Sir Benedicts Tavern on the Lake

Great spot to see the lake and enjoy a warm lunch on the North Shore. Very adorable! Pesto Sammie was incredible Highly recommended the German pretzel 🥨

Bees Invaded My Epic Duluth Beer Adventure at Sir Benedict’s—But I'd Still Give It 5 Stars! 🐝🍻 (You Won't Believe the Historic Vibes!) #DuluthHiddenGem 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 Stars – A Historic Beer Haven in Duluth That's Worth the Buzz! Oh man, if you're in Duluth, Minnesota, and craving a craft beer experience that's straight out of a history book, RUN—don't walk—to Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake! This place is a total gem, nestled right on the shores of Lake Superior with an outdoor seating area that feels like you've time-traveled back to the 1800s. Picture this: you're sitting on a charming wooden patio surrounded by century-old brick walls, vintage lanterns flickering in the breeze, and the faint echo of Duluth's maritime past whispering through the air. The historic ambiance is next-level—it's like dining in a restored ship captain's quarters, with exposed beams that tell stories of old trading posts and iron ore ships docking nearby. Every corner screams 'authentic North Shore heritage,' from the rustic stone accents to the panoramic views of the lake that make you feel like you're in a postcard from Minnesota's golden age. It's not just a bar; it's a living piece of Duluth history, perfect for sunset sipping or cozy fall afternoons. And the craft beers? Absolute perfection! They pour local legends on tap, with rotating seasonal brews that hit every note—crisp IPAs with piney hops, smooth stouts that warm you up against the lake chill, and fruity sours that pair insanely well with their pub grub (pro tip: get the fish and chips for that true lakeside vibe). The staff are beer wizards, recommending flights that'll make any hophead swoon. It's the kind of spot where you lose track of time, chatting with locals about Duluth's wild history while the waves lap in the background. The ONLY downside? The bees are in GREAT numbers during fall peak season—think a buzzing squadron that might photobomb your pint! 🐝😂 I had to do a little dance to shoo them away, but honestly, it added to the adventure (nature's way of saying 'welcome to the outdoors!'). Just bring some bug spray or snag an indoor spot if you're bee-phobic—it's a minor hiccup in an otherwise flawless experience. Duluth locals and travelers, this is your sign to go! Historic charm, killer craft beer, and views that'll make your Instagram explode. Who's braving the bees with me? Tag a friend and let's make this spot famous! #SirBenedictsDuluth #CraftBeerLovers #MinnesotaAdventures #HistoricPatioVibes #BeeHiveBar #LakeSuperiorEats #ViralDuluth #Travel

Loved this place! Was super cozy and fun- old school vibe/relaxed. Beautiful view, friendly staff, great service. Food and drinks were great!

In a city that is pretty vegan-friendly, Sir Ben’s vegan Cobb salad is the single best vegan entree in town. Loaded and perfectly balanced, it’s super delicious & satisfying. I’ve already had this entree four times this summer and will continue to return again and again to try and satisfy my cravings for it. While some places just throw a simple vegan entree on the menu, this one is thoughtful and well executed.

Brunch with a Lake View: Sir Benedict's Tavern Delivers Atmosphere and Flavor Looking for a brunch with a view, we found ourselves at Sir Benedicts Tavern on the Lake. The setting had promise—and quirks. Parking was scarce, so plan on a short walk from nearby street parking. Once inside, we found a cozy, bustling atmosphere that never felt overwhelming. The staff struck a balance of laid-back and attentive—friendly smiles and helpful guidance from the moment we arrived. Restrooms were simple: two single-occupancy, non-gender-specific rooms. They were clean but showed signs of character—graffiti dotted the walls and ceiling. Seating is self-service style: order at the counter, pick your spot, and the waitstaff brings the food with a warm touch. Lake View & Outdoor Seating It was a foggy day, but we appreciated the generous outdoor seating with views that, on a clearer morning, would be stunning. Even through the mist, the lake added serenity to our brunch. We started with the Pesto Bruschetta, beautifully presented and generously topped with pesto, feta, and tomatoes. It was flavorful, fresh, and visually inviting. The nachos (just a half order!) were unexpectedly hearty—smothered in cheese, tomatoes, a large dollop of sour cream that didn't shy away, and pico de gallo and jalapeno slices on the side. The timing from order to table felt just right. Our waitress arrived with a friendly smile and double-checked that we had everything we needed before leaving us to enjoy. Her attitude matched the tone of the place: casual but caring. 🌟 Overall Impression Despite minor hiccups (parking and fog), Sir Benedicts Tavern on the Lake delivered a memorable brunch with a side of laid-back charm. Good food, good vibes, and a lakeside setting—9/10 would recommend.

This place was amazing. The food was fantastic and the people were wonderful. Even had live music starting as we were getting ready to head out.

During a recent business trip to Duluth, I was in the mood for a good sandwich for dinner and was steered toward Sir Bene’s by the hotel receptionist — and I’m so glad I went! The atmosphere was fantastic, with an impromptu Irish jam session happening that evening. The musicians were excellent and added such a fun, cozy vibe to the place. I ordered the portobello sandwich, which was delicious — hearty and flavorful, and I was that I held the mayo because the sandwich doesn't need it. Although I didn't drink, they have a huge variety of draught beers. Overall, a great experience all around. Highly recommended!

I rarely write reviews, so you know this place stood out. Food was amazing — we got the Pickled Pig, The Cuban, and the soups. Service was very friendly, accommodating, and attentive. Very divey, friendly ambience with great music too. Best for last was the warm apple pie for dessert. We will be coming back.

We stopped here on our way up to Grand Marais, based on a recommendation of a friend. Love the pub atmosphere, and while you place your order at the counter, the food is brought to your table, and the service was stellar (several people stopped to check on us). My pastrami sandwich was good, but not as flavorful as I would have expected. The squash soup was very good, but not at all what you would expect, it has a smoky/baconey flavor rather than the usual fall spices. But overall, the food was good, and the cozy atmosphere is perfect for a fall or winter day. I suspect in the summer there is a good view of the lake as well.

Fantastic place! Great beers & food. So many sandwiches to choose from. You can't go wrong with anything you pick. Place is popular & gets busy. Service was great, and timely. It will be a mandatory stop when I'm in town.

Sir Benedict's was recommended to us on a recent trip to Duluth. We went for lunch and it definitely lived up to the hype. The ordering process was super easy and the interior had a fun vibe, too.

I dream of their smoked butternut squash soup!! Seriously, it's so good and you must make your way to this pub to give it a sample. This lakeside bar has a legit soup & sandwich operation and lots of beers on tap. Parking is a bit limited but we were able to find a spot a block away when we went for lunch on a Friday. I ordered a build your own half sandwich with my big old bowl of soup, and my husband got the Cuban. The sandwiches were good! But again, THE SOUP!!! This is a counter service operation, so not a ton of interaction with the staff but they were friendly. It's a bar so the interior of the restaurant and bathrooms is a bit dingy. Definitely no changing table in the bathrooms, and they are not open on Sundays which is annoying because that is often when my family finds itself passing through Duluth. I want this soup every day of the week!!!

I love it here!!!! I come here whenever I am driving through Duluth. The food is absolutely amazing and you cannot go wrong with any of their sandwiches. The service is very fast and friendly. The ambiance is a chill and a cool hang out with friends. I've been here during live music and thought it was very fun. If you don't know what to get for food in Duluth, get a sandwich from here!!

Such a wonderful stop on the lake shore! Prices were so reasonable and food was awesome! We ordered the chicken bacon salad, smoked squash soup, French dip and the onion soup! It was delicious. The Smoked squash soup and the chicken bacon salad were the standouts! The smoked squash soup was smoky and herby without overpowering the flavors, it was so unique. Great views! The place was packed but we were about to find a table! They also had a great selection of beers!

Patio dining - order inside and wait at your table. Dogs welcome outside. Food was good - we had the reuben (great corned beef), the pesto, the hot club, and the English dip. It was pretty busy but service was friendly and fast enough. Sitting outside was nice.

A very enjoyable lunch at Sir Benedict's. We ate outside and enjoyed the service and view of Lake Superior.

Went here for a quick lunch bite on a business trip as the nearby highly rated restaurant. It did not disappoint. I got the New England burrito but with a few twists and turns that fit my taste buds. It was SUPER filling and definitely made me want a naptime. I was not a fan of the dessert (homemade apple pie) or the ginger ale (bottled but I forget the brand). I would expect a wait when you go as it is on the smaller side and ALWAYS packed with line out the door (unless it was just the lunch time rush).

We came in from Dallas, Texas and this is the first restaurant we decided to try in Duluth! It was delicious! Ambiance was wonderful! Staff was great! We will come again!

Great food, awesome selection of drinks.. I recommend the root beer. Both of them. Bit of a Yellowjacket problem swarming outside but they're not very aggressive so it's still worth it. I got the honey mustard ham sandwich they had as the special and it was so worth the risk lol

Such yummy sandwiches! The pesto was super flavorful, wish the focaccia was a bit softer but still good. My girlfriend got the Chicken Bacon Artichoke and really enjoyed it. Great lunch spot by the lake!!

First off if I could give more than 5 stars, I would! My friend and I were recommended this restaurant and heard the smoked Gouda butternut squash soup was amazing. I've never heard someone speak so highly of this soup and we wanted to give it a try. True story. It was so good, apparently I didn't even snap a picture of it. We also tried the chicken bacon artichoke sandwich and hot chips which other Yelper's said you must try. They weren't lying. The sandwich was warm and the bun was toasted but not hard at all. The hot chips had some aioli, bacon chunks, and celery chunks on it. I thought they'd get soggy, but they didn't. We went back the next day to pick up another soup and pie. Seriously! You must get these two items. I would get every item I tried again. The service was self serve so make sure to head to the counter to order and they will drop off your order. There was a few beers on tap as well. Pricing was pretty reasonable as well.

When you plan your travels poorly and there aren't a lot of places open late, pop into Sir Benedict's and find what you need. Sir Benedict's is a place reminiscent of a British pub with indoor and outdoor seating. It's open late and pet friendly on the patio...unless the guest was cheating. There are good views of Lake Superior, too. It should have been clear that the pastrami sandwich was cold. Would have ordered differently if we'd known. Food was better than okay and portions were nice. Staff members seemed a little fatigued and not especially into delivering a great guest experience. I say this only to offer ways to nudge the score up.

Classic local tavern with simple bar food done well. A nicely made lean Rueben sandwich and a Bent Hop IPA by Minneapolis based Bent Paddle Brewery. Added bonus was the gaggle of old time/bluegrass(y) fiddles, banjos, bass and mandolins playing together. A nice find after a long drive.

We had a very relaxing supper - tried the British Dip and tomato basil soup. Both were delicious. Great beer selection, as well. We loved the French silk pie for dessert - definitely enough for two. We arrived just after 7 PM on a Tuesday and it was open mic for local musicians/songwriters. Not all were to our liking but overall, we enjoyed their music and courage to perform live. There's lots of indoor and outdoor seating options and this place is a charming spot if you're looking for a tavern/pub that feels grounded in the community.

Looking for a great place to eat in Duluth. Check this place out. Not the fanciest but well worth the experience. Order inside and find a table. They'll bring it to your table. Great view of the lake from the patio. The food is awesome. After seeing what other tables ordered, I wish we lived closer. I definitely will go back.

Stopped in yesterday for lunch! Great service at the counter when we ordered. Food took about 15 minutes. Brother got the special sandwich of the day and devoured it. Such a good size for lunch! I got the pesto bruschetta - it was huge! The pesto was delicious, the tomatoes were fresh and the cheese was the perfect amount. 10/10 recommend. My mom got the summer salad with blue berries, strawberries, nuts and cheese. BIG salad but so yummy and fresh. We got to sit outside, enjoy the sunshine and the 60 degree day in March!! Definitely worth the stop in for lunch.

Firstly, had to park 3 blocks away and that was lucky. I went to order a simple 1/2 turkey sandwich. The women asked me what veg I wanted. I asked what my choices are and handed me a menu. I looked at her and said could you just tell me since there was a huge line waiting to order. She sneered at me and said with an irritated tone, cucumbers, onion, red peppers. I said cucumbers please. I politely asked about how long as I ordered it to go and thus wasn't going to sit at table. She said about 15 minutes. I said thank you and went outside. about 3 minutes later I got a box with a wrapped sandwich. Clearly made a while ago. I opened it and saw one this slice of turkey rolled up in a ball with 4 huge cucumbers and a thin slice of Swiss cheese. Nothing on the bread dry. I had to go in and ask for a side of mayo to be able to stomach it. Bread was wonderful from Johnson's bakery in West Duluth, 12 grain I recommend it. Summary: No parking, rude employee, horrible dry sandwich with one thin slice of turkey and nothing on the bread and made earlier in the day. Definitely not worth 9 dollars. I'll never go back.

Highly recommend! Great, unique menu, executed perfectly. I loved all the different options and the sandwiches we had were both SO good. Super fun atmosphere, especially with the live music. Food came out fast and staff was friendly. The only thing I didn't love is that seating is "free for all" which is fine when they aren't busy. But when we arrived, all the tables were taken, and as we were waiting for a table, several groups that arrived later grabbed open tables before we could so that was kind of a bummer. But everything else made for a fantastic experience!

English Onion soup and a portabella melt goes a long way. Their soup is sooooooo good. I think the only thing is that they could get some air circulation going

I was in town for work for 2 weeks, tried twice to get in here and they were packed! Well, third time was the charm and it was worth the wait! Service was quick and friendly and the soup was really delicious, all rounded off with a cold draft of a new beer to try and a beautiful view of the lake across the street. Love the cozy atmosphere of this place, it's a gem!

Awesome food and reasonable prices. Friendly & helpful staff. I will definitely come back when I'm back in Duluth.

Enjoyed great food (portabella burger that didn't slide off the bun with the first bite, tangy sauce), nice selection of craft beer, and casual, fun atmosphere. Live music later that night. Happy patrons and staff.

Everything was delicious! Not pictured, but the French silk pie was also amazing. Can get pretty busy so try to beat the crowd!

Great food. Interesting old building. Nice location on the lake with plenty of outdoor seating.

A delightful English style pub in Duluth. Very friendly staff, delicious food and many great draft beer choices. This is true pub style where you order your food at the bar. Get the humus appetizer. It's a heaping portion, home made and delicious. I had the homemade butternut squash soup which was superb. Thank you Yelpers for another great recommendation.

First time visit to this small, unique spot in Duluth. It was recommended by a relative who has played music there. Love that they support musicians. We arrived just after they opened on a beautiful Friday. We were lucky to get parking spot and outdoor table with a lovely view of Lk Superior. Friendly informative staff on their ordering process. (You order inside , get a number and they bring food out) Food and drinks were excellent! We had a wrap and a hot club sandwich. Place was busy. Wish I had gotten the clam chowder as nearby patron did and it looked great. My only small complaint-the seasoning for rim of my Bloody Mary was almost all salt. Wish I had known this and could have told them to leave it off.

You dont want to miss this place! Order at the counter then pick your spot. My go to order is the pork cuban with a cup of butternut squash soup (legit the best soup you'll ever have, smoky, herby, savory). The cuban has pork, quac, sriracha and cheese, not like a regular cuban. If you're sensitive to spice I would ask them to leave the sriracha off. The sir pesto with turkey or chicken is also amazing. My boyfriend loves the tuna melt or the hammer (special). Chicken bacon art was my go to in college and my best friend always had the egg salad. You can not go wrong at this place!! They have a special every day (specialty sandwich) and a $5 specialty beer. Special shout out to their nachos, german pretzel, and french silk pie. The only downside is that they are closed on Sundays. This is the best restaurant in duluth, don't miss out!

We called to check on there hour as we were driving to Duluth for the day. We have wanted to try this restaurant but we must've been there on a Sunday or Monday when they were closed. Super friendly and welcoming on the phone. We agreed to give this restaurant a try and glad we did. Very welcoming staffing and efficient. It was extremely evident to us the staff cared about the business they are running. Ordering was easy to do. Prices in this current economy were very fair. We didn't feel gouged and bent over. We tried the PPP sandwich it was good but not really a got to have it again sandwich. I'm not knocking it just a personal preference. We tried the Rubin sandwich and definitely liked it. We will be back for another again and again. It will be a staple sandwich we will share. The atmosphere is eclectic and college bar atmosphere without the college students. We are in our late 60's and felt very welcome & appreciated. We will be back to the area again and will bring our Cabin Guests up to wonderful Duluth for the experience and have lunch at Sir Benedicts. On nice weather days there is outdoor dining.

Gosh darnit this place is amazing. Such an awesome stop for a quick bite of grub. Ordering at the counter is honestly clutch and wish more places did it. Such a fast food order I loved it. Plus they have tea up there and it immediately grabbed my attention. The food options are a plenty! However, I'd strongly, strongly recommend the soup and the Reuben. The Reuben bread was a bit dry but who cares when it tastes amazing and you have soup? Such a great soup salad combo. Our food did get brought to us quickly despite it being packed. The inside was super nice but we sat outside as it was fairly warm. Great overall!

One of my favorite places in all of Duluth. Such a good vibe and great food. If you sit outside you can have a view of the Lake. 10/10

The food was great if you want to wait for over an hour to eat. This is a small little restaurant and bar that has little space to sit and more customers than they can handle. We called to see if they take reservations having never been at the restaurant befit and the man who answered the phone was beyond rude, had no interest in trying to help us know how long of a wait there was and was extremely impatient. Clearly they didn't need our business. We went there anyway, against my better judgement, and was as disappointed as I thought we would be with long wait and no place to sit.

Great food. Nice staff. Love the ambiance!! Seat yourself, order at bar area. Order , pay, get your drink!! Fast.

Back again on our way back down to the cities from Grand Marais and it was even better this time! The Bahn Belli and the Hot Chips are a must!! You've got to try them. I will be craving them going forward.

A local here who hasn't been to Sir Ben's in YEARS, and finally made our way down today. I'm a self-proclaimed "Nacho Connoisseur" and I've heard good things about the nachos here, so I gave them a whirl. First impression, they are HUGE! The entire top covered in cheese, and just under that were the beef & veggies, which I liked, but there was A LOT of onion, like probably at least 1/4 cup, which I found to be over-powering, along with a generous portion of jalapeño, but those were easier to pick off when I'd had enough. I dug down and was happy to see there was an additional layer between the chips of the toppings, except for cheese. This made it hard for the second layer of toppings to adhere to the chips at all. One small cup of fresh pico (including more onions) was included. It's not really salsa so that could have been sprinkled on top. A generous dollop of sour cream finished off the top. I found myself wanting to dip my dry chips in something like salsa. As mentioned, they were enormous, so I barely made a dent in them. So, in a box the rest went. Later that night, we spread them out on a cookie sheet, picked off some onion and added more cheese to the dry chips and warmed them up and pulled out our salsa from home and our family finished them off. We found all your staff to be extremely friendly and helpful. A+ for them. And I LOVED the kombucha.

Great atmosphere! Loved the sandwich I had and the cider on tape was great too! Highly recommend!

I came across this place on Instagram and Tik Tok a handful of times and many residents of Duluth recommended this place. If you go to any restaurant in Duluth I hope it's this one! First, when my friend and I walked in, it smelt AHHHH-MAZINGGG! We visited on a Friday night around 8:45pm and it was still very packed. Full patio and full restaurant. We were a little confused how it works because we've never been there before but just a heads up it's self serve style. You order at the counter, you are given a number, and find a table. I'd suggest grab any open table right away. My friend and I shared the hot chips for an appetizer, chicken bacon art sandwich, and for dessert the French silk pie which was the VERY best I've had (my friend who doesn't really like this pie loved it too). We even went back the next day to get another slice and to try the smoked butternut squash soup. Everything we had I'd give 10/10!! Honestly, I wish I lived closer because that smoked butternut squash soup would be perfect during these MN winters. :-) Staff were very busy, but the ones we interacted with were friendly. There was a gentleman playing live music so a bit loud in the small restaurant, but still a great experience.

Out of towners apparently don't get served at the bar. We were passed over for a good 10 minutes before i called the bartender over. He said they were busy... there were three bartenders on and they were not busy, Shitty service. They don't want you there if you aren't one of the locals.

My favorite in Duluth. Bar food and a KILLER draft list. The BEST nachos. Apologies for the all caps but, ya, sorry not sorry. They're good. Go get you some. Cheers!

This place is awesome. Great ambiance, good food and drinks, can't beat it. Happy to go back anytime.

Best sandwich in a long time It's 27 degrees and a bunch of brave souls enjoying fire tables outside with takeout service. Delightful! We were too cold and did not have the appropriate outdoor wear so we took hot chocolate and waited for our order. It was delicious. I had the tuna melt with cheddar and sprouts. I had forgotten how good sprouts were. The tuna was tasty and creamy with hot cheddar in a crispy toasted sour dough bread. Delicious. If I lived closer, I would eat this often. My sin had the chicken and artichoke sandwich and same result. Great food. Well packaged. This is good good served right. Enjoy!

We stopped by for lunch on a Friday and this place was packed! There was a line through the restaurant of people waiting to put in their orders. We grabbed a spot in line and we're so glad we did because everything we ordered was great! They have a nice patio with the perfect balance of sunny and shaded spots. I split the Shanwich and Sir Pesto. The Shanwich was perfectly spicy and I loved the pesto on the Sir Pesto. I would happily return to try something new.

Wonderful local/regional beer menu and great sandwiches. Live music often and a great atmosphere

The food is terrific/electic and good value. The vibe and music are so very perfect and representative of Duluth at its finest. Service is a combination of order at the bar, and then delivery by staff who are very attentive. We will be returning often.

Excellent food in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Tough to beat! The soups are always wonderful also!

This was a perfect lunch stop on a cold and rainy summer day in Duluth! When you arrive you need to go right to the counter to order and then you bring a number to your table. We did not wait long for our food to come out piping hot! The sausage and potato soup was so tasty and creamy with a good ratio of sausage and potato. The Reuben was good, the bread seemed a little dry and the onion soup was tasty but very hot. I would recommend waiting awhile to dig in. We sat outside and the view of Lake Superior was beautiful. Highly recommend for a cute local spot.

Great day with a buddy and finishing up here picking up supplies and one meal before we head back north. The service was decent and food was good. The English onion soup was good but the sandwich was dry. Over toasted the bread on my Ruben. I thought it was just me but my buddy said his French dip was over toasted as well. Great atmosphere and live bluegrass music. Overall a fun experience. It's been a while since I've had a good Ruben. Guess I have to wait a little longer

Love this place! Always full of fun people and great music. Food is amazing and plenty of local beer to choose from. Can't wait to go back.