I have been to so many great shows here and it is one of my favorite venues in the cities! I’m glad it has new management now and once COVID is over I look forward to more shows here. And yes, the bathrooms are very grotto like and totally live up to the hype!

What a fun venue! The atmosphere was fantastic - decor, lighting, layout. Ive been to very few venues that Im actually cold in, this being one of them. That said, that is something I welcome - especially when its 90° out! The bar prices are reasonable for a concert venue. The premium seats are comfortable and worth the price of admission if not solely for the fact you actually get a seat! The only bad thing I can say about the venue was the audio peaked quite a few times throughout the show. Not enough to ruin the experience, but just enough to keep you on guard. Overall, I was extremely happy with the venue and look forward to returning for more shows in the future.

This Place was absolutely Spectacular!!! I went to see Marianas Trench and not only were they absolutely Outstanding, the Venue was Incredible!!!!! This place is such an amazing place to go and watch a concert!!! It was my first time there and the atmosphere was right up my alley! The bathroom stall I used was albeit a little snug (not fluffy friendly), but it made up for in charm!! If you have or get the chance to see a show here: Dont. Pass. It. Up.

Have been here twice for concerts and its a great space; love the decor. Had the honor of seeing Fever 333 here for their solo concert, and it was the perfect space for them. If you can splurge for the VIP seating, it gives you an awesome vantage point, and if youre not into being crushed by the crowd, it gives you the choice to enjoy the concert from a non-crowded space.

The interior athestic of stones, drapes and lights is so unique there isnt even words to describe it... it must be seen and experienced with ones own eyes. Absurdly well done. Unique but still not ugly. Btw Earthgang was lit

Great venue! Atmosphere was original! Smoking area just outside. You must visit this establishment. I know I will again!

Saw Sabrina Claudio last night! She has the most amazing vocals I have ever heard live.I’ve been to this very cool venue, but last night I went upstairs & there crazy structured bathrooms. I felt like I was in a luxurious bathroom cave. It was really cool.Nonetheless, security wasn’t too invasive, crowd wasn’t too crazy, sound was perfect, there was a cute bar upstairs & downstairs, and AC flowed nicely when it was getting a little hot.

Attended the Jordan Davis/Kassi Ashton show last night (1/18/2020)Great little venue. Loved the design and loved how it was small and you are able to see the artist on stage, even from the back. The sound was great.Bathroom set up could be nicer, it was hard to get in and out but they looked really coolThe bar had plenty of options to meet everyones needs.Wish there was closer parking, but that is what you get for going to a venue in Dinky Town. Overall I had a great experience and would attened another event here.

Excellent establishment, clean, well run, and intriguing. Very much different from your typically venue, and the staff was friendly and helpful all the way through the show. They even had a couple guys in the crowd ensuring the mosh pit couldnt ruin them fun for other people. I strongly recommend this location for any music concerts!

04/03/2019 The latest show I attended was The Interrupters. It was a sold out show. Compared to other venues the Varsity stepped up to prove their value by handling unruly patrons with a calmness & diligence. Thank you for keeping the calmer fans safe!

Went here for a Badflower concert, and it was amazing! Its all standing room except for a single row of balcony seating, but it is still a very intimate setting. The acoustics were great, and the bands were always easy to hear over the crowd. The bathrooms were a little bit on the small side, so there was a bit of waiting for them to clear up.

Johnny Marr is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He goes out of his way to do special things for people at his shows. The Varsity is so beautiful, a rare beauty in todays world. She is a well cared for and loved venue. Anyone that loves history should make it a point to visit this gorgeous site.

Loved it. So cute. Went and saw Dodie Clark and Adam Melchor

Pretty cool semi Intimate venue. I fully recommend getting VIP.

This place is beautiful. Venue has a great aesthetic. Security can be a little intense at times.

Cool structures, the bathroom setup is... weird to say the least. COOL but weird lol.. drinks could definitely use less sweet and sour mix, but pretty cool kind of vampiresque feel.

One of my favorite places to see concerts. Great atmosphere and sounds. Has a nice interior with lots of options for standing or sitting.

What a unique building and it is so easy to get up close to the singers.

I love this intimate venue! We saw 3 bands here in one night; Kulick, The Faim and Andy Black. The sound and atmosphere were great, $4 coat check, fast bar service. Yes, its $3 for a glass of pop, but free refills all night. If you want to see bands up close for a cheap price, this is the place. Most street parking is 2 hours, the ramp 3 blocks away was only $4.

Fantastic live venue. I hope to see another of my favorite bands there

Fun Small Concert Venue In Minneapolis. Dorothy was simply astounding as usual! Spirit Animal twisted my mind! Such an amazing great band! Big Things are the horizon for Steve Cooper and Spirit Animal! You Have Been Warned!

This was a cool place to see a show. Its a pretty intimate setting as far as co cert venues go. They have a k8hnge area upstairs and everything. I do have a complaint though. Some members or of party purchased early entry tickets (not VIP) and they were not allowed to enter early, they had to come in when the doors opened like everyone else. That wouldnt be a huge deal except it cost extra for the early entry and it was freezing cold and snowing hard.

First time to this venue and it did not disappoint. Decent variety for beverages and a pretty intimate setting. The bathrooms threw me through a loop but I actually liked them. Let me know what you think haha! A minor detail but an important one: excellent air circulation. Crowded venue with people dancing and such. I felt no change in temperature. Impressed!

Very nice little venue. Bartenders are great. Laid back atmosphere. I would recommend VIP seating if available. The only downside is finding parking can be difficult depending on day and time, as its in dinkytown.

Great venue! It’s very spacious, it’s clean and the acoustics are wonderful. It’s hard to see much from the balcony unless you have VIP tickets but you’re able to get some space and not bump into people up there. Bathrooms are creative.

Good little spot! My drink was really good and quite large in size! Great security (as well as police on site) but it takes awhile to get in because they have hand held metal detectors and have to check each person! Its standing room only and gets extremely packed, the sooner you get in the closer you can get to the stage. If you have to leave the stage (ie. use the bathroom or get another drink) it can be a little bit of a challenge to get back to your friends, but I did it...

Was good saw tiwwdle and pigeons playing ping pong. It was like a big party. Has big stage with great lights and sound. Took acid trip here with no issuse. They have a bar up stairs and down stairs. Lots of seating and comfy chairs to trip out in.

Decent concert hall. Expenses drinks compared to other venues we have been to. Extremely nice bartenders and overall very clean. Security seemed to be a little different from what I have usually been through in smaller venues, but overall a nice venue.

I always enjoy this venue for music. Friendly bar staff and a unique space.

When to go see a show here and was surprised with how good the sound was. The volume was loud, it was a metal show so they can sometimes be a rough sound, but it was crisp and clean. There are no bad sightlines here. I would definitely go see more bands perform at the Varsity.

Great venue. Thorough but considerate security. Reasonable alcohol prices. Clean. Now if they could only do something about the late artist start times. 7:00 door open, 10:00 main act start. Yikes. Was warned at door about this so kudos for that. Great place to see your bands

Sweet venue! Really nice gothy kind of decor, and some neat stone work throughout. Has a lounge area down and upstairs which is incredibly comfortable.Very stylish place.The acoustics and sound mix for the bands (tech death metal, power metal) were on point, and the bass stuck out.Really hope to see more metal shows going to this venue, or Ill have to figure some excuse to go and hang out because the atmosphere is one of the best Ive seen since Triple Rock.

Place is pretty cool, the bathrooms are a new experience. Area is a little sketchy, got asked more then once if i had some magic mushrooms....

What a cool venue! Very easy to get right up at the front, or dance in the more open back area. Bars both upstairs and downstairs, and the restrooms are actually quite cool. The bar staff was all friendly, and even through security getting wanded and bags searched everyone was high spirited and friendly.

Amazing venue to perform at. Huge room great sound and check out these bathrooms

I seen a concert there. It was a nice venue. Drinks are weak though. Two long islands and not even a buzz.

Great, intimate venue with a main floor and second floor balcony area. The Varsity has a lot of different acts from comedy and music. Keep an eye out on their website for upcoming shows. I believe you can also rent the place out for personal events. Interestingly, the bathrooms are one of the most unique of any venue Ive seen. The rest of the building has quirky features that give the venue style and character. Support live music!

Loved the intimate feeling for the show! The building is Beautiful inside!

Love this venue. I have been to multiple shows here and they always run smoothly!

Decent sound and room size. Security could be much better. Much too strict and obtrusive on the floor. Guys asking if youre taking a video or just taking photos. NO OTHER VENUE does these things. I avoid this venue if I can.

Great place to see a show. If a band I want to see is coming to town & theyre playing the varsity theater, Ill be there

Great venue, with a very unique atmosphere. Has two bars, great acoustics, and a creative bathroom design. Great place to see live music.

Awesome venue every time! Sound quality is amazing and better than any other small Minnesota venue Ive been to. Always super clean with great employees.

A decent venue for smaller artists. Bathrooms are meh, and a little messy. Nice staff and very solid security. I had a good time and will defiantly come back.

Great venue for the size, a very personal feel to it.

Trapped like sardines...Didnt seem safe, exits where hard to locate and to be honest I was like what if a fire started. No where to go...We were upstairs and it smelt like a musty cavern. Very little air movement. Stale and no chance to go outside because no reentry was permitted. I asked where I could get some fresh air to the staff and they laughed it off saying I could go out the smokers lounge. Great so I can breathe in some carcinogens. smh.

Love this venue! Full disclosure, I did go to the University of Minnesota and lived relatively near this location so every show that I went to at Varsity did not require any hassles relating to parking. I do not believe there are any dedicated lots for Varsity (I could be wrong), but barring this being an incorrect statement plan on getting there early to figure out the parking situation.Varsity theater is a unique place. From the outside the place looks like an old movie theater from the 50s or 60s. The setting is very grandiose, high ceilings, decorative tiling, and overall probably the classiest venue any hip hop group has or will ever perform at. There are lounging couches scattered about the edges of the show floor, with the majority reserved for standing space. The floor in front of the stage is so ridiculously wide and the floor seems to stretch back forever.I saw Brand Nubian here and EMPD, both were fun shows and I would defiinitely go back!

Went there for 3OH!3, and the line was long but security moved quickly along. I asked to upgrade to a seat upstairs, and it was an awesome view of the event. Server was quick as well which I was grateful for since lines for the bar were neverending.

It was well organized, and easy to get into a concert. Employees are nice too :3

Would be 5 stars but the drinks are over priced. Nice venue and A+ to the sound man because he didnt blow away the audience by jacking up the volume too loud.

This place is a perfect place to see your favorite bands in a very close environment. The staff is astounding. Definitely, coming back!

Great place for a concert. I wish they didnt allow so much drinking and smoking though. They should definitely be stricter on marijuana use.

The Varsity Theater is one of my favorite new places to catch a show. The decor is so unique. It reminds me of the Ascot Room from the old Quest venue. The sound is great and you can see the bands play from almost any angle. It has two spots to get drinks and the lines arent too bad so you can get your fix quick. Overall I feel like this is a unique place to catch a good show whether it be local or national.

I am disabled. I was seated in a 10 foot wide isle on the left hand side of the theater .it was a HARD plastic folding chair, and, when I sat down, I could see only about 3 feet of stage space. However, I was lucky enough to be able to see one guitarist, but only if he happens to step into that 3 feet of the stage, otherwise, I could not see any other of the band members. Very very disappointed. During the show I went to the rest room and, when I returned, there was a woman sitting in my chair eventhough there was a security staff standing 5 feet away, guarding? The door he was standing next to, he had to notice that this woman was sitting in a disabled persons seat. I am Male. I had to tell her she was in my seat. Getting to the chair was difficult, I had to ask 2 different staff for direction to the chair. The first one I asked said she would find someone to help, she never came back! I dont care how badly I would love to see certain bands, if it is at the Varsity, I would not even consider going back, and, thats saying a lot as I go to lots of shows around the city. If they cant produce any chance of a halfway decent sight line, the same right that an abled body person has. There is more, but Im done. NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN!!!

Really nice venue on the U of M campus. They’ve got big fans aimed at the floor, which is awesome. Nice to not already be sweating before the show begins. They also provided free water after the show, which again, is dope.

One of the coolest venues Ive ever been to! Awesome staff, very friendly and involved with making sure we all got in quickly and efficiently. Inside was a fun and vibrant atmosphere! Great bar service. And the bathrooms really are amazing here. Seems weird to reccomend but check out the bathrooms! Clean, pretty, and have a lot more privacy in each stall, though the sink area is definitely more like a lounge area, which fits this places vibe perfectly!

Great venue! Sounds for Sabrina Claudio was amazing! Good selection for drinks

The location is surrounded with restaurants. Decent size for small concerts or plays. I like that they preserved the old bricks and used antique chandeliers.

Came to see Chappelle, and overall enjoyed the experience, but had some points of frustration that diminished what was a very expensive show. Ambience isnt the issue, as Varsity boasts a sort of adventurous and uniquely artistic theme from stage to door. Issues start with POS machines which were slow and staff which didnt communicate well. Additionally in what was a cool night outside, for some reason cold air was pumping and made for a frigid climate that was hard to ignore, even with sleeves on. Im sure it would be fine standing and dancing at a concert, but not sitting for a comedy show. Lastly, while Chappelle was great, in my opinion this isnt a great venue for comedy. Good views closer to the back were hard to come by, and overall felt cut off from the rest of the show (full disclosure, my seats were 2 rows from the back, so theres that). Have been here several times years past for concerts and really enjoyed them, so maybe Varsity should stick to music instead.

Ive been to the Varsity several times and always had a good time. BUT, this time I upgraded my tickets to premium seating and to deal with Matt Leonard was absolutely WONDERFUL! I highly recommend contacting Matt if you need anything. Looking forward to the show this Saturday!

Great venue. Matt and his crew took great care of our visit.

Cool venue, interesting acoustics that are a bit too loud if Im being honest. Also wouldnt serve me alcohol because its illegal and Im underage

Clean. Good acoustics. Friendly staff.

Good venue cool bathrooms like they told us haha

Great venue! Great staff!My only complaint; I wish there was some food available inside because they dont allow re-entry if you wanted to leave to get a quick bite.

Saw Silverstein and Hawthorne Heights here!! Amazing venue and security was super friendly.

Good venue for a show

Great sound and atmosphere. My only complaint is how hot it gets in there even during the winter

Saw Dorothy and they blew the lid off the joint. Great sound and atmosphere with easy bar and bathroom access.

Best venue I have been to so far. Love the second floor and the comfortable/clean bathrooms.

Very lovely, smaller venue for shows. Great bar and beautiful setting whether on the floor or balcony seating.

Have yall SEEN the beautiful bathroom(s)

Hell Yeah was excellent. I like the bathroom area. Sound is great here for live music.

Wish there were more places to sit as I am old and lazy but a nice venue with a good bar and great sound.

Good intimate venue to see a show. Staff is pretty friendly as well. Good acoustics.

Great renovations. Classy looks. Bathrooms are some of the coolest bathrooms in the Twin Cities!

Fun space excellent venue for a comedy show.

Smallish, intimate venue. The service was great, and the bathrooms.....OMG the bathrooms . Best bathroom I have ever seen . One negative was a bouncer who I admittedly accidently fell into after getting pushed a little. Nobodies fault, but he did come off to me like I was going to get kicked out for an accident. He was definitely having a bad day or something. All in all, no harm no foul. Great venue

Great concert venue. Even when the line to get in was around the corner they got everyone in pretty quickly. They offer a coat check and the drinks are not horribly priced. Definitely make sure you get upstairs to check out the bathrooms. They are unique.

Nathan Anderson premiering his cd was a great show!

Great music venue

Its a nice small venue. I saw Starset there and it was awesome

Great venue to see your favorite band!

Cool venue downtown Minneapolis with a unique old school vibe. This place has one of the most interesting bathrooms Ive ever seen.

Great intimate venue to see bands. I recommend going to see a show here. Its also positioned around a ton of businesses. Good stuff.

Nice small venue. Great atmosphere.

We saw Michael Shynes here the other night. They have reserved seating upstairs with a small bar and neat bathrooms. Downstairs has a larger bar with reserved seating on the sides only. Otherwise its standing room only and I didn’t mind. Plenty of room to move around or get super close to stage.

I had fun at an event, staff was nice and gave us free tickets for an upcoming event

The event was lit. Full house. Music had me reminiscing. Drinks were pricey.

Great spot to see shows. Cozy, great sound system.

Great venue. Audio was pretty good but overall great experience.

Excellent concert venue!! Great view of the show from all areas, love the lounge areas for hanging out before the show. The seating is pretty tight (like actually elbow to elbow), but worth it if you prefer to sit!

Need more bartenders upstairs. One doesnt cut it.

Its one of my favorite venues to see a show in the twin cities. Its big enough for a decent sized crowd, but still small enough where you can actually see the band and have good sound quality.

Saw a show here and it was a blast. Sounded great everywhere. Its a smaller venue so you can see the stage very well pretty much everywhere. I was on the balcony and saw the artists on stage no problem. The two bars are cool. And the bartender was nice and make a great drink. I would go again.

Sound was really good, lights were good. Drinks were definately overpriced. Would attend other shows here but will pre-drink somewhere else.

As always a fun venue. Security has been upped, and perhaps could have been easier to navigate. Otherwise a fun time!

Awesome and intimate venue, never a bad time. Just dont get too wild or you might not make it through the entire show.

This is a really good venue. However, parking in Dinky Town sucks.

This place is wicked cool. Seriously. Saw Andrew McMahon for the Pen and Piano tour. The decor and style inside this theater is something to remember. Even the bathrooms were some of the most unique and epic restrooms Ive been in.I cant think of a bad thing to say about this venue so hows this: Just go see a show here and youll know what I mean. Simply awesome.