail bar that serves high-quality drinks, has a seasonal signature cocktail menu, appetizers, wine and whiskey options, and outdoor seating space.
If you’ve been looking for one of the best cocktail bars in Sioux Falls—and one of the best in South Dakota—you’ve found it!
Carpenter Bar has talented bartenders and mixologists working behind the bar every night. Each cocktail they make reflects their expertise and passion for their craft — and whilst this is true for every drink on the menu, it’s especially true for the signature cocktails. The recipes are highly creative and elaborate, and their presentations are so classy that they almost make the drink taste even better.
However, you can never go wrong with a classic cocktail if that is what you are craving. Carpenter Bar’s Old Fashioned is always perfect and made with bourbon from their extensive, excellent whisky selection.
The wine menu is fantastic as well, and you can pair your glass with a charcuterie board that includes berries, cheese, crackers, olives, and grapes.
The elegant ambiance makes the experience ten times better. The only downside to this bar’s beautiful venue is its size—it doesn’t have that many seating options. That is not a significant issue, though, as there is a front patio where you can sit and enjoy your night out.
Also, the elegant ambiance, quick service, intimate atmosphere, and upscale drinks make up for the small-ish space.
Hours of operation are from 3 pm to midnight, Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, Carpenter Bar opens at 3 pm and closes at 2 am.
Address: 215 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
2. The Treasury
Upscale cocktail bar with a fascinating venue, excellent cocktails, seasonal craft beers and wines, and a varied and remarkable food menu.
This bar operates in Hotel Phillips, and it is quite the sight. It was built inside the hotel’s old bank vault, which was completely reformed. Well, not entirely—the enormous round vault door and the metal bars remain untouched and now function as the bar’s striking entrance.
Once you get through the imposing door, prepare to be surprised again by the venue’s beauty! The interiors are stunning and display a dark and elegant mid-century modern decor.
The only downside is that this place is not very spacious, but it still has a fair share of well-distributed seating options you can choose from.
At first sight, the ambiance and decoration are the best part of The Treasury. However, the cocktails definitely top that.
Behind the stylish bar, expert mixologists prepare their innovative signature cocktails—the presentations are colorful and chic, and the flavors unmatched. This bar also has ever-changing wine and beer lists intended to appeal to everyone’s palate.
Regarding food, The Treasury offers elaborate appetizers and entrees. And in our opinion this bar’s gastronomic offerings stand out from other cocktail bars in Sioux Falls thanks to its originality, variety, and portion size.
Hours of operation are from 3 pm to midnight Monday through Saturday.
Address: 100 N Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
3. The Hello Hi
Stunning tiki bar that offers a unique atmosphere, rare cocktails, signature drinks, beer and wine, a pizza stand, and an outdoor patio in summer.
The Hello Hi is the perfect example of what a tropical bar looks like. The colorful lamps, palm trees, and wicker decorations create a beachy ambiance and atmosphere that can’t be found anywhere else in the area.
However, the tiki vibe is not only in the interiors. The drinks menu features fresh cocktails crafted with spirits typically used in beach bar beverages and tropical fruits. One sip will make you feel like you are lying on the sand somewhere in Hawaii, admiring the sea! The bartenders pour these drinks into fun glasses, some shaped like tiki masks.
The Hello Hi also offers signature and classic cocktails, draft beer, and wine. So, if you are not into fruity, strong-flavored drinks, there is still something for you to drink and enjoy.
The food menu is not as extensive as the drinks list, but it’s still very good. This bar serves pizza from Pizza Cheeks, and you can head to the back of the venue and order one from them. We strongly recommend the Veggie Pizza, as it is a regulars’ favorite!
If you want to see this beautiful bar and experience its amazing atmosphere, you can visit from 4 pm to 2 am every day.
Address: 120 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
The Three Best Bars In Sioux Falls For Food
1. Blarney Stone Pub
Friendly pub that offers authentic Irish cuisine, over thirty draft beers, Irish cocktail recipes, and daily happy hour specials.
This bar is a little piece of Ireland in the States. Everything from the interiors—with the dark furniture and floors, wooden bar, and stone arcs—to the atmosphere makes your visit feel like a trip to the Celtic nation.
However, the menu adds the most to the pub’s authenticity. Extensive as they come, it features classic pub meals with an Irish twist and uncountable traditional Irish dishes. Some popular ones are, of course, the Sheperd’s Pie, the Bangers and Mash, and the Irish Stew.
The burgers are highly requested, too, as they are incredibly tasty, generous in portion size, and come with signature sauces.
Every Irish pub must have an array of beer options, which is why Blarney Stone Pub offers thirty-six variations of draft brews. The menu covers every beer kind you could think of, even root beer! However, if you are not much of a beer drinker, you can still choose something from their original cocktail menu or vast liquor and wine selections.
This bar also has excellent happy hour prices and deals, such as a free drink with your order, which are available from 3 pm to 6 pm and from 9 pm until close, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, the deals last all day long!
You can visit Blarney Stone Pub from 11 am to 1 am Monday through Thursday, from 11 am to 1:30 am on Fridays, from 10 am to 1:30 am on Saturdays, and from 10 am to 1 am on Sundays.
Address: 333 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
2. Crawford’s
Laid-back bar and grill that serves excellent steaks and other gourmet meals, and has a full bar that offers uncountable wine, beer, and cocktail options.
This historic restaurant/bar specializes in meat, which shows in the menu as it features ten different cuts in the Steaks and Specialty Meats section! Those dishes are excellent on their own—cooked to perfection, not too dry, chewy, or rare—but you can add enhancements to make them even better.
However, Crawford’s also offers an array of alternatives to steak, such as seafood, pasta, and grilled pizza. This restaurant also has specialty dishes and desserts, from which the Apricot Basil Pork Shanks and the Creme Brûlée are the most requested and acclaimed ones.
Crawford’s bar is of the same quality as its kitchen. With seemingly endless wine and beer menus, they have some of the most varied selections in the area. The cocktail list keeps pace with them, including no less than nine innovative specialty cocktails and modernized classic recipes.
Crawford’s starts operating at 4 pm daily and closes at midnight Monday through Thursday, 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 pm on Sundays.
Address: 214 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
3. R Wine Bar & Kitchen
Family-owned wine bar that serves authentic Italian dishes, boasts diverse international wine varieties, and offers live music performances at the weekends.
Most wine bars offer a vast wine selection but only a few small appetizers, such as charcuterie or cheese boards. That’s not the case for R Wine Bar & Kitchen!
This family-owned wine bar has actually won the Diner’s Choice Best Italian Restaurant in South Dakota thanks to the flavorful recipes that come straight from Florence, where the owner Riccardo was born.
Of course, pasta and polenta are the best dishes on the menu—the chefs make them with fresh ingredients and homemade sauces, adding unique details that enhance their flavor and authenticity.
Now, which is the best wine to pair with your Italian delights? This bar’s wine list includes uncountable varieties of Bianco, Rosso, and sparkling from all around the world. If overwhelmed or struggling to choose, you can ask the staff to advise you—customers always remark on their friendliness and efficiency, so don’t hesitate to ask!
Apart from mouthwatering food and refined wine, this bar offers live music shows on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The bands usually play jazz, which perfectly aligns with the pleasant ambiance.
R Wine Bar & Kitchen opens at 3 pm every day—except on Sundays when it remains closed—and closes at 10 pm Monday through Thursday and at 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 322 E 8th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
The Two Best Bars In Sioux Falls For Entertainment
1. Bin 201
Elegant bar that offers live music and DJ performances on the weekends, as well as many wine and cocktail options and an outdoor patio.
Bin 201 is an excellent option for those searching for a bar with good, regular live music, as on Fridays and Saturdays this bar hosts performances on its outdoor stage.
The patio has many tables where you can sit to watch the artists, who are either local or from another state. The music genres are diverse—you can check who is playing on the bar’s socials to know what to expect.
Sometimes there are live artists playing indoors as well. However, that’s not so much of a show as it is more of a calmer, quieter performance that functions as ambient music. However, if you are into upbeat music, you will be glad to know that DJ performances are the norm at Bin 201, and those always set a more lively mood.
Regarding gastronomy, Bin 201 specializes in wine, which you can pair with charcuterie boards for up to 30 people. You can also order a cocktail—the bartenders are highly knowledgeable and always create first-rate drinks.
Bin 201 is closed on Sundays but opens at 3 pm every other day. It closes at midnight from Monday through Thursday, and at 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Some happy hour deals are available from 4 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and other offers from 5 pm until close only on Thursdays.
Address: 201 E 11th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
2. EightyOne Arcade Bar
Fun bar that offers over fifty arcade games, six beers on tap in addition to bottled beer, and pizza as its food option.
There are so many arcade machines in this bar that it looks like an actual arcade room! EightyOne Arcade Bar has over fifty games that span pinball, dance, and arcade. Some are new, whereas others are old-school, forty-year-old gems.
This bar is ideal for friends or nights when you want to do something different. The games are inexpensive—just a quarter or two a play—and entertaining. The atmosphere is cool and nostalgic, and you can hear the music loud and clear—it is a unique experience! Time will fly by while you are having fun.
But what about the bar itself? Of course, the drinks are not that varied as it is not a craft brewery or a specialty cocktail bar, but Eighty One Arcade Bar still has six craft beers on tap, which customers love.
The bar also offers bottled beer, which makes the selection a bit wider. You can pair your beer with pizza from Sunny’s Pizzeria, which is right next door.
Hours of operation are from 5 pm to midnight on Thursdays and Sundays, and from 5 pm to 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. This bar is closed for the rest of the week.
Address: 221 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
The Two Best Bars In Sioux Falls For Beer
1. Remedy Brewing
Laid-back brewery that offers over ten diverse beers, a clear view into its brewing area, an extensive and high-quality food menu, and a dog-friendly outdoor patio.
This bar brews its beer in-venue, and you can even watch the process! The seating area, which has a bar and several tables, is connected to the brewing area through a window. You can see the machines involved in the process and the kegs, which are later connected to the taps from where you will be drinking!
Speaking of taps, Remedy Brewing has over ten of them, each one with a different brew flowing through it. This bar offers diversity—it serves many kinds of IPA, lager, and stouts. It also offers fruit, tea, and sweet beers, which are great if you want to try something out of the box. Try the beer flights if you can – they are a great option to combine classic with innovative flavors.
Remedy Brewing has an excellent and surprisingly varied food menu as well. You can choose from their numerous appetizers, flatbreads, sandwiches, and desserts. The portions are generously-sized, especially the burgers and the wraps, so you can easily have a filling and tasty lunch or dinner in this brewery.
You can enjoy your order indoors or head to the outdoor seating area, which is considered one of the best patios in Sioux Falls. It is dog-friendly and spacious too, with many well-distributed seating options.
Hours of operation are from 3 pm to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, noon to midnight on Friday, and noon to 10 pm on Sundays.
Address: 401 E 8th St #120, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
2. Covert Artisan Ales & Cellars
Fun brewery that creates unique beers with special ingredients, and offers a great dog-friendly venue with entertainment and an outdoor patio.
This brewery is another of the most dog friendly bars in Sioux Falls and is the place to go if you are looking for one-of-a-kind beers. While they have many fantastic IPAs and stouts are on tap, we advise you to take your time to read the beer list and be surprised by its originality and creativity.
Pancakes, marshmallows, vanilla, and lemon cheesecake are some words that one would not expect to see on a brew menu, and that is what makes Covert Artisan Ales & Cellars so unique! Such flavors are tricky to accomplish and introduce into a beer, but this brewery does it perfectly—the beers taste exactly as described on the menu.
The brews are not the only great thing about Covert Artisan, though. This beautiful venue deserves recognition as well. It is a big industrial building with all-glass windows that allow the sun to drench the tables and the bar. It also has an outdoor patio with two fire pits and many seating options. Plus the venue is dog-friendly indoors and outdoors, so you can even take your pup along!
Family outings with children are possible in this bar too, as it offers board games, shuffleboard, and several TVs to keep everyone entertained.
Hours of operation are from 3 pm to 9 pm Tuesday through Thursday, 3 pm to 10 pm on Fridays, noon to 10 pm on Saturdays, and 2 pm to 8 pm on Sundays. On Mondays, it remains closed.
Address: 434 E 8th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
