Minneapolis hiding a serious wine habit
Mill District · Minneapolis · French, Wine Bar, Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Milly's, the two-level space feels like someone in Minneapolis actually cared about building a real wine bar — not just slapping a wine list onto a bistro menu. The list lands somewhere between neighborhood wine bar and genuine discovery zone, with 80-plus bottles spanning Italy, California, Spain, and Greece. That's not a combination you see every day in the Mill District.
The list leans hard into Italy and California, which makes sense given the French-ish bistro framing, but the real surprise is the Greek and Spanish representation — Kir-Yianni 'Akakies' Rosé and Flor De Morca Garnacha are not bottles you stumble across on most Minneapolis wine lists. The 2017 Chiarli Barolo is the anchor of the Italian side, and at $22 a glass it's genuinely accessible for a wine that needs a decade to open up. California gets covered with recognizable names like Mer Soleil 'Silver' Chardonnay and Paso d'Oro Cab, which will keep the crowd happy even if they're not the most adventurous picks. There are gaps — Burgundy and the Loire Valley are basically absent — but for a neighborhood wine bar this is a list with actual ambition.
Eighteen-plus by-the-glass options is a strong program for any restaurant, let alone one with $30-and-under entrées. The range runs from $9 all the way to $24, which means there's a real entry point for casual weeknight sippers and something worth splurging on when the mood calls for it. The 2020 Crognolo Super Tuscan by the glass at $19 is the standout move here — that's a bottle-quality experience without committing to the full pour.
2020 Crognolo Super Tuscan — $19/glass
Retail on this bottle runs around $35, so $19 a glass is honest pricing for a wine that actually has structure and depth. You're not paying markup to drink well here.
Kir-Yianni 'Akakies' Greek Rosé
Most people at a French-leaning bistro are going to grab a Provence rosé on autopilot. Skip that instinct. Kir-Yianni's Xinomavro-based rosé from Macedonia is more interesting, more food-friendly, and the kind of bottle that makes you feel like you found something.
Paso d'Oro Cabernet Sauvignon
This is the safe, predictable California Cab that ends up on every list because it's easy to sell, not because it's worth your attention. With a Super Tuscan and a Barolo on the same list, there's no reason to default to this.
2017 Chiarli Barolo + Steak Frites
Barolo's firm tannins and savory backbone were practically designed for red meat. The steak frites give you the fat and char the wine needs to soften up, and at $22 a glass you're getting a proper Nebbiolo experience without the cellar price tag.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Milly's is the kind of wine bar Minneapolis doesn't advertise loudly enough — fair pricing, a list with genuine reach beyond the usual suspects, and 18-plus glasses to explore on any given night. Send a friend here and tell them to skip the Cab.
North Loop / Warehouse District · Minneapolis · Modern Argentinian Steakhouse
Porzana punches above its class for a Minneapolis steakhouse — the Italian and Argentine selections show genuine curation, and the Fenocchio Barolo alone justifies a serious wine order. Just go in with eyes open on markups and skip the entry-level bottles unless you're pouring by the glass.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lowry Hill · Minneapolis · Steakhouse and Wood-Fired Pizza
Burch has the bones of a genuinely great wine program — knowledgeable staff, proper storage, and a list that respects the classics — but the pricing strategy on the mid-tier and entry-level bottles will test your patience. Go big or go home: the value-to-quality ratio only really clicks once you're spending $200+.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / North Loop · Minneapolis · New American / Contemporary American
112 Eatery's wine list is punching well above its weight for a Minneapolis neighborhood bistro, with a genuinely distinctive Old World focus and producers that belong on serious lists anywhere in the country. The markups sting on a few bottles, but the curation earns enough goodwill to keep us coming back.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Minneapolis · French Bistro
Barbette is a wine list built by someone who actually drinks wine and wants you to as well — it's small, French, and surprisingly legit for a neighborhood bistro in Uptown. If you're a natural wine fan or just someone who wants good Beaujolais with steak frites, send your friends here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Loring Park · Minneapolis · New American
Cafe Lurcat is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in one of Minneapolis's prettiest dining rooms — just know you're paying a premium for the address and the ambiance. Ask the sommelier for help navigating the list and you'll drink well; go on autopilot and order the obvious Napa Cab and you'll leave having spent more than you should have.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest Minneapolis (Fulton) · Minneapolis · Italian, fresh housemade pasta
Broders' Pasta Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that gets the wine list right by staying in its lane. Fair prices, Italian focus, solid glass pours — bring a friend who orders by the bottle and you're in good shape.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.