Entry No. 1 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: speakeasy
Billy After Dark (B.A.D.)
Hidden beneath Billy Sushi down an alley, this ultra-moody subterranean lounge features a fiber-optic "night sky" ceiling inspired by a Rolls-Royce. The cocktails are highly theatrical, often arriving with fiery presentations of toasted rosemary and burnt cinnamon.
The story
Subterranean bars in Minneapolis often settle for concrete bunker minimalist chic, but Billy After Dark (B.A.D.) goes in the complete opposite direction. Tucked underneath Billy Sushi in the North Loop, this basement cavern swaps bare brick for a sleek, dark enclosure illuminated from above by a fiber-optic ceiling modeled directly after the starlight headliners in Rolls-Royces.
The menu operates with the same flare for theatrics. Drinks don't just come in a glass; they arrive wrapped in plumes of smoke, accompanied by torched stalks of rosemary or set ablaze with burnt cinnamon right at your table. Coupled with a soundtrack dominated by soft-playing 90s hip-hop hits, the space creates a strange, secret-society hideout beneath the North Loop pavement.
What it's like
Skip the main front entrance on First Avenue. You need to head around to the alley behind the building, spot the unmarked door, and ring the doorbell. If you managed to secure a coveted reservation on OpenTable, you'll be guided downstairs into a dimly lit, cave-like room under a fake night sky. Order whatever involves open flame, sit back, and take in the low-frequency rap beats—just make sure you lock in a table weeks ahead, because walk-in luck here is practically zero.
The move: Book a hard-to-snag reservation on OpenTable, enter through the unmarked alley door, and order a signature cocktail under the twinkling ceiling lights while 90s rap hits play softly in the background.
- 📍 North Loop, Minneapolis
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 116 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Flora Room — Continue your North Loop basement bar crawl by heading to another hidden door down a rear staircase, swapping B.A.D.'s celestial lights for lush, earthy subterranean greenery.
- Gori Gori Peku — Contrast B.A.D.'s smoky, fire-lit cocktail theatrics with a quiet, minimalist Japanese whisky pour upstairs at Kado no Mise just a block away.
- Salon Rouge (Maison Margaux) — Trade the fiber-optic star ceiling for dark, catacomb-inspired decor at another underground hideout beneath Maison Margaux down the street.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Walk around to the back alley behind Billy Sushi, locate the discreet, unmarked door, and ring the doorbell to alert the host.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes. Tables are notoriously hard to snag and should be booked as far in advance as possible on OpenTable.
What are the drinks like?
Expect highly theatrical, fire-forward cocktail presentations featuring torched herbs like rosemary and burnt cinnamon spices.
What is the vibe inside?
It's an ultra-moody, subterranean lounge with a dark interior, fiber-optic star ceiling overhead, and 90s hip-hop playing quietly in the background.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · mspmag.com · corner.inc · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21