Small Hours — Restaurant in Minneapolis

I want to love this place so much, and with a few tweaks it could be great.

The food and wine are excellent, this alone is enough reason to return. I could make a habit of showing up for happy hour and just getting whatever tinned fish is on that day. The service was also lovely, everyone was friendly and knowledgeable, though note it is counter order which isn't super obvious until you notice other people going up.

The real problem is the "listening bar' aspect. The music is a touch too loud, the speaker are placed too close to several tables making it impossible to carry on a conversation there. We got seated at one of these tables, asked to switch, and watched as a game of musical chairs happened as they seated couple after couple there each on asking to move until it was the only table left and the last to arrive got stuck. The Klipse speakers are amazing, but they don't work in the space and you could easily trade them in for several sets of JBL L100's that would give you the same vibe, 95% of the quality, at a third of the real estate, meaning you could put them in better places.

Also the tables and chairs have left something to be desired. They are a bit tippy, not super comfortable, and just seemed cheap. I get it, the business is hard and you've got to save where you can... But we didn't want to stay and longer much to enjoy the music as it wasn't comfortable seating. Purse/coat hooks would also be helpful.

Put some additional sound proofing on the walls, even some second hand drapes would go a long way towards quieting the room down and making conversation easier while still hearing the music

Also play music people actually know and want to hear. I texted a friend I finally made it there and his first question was "what are they spinning"? I had to respond that it was some low key electronica that all sounded the same. Maybe let customers bring things in? You'd get some awkward conversations if they bring in nonsense, but at least it would be interesting. It's a listening bar, boring shouldn't be the goal.

I think this is the longest review I've ever left on a restaurant... But I want to love this place and it's a few tweaks from being somewhere I try to get back to every...

“Small Hour” is a hidden gem tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Minneapolis, and I finally had the chance to visit after meaning to stop by for quite some time. That evening felt extra special — my friend was performing music, so it almost felt like an invited night out, and I went with my girlfriend and another close friend.

Unlike many wine bars in the Twin Cities, this one felt much more casual and approachable. You don’t feel the pressure to dress up — it’s the kind of place where you can come to unwind, share a good bottle, and enjoy the moment. We ordered a bottle of rosé wine, which was well-chosen and perfectly chilled. The wine selection overall was thoughtful and balanced, with options for both casual drinkers and those who appreciate something unique.

The food was simple but satisfying, complementing the wines nicely without overcomplicating things. The whole experience felt minimalist and modern, allowing us to focus more on conversation and atmosphere than on pretense. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t try too hard — and that’s exactly what makes it charming.

Here, you order at the counter — it’s self-service, and the staff doesn’t hover over you, which actually gave us the space to talk and relax comfortably. The owner had a warm, genuine smile, and you could tell they care about creating a space that feels both local and intentional.

It wasn’t too crowded when we visited, but the vibe was cozy, stylish, and quietly vibrant — perfect for a low-key evening with friends or a special date night. I wouldn’t call it an everyday stop, but for the right occasion or a meaningful meeting, Small Hour is absolutely worth the visit.

I love seeing more places like this opening in Minneapolis — a modern, minimalist wine bar with heart, soul, and a sense of calm...

I was very excited to check out the space as a hifi lounge and to try some great wine. I'd read exciting things about it online: thoughtful design for sound immersion and a sommelier that had curated a great list. It was disappointing on both fronts.

Definitely not worth the trip to visit as it's set up now. Hopefully they'll take some time to learn and adjust. Or maybe there is enough clientele that won't mind the poor sound experience and want to drop a lot on a bottle.

Their sound set up was pretty bad. The ceiling had sound treatment, but the walls had nothing. The space is essentially a box, so all the conversation bounced around on the walls making it difficult to hear music. Convos overpowered whatever was playing. Their two (or was it one?) speaker is at the front of the space, which didn't help either. Definitely not a hifi experience, and it's a shame they're marketing it as such.

The wine list was long, sure. But the cheapest bottle was around $50. And the cheapest glass was $15+. They need to think about catering to a wider audience instead of creating an expensive and inaccessible wine list. And then a $20+ surcharge for counter service?!

Because it was counter service, there were people coming in, (no waiting list for entry/a table) getting wine, ad there were no seats, folks were standing right outside the bathroom door downing their wine and leaving.

Only redeeming quality was the guy at the counter (co-owner)...