This is my fourth time coming to UpStairs Circus and it is always a blast! Who wants wine and canvas when you can do full-fledged craft and cocktails! I've done the nail/string art, the aged three-piece wood sign, a bracelet, and a flask! This place is also great for groups - three of my visits has been a small corporate event. Finally, they also have flatbread pizzas. Why are they so good? No clue, but they are some of the best za's downtown.

Why aren't there more places like this? Came here with a group of girls for a friend's birthday. Between the bottomless mimosas and the options of crafts, you can't really go wrong. The staff was super friendly and helpful. There was something for everyone. They don't really have food on the premises, but they allow you to order from local restaurants nearby or doordash something over. With the size of our group, we really covered the spread of different crafts, bracelets, passport holders, key holders, etc. They have everything you need and the instructions are pretty clear and if you get hung up, the staff is happy to come and help. Each craft takes at least two hours, but some take a bit longer, so plan accordingly. I highly recommend for an afternoon out with friends.

What a fun spot!! We came here for a friends birthday and it was a great experience. You can pick your craft and there were a lot of options based on how involved and artistic you want to get. This is a great spot for a date or group event. There is a bar and a few different simple food options. I saw a couple other people bring in food but keep in mind there isn't a ton of space at the tables. I chose a marble serving tray and it was simple enough but still took a couple hours to complete. Someone chose jewelry and someone else chose a flask. All turned out well!!

We did a girls brunch here and it was SO FUN! Bottomless mimosas for $9, yes please! The craft options are great, all turned out cute, and I love that everyone can choose something different. The staff was able to answer our questions but honestly the instructions were fairly self explanatory. I would definitely come back again!

So fun and delicious drinks ! The staff is very helpful so you're not left with just a step by step card. Definitely a great time and not like other arts and crafts bar not that I've been to many

Attended Upstairs Circus as a Galentine's event. I registered our group and had to fill out three or four different forms to reserve the spot which was a little confusing, but seemed to work itself out. The instructions are both overly detailed and not enough information. I did appreciate being able to create something that was useful to me. I'm certainly not a good crafter, but this was something to do that wasn't just sitting at a bar. We did order cocktails and takeout from Red Rabbit across the street (highly recommend both). We were there around 2.5 hours. Be warned there isn't great parking options. Some street (all full for me) and some nearby lots that started at $10. I don't think this is a place you would frequent often, but I'd go again if someone asked me.

When my cousin suggested we meet up for a double date here, I was super excited. I have been wanting to do something creative and fun for a while, and just hadn't thought of the right thing. We decided on a whim we were going to go, secured reservations for the next day online, and headed there on a Friday night. We parked in a surface lot across the street that is available after 6PM for a little over $10. It is pretty spendy, but it beat trying to find street parking in MPLS on a Friday night. Upon walking in, my first thought was that there is no upstairs (at least that I saw). It is more of a..."floor level" circus, which is fine, but kinda funny from the name. There is a large backdrop in the front for taking pictures with your crafty creations. We checked in, and were briefed on the process and shown to our table. While deciding what to make, we ordered drinks. They have fun variations on classic cocktails. My group then began to look at the project menus and headed over to grab our materials. You have a lot of options and there are opportunities for customizing your artwork. You are given laminated instructions and all of the materials you need to create your project (or shown where to grab paint and string if your project requires it). It was fairly straightforward, even if there were a few hiccups in the process of creating our projects. After about 3+ hours (yep...you heard that right), our masterpieces were finished. Overall the experience was good, but I have a few notes: -The place can get loud and it requires focus to work on a project. I would not suggest coming here on a first date or to catch up with an out-of-stat friend. -There is a LOT of stuff on the tables (toolboxes, water, hair dryers) so you have to be smart with your space. We didn't eat beforehand and decided to carry food in, so that made it a little more difficult to get started. -Every project is $42. For some of these projects, it might be a good deal. For others, you could order the materials on Amazon or pop into a craft store and get the materials for cheaper. However, I DO acknowledge that at Upstairs Circus, things are pre-measured and cut for you, so that is cool. -It is HARD to gauge how long projects will take. There are estimates on the project menus, but be aware that it could take a lot longer.