Some nights in downtown Minneapolis, the best plan is also the simplest one: dinner and live music at a candlelit table, a few minutes from your own front door. The Dakota, the legendary supper club at 1010 Nicollet Mall, has been one of the Twin Cities’ great listening rooms for decades — and it sits about a five-minute walk from Oaklands on 9th. No ramp to find, no rideshare surge after the encore. You finish dessert, stroll two blocks, and you’re home.
In August 2026, the Dakota’s calendar is one of the best months we’ve seen in a while. Here’s what’s coming up — and why a furnished studio around the corner is the easiest way to enjoy it.
What’s on at the Dakota in August 2026
Every date below is confirmed on the Dakota’s official calendar; check the event pages for tickets and menus. A few highlights:
- Wed, Aug 5, 7 PM — Soul Asylum (acoustic) with Ivan Neville & Laurels String Quartet — Minneapolis legends, stripped down and up close
- Thu, Aug 6, 7 PM — I Am In Love: Jane Monheit Sings Cole Porter
- Fri, Aug 7, 7 & 9:30 PM — Talib Kweli
- Tue, Aug 11, 7 & 9:30 PM — Stanley Clarke N•4EVER
- Fri, Aug 14, 7 PM — Davina and The Vagabonds, longtime Twin Cities favorites
- Wed, Aug 19, 7 & 9 PM — Spyro Gyra
- Fri, Aug 21, 6:30 & 9 PM — Ladies of Soul, Vol. 3: a celebration of Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige
- Tue–Wed, Aug 25–26, 7 PM — Jim Messina
- Thu–Sat, Aug 27–29, 6:30 & 9 PM — Musiq Soulchild, six shows over three nights
And that’s just the headliners — nearly every other night in August has something on the stage, from blues to gypsy jazz to a Cars tribute. The full August calendar is worth a scroll.
Dinner and a show, no car required
The Dakota is a true supper club — you can book a table, order dinner, and watch the show from your seat. From Oaklands on 9th, it’s an easy walk: out the front door, over to Nicollet Mall, and you’re there before your appetizer order would have cleared a parking ramp queue. Nicollet is downtown’s pedestrian-friendly spine, lined with restaurants and patios if you’d rather eat first and just catch the music. If you are bringing a car for your stay, our guide to overnight parking in downtown Minneapolis covers the options, and Metro Transit buses run right along the Mall for nights you want to range farther.
Stay a few nights, catch a few shows
Here’s where an extended-stay studio beats a hotel room: you don’t have to pick just one night. Book a week in a fully furnished studio — full kitchen, WiFi, free laundry, all utilities included — and Tuesday jazz, Friday soul, and a Saturday double feature are all on the table. The Musiq Soulchild run lands right on the opening weekend of the Minnesota State Fair, so you can do the Fair by day and the supper club by night. And the Dakota is only one corner of a huge August for downtown music — see what’s coming to the Hennepin Theatre District and First Avenue, all within walking distance of your studio.
Making it a romantic occasion instead of a home base? Our sister property, the 300 Clifton mansion B&B, has its own Dakota date-night guide — and Minneapolis Trolley Tours is a fun way to see the city before showtime.
Book your August stay
August evenings at the Dakota sell out — and with the State Fair, stadium shows, and festival season, downtown rooms go with them. Book your furnished studio at Oaklands on 9th for a night, a week, or a month, or call us at (612) 314-5124. We’ll leave the light on — you just enjoy the show.
Curious about the building you’d be coming home to after the show? Keep reading: Who Built Oaklands on 9th? The People Behind Minneapolis’s 1889 Brownstone.