Matt's Bar Parking Guide
Finding reliable Matt's Bar parking requires understanding the layout of South Minneapolis before you pull onto Cedar Avenue. Famous as the home of the original "Jucy Lucy" cheese-stuffed burger, Matt's Bar and Grill (3500 Cedar Ave S) is an iconic neighborhood tavern rather than a commercial entertainment complex. Visitors often stop here on the way to Minnesota Vikings games at U.S. Bank Stadium or Twins games at Target Field. However, the venue does not have a large parking garage, and lines of hungry patrons routinely stretch out the front door.
For the most dependable visit, free residential street parking along East 35th Street or nearby side avenues is your best choice. Matt's Bar does offer an official customer parking lot behind the building, but it holds only 10 to 14 vehicles and fills up almost immediately during meal rushes. Parking in the lot and on nearby public roads is free of charge, but you should plan to arrive right at opening or during mid-afternoon lulls to avoid lengthy waits. If you visit during winter and road signs regarding plowing restrictions seem unclear, check the City of Minneapolis Snow Emergency hotline before leaving your vehicle on any side street.
Parking Snapshot: Quick Answer Before You Go
Matt's Bar features a very small private lot behind the tavern, but most guests park for free on the adjacent residential streets. Prepare for tight turns, unmetered curb spaces, and strict winter plowing rules.
Official Source Verification
Parking information can change by event, date, traffic control, construction, operator, or season. VenueGuideHQ checks the latest available official source before publishing each guide.
How We Check Parking Information
VenueGuideHQ relies on direct venue operational data, city municipal codes, and on-the-ground observations to build practical destination guides. When evaluating Matt's Bar, our team looks at verified municipal parking policies first, followed by the tavern's physical site constraints and neighborhood traffic patterns.
We separate parking details into three clear categories:
- Confirmed Facts: The rear lot is completely free for patrons and holds roughly 10 to 14 standard cars. Curbside parking along nearby residential streets is unmetered. Matt's Bar operates internally as a cash-only dining establishment.
- Variable Conditions: Street parking availability varies heavily between weekday afternoons and peak weekend evenings. Street sweeping in the spring and fall, as well as winter snow emergency declarations, temporarily alter which side of the street is legal for parking.
- Practical Recommendations: Because lines often form outside along Cedar Avenue, dropping off dining companions before finding street parking helps your party secure a spot in line. Drivers of full-size pickup trucks or large SUVs should bypass the narrow rear alley to prevent getting stuck.
Official Parking Overview
The official parking area for Matt's Bar consists of a single, compact surface lot located directly behind the building at 3500 Cedar Avenue South. Drivers enter this lot via the public alleyway running off East 35th Street.
Because the tavern has anchored this corner since 1954, its property footprint reflects mid-century neighborhood density. The lot fits approximately 10 to 14 vehicles depending on how courteously patrons park. Spaces are marked on surface asphalt, but there is minimal turnaround room. If the lot is full, you will have to execute a tight multi-point turn or back down the alley onto East 35th Street.
Parking in this private lot is free of charge, but it is reserved strictly for dining customers while inside the building. Overnight parking is prohibited, and the tavern reserves the right to tow vehicles left behind after closing. Oversized vehicles, passenger vans, and pickup trucks with extended beds should avoid entering this lot due to the narrow clearance between parked vehicles and the adjacent alley fence line.
Best Parking Options for Most Visitors
Compare the four primary parking and arrival options near Matt's Bar based on convenience, walking distance, and vehicle size.
Official Rear Customer Lot
Best for: Early arrivals, solo drivers, and off-peak dining
- Free on-site surface lot located directly behind the tavern.
- Holds roughly 10 to 14 standard-sized cars.
- Accessed via the narrow alleyway off East 35th Street.
- Fills up fast and can be difficult to turn around in when full.
East 35th Street Curbside
Best for: The vast majority of diners during regular lunch and dinner hours
- Free, unmetered parallel street parking east and west of Cedar Avenue.
- Short walking distance of 1 to 2 minutes (under 300 feet).
- Easy parallel parking with good sightlines for exiting.
- Requires watching out for residential driveway curb cuts and fire hydrants.
Residential Side Avenues
Best for: Busy weekend evenings and game-day overflow
- Free street parking on 18th Avenue South, 17th Avenue South, or Longfellow Avenue.
- A calm 2 to 4-minute walk to the restaurant entrance.
- Less commercial traffic than Cedar Avenue.
- Must follow City of Minneapolis street sweeping and snow emergency signs.
Metro Transit Blue Line Connection
Best for: Fans heading to downtown Minneapolis sports arenas after eating
- Board the light rail at the 38th Street Station, located 1 mile south.
- Connects directly to U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field downtown.
- Eliminates paying $30 to $50 for downtown arena event parking decks.
- Standard transit fares apply ($2.00 to $2.50 per rider).
Parking Prices and Payment
Parking at Matt's Bar is budget-friendly because neither the on-site lot nor the surrounding public neighborhood streets charge parking fees. You will not find pay stations, parking meters, or mobile parking apps along East 35th Street or Cedar Avenue South.
| Option | Best for | Key note |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Customer Lot | Solo drivers and off-peak visits | Free ($0); limited to roughly 10–14 stalls and fills quickly. |
| East 35th Street Curb | General dining arrivals | Free ($0); parallel street parking within a 1- to 2-minute walk. |
| 18th & 17th Avenues South | Peak dinner & weekend overflow | Free ($0); quiet residential blocks within a 3-minute walk. |
| Metro Transit Blue Line | Downtown stadium event travelers | $2.00–$2.50 transit fare; boarding at 38th St Station. |
While parking is free, you must prepare for the payment policy inside the venue. Matt's Bar is famously a cash-only establishment. They do provide an automated teller machine (ATM) inside the tavern near the restrooms, but carrying cash with you avoids ATM surcharge fees and saves time when your bill arrives.
Accessible Parking
Because Matt's Bar is housed in a compact, historic building dating back many decades, on-site accessible parking is minimal. The private rear lot does not feature an abundance of dedicated, van-accessible stalls. Additionally, maneuvering a wheelchair or mobility device through the active alleyway behind the restaurant can be difficult due to vehicle movements and uneven pavement.
The entrance to the bar on Cedar Avenue South sits flush with the public sidewalk, offering zero-step entry through the front door. However, the dining room is small, with narrow pathways between tables, wooden booths, and the counter.
If someone in your group has mobility restrictions, the most effective approach is to perform a direct curbside drop-off near the corner of Cedar Avenue South and East 35th Street. The sidewalk corners feature ADA-compliant curb ramps. Once your passenger is safely on the sidewalk or inside the entryway, the driver can locate an unmetered parallel space along East 35th Street.
Rideshare and Drop-Off
Using rideshare services like Uber or Lyft is an easy way to visit Matt's Bar without worrying about lot capacity or winter parking restrictions.
- Drop-Off Location: Instruct your driver to turn onto East 35th Street just off Cedar Avenue to let you out. Cedar Avenue South carries steady municipal and bus traffic, so stopping directly on Cedar can cause traffic backups or lead to being rear-ended.
- Pickup Strategy: When you finish your meal, request your vehicle while still inside the tavern, but set the pickup pin on East 35th Street. This gives your driver a calm, safe place to pull over to the curb without holding up traffic.
- The "Drop-and-Park" Routine: If arriving with a group in your own vehicle, let your passengers out on 35th Street to join the line outside Matt's Bar immediately. Lines during peak dinner hours routinely take 30 to 45 minutes. Having your party get in line while one person parks the car ensures you are seated much faster.
Public Transit and Shuttle Options
Matt's Bar is well connected by the Minneapolis Metro Transit system. If you want to bypass neighborhood parking completely, public buses and light rail provide great alternatives:
- Metro Transit Local Bus (Route 14): Route 14 operates along Bloomington Avenue South, running north and south between downtown Minneapolis and South Minneapolis. The Bloomington Avenue stops at 35th Street are just two residential blocks (about 0.2 miles) west of Matt's Bar.
- Metro Transit Local Bus (Route 22): Route 22 runs along 28th Avenue South, located roughly five blocks east of the bar.
- METRO Blue Line (Light Rail): The METRO Blue Line 38th Street Station is located approximately one mile south of Matt's Bar along Hiawatha Avenue. Travelers can take a 15- to 20-minute walk up Cedar Avenue or catch a connecting bus. The Blue Line connects directly to downtown Minneapolis, U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field, the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), and the Mall of America.
- Shuttles: Matt's Bar does not operate hotel or event shuttles. Out-of-town visitors staying in downtown Minneapolis can take the Blue Line light rail or a short 10-minute rideshare directly to the bar.
What to Do if Parking Is Full
During weekend dinner rushes (5:00 PM to 8:00 PM) or weekend lunch (noon to 2:00 PM), the rear lot will almost certainly be full, and curb spaces on the immediate block of East 35th Street may be occupied. If you find yourself in this situation, use this systematic approach:
- Do Not Idle in the Alley: Avoid waiting in the rear alleyway hoping someone pulls out. The alley is narrow, and blocking it prevents departing customers from leaving, creating gridlock.
- Scan 18th Avenue South: Turn north or south onto 18th Avenue South, just one block east of Cedar Avenue. This street is lined with single-family homes and usually has multiple open parallel spots.
- Check Longfellow Avenue: If 18th Avenue is full, proceed one block further east to Longfellow Avenue. Walking from Longfellow Avenue takes less than three minutes.
- Respect Neighborhood Driveways: The Standish and Longfellow neighborhoods are active residential communities. By Minneapolis traffic law, you must leave at least five feet of clearance from any residential driveway curb cut, ten feet from fire hydrants, and you must never block alley entrances or crosswalk curb cuts.
Day-of Parking Tips From VenueGuideHQ
Follow these field-tested recommendations to avoid parking tickets and reduce wait times at Matt's Bar.
- Skip the back lot if you drive an SUV or truck. The alley and rear lot are very narrow, so choosing street parking on East 35th Street immediately will prevent you from getting pinned into a tight spot.
- Check Minneapolis Snow Emergency rules during winter visits. If four or more inches of snow have fallen, the city enforces strict Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 parking bans on side avenues, and violators are promptly towed.
- Drop off your group before parking to hold a spot in line. Seating is first-come, first-served, so letting your party join the queue while you park can cut 20 minutes off your wait.
- Bring paper cash before you leave your car. Matt's Bar does not take credit cards for food and drinks, so having cash ready avoids extra ATM transaction fees inside.
- Watch for temporary street-sweeping signs in spring and fall. The City of Minneapolis posts temporary cardboard "No Parking" signs on trees and utility poles 24 hours prior to street sweeping.
- Park facing the legal direction of travel on side streets. Minneapolis parking enforcement officers frequently ticket vehicles parked against the flow of traffic on two-way residential streets.
Category-Specific Arrival Tips: Arena and Stadium Event Pairings
Matt's Bar is frequently treated as a culinary landmark for sports fans and concertgoers visiting the Twin Cities. Pairing a Jucy Lucy with an event at U.S. Bank Stadium (home of the Vikings), Target Center (Timberwolves), or Target Field (Twins) requires smart scheduling:
- Game-Day Dining Timelines: When the Vikings play a noon home game on Sunday, Matt's Bar experiences a massive rush right at its 11:00 AM opening. If you want to eat here before a game, arrive by 10:45 AM to be in the first seating group, or plan your meal for after the game around 4:00 PM.
- The "Park, Eat, and Transit" Strategy: Downtown Minneapolis event parking garages regularly charge $30 to $50 during major concerts or NFL games, and exiting those ramps can take over an hour. Savvy sports travelers park on the street near Matt's Bar for free, enjoy their meal, and take an Uber or the Blue Line light rail north into downtown. After the game, a return train or rideshare brings you back to your car, letting you bypass downtown traffic bottlenecks entirely.
- Comparing Landmark Dining Travel: Just as travelers heading to regional institutions like McGehee Catfish Restaurant parking need to prepare for distinct rural highway access, visiting urban landmarks requires adjusting to residential curb rules. If your travel plans include major cultural hubs, review our guides for the Smithsonian parking guide or our advice in the National Mall parking guide to master city parking navigation.
Before You Go Checklist
Review this practical checklist before starting your vehicle:
- [ ] Cash in wallet (Matt's Bar is cash-only; an ATM is on-site if needed)
- [ ] Minneapolis Snow Emergency status checked if traveling between November and April
- [ ] Passenger drop-off planned at East 35th Street and Cedar Avenue
- [ ] Backup parking streets noted (18th Avenue South and Longfellow Avenue)
- [ ] Arrival targeted for 11:00 AM opening or 2:00 PM–4:30 PM off-peak window
- [ ] Truck or large vehicle drivers committed to parallel street parking rather than the rear alley
- [ ] Vehicle parked at least 5 feet clear of driveways and 10 feet from fire hydrants
- [ ] All personal bags and valuables tucked away out of sight in your trunk
- [ ] Metro Transit schedules checked if connecting to downtown sports arenas
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Matt's Bar have its own dedicated parking lot?
Yes, Matt's Bar has a dedicated surface lot located directly behind the building. It is accessed via the public alleyway running off East 35th Street. The lot is free for customers, but it holds only 10 to 14 vehicles and fills up quickly during normal dining hours.
Is street parking free near Matt's Bar?
Yes, street parking is free and unmetered along East 35th Street, Cedar Avenue South, and adjacent residential side streets like 18th Avenue South. Drivers must check for posted municipal street-sweeping signs and follow winter snow plowing declarations.
Can I reserve a parking space in advance at Matt's Bar?
No, parking cannot be reserved in advance. All spots in the rear lot and on surrounding neighborhood streets are strictly first-come, first-served. Similarly, Matt's Bar does not take table reservations.
What are the winter parking rules around Matt's Bar?
If the City of Minneapolis declares a Snow Emergency after significant snowfall, parking rules take effect across three consecutive days. Parking is prohibited on Snow Emergency routes on Day 1, and restricted to specific even- or odd-numbered sides of residential side streets on Day 2 and Day 3. Vehicles parked on the wrong side are subject to immediate ticketing and towing.
Where should rideshare drivers drop off or pick up passengers?
Rideshare drivers should pull over along East 35th Street, just around the corner from Cedar Avenue. This keeps Cedar Avenue clear for city buses and daily traffic while giving passengers a safe curb space to enter or exit the vehicle.
Is there accessible ADA parking at Matt's Bar?
Dedicated ADA parking in the private rear lot is extremely limited due to the small property footprint. Guests with mobility challenges should be dropped off at the corner of Cedar Avenue South and East 35th Street, where sidewalk curb cuts allow smooth access to the front entrance.
What should I do if the Matt's Bar parking lot is completely full?
If the rear customer lot is full, proceed immediately to East 35th Street and look for open parallel curb space. If 35th Street is packed, turn onto 18th Avenue South or Longfellow Avenue, which are quiet residential streets located within a two- to three-minute walk.
How far is Matt's Bar from U.S. Bank Stadium?
Matt's Bar is located approximately three miles south of U.S. Bank Stadium. Driving or taking a rideshare between the two locations typically takes 10 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic along Hiawatha Avenue or Cedar Avenue.
Does Matt's Bar validate parking?
No, Matt's Bar does not validate parking because there are no paid commercial garages in the immediate neighborhood. Both the rear private lot and public curbside parking are already free.
Can I leave my car parked in the rear lot overnight?
No, overnight parking is strictly prohibited in the rear customer lot. The lot is reserved solely for guests while dining inside the bar, and unauthorized vehicles left after hours are subject to private towing at the owner's expense.
Conclusion
Visiting Matt's Bar is an essential Twin Cities culinary tradition, but enjoying your Jucy Lucy starts with a smart parking plan. Because the official customer lot behind the tavern accommodates only 10 to 14 cars and requires navigating a narrow alley, you should treat it as a secondary option. The most reliable strategy is heading straight for free, unmetered street parking along East 35th Street, 18th Avenue South, or Longfellow Avenue.
Remember that Matt's Bar accepts cash only, draws consistent lines during lunch and dinner hours, and sits in the heart of a quiet residential neighborhood. Drop your dining companions off near the corner of 35th and Cedar so they can join the queue, park courteously away from neighborhood driveways, verify winter snow emergency signs, and you will be inside enjoying your meal without parking headaches.
Parking information can change by event, date, season, traffic control, construction, and parking operator. Always confirm the latest parking details on the official venue, airport, park, attraction, city, transportation, parking operator, organizer, or event website before you leave. Information is checked for 2026 where available, but official sources should always be treated as the final authority.
