Varsity Theater

Im writing this review as someone who recently had their wedding reception at Varsity Theater!From the moment we started wedding planning we knew that we wanted to have our reception at Varsity Theater. As a venue we were already fond of for its live shows, we knew it was going to be an absolute blast, and we were right!From the moment we started the process of making our dream wedding happen and getting into contact with Varsity it was a great experience. We worked with Sandy, and then later our main contact became Alison, and both were amazing to work with, super helpful, and very quick to answer any questions we had along the way!The night of the reception was absolutely perfect. If youve been to the venue you know its already a beautiful room, and having it for our reception made for a magical night. Their bartenders even helped us come up with signature cocktails for the night which were a hit!

I have gone to this venue for many years and have seen countless shows here. This is a great place to see any type of band out there. I would definitely recommend this place if it happens to come up for anyone you would like to see. The only downside is $45 for two tall cocktails before tip. But hey thats the price you pay for a good time.

Great venue to see a show. Nicely sized and lovely decor. Bathrooms are very unique and the balcony is nice if you dont want to be in the pit. Also, the old theater style marquee is great.There is free self serve water at the bar and security was giving out water bottles to anyone who wanted one. Friendly staff.Would recommend.

Came here for a VV concert. Its a very difficult place to find parking, but overall its a solid venue. Im surprised that the venue is a lot smaller than I expected. Show was a sellout so it was very crowded, but I feel like the venue did a good job of managing the crowds of people. Merch setup was slow but I think its because of the placement and Im pretty sure that was a move made by the band vs the venue.My dad had a tequila sunrise that was real bad, but he liked the canned wine. I tried Liquid Death and that was pretty cool. This venue is card only as an FYI.Acoustics/sound are a bit weird. The vocalists diction (pronunciation) was hard to make out because of the audio. Im not sure if that was due to the venue or the artist but just wanted to mention that as an issue. Otherwise it was a great show and a cool venue. Certainly better than the venues back home. Id come back for another gig.

Excellent venue. the outside looks like the classic theatre, the inside is super unique. there was plenty of room for everyone for the concert I attended. though quite loud, the sound was good. the people working were very friendly and helpful. getting through ticketing and security was a piece of cake and despite it being a very small lobby area they had plenty of people to get everyone through quickly and efficiently.the only knock i would have is that there should be more signage or direction as to what the lines are. I arrived about 2 hours before doors open and didnt realize i was in the Meet-and-Greet line until i was inside. i had to go back outside and hop in a different line. that line turned out to be the Fast Pass line to which i needed to move to the general admission line. some simple signage would have solved all that and I wouldnt have wasted my time in the wrong line. whatever though, i had a good time and it didnt negatively impact my experience.

Its a good, clean venue. My biggest complaints are that since the last time I was there, the drink prices have risen incredibly and my number one complaint is they no longer take cash. Not everyone wants to use a stupid credit card just buy a couple of drinks at a show. Not everyone has a credit card. Their insanely high prices ensure that their bartenders wont get as much in tips.

What a great venue. Saw The Lone Bellow here last night, it was a great size for a more intimate concert. The bathrooms are hilariously quirky, bartender friendly, and security was easy. Will definitely keep an eye on the calendar for future shows. Only complaint is that parking in the area is miserable, but that comes with the territory.

Was a great place for Spanish Love Songs a couple months ago. Honestly want to go back though just for the bathroom? Like as an agender human that is the first time Ive been so confused on where to go pee and also felt seen at the same time? Its crazy and delightful. I was so stoned I didnt even notice the womens stalls said womens across the top for five minutes of pure chaotic confusion. Come to see your favorite bands, stay for the weird gender neutral but not bathroom.

Great show with Ottto and Batardane. Just tough standing physically for hours. I think there should be more chairs along the perimeter of the room. Its not just older ppl who have a hard time standing for hours. I saw ppl in their 20s who took a seat on the floor cuz they needed the physical break. I spent the evening leaning against the wall to accomodate trying to be somewhat comfortable for the duration of the show.

Love the venue. There is a little sweet spot back by the wall on the right near the stage, where no one crowded us and we had a great view. It is only standing room unless you want to pay extra.

Ive been here twice (abba & disney night) and it was really fun. I especially like the disney one as we could go on stage and dance too. The prices are kinda expensive, but do drop at times so you should wait. I dont like the no reentry policy, but they let me check my car meter when I asked nicely. The bathrooms are really nice. I love the open landscape because then its easy to see a line. Also people can look in the mirror without being in the way of people who have to use the toilet.Also I know the photos are blurry. I was having to much fun 🕺

Starting with the pros the place has a nice vibe to it which makes the experience nice. The staff was friendly and it felt very safe when inside. However onto the cons the bathrooms while cute felt cramped and dark ( if your claustrophobic wouldnt recommend).. the seating has very little space from eachother so I was squished between two people which made it very uncomfortable. The parking situation isnt great.. and the drinks were not good for the price paid. If I were to go back for an event there ( which is unlikely ) Id purchase two seats so I could sit comfortably without anyone squishing me and Id uber there.

Awesome venue, saw Blind Guardian there. Not a lot of places to park though.

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.

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.

First time going to venue. Its small and the air ventilation isnt the greatest. I wish the upstairs balcony wasnt something you need to pay for in order to sit and enjoy the show. Staff is friendly and my drinks were nice and strong.

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!

Came here a few months back for the first time by myself and as I women I felt safe walking about 2-3 blocks from the ramp even after the show (I did call my sister to keep me company). The parking situation isn’t the best, there is street parking but a ramp is also nearby.The one thing about this place is the BATHROOMS, I was a little confused at first + they’re gorgeous! I would love to have an event here. There was some couches upstairs which was nice.I would love to go back for another concert, love the vibes here!

I hadnt been to a Varsity in show probably 10 years so I expected some changes but wow I was impressed. The staff and security were excellent, handing out waters, checking in on people etc. Awesome experience and my apprehension of shows at the Varsity has been lifted!

I saw Digable Planets and Kasa Overall. Amazing show, nice intimate setting and good acoustics

So I wasnt expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. This venue has a vampire type feel to it. There is also a balcony which has prime seating if you are ok spending about $40 extra.

We had our wedding reception at the Varsity Theater and it was the best decision we made regarding our wedding (aside from getting married in the first place)!! The venue is so unique and romantic. Every one of our guests was blown away by the beauty of the venue and how affordable it was. We had the best night ever! Also - shout out to Sandy - she was so awesome to work with! #ballandchheang

What kind of venue shuts off access to the bathrooms immediately after the show? That is literally inhumane!!! Also the lighting staff is hellbent on blinding the audience. Stupidly obnoxious. Wouldnt recommend this venue to anyone ever. Do better for the patrons who paid good money to be in your space.

Great atmosphere, sound is generally great and the staff are always friendly. If I was a tour act looking for a venue in Minneapolis that holds 500-700 people, this would be the place.

Despite the age of the theater, its in good shape. The air conditioning was not very cool, but it was not horribly uncomfortable. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Love the intimate, small venue vibe. Great bar service, easy to get to from your seat. Rocket Club was solid

I have been here a few times for concerts/events. Its a nice size event building.But like a lot of reviews the bathrooms are cool but I just wondered about handicap people how do they go upstairs to use the rest room? I have never seen bathroom downstairs or an elevator. Next time I will pay attention.

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!

Great venue. Sound was way too heavy on base for the music genre but we loved the band, so we had a good time. Drinks are spendy and parking is horrendous, as with many venues.

Update: 10/27/23 I went to a must see concert here and because of my own limitations I do get tickets that guarantees me a place to sit, which at this venue is in the balcony. Again, obstructed views because of chandeliers, but not as bad as the last concert where we sat at the other side of the balcony.This was first time at the venue. Our seats were on the balcony level. Please note that not all of the seats in the balcony are created equal. Visually, there were multiple obstructions with the pillars and chandeliers. I did like the fact that I was able to go down to the floor and didnt have to stay in the balcony seats. The experience was fine, but I likely wouldnt go out of my way to see another concert at this venue.

Had a great time seeing a concert at the Varsity Theater. The staff was helpful and friendly. The venue is unique.

More EDM artists need to come here because this venue is WAY BETTER than Skyway! Better sound quality, better lighting and visuals, great floor space, seating and balcony sections. The bathrooms and hand washing area are so bougie! The staff is great. This seems like a hole in the wall venue but it needs more love, attention and respect. Five star experience for sure! ⭐👏

Great place to see a show. My 1st concert there. Last time was a comedy show, and that was equally an experience just as great.

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.

Decent place to see a show, easy in and easy out. Sound system was not overly loud for the hip hop show.Almost never posted a review about the bathrooms before but they are an absolute nightmare of a cramped and tiny mess, especially the men’s side.

Awesome venue. Customer service is clearly a priority, and that shows. I will definitely be coming back to more shows here in the future

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.

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.

Wonferful place. Loved it here

Great smaller venue to see artist in. Drinks are a bit pricey - $24 for a rum and coke and a baileys on the rocks.

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.

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.

Maddie Zahm had a concert tonight and me and my friends were super excited and got there 2 HOURS before doors open and joined the people who have been waiting for longer. everyone was having fun it was all good until they started grabbing people for VIP AND meet and greet. the line quickly grew and goes infront of all of the people who have been waiting WAY longer then the people coming 15 minutes before. the vip is so stupid and makes no sense. they literally went around asking for MORE people to buy these stupid VIP tickets. i just am so upset that the people who waited hours in the cold were basically ignored because they didn’t pay 30$ to cut the line.

Went to a show here with my dad once. He told me before I got there, When you go to the Varsity Theater, you go for the show, and stay for the bathroom....And he was not lying!! The bathroom is Outstanding! And an awesome venue for a show!

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 😂

Fun venue, very cool setting with unique brick wall and lighting. We have been here a couple times. Parking is very difficult to find. Recommend using 4th street parking ramp and walking the 3 blocks.

Saw Blind Guardian here recently, incredible! The venue was awesome, would see more bands here again.

My first time coming here and there were actual seats. I feel like when I purchased tickets before it said Row B Seat 3 but there werent seats available. So maybe posting that somewhere so people know that it is a seated or non seated event would be helpful. Maybe I over looked that factor lol. Im not sure

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

Overall really nice place ..I personally am not a fan of cashless bars though.. I hate the running a card every time you want a drink

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.

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!

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....

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

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!

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!

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.

One of my favorite venues. Wish there was more metal and alternative shows there though.

Cool venue. Parking ramps nearby for a small fee. Plenty of places within walking distance for before or after the show.On Sunday there is nearby on street parking.

Great venue for performances of live music (concerts) and comedy. The space was remodeled several years ago with a gorgeous new bathroom, lounge area and private seating upstairs. Would give 5 stars but drinks are a tad expensive and no food options.

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.

I love this space! The acoustics are great and the upstairs is so quirky. This is also a cool place for other events, not just concerts. Would recommend for a mid sized gathering.

Amazing venue. Small enough to make it feel like a personal concert, yet bigh enough to fit in nearly 1,000 people. Great sound quality, amazing bathroom. A must see if you are a concert buff.

First time I had been there in years. Nice intimate venue. Sound and mix was amazing. Staff was great.There is still nowhere to sit if you need to rest for a moment, but otherwise a great venue for smaller shows.

What a great venue that hosts some great bands and entertainment. Love coming here when I get the opportunity!

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!

One of the better venues in the city. Closed for a while but good to see its open again. Clean and small enough to see a from pretty much any where. Drinks are normal prices for a venue . Usually easy to move around. Joe H is awesome!

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.

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

Small venue, staff that was on the ball and the most unique bathroom you will ever see in your life.

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.

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

Quick entry lines and ID check. Pretty smooth entry.Totally average MPLS venue drink prices. Nothing unexpected. Nothing amazing.Smoking patio out in the alley.Super annoying security staff pushing people who just got drinks out the door at shows end. Get it together, either shut down the bar earlier or get the eff off a full lobby of people trying to finish their $11 beers. Seriously.

Love the venue, but hate the $18 price tag for a drink 🥴

This is a nice venue but since Live Nation / Ticket master has taken over the sound is dismal, drink prices have gone up and ticket fees are insane. You must use their app to use your online tickets. Avoid at all costs.

There are some things that could be better. It didnt feel like the AC was on, so it was a bit hot. The chairs were uncomfortable and small and need to be at a different angle for the people sitting to the far right/ left. There wasnt enough space between the chairs. The guy next to me was heavy and took up more room, so he politely stood during the show. The bathroom was upstairs, so not handicap accessible. Parking was hard to find. The opening act only used material that was already on YouTube, so that was disappointing. I would have to say this is my least favorite venue in Minneapolis.

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.

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.

Cool looking venue and Dinkytown is always fun, however it was a pretty disappointing experience in terms of accessibility. My boyfriend uses a wheelchair and at least at the show we went to the accessible seating was pretty much completely off in the corner, right next to an exterior door that was very frequently opened and closed meaning it got very cold very often (a really big problem for some disabilities…).However the worst (and really unacceptable in my opinion) part is that they seemed to have the VIP audience (huge extended family of a band member, I believe) also in the ADA section. At a STANDING SHOW. So we were completely surrounded for the entire main act by a dense crowd of standing audience. I asked folks to not stand directly in front of a wheelchair user (duh??), which was futile. Even worse, the density and disregard of the audience around us meant my partner’s space was not respected and his wheelchair was frequently bumped, including important electronic elements. There was not enough space for me to move to the other side of him when necessary and not enough room for him to move or adjust his wheelchair in any way (not nice in a long show!). Obviously there was not even the slightest possibility of a wheelchair user navigating to the bar/restrooms, or outside in case of any emergency (or just…desire to leave).The most frustrating part of all of this is that THERE WERE STAFF AROUND. We had a great staff member usher us to our place initially, but after that it’s like any disabled audience members were left to the wolves. Besides the ADA violations around not having any aisle/access, the feeling of having a section of the audience’s experience and safety disregarded by the very available staff for several hours was really disheartening.I’ve tried calling to talk about this as I would like to help prevent that experience for other audience members in the future, but no calls have been answered.

Awesome joint! Definitely going back!

Parking sucks, stage is too low probably wont be going to this place again. Once was enough for me.

On Saturday (9/23/23) I went to the Daft Punk Dance Night here at Varsity. I was extremely excited to go and dance to music of one of my favorite bands ever!! And it meant so much more as the band is now broken up. To my (and the rest of the crowds) dismay, the DJ did less than a subpar job. I have the understanding that the set list was to include music from other artists and bands. There was one song I heard by Daft Punk, and it was maybe 1.5 minutes of the song. The other beats were okay, but between each song transition was reminiscent of feedback noise/something like blenders and vacuum noises/far from tasteful music. During the transitions, crowdmembers stopped dancing (which the dancing was low energy to start due to the nature of the music and atmosphere set by the DJ) and stared at each other. It was painful. Myself and I’m sure many, many others are disappointed to say the least. I saw people leaving by groups of 2-6 individuals. I’ve been to shows at Varsity before and I’m not sure I will be returning

Great concert!

Great intimate venue to enjoy your favorite bands.Amazing view of the stage from anywhere except the delightfully unique bathrooms.Security was very friendly and helpful as well as the bartenders and other staff.I was very impressed my first time there to enjoy The Darkness and The Dead Deans!An amazing experience all around, I look forward to returning!

Way too many speakers and way too big for the room, unnaturally bass heavy and highs-mids sound tinny... Array is awful too, makes sounds clash even more. Everytime its cold, mushy, very clashy, tinny, unnatural. No soundstage. Its like listening to two large phone speakers, bonkers.And personal grudge, production manager is rude. Im autistic and was drunk dissociating. She says, need fresh air? Leads me outside then says Im not allowed back in bc Im intoxicated while underage. Im 21. Could have been nice & let me sit and calm down or told me Im kicked out. I wasnt even disturbing anyone, I was struggling to stand while silently panicking. Also kicked out my sober gf, 0/10 be better person.When someone leads you outside, swoop their legs & runaway as fast as you can.

Super fun venue! The lighting was great, and it was decorated in a cool, unique way. It was very artistic and I enjoyed that. The whole atmosphere is great. The bathrooms are super cool looking! It also felt very safe while I was there, and everything was very clean.

Seen Ottto and Bastardane, it was a great venue

It’s nice and big in there, where you don’t have to feel like sardines in a can. They have a great staff!!

Had a great time seeing Ava Max. The show was sold out so it was pretty packed. There were not enough bartenders so I didnt even bother trying to get a drink. It was a nice intimate venue in a very walkable location.

Nice venue, parking sucked, no reentry sucked, show was fantastic

What to know if youre going to Varsity Theater: they climate control aggressively inside, you should probably park at the 4th Street ramp, and the bathrooms are upstairs in the corner.Went here for a concert recently, and even though it was 85 degrees outside I was borderline too cold inside. Theyre serious about their climate control. There was a water cooler on the bar with free cups, which was very nice. Floor is pretty and sound is good. Everybody talks about the bathrooms, which are upstairs in the back-right corner, but I would call them weird moreso than good. There isnt a divider between the urinals, and I overheard somebody saying its like peeing in a Hobbit hole, which felt accurate. However, I have to give it to them that the bathrooms were very clean, and the lines moved at an okay speed since there are 4 stations each. I dont know how the line was at the time of doors because I showed up just before showtime, but I know other reviews have covered that.

Such a cool venue! Great sound, cool bathrooms, good service, and such a vibe. This may be my new favorite music venue.

Had so much fun at this theater! Such an intimate space to see a show, and the inside is cute. Can’t wait to come back for another show!

Very disappointed in this venue. I had a Meet & Greet VIP experience with a band but was not allowed into the venue due to my camera. Even though my camera met all the criteria to be brought inside (it was nonprofessional), the security staff were misinformed about the camera policy and therefore forbid me from coming inside. Was told either to throw my camera in the garbage or bring it back to my car or hotel—which were 30 minutes away. I wasted a hotel night and a couple expensive Uber rides on this trip for a concert I couldn’t attend due to the venue’s screw up. Super bummed I couldn’t meet one of my favorite bands due to the security being dumb. Never going back to this venue again! Shame!!!

Ears got blown out and my body was split in two. 10/10

Always fun to see a show here. Sounds is great and the space is laid out nice.

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

Gorgeous venue!! First time here to see grandson and Royal & The Serpent. Has easily become one of my favorites.

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.

Amazing venue, great for an intimate experience with artists

Small venue with great sound. Depending on the show, there may be seats or it could be standing room only. The bathrooms are pretty cool, with shared (foot operated) sinks.

Saw x ambassadors and it was awesome! Staff was great and polite bartender was awesome and they had a table of water for everyone at the end of the show. Pick one up on your way out.We had Balcony seats which were just bar stools in the upstairs area. It was gated off and they checked tickets there for your seat. It was too tightly compacted in my opinion but breathable. The bar is upstairs. The bathrooms are also upstairs, only one set. One entrance for both male and female and shared washing area. It has a seated area by the sinks that you can also order at the bar from. The bathrooms were fine, cool aesthetics but nothing mind blowing. Felt like a jungle.Overall would definitely recommend this venue. The show felt really intimate

Great venue. Cool space. Decent sound. Just dont sit near the bars in the VIP seating as people are constantly talking. It got really annoying. The staff was not at all sympathetic about it either.

Quaint little joint with a couple bars and some worthwhile VIP options. Nothing better than sitting at the balcony watching the light shows and getting waited on.Very similar to the fine line in capacity, cleanliness, and layout.This venue also features one of the most interesting restrooms Ive seen. Co-ed wash room with a view of the stage. Its really something to behold.

I like. Great accoustics. Saw my neon trees. Enjoyed myself.

Great music venue will be returning for cradle of filth in March. Staff is very friendly

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

Im so glad this venue is becoming more popular because I think its so much better than a lot of the other venues in the Twin Cities! Security is friendly and effective, and the other staff is also always great. The venue itself is charming and intimate and even the bathrooms are fun. Ive seen such a variety of artists ranging from punk to EDM and I can never wait to be back! :)

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

Saw The Darkness perform here. Absolutely beautiful venue, very cool architecture and amazing concert. The security however were incredibly rude. We had asked before the show if the area we were standing was okay. The guard said yes, so we stood there without blocking a pathway or anything. Halfway through the show we were ushered away and my elderly mother that had needed the spot to lean on was in pain the rest of the show. Meanwhile, the drunk men in the VIP section were constantly blocking the wait staff and almost fell into the crowd. Not a word was said by security. After the show, I wanted to keep the water bottle I had purchased since it had a cool design. As we were walking out we were harassed by staff to throw it away, even though it was empty and had only held water. The show was amazing but my experience was muddied by how inconsiderate they security staff was.

Great venue for a concert. Good space. HUGE PLUS SIDE even with a packed house it was not was and sticky and sweaty. There was cool air circulating. I dont want to know what their electric bill would be. Drinks were over priced tho. Paid way to much for domestic beers, not even anything fancy

The varsity is a great venue in the dinkytown area. I think it matches acoustic or more relaxed vibes best.I have been here several times and will never hesitate to go back. I wont look forward to parking, however.

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

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

I like the venue but parking is literally atrocious

Cool theater with nice architectural touches. Ben Bohmer was a blast.

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.

Nice little hole in the wall midsize venue. Loved the ability to upgrade to balcony seats. Good bar access, but you have to hunt for the bathroom. Upgrade for seating in the balcony or main floor risers If thats your deal, but you might as well hit the rail my friend

Great venue for a standing room only show. Good selection of adult beverages and not a bad seat in the house.

Great place with super helpful staff. Security is strict which makes me feel safe and secure while enjoying the music and is also a nice peace of mind with the tragedies that have happened in venues. The managers are always eager to help and the venue itself is super cool. The bathrooms have the most interesting sinks, over all a wonderful place to visit and experience live music. If I could give more stars than just 5 I would.

We saw Esther Povitsky a few weeks ago, and it was wild! She is so funny, but the venue itself is amazing. I havent been here since I was a kid, and it was more awesome than I ever remembered. I thought it was so cool that they serve liquid death, and all the drinks were so worth it! We will hopefully be back soon!

Stellar staff. Great venue. Completely well run. ADA compliant, check in at box office to state your accomodation request. Sound was great. Very impressive.

Great theater. So glad they re opened it! Rennovations were minimal to keep the original vibe, but the place has definitely been cleaned up a ton! The iconic bathrooms are back and better than ever. The sound is pretty good. There was some serious feedback during the first song, but the team quickly recovered and fixed the issue and the rest of the concert was great sound and mixing. Bartenders and servers were extremely friendly and didnt get annoyed like some do when I just asked for a glass of water. Im definitely excited to see another show here soon!

Compared to First Ave, the Varsity Theater has some architectural disadvantages. Parking is limited in Dinkytown, the entrance is a dogleg with only one door, there is only one bar, not two, and the bathrooms are, while redesigned, awkward in setup and space, and also confusing with a Gothic style (if you go youll know what I mean). All this said, the staff are nice and the experience fun if one goes in with the right expectations.

Nice face-lift. Intimate way to see the artist up close. There are plenty of food options near-by before the show. 🍕🥠🍦

It has an interesting ambiance and the staff was pretty nice. I do however have two concerns. One the security is NOT good. The lead vocalist was climbed on by a drunk/high fan in middle of show and nothing appeared to be done by security. Also they cranked the bass up at the show to the point where it literally hurt our insides and my husband and I are pretty regular concert attendees. I really think this could be an awesome venue if these two items could be resolved.

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.

The security staff was unbelievably rude. They hassled my partner to get out of the building TWICE while I was buying merch within 5 minutes of the show ending. They closed the restrooms immediately too and told people to leave upon being asked. Honestly after a great show this was a total buzz kill and I didn’t feel that our treatment was deserved. Please do better next time.

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.

Bathrooms are blocked the SECOND the show is over! They immediately rush you out.Quite unreasonable to serve drinks, expect people not to get up and disrupt the performer and then force patrons out into dinkytown to find relief…Otherwise, a decent venue for a comedy show.

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

Been going to the Varsity for show for many years. Just keeps getting better. They went above and beyond for the last show when they helped find me a seat because Im in a cast.

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

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.

Nice venue. Watched Russell Howard comedy show there.

Great location, parking wasnt an issue. Lots of space for patrons. Bathrooms were plenty (for the girls at least) and drinks were quick. My favorite part was their security. Husband and I paid for balcony seats. Security came by multiple times before the show to make sure the people in those seats were the ones that paid for them.

This venue never disappoints. Nice simple layout works well for seated or standing rooms shows. Staff is always on point and friendly.Plenty off restaurants and bars in the area if you want to meet up before hitting the Varsity or extending your night after your time here.