For more than 10 years Bar Abilene has served as a check-in point in Uptown Minneapolis. During the afternoon, people come in after a morning shopping at the nearby farmers' market and the Kitchen Window. In the evening, folks stop by for a beer before seeing a flick at the Lagoon or Uptown theaters. The weekend clientele tend to be tipsy and a little messy, but are friendly enough and reach nowhere near the level of obnoxiousness that some nearby bars effortlessly manage to achieve. Its patio looks out not on rooftop city views, but rather Cheapo's parking lot. Yet being on ground level in the heart of Uptown is half the fun. What's even more fun? Enjoying a margarita. Bar Abilene is known for them, and during their daily happy hours you can buy one for about what you would pay for a pint of beer elsewhere. Daily from 4 to 6 p.m. (plus 9 p.m. to close Tuesday and Wednesday, and noon to close Sunday), you can enjoy the bar's regular mix for $5. Not into tequila? Select wine, beer, and rail drinks costs $3-$4 during this time. Menu items to be ordered on the cheap include $2 hand-cut fries, chips and salsa, and $4 tacos.
