Masa & Agave Cantina

What I ordered: -Nachos with carne asada -Traditional margarita Occasion: Stopped in for an app and a drink to catch up with a friend, which ended up being the perfect setting for it. Vibe: Cozy and dark in the best way. It feels warm, intimate, and relaxed, making it a great spot to settle in and actually enjoy your time. Ideal for conversation and lingering a bit longer, whether you are catching up with a friend or on a low-key date. Food: The nachos with carne asada were filling, flavorful, and exactly what you want when you are craving something comforting and satisfying. Generous portions, well-balanced toppings, and great flavor in every bite. Drinks: The traditional margarita was refreshing and well-made. Not overly sweet and easy to drink. Service: Our waitress and the bar staff were incredibly sweet and kind. Everyone made us feel welcome and taken care of, which really elevated the overall experience. Pricing: Adding meat to the nachos did bump up the price, but the drink prices were very reasonable for the area and atmosphere. Would I go back: Yes. I would love to bring a few other friends here too. Overall rating: 10/10

So far I have been here twice, and I would easily classify this place as a great spot for drinks, while an okay spot for food, with some highlight items. As a speakeasy, this place has very good vibes and allows conversations to happen in an intimate setting. The drinks tasted very well, too. I also found out later that it's located in Hotel Ivy. Prior to them changing the menu, I loved the birria tacos the most, primarily because they served the right amount of consommé for the birria they served. The meat was juicy and the cheese was fried very well, which honestly made it more like a quesabirria instead. The nachos were great as well, especially with chicken added. They layered the dish very well ensuring that one bite contained meat, nachos, cotija cheese, and the sauce all at the sam time. The pollo tacos were okay. I couldn't really highlight anything about them. The tres leches overally tasted pretty good, although I would recommend ensuring the base layer had more liquid milk texture so that it could be more of a "tres leches" if that makes sense. In terms of drinks, my favorite was the passionfruit margarita, because it had the right amount of tequila to maintain the fruity flavor along with alcohol. The diablo mule was very strong because it contained both ginger syrup and fever tree ginger beer. My friend ordered it, and I tasted it a little bit. It was pretty good. I had mixed feelings about the Mexican "Firing Squad" Special mainly because the ancho reyes was very strong and seemed to have overpowered the other ingredients, including the reposado tequila that was supposed to be the main factor. The drink had angostura bitters in there as well, which I believe gave the drink an aromatic taste. I have to mention that it was a bit tricky to locate the place. One will need to go down to the basement upon locating the side door of the hotel because another door would lead to another restaurant. I wouldn't have been able to find it if my friend who had already been there didn't lead me there.

A lovely hidden gem! The decor is amazing, the atmosphere is upbeat yet good for privacy, and the food is delicious. I shared the beef barbacoa tacos and Mexican rice and beans with a friend. Flavors were well rounded. The churros are also delicious. They have a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, but were also able to make them N/A. Reservations are needed for table seating, so we sat at the bar. The service was spectacular and the bartenders were friendly and humorous.

We had a great server. She was so sweet and provided great service! Passionfruit margaritas are 10/10. Chips and salsa a great app! Dinner was good too!

Masa & Agave Cantina was a great speakeasy to grab some late night drinks. If we hadn’t eaten prior, the food here would have been great. We ordered The Firing Squad and a make your own margarita with mezcal, a splash of pineapple and a citrus salt rim. There were delicious. If I lived in Minneapolis, I’d be there a lot!

A classy and cozy atmosphere for after dinner drinks. The margaritas were delicious and our server Leauna was friendly and attentive. Please bring back industry night and bottomless guacamole!

Yum, yum, and YUM! I cannot say enough good things about Masa & Agave. Of course, we started with all the chips and salsa, queso, and guacamole. This could be my new favorite trio! For my main, these were the best birria tacos I've ever had—from the flavor to the tenderness of the meat… chef’s kiss! Lastly, my favorite part: dessert! I'm a huge fan of sweets, and these churros were probably some of the best I've ever had, with a delicious chocolate filling inside. If churros aren’t your thing, we also tried the coconut tres leches, which was perfectly light and topped with fresh fruit. I can't wait to come back here! It’s the perfect spot to grab drinks and apps with friends in the lounge or come with the whole family to enjoy lunch or dinner. Plus, it's within walking distance to all of the stadiums and arenas!

I’m a foodie and a self described food snob and this food was DELICIOUS!!! I had the Berria beef tacos which were divine. My husband had the short rib which was also amazing!!! I’m not a huge fan of avocados but even the guacamole was perfection. My drink was even delicious (passion fruit margarita.) Don’t miss this gem of a restaurant!!

We had a wonderful rehearsal dinner on May 2nd at Massa & Agave. As mother of the groom I worked closely with Erica Wolfe, Associate Director of Catering and Events at the Cleveland Westin. Erica was helpful as I had to plan the rehearsal dinner from out of state. I met with her a few times to discuss the Tacos and Tequila menu. Erica answered all my questions thoroughly and showed me different options on room set up. My timing the night of rehearsal dinner was tricky as I the wedding rehearsal was 40 minutes from Massa & Agave. I asked Erica if I could bring in the decorations (vases of flowers, signage, pictures of the couples, etc.) early afternoon and she agreed to have the tables set up so all I needed to do was decorate. When I arrived, she had a cart ready for me to load all the decorations. The ambiance of the room was casual and simple which was exactly what we wanted. Erica introduced me to the manager, Austin; the bartender, Anthony; the chef, Felipe; and servers Corrine and Herman. What a wonderful staff as they catered to every need with a smile. It was evident they all had a great time ! I have never seen a staff so attentive and engaged with the guests. The food was absolutely wonderful from the Chicken Tinga to the fresh guacamole. It was constantly replenished and served warm. The guests kept telling me this was the nicest rehearsal dinner they had ever attended and complimented the staff. The food was muy sabrosa. Felipe even left the kitchen at the end of the night and mingled with some of the guests. One in particular was my special needs nephew who so enjoyed speaking with Felipe. It was so wonderful to see my nephew so engaged. Felipe made his night! Thank you Erica and staff for everything!

Masa Agave is what happens when aesthetics get all the attention and flavor is left behind. Yes, the space is gorgeous, romantic, chic, definitely Instagram-worthy, but once the food arrives, the magic fades fast. I ordered the *tabalones* (if I'm even pronouncing that right) it was short rib that was cooked well, sure, but somehow managed to be completely forgettable in taste. It was giving "slow-cooked disappointment." The fresh guac was the standout, but it felt like an accidental win in a sea of mediocrity. The menu is basically a greatest hits of Basic Mexican 101. Basic nachos. Basic mocktail. Basic everything. The kind of place that looks like it should wow you but delivers the culinary equivalent of a shrug. We were there for a work dinner, so I didn't have a say in the choice, and believe me, I wish I had. On the upside, the servers were kind and did a great job managing our big group. Too bad the kitchen couldn't match that same energy. All in all, Masa Agave is a beautiful backdrop for a bland meal. Minnesota, I expected more.

Been here a few times. Each time has been delicious! This trip was a late night snack. Just some tacos and drinks. Tacos were super tasty. My favorite drink every time is the Masa and Agave. It may sound strange with masa infused mezcal and corn milk (what?!) but trust me it is worth being adventurous. I also love that it has that speakeasy vibe since it's underneath another restaurant. And bonus, it's open late night, even midweek! We will be going back soon.

This place has some amazing tacos and agave cocktails. I definitely found my new favorite, the Birria, it's two tacos with melted cheese and braised beef, served with an amazing dipping broth. Super rich, however every bite melted in my mouth.

Was looking to have a final dinner before I flew out the next morning and decided to try Masa & Agave. It's inside Hotel Ivy, down a flight of stairs. Vibes were cool, calm, and collective. Very speakeasyish. Quickly sat down and had a nice spot to myself. The waitress was amazing. She recommended the birria and elotes and I was excited to try. The dish speaks for itself. Crispy tortillas with cheese and plenty of birria with every bite. Onions were pickled perfectly and I could have drank that consume. Elotes was on the Cobb which was different than usual but I wasn't complaining. Nice hit of spice with every bite and the lime cut into it well. I ordered the churros for dessert and was expecting a few but instead had a mound of churros. I did my best but the churros won. Cinnamon and chocolate were spot on and each churro had a perfect bite. So happy this was my last meal of the trip in Minny!

Bit overpriced on the food for restaurant week, but overall taste was pleasant. No free parking is a ding against them. I can't recommend this place though because they overcharged me on the bill, thankfully I kept the receipt. When I called, they understood the error and said the would make it right. Weeks had passed, still nothing, so again I had to call and escalate and get the right person (Hailee) on the phone and it was eventually resolved. Can't trust a place that doesn't charge the correct amount the patron intended.

I used to love this space as Constantine, so glad they got something new here. Tying to find parking isn't always fun cause its pretty much street parking. Made reservations for a late dinner. Dimly lit lounge perfect for date night. Had some tacos and a few cocktails. Everything was delicious and came out in a timely manner. Sat close to the bar and the bartender served us. Really friendly staff and were very understanding of me being late lol. Will definitely be going back, maybe for my birthday!

Met up with a couple people here and didn't even know it existed. It was a little hard to find, but once I did, I was happy. You will need to street or ramp park because it's downtown. Is located in the downstairs of a hotel. We sat at the bar and both bartenders were super friendly and one was great at making drinks based on the general conversation. It was dark inside like a speakeasy, the ambiance in general was very chill. I ordered a passion fruit margarita that was recommended by the bartender. It was amazing. Not overly sweet either. I'd definitely go back.

Very cool place. The have a parking lot located right next to the building which is helpful. When you walk in the door, if you go straight, that's a different place but the door on the right has steps down to the basement where you will enjoy amazing food and drinks. My girlfriend and I shared a couple apps and then had some Burria tacos. The servers were very helpful and kind and made accommodations for a toddler to enjoy. This restaurant is unique and really cool. I enjoyed the space as well as the food. Another spot I will come back too!

I visited Masa & Agave with a group of coworkers. The space was particularly dark, but I appreciated it was quiet enough on a weekday to have a conversation across the table. We started with chips and salsa with guacamole. I opted for a couple of classics - Red Sangria and Enchiladas Divorciadas. The sangria was scrumptious and refreshing. The Enchiladas were tasty and could use a bit more seasoning in my opinion.

The ambiance was great, but the portions way too small. If you go here, dont expect to get full. Almost tapas-like. Cocktails were good.

This place has great food, greag drinks, and great vibes. It has a Speakeasy feel, that is so fun, with a sophisticated element. The guacamole is peak flavor, I highly recommend! The drinks are strong, smooth, and come in fun glasses. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was friendly and fun. The music can get a little loud, so sometimes conversation can be difficult across a table, but I can't wait to spend more fun and fabulous evening here!

Everything we tried here was delicious; I wish I'd been hungrier! Our table shared the Quesadillas & Papas Fritas. Both were super tasty, with large chunks of mushroom in the quesadilla & tasty salsa to dip in. The papas fritas taste like McDonald's with the perfect amount of seasoning. I tried 2 cocktails (plus we passed all of ours around to try) & I loved that the "Mexican Firing Squad" came in a fun glass. Our server was excellent & the entire vibe of the restaurant is comfortable & cute; I could see it being difficult to read the menu at night, but that's what phone flashlights are for :)

Stopped in on a whim as was staying in the hotel Sat at the bar as no reservation and we had great service from the bartender. Our cocktails were delicious but be advised on the stronger side -not a bad thing The guacamole and chips were also really tasty The atmosphere when I was there was perfect not too loud ,not overly crowded yet! Loved the speakeasy vibe Heard a DJ comes after 9pm so imagine it would be very busy and loud Great place for drinks with a date or friends night out

Masa & Agave is in a great location at the Hotel Ivy on the lower level. I have been waiting for it to open since Constantine closed. It is fun to see the changes that they have made to the space. I enjoyed the decor and the bar chairs were extremely cute and comfortable! There was a DJ that came on at 9 pm and the music made the atmosphere feel more alive. When my group arrived we were told that there were no open seats without a reservation. We were able to sit at the bar right away and ordered a round of drinks. The Passionfruit Margarita had flavors of passion fruit and pineapple. It was a refreshing choice and the sweetness was perfect in this margarita. Loved this drink. There is a guajillo salt blend on the rim and recommend not trying it or getting near it when sipping your drink. The Spicy Mezcal Paloma was both spicy and smoky. I would say this is a must try drink for even those that do not normally like spicy or smoky drinks. The Tajin rim is the perfect addition. For food the guacamole and chips were the best appetizer to share. The guacamole was chilled, fresh, and had such a great flavor. The Beef Birria Tacos were unfortunately not worth it. The was no flavor and the meat was overdone, it was chewy in some places and burnt in others while the tortillas were soggy and falling apart. I would focus on the drinks and guac!

Very nice place in Minneapolis near the convention center. Ambiance is cool, with some great decor. My only problem was it was super dark. Im a little older so maybe it more of a generational thing, I used my phone light to read the menu, but probably would appreciate the dimly lit atmosphere if I was huddled up in a corner booth with a date. Mexican Firing Squad was a great drink to start with. Served up in a smaller clay "glass" like you see the the huge punchbowl sized margaritas you see in Mexican resort you tube videos. The chips and salsa was pretty good. The chips had the perfect amount of salt on them to be good by themselves and the salsa, red and green. Next drink was the Masa and Agave and it was the sleeper of the meal. The corn milk gave it a silky margarita vibe, but it was perfectly balanced between the sour/sweet that a good "margarita style" drink should have. I ordered the Birria Tacos.............they were good, but they were NOT Birria Tacos. Being from Texas I know what birria tacos are and again, these were good but they were served open faced, no oaxacan cheese melted inside. The consume had a good beefy flavor, but was not the salty, silky meat flavored broth it should be. Maybe everything is tweaked for a more northern flavor palette than a texas palate. Got the elote, its used served on the ear but the waitress said they could take it off the ear and that was a more enjoyable version because I could just get a spoonful of everything all in one bite. Finished it off with Tres Leches......YES. Specacular. If you're in MSP around the conference center, hit this place

Great food and decor at a restaurant within a really top-notch hotel. My critique here is (and I say this as a single person in their 30s who doesn't mind a good party): Is there a reason why the music is set to a million decibels??? I was sitting a foot and a half away from the two people I came there with for a 5PM happy hour, and the techno music was set to a level that was on par with a Las Vegas New Years party. We weren't able to hear each other at all. Literally shouting to have a dinner conversation. The waitress even kept having to ask "what?" multiple times when trying to take our order. My friend asked the waitress if the music could possibly be turned down, and she apologised for the noise, but there wasn't really any change from what any of us could tell, so we left and went somewhere we could actually hear eachother for a proper happy hour involving the ability for conversation. I would recommend this place if you like a club-music vibe at top volume. However, if you're looking for conversation and good food amongst friends, there are lots of other places to be had in Minneapolis within walking distance to Masa & Agave that would fit the bill and won't leave your ears ringing or wondering what on earth the person sitting across from you just said.

This place is beautiful! I love the decor, the seating, the plating, everything looked great. The service was super welcoming as well and everyone was very kind. They also had a DJ when we were there that was playing all the right music. The waitress recommended the passionfruit margarita and it was pretty good. I do love spice but I felt the spice in this was kind of just thrown in there, and I wouldn't order it again. We also tried the paloma but I did not like the taste at all, and was not able to drink it. The drinks were very strong though which we appreciated! We had some chips and salsa which were alright, but only the red salsa was good to eat as the green one was too salty. I was hoping this would be more authentic as they had the aesthetic down, but the menu was pretty disappointing and pricey. Overall I enjoyed the experience but unfortunately I would not go back.

Fun atmosphere with a speakeasy vibe down the stairs in the hotel Ivy. We got agave cocktails which had the right amount of flavor and alcohol. There are a ton of different cocktails so we'll want to go back. They have food as well which we did not try. Seating at tables, bar. Fairly big for being downstairs.

I want to give this a higher rating but just not there yet. We walked in to have a drink or two before dinner. The bar was full so we got seated at a small table which was fine, however, we never ended up getting any service. When two spots opened up at the bar we went there thinking that may help. It was about 10 minutes before we were even greeted after flagging someone down. They were busy and I know this spot is still new so I understand that the kinks are getting worked out! The menu itself is simple and cute. Really cool drink options, especially if you're a tequila drinker! We tried the sangria, which I know seems odd at a Mexican place, but it sounded good and it delivered. The food smelled amazing but we didn't try anything this visit. Definitely a spot worth trying and they supposedly have a dj later evening to bring more atmosphere. It's a cool spot for the area it's in as there are no other big cocktail bars in that part of downtown. We plan to come back again to try some other things!

The food was good. We had the tuna ceviche, chips and salsa, fish tacos and chicken tinga tacos--I would eat all of it again. The service was fine too. The reason for the 3 stars is for the horrific furniture and drink menu. All the chairs are so wildly uncomfortable it made for a negative experience. Also they should add some mocktails to their drink menu given the huge sober curious movement rn. The bartender made me a "nonalcoholic margarita," which was literally just lime juice. They should explore some NA spirits, shrubs, etc, for the alcohol-free crowd.

Our server Abbey was wonderful. She was very sweet, attentive was knowledgeable about the menu and was very open to giving suggestions. We had previously been to the attached restaurant upstairs, but,This was our first time at Masa. We were seated in a really cute comfortable nook area just under the windows when we arrived we were maybe the only other table there we stayed for a couple hours and people started to trickle in but the cute underground speakeasy feel of the place absorbed any of the other activity around us. The drinks we had were great twists on old standards such as the Moscow Mule and margaritas We had two drinks each and they were just as different as they were amazing. The food was beyond our expectation as it had a great authentic look and taste to it and definitely defied our expectation. The nachos were my favorite and I would definitely come back and have those again. And to end our evening we had the tres leches, which was the perfect nightcap to our meal. I also really liked the feel of This cute little spot because you could sit and have a more intimate or quiet dinner with just two people or you had room to have a party of six or 12 and still maintain that cozy intimate feel. I would definitely recommend this place.

The food was really basic and the drinks were really basic considering how expensive the whole experience was. I received an espresso martini with no espresso in it. The tacos are just like any other tacos you've ever had in the city but twice the price. And it's unnecessarily dark in there.

We love a speakeasy and we found a new one in hotelivympls where Constantine used to be. Welcome to masaandagave a cantina serving craft cocktails and small plates. We had a great time. This is another place with stellar service and food! Our only warning is don't get the corn unless you have a high heat tolerance. I found out the hard way .

I had a really disappointing experience at Masa & Agave Cantina in Minneapolis on a Saturday night. The restaurant was nearly empty, so I expected decent service--but what I got was unacceptable. We arrived at 10:20 PM, were seated by 10:25, and waited... and waited. No menus, no water, no greeting. Finally at 10:45 PM, someone told us that the kitchen stopped taking orders at 10:30 PM--even though their own menu says the full food menu is available until 11 PM. The worst part? Our waitress blatantly ignored us while checking on every other table nearby--including a group that came in after us and got their food before we were even acknowledged. It felt like we were invisible. After 30 minutes with zero service, we left. This was a bad customer experience from start to finish. If you're looking for great hospitality or even basic acknowledgment, this is not the place. Poor communication, unprofessional service, and no accountability. I won't be coming back, and I don't recommend it.

We tried the birria, rice and beans, and guacamole. Honestly.... Maybe I'm spoiled because I live in Southern California but it was a bit bland, and lackluster.

I went to Masa & Agave for the first time on a weeknight and had a great experience. Their menu features a lot of tequila and mezcal options which made it easier for me to order drinks being celiac! I got the Diablo Mule and sampled the passion fruit Margarita, and Tamarindo Margarita. I liked all of the drinks but the Tamarindo Margarita does have a kick so if you don't like a little heat in your drink I'd avoid this one. They have a happy hour at 9 pm to close featuring 5 dollar tacos, bottomless guacamole for 2, 10 dollar traditional margaritas and 12 dollar for the weekly Margarita special. We had already had dinner so didn't try them but I'd love to come back and try their food. Our server was nice and helped us quickly. The ambiance is fun with the agave pictures on the wall and the mix of black and white with pops of color! Parking is a little trickier around here. Plan on a little time to find parking.

Black beans & rice are vegetarian but bland. Margaritas are odd - all seem to be missing sweetness, even on a build-your-own that I specifically asked for Cointreau in. It's just meh hotel grade stuff.

Ambiance is great! Cocktails were good, guacamole was good and the birria is awesome! One star docked because the chicken tinga tacos were flavorless. Big bummer! For $7 a taco, it was a miss

Below average food...don't get the oyster mushroom tacos, bland and no flavor I enjoyed the cocktails though and fun atmosphere

The margaritas are sooo delicious and refreshing. i had the tamarind flavor and was superb. Great place to start your night with friends.

I found this restaurant to be just ok. The food (guacamole and enchiladas) and cocktails were fine, but I could not get over how dark the restaurant was (yes, I'm old). Also, I know they are new but there were a few glitches with servers bringing food out to the wrong table or wandering around the restaurant trying to find which table gets the food. That happened to our party a few times. In conclusion, there are other Mexican restaurants that have better ambiance, food and service so I don't feel compelled to go here a 2nd time.

Our group had four of the seven entrees on the menu. No raves. In fact four people ordered the carnitas. A chunk of extremely dry, flavorless pork was served. It was so tough we had to ask for steak knives. Even then it was a fight to cut through. We all gave up. Staff was pleasant and service was great. Wish the food was edible.

My wife and I attended this place on a date. Fully enjoyed our experience there. The staff was very polite and attentive. The food was delicious and the drinks were well prepared. Very nice low light setting. WE will definitely revisit this establishment.

The menu is small with limited number of entrees. With fewer dishes it is important to do them well, unfortunately they don't. We had a group of 12 people and 4 people ordered the carnitas. It was so dry and over cooked you could barely puncture it with your fork. The corn elotes was flavorful but the corn on the cob was tough and I found myself using the sauce to add moisture to the dish. The other entrees ordered were small and lacked flavor. Everyone left hungry and unsatisfied.

Great vibe! Nice decor and patio is a plus. Nachos and guacamole were delish. The Tablones were yummy but birria tacos were missing flavor. Drinks were also delish and not very strong! Would possibly go back to give it a second try.

Great food and drinks, Abby was an awesome server! Very friendly and attentive. Will be back again.

Delicious food served piping hot. Friendly & attentive service. Very nice little place, good ambience.

We were a group of 10 out for drinks to celebrate husband's 50th. Drinks and space were great, however our service was less than stellar. At one point our waitress asked us if we were ready for the bill, we had been there about 90 minutes. We said no, and instead of asking us what else we would like to drink she turned around and walked away. We had to call her back to the table. We easily could've doubled our bar tab if it wasn't for the poor service. It was as very disappointing.

Wow what a fantastic experience we had. Our server Esme was extraordinary! She suggested some drinks for us and was spot on with what we wanted. Tons of tequila options. Esme couldn't of been lovelier and a total ambassador to the bar, hotel and city! We met the manager Amir and he was the perfect definition of a gentleman. We had a great corner table in the bar that had a super fun vibe going. Just a top notch experience made memorable for us by Esme's fantastic service. Loved it!

Neat decor/interior design. The tortilla chips were the most stale chips I've ever had at a restaurant in my life... and they're not complimentary, I had to pay for them. Didn't care for the salsas. The short rib came with a delicious spicy sauce. But the meat itself was not heated evenly, parts of it were served cold and parts were warm. The black beans were hard and undercooked. The tres leches lacked flavor. The staff is young and not super attentive. Overpriced. Wouldn't go back.

I joined two of my business associates for dinner last night . We selected this restaurant based on yelp reviews. All I can say is what a disappointment. Restaurant was not that busy but we had to wait long periods of time in between ordering a drink, getting a drink., getting an appetizer and then our meals. ITook another 20 minutes to get dessert and an after dinner drink. No apologies from the staff . Horrible service wouldn't go back .

Amazing tequila selection. Great late night happy hour and traditional tacos! In the basement of the Ivy Hotel, great vibe and they have a dj a few nights

Our small party enjoyed excellent service, great small dish food options and a creative drink menu.

everything was excellent. drinks were delicious and food was unique and outstanding! our waitress was attentive and helpful. would come back!

We will certainly be returning to Masa & Agave very soon. The service was exceptional and the staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The food was fantastic-- highly recommend getting the nachos! The drinks were top tier-- if I had to choose one favorite, it would have to be the spicy paloma. The ambiance was great; cozy and modern. Excellent spot all around.