Entry No. 5 — the Minneapolis file — filed under: underground lounge
Salon Rouge (Maison Margaux)
Hidden beneath the multi-level French brasserie Maison Margaux, Salon Rouge is a sultry underground bar designed to emulate the Paris catacombs. Dressed in dramatic red and black velvet, the lounge serves high-end French cocktails and a streamlined bar menu.
The story
Bypass the main brasserie floor at Maison Margaux and take the staircase descending straight into the building's 150-year-old basement. Down here, the bright North Loop energy vanishes, replaced by a subterranean vault designed to evoke the Paris catacombs.
Draped in dramatic red and black velvet, the lounge feels like an illicit private wine cellar tucked beneath 1st Street. You're surrounded by exposed brick and racks of fine French wine bottles stored right in the room, making it one of the most immersive underground drinking spaces in the Twin Cities.
What it's like
Slide into a plush crimson velvet booth during Social Hour, when the low-lit atmosphere is intimate and quiet enough for real conversation. Order the gin-based 'Foam Me in Provence' cocktail alongside a plate of garlic-rich Escargots Farcie à l'Ail off the streamlined lounge menu, giving you full brasserie-level quality without the stiffness of formal dining upstairs.
The move: Slide into a plush red velvet booth for 'Social Hour' to share a plate of Escargots Farcie à l'Ail and sip the 'Foam Me in Provence' gin cocktail.
- 📍 North Loop, Minneapolis
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 224 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Flora Room — Double down on North Loop subterranean hideaways by slipping down the stairs behind Porzana for drinks in a plant-filled basement bar.
- Gori Gori Peku — Swap French catacomb velvet for an intimate Tokyo-inspired Japanese whisky lounge two blocks away above Kado no Mise.
- Billy After Dark (B.A.D.) — Keep the underground tour going beneath Billy Sushi, trading cellar wine racks for a glowing fiber-optic night sky ceiling.
Good to know
How do you find Salon Rouge?
Enter Maison Margaux at 224 N 1st St in the North Loop and look for the stairs leading down into the 150-year-old subterranean space beneath the main floor.
What is the theme of the lounge?
The space is styled after the Paris catacombs, outfitted with rich red and black velvet, dim mood lighting, and exposed wine storage racks.
What food and drinks are available downstairs?
Salon Rouge serves high-end French-inspired cocktails—like 'Foam Me in Provence'—and a curated bar menu featuring classics like Escargots Farcie à l'Ail.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · winespectator.com
last checked: 2026-07-21