Lake Wine & Spirits

Love this liquor store! The selection is everything you’ll ever need, only downside is they don’t have the huge bottles of the wine we usually get… but maybe that’s a good thing. They also have a cheese shop inside that I still need to get something from. It’s a super nice place and also has parking to the side of the building which is key for me!

Beer aisles are a 100% cluster fuck. Don’t expect to pass another person without experiencing an awkward and sharp genital brush-​up while passing them to grab a mixed-​six (if somebody isn’t already fumbling around for ten minutes selecting theirs). Most staff are as rude and janky as their prices — it’s über SWPL in South Minneapolis, so no real surprise there. I go here when I’m desperate, as they’re open ’til 10 pm. The treats/​cheese/​sandwich shop is filled with tasty treats, however, with markedly different personnel and clientele.

This place sucks. I made a Unilocal account today to review this business after months of wanting to have an okay experience here. There is one person who works there who can answer a question about beer. He rules. I don’t know his name, but rock on. Everything sold there is at least $ 1 more expensive than the surrounding liquor stores. Not a huge deal, I get it, you have a parking lot for me to park my car, you have a sandwich shop, cool. But my lord, the people who work the cash registers are horrible and have no souls. Every time I go to check out, I don’t get a hello, the cashier doesn’t tell me what my total is, I don’t get a thank you, and I sure as shit don’t get offered a bag. In fact, they are more interested in talking to each other than even ringing up my order, and don’t make eye contact, oh no– that might make my overpriced shopping experience more positive. Every time I go there, I leave wondering why I thought it would be different this time. They are 3 blocks from my house, but I will continue going to Emerson/​Lake liq where the people who work there know a thing or two about the products they sell, ask if you are finding what you need, aren’t afraid speak to you or look you in the eye, and actually seem to give a damn that you decided to shop there.

This is my neighborhood wine store and I love it. Close enough to bike to, they over a great selection of craft beer and delicious wines. Their 6 for $ 36 is great and has a good selection of quality wine. I’ll often do this deal to try something new and end up getting a new favorite.
There’s also an amazing deli to the right and outside the main doors to the wine shop. It’s so yummy! They have hot and cold ready to make sandwiches as well as cheeses, jams, oils and chocolate. Every time I go here for a sandwich I end up buying something else. It’s like target but without the red and khaki. Higher quality food too. I highly recommend checking this deli out as you will not forget it. In fact, make sure you stay in MN so you can relive the glorious sand which memories.

I come in here quite often either for the booze or for the deli and have to say I always feel uncomfortable. The staff always stare and watch me like a hawk when I’m browsing. Even my wife notices it.

Like affordable wine, beer and liquor? Awesome sandwiches? Tasty cheese and gourmet treats? This place has it all. Employees are helpful and friendly and it really has everything you need. The sandwiches are surprisingly affordable, REALLY good (granted I need to try more) and made fresh. I’m told they do tastings in the evenings Thurs-​Sat. There are also (limited) parking spaces which helps.

I split my booze $$ about ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ with this place and South Lyndale. They both have the strengths and weaknesses. 6 for $ 36 wines… I am not a big wine drinker but the Fiancé’ is so I feel like a baller bringing home a bunch for her.
Beer selection is pretty good, the were the first place I noticed had Steinlager and Kona brewing… Also, I found my beloved JACK FIRE here for the first time.
The employees who roam the floor are always ready to help. I think the prices are quite fair.
The cheese shop inside is pretty sweet too. Have not gotten anything in a while but the sandwiches they make now smell amazing…

Really nice place. Amazing selection and variety. From my short time in the city, the prices seem to be comparable to other places I’ve shopped at. Thankfully this one is close to home and seems to have one of the better selections. Looking forward to sampling their cheese offerings. The staff is always helpful and polite. Parking depending on the time of day can be a small pain.

I don’t always find everything I need here, but I do always find something. Often a hidden gem, some sale wine I’ve never heard of, or a specialty beer I’ve never tried. The prices are not cheap by any means! But the convenient location keeps me coming back. The staff isn’t all that friendly either– I’ve been followed around the store more than a few times and I’m there everyday. One of the cashiers is a bit testy… Not going to name names.
Cheese shop is on point! Offering a couple of vegetarian blues and gorgs. Lots of options and specialty items. Refillable olive oil and balsamic options too. Go get yourself a sample from the friendly cheese shop staff.

While I love the location of this wine & cheese shop, I feel like they are severely lacking variety – both in types of wine & price range. I could easier forgive them on this if they had my go-​to wine, but alas! This is not the case.
It’s not all bad though, they have a deal where if you buy 6 bottles (of a particular selection) you get each for $ 6/​bottle. Not too shabby.
All in all, not a bad wine shop, but I need to go to others to really explore much.

I saw that the Cheese shop had a Cuban on their menu now and I had to get in there to try it. This review is basically of the Cuban sandwich. All the other positive, glowing comments I have made before still stand.
I have to say that my Cuban sandwich quest is often thwarted by my search for a classic Cuban and for some reason restaurants try to «make it their own» which does not work for me. I want roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, cheap ass dill pickles and ball park mustard (and not grainy deli mustard) on a sandwich that has been pressed. It is truly one of the things that everyone should experience in its simplest form.
The LWS Cuban has pork loin and ham but switches up the cheese to a crème fraîche-​Dijon mustard sauce and uses higher end dill pickles. After getting the sandwich I drove a few blocks to park in the shade to have the sandwich. It was absolutely dripping with the crème fraîche sauce that had thinned on the heated meats. The bun was completely sogged out. The sauce was also very heavy on the horseradish and very light in the mustard component. I like horseradish but it was too much in this sandwich. I know the bun was not traditional Cuban bread but you simply can’t find Cuban bread very far outside of the Miami area.
I will continue my search for a Cuban sandwich here in the MSP area but will skip the LWS version in the future.

Love love love!!!
Love the cheese shop, love the wine deal, love the liquor store. Lovelovelovelovelovelovelove!
I want to pack up my bags and live in the cheese shop. Coming here for lunch to get a sandwich turns into a gourmet grocery shopping experience. Cheeses, vinegars, chocolates, finishing salts — YES. Browsing their shelves is a fun way to spend some time while they are making your sandwich.
Speaking of sandwiches, they won the fancy sandwich game at (fairly) reasonable prices, unlike another «fancy» sandwich place that will not be named. The Grand Manchego basically won the sandwich game for me:
Manchego, bresola, marcona almonds, arugula, house made apricot truffle mayo, white bread.
…yup. Sold. Wrap it up. Stuff in face.
Great everyday wine deals (6/​$ 36!) and a million types of beers on the liquor store side of things that you can mix and match in a choose-​your-​own-​adventure-​type 6-​pack!
Lake Wine & Spirits; you’re my favorite. Can I move in?

Liquor stores are usually not my favorite type of establishment to visit. To me, they either feel vastly overwhelming or seedy and sort of depressing. I’m beyond happy to report that Lake Wine & Spirits is neither overwhelming, nor sketchy. In fact, it’s a clean, affordable, helpful and inspiring spot for spirits AND fancy snacks.
Their «6 for $ 36» wall of wines changes weekly. It’s a great way to try new wines with minimal financial risk. They always have a wide range of options to try! This is always my go-​to for any type of party or social gathering. It’s cheaper than Costco and they have a wider, more exciting selection.
The staff is spectacular. They’re knowledgeable about every type of alcohol. Whether you’re trying to find a wine to pair with dinner or pick a 6-​pack of beer for a friend’s birthday, they can help you find whatever flavor or price point you’re looking for. The guy in the glasses… I don’t know his name, but he is always there when my husband and I come in… he KNOWS HIS SHIT. Like woah.
But really my favorite part of the whole operation is the cheese and sandwich shop in the front. They have tons of cheese — goat, blue, gouda — from France, Germany, the Netherlands, everywhere. And the woman who works the counter will give you free samples so you can find exactly what you want. The sandwiches though are a dream. $ 5 footlong at Subway? Psh. You can get a $ 5 roast beef/​horseradish/​havarti sandwich on ciabatta bread for $ 5 here. No joke. Totally worth it.
So whether you are stocking up for a party, or just trying to grab a bottle of wine or some olives to bring to a party… this place is a clean, affordable, yet non-​overwhelming option. Lake Wine & Sprits FTW!

This place is GREAT! The people are always friendly. They have a little cheese shop in front (where the people are a little less friendly), where they have an assortment of cheeses and accompaniments (honey, jams, meats, olives, etc.). The accompaniments are all prepackaged though for the most part so don’t expect an olive bar or anything.
The selection of spirits, wine, and beer is fantastic. The prices are pretty reasonable. They do a great job at providing variety and making the most of the space they have. They could use a little help with organization — their bloody mary mixes were all over the place, in the same general vicinity but had we not checked another aisle we would’ve missed another few brands they carried. When you buy more items they give you a box to put them in so you’re not carrying a bunch of cartons and mixers around while fumbling for your car keys. They have a parking lot and a bus stop right in front.
Bonus (maybe a lot of places have this but I never noticed before): they carry simple syrup in rose and lavender flavors (there is 1 more but I can’t remember)! It was a medium sized bottle for $ 9.99. All in all great place to go, this place is almost always busy — the many times I’ve gone so far it’s never been empty, even near closing time.

Great, reliable liquor store.
Free parking on all sides of the building, which can get a little busy on the weekends. For a small store, they pack in some great options. I wish the craft beer cooler had more room around it, but that has never slowed me down! On the few occasions I buy wine (very rarely…) I love that they have easy to find wine sections and lots of helpful reviews on little index cards. I usually feel like an idiot in the wine section, so easy to find help is great.
Staff is always super helpful and friendly!
Cheese shop: so great! The owners are incredibly nice and clearly have a passion for their work (cheese!). I’ve gotten a few sandwiches from them, all VERY reasonably priced and massive. After living very close to the Stp Cheese shop, I missed getting high quality affordable sandwiches, so happy to have this as an option. Go get a sandwich the next time you grab a 6 pack!

This is easily my favorite liquor store in Minneapolis. Yes, it even edges out Surdyk’s.
LW&S’s wine selection is really organized, compact, and decently priced — they’re always offering multiple specials that can save you quite a few dollar bills. Their 6 for $ 36 wine special is incredible — such a bargain, considering some of the varieties and brands that you can get for $ 6 each! They carry a very respectable variety of craft beers and have a great selection of 6– and 4-​packs as well as bombers. As you walk in, check the front of the store for their rotating beer specials. And if none of their sixers is striking your fancy, you can make your own for $ 10! This my favorite kind of game to play (when I’m inside a liquor store, anyway).
And in case that wasn’t enough, there’s a small cheese shop adjacent to the liquor store, where you can pick up a few accoutrements for your picnic or dinner party — cheeses, cured meats, spreads, crackers, etc. And they make sandwiches for $ 4.50!
The store is clean and organized, and I have to say that I prefer this layout to the log-​jams that can happen when you’re trying to maneuver around people’s carts at Surdyk’s. The staff is very helpful, knowledgeable, and considerate — there’s no pushing you to buy something out of your ideal price range. I even witnessed an employee from the cheese shop escort a customer over to the liquor store and ask another employee to direct her toward wines that would pair well with her cheese selections. Talk about customer service!

If you love wine, you belong here. Six bottles of wine for thirty six dollars, all day everyday. And it’s not necessarily cheap wine either, when you’re checking out you can see the original price scanned and they are giving you fifteen dollar bottles (in some cases) for six bucks. Its awesome.
I have dabbled in their typical offerings and would suggest a few to anyone, connoisseur or otherwise. My favorite is the Snap Dragon Pinot Noir, they always have this one and I would never skip it! If you like something super sweet, go for the moscato, there’s usually only one or two options, but the one that’s actually very good has a tan label and little hearts on it that look like they belong in a scrapbook. My final suggestion is for something a little drier, there’s a cabernet and a merlot by one brand that are both quite nice. It’s usually right by the door as you come in, black bottles with gold netting. These are definitely the better reds offered in this deal.
The cheese shop is pricey, but the selection is super interesting. Think sun-​dried tomato Gouda. If you are having a house party and want your guests to think you’re sophisticated, fifteen bucks spent at this cheese shop will get you to fancy pants territory, no question. The best part of selecting is all the sampling, don’t commit until you’ve had a wide variety, they are very generous with taste testing.

I love going to this liquor store and so do my dogs! The staff is always so friendly and eager to help you look for what you need. The atmosphere is great and it’s clean. The selection is wonderful, whether you’re picking up a case of domestic beer or grabbing some craft ale you haven’t had in awhile, you can’t beat the variety. There are always specials going on that are well advertised as you walk in.
Also, if you’re a dog lover, don’t hesitate to bring your pooch. They’re dog friendly! My pit bull and pug know the drill, the cashiers have treats! Oh, and certain staff know my pups by name, how rad is that?

Hard to find craft beers, great wine selection and cheese galore — uptown’s classiest liquor store!
Not only does Lake Wine & Spirits have one of best craft beer selections in the area (and yes, you can build your own local craft beer 6-​pack!) there is a fabulous wine assortment sorted by type/​country of origin, a well-​stocked cheese shop ++ great parking and friendly, helpful staff.
A few tips/​tricks…
— Heading to or planning a party? They’ve got a great selection of craft beer ²⁴⁄₃₆ packs or walk towards the back of the store for the small kegs or classy boxes of wines.
— Hungry? Stop by the cheese shop to pick up some yummy sandwiches, you won’t be disappointed!
— Trying to pair a wine with an upcoming dinner? Just ask the staff, they are great with helping you find the right wine (and no they won’t try to sell you the most expensive bottle!)
— They’ve got a $ 6 or $ 36 wine special, make sure to ask about if you’re looking to stock up!
Lake Wine & Sprits is a welcome addition to uptown! I’m always stopping in here for a quick build-​your-​own 6-​pack, a classy bottle of wine as a gift or a fun snack idea for a party.

This is our go-​to liquor store! It’s super close to where we live and there’s always parking available in the lot if you choose to drive there.
They always have a wine special when you first walk-​in where you can buy 6 bottles of wine for $ 36. We never leave without buying 6 bottles of wine!
The rest of the store is very organized and they have a great selection of beer, wine, and liquor. The staff is so friendly and always willing to help. It’s small, but I really appreciate how great of a job they do when packaging your purchases into a box for you.