Cantilever Distillery + Restaurant, Cocktails & Tastings

Fabulous gem in da Norte Hinterland! We’ve been coming to I-falls for The Arrowhead 135 ultra for a decade. A fellow athlete encouraged me to splurge on the Cantilever if my wife came up.

We are SO glad we did. The staff was friendly, eclectic and knowledgeable. The dinner menu had delicious walleye tacos and Dino kale salad. Both had surprisingly fresh ingredients.

We also enjoyed the Lavender Gin Martini and the fun (a bit pricey) Lavender Smoked Old Fashioned. Tasty, fancy and delightful.

We had dinner with 3 friends and despite the bar being packed with guests; the bartender and our server checked in on us mid meal for 5 minutes. They shared the history of the building.

Also the afternoon bartender educated us on the distillery and liquors before we bought a bottle for my brother in law.

We would joyfully return.

NOTE: pricing $$ is similar to Minneapolis and probably higher than my local VFW. That’s ok! There’s a time to splurge and a time to knock down cheap cold ones with your War brothers & sisters. Capiche? RLTW

Our stay at this hotel was wonderful! Room was beautiful, really comfortable and clean. One of the best parts is the lattes at the front desk! The young blonde woman at the front was very nice and made great lattes. We had one meal here, the non alcoholic cocktails were excellent and we were able to make the pasta dish vegan- it’s probably the only vegan option in town. Would definitely come again!

This entire venue is incredible!!! Linda was our server for dinner and she made our night!!! Her amazing personality, coupled with the unique and delish cuisine, made our dining experience unforgettable!!! Highly recommend dining and staying here!!!!

Fantastic food and possibly even better drinks - I’d love this place even if we hadn’t stayed in the connected hotel, but that was certainly a huge bonus. The manager served us, and she was an absolute delight. The whole place was pretty chaotic, and I think they were a bit understaffed, but we wouldn’t have known the difference. They were apologizing to us for what we thought to be very reasonable wait times, and we were well taken care of the whole evening. Prices are incredibly reasonable given the quality of everything, and that goes for their bottled liquors as well!

Whenever I’m in the area I come for a visit whether it’s just for drinks or dinner with family + friends. Dine like you’re in the big city while enjoying the comfort of small town USA. I will admit, service can be hit or miss at times, but sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. I have yet to have a drink I didn’t like.

We stopped by here on their second day open, drinks were awesome, decor and design is stunning! Nothing quite like it in the area!! All the details make a huge difference and don’t go unnoticed. The windows into the distillery offer a neat dining experience. The staff was super friendly and helpful!

I also participated in a beautiful, relaxing yoga class hosted by one of their instructors, Hailey! Absolutely loved it ! The studio space was beautiful - I can’t wait to go to more of their classes in the future!

Unfortunately we did not have a chance to try any of the menu items but will for sure be back to try the full menu! (I will add to this review once we are back- with further details). Would definitely recommend this beautiful hotel and bar with the bonus yoga offerings!

We are Sunbirds (leave HOT Gulf Shores AL summers in our motorhome & explore.) We visited Rainer in Aug 2021, dropped in for a couple drinks and lunch. Wow !! Fell in love with Cantilever & decided to come back to experience winter. Took us 3 plane changes to get here in Feb 2022 & if we could give Ed, his team, hotel, food, drinks, atmosphere and OUR ROOM 10 STARS, we would. The hot tub with snow and 10 below temps was truly an experience. Their hand crafted cocktails are crafted with their own locally distilled spirits & are award winning !!! Food is outstanding. Ice Fishing, Galentine's Day For Ladies, Valentine’s Day dinner, snowmobiling, walking around Rainer in snow! Would HIGHLY recommend Cantilever to everyone.

We stopped by after hearing Cantilever is a must-do when in the International Falls area. The cocktails were delicious and beautiful. The food was fantastic. Next time, we'll plan to stay in the hotel and enjoy the rooftop hot tub. Shout out to Hiraeth and Edison, we appreciate you!

Amazing place. We took a wrong turn coming home from the national park and were very surprised to find this restaurant/distillery. They have a great menu that is very well priced. The drinks were well worth the cost. We bought a flight of the aged liquor with bourbon, Canadian whiskey, and rye. We also got the clear liquor which had two types of gin (amazing) and vodka. Was pleasantly surprised when we bought a bottle that the flights were comped. This place is well worth the stop or even drive from central all MN.

This place is a must visit with amazing food and cocktails, and great service. I was in town for Icebox Days and Cantilever was so good that we visited twice. Our only regret is not staying in the hotel so we could spend more time there!

Went two days in a row while visiting Lake Kabetogama from Rochester. Worth the 40 minute drive. Beautiful space, delicious drinks, and the best fries EVER. The GinRita was our favorite. Thanks for the great time!

Bartender crafted some amazing signature cocktails with care and tastes that complimented the whisky and bourbon they make there.
Food service was spot on. Quality and well prepared fresh ingredients made up every dish I ordered. Hats off to Aubrey. A super friendly server who was attentive and suggested the garlic parm dip for the fries. Good call. Dining area is warm and charming with careful theming that extends from the bar.

What a cool place. When you come up to Voyageurs National Park make sure you stay at this hotel or come here to eat, drink and have a wonderful time. This place is like new and a can't miss. Great view onto the lake. We will be back.

Always great food and drinks. Bar tenders make the best concoctions in town with their own spirits distilled on-site. A must stop when you come to town.

Beautiful hotel, bar, and restaurant. Excellent food and drinks. Location is amazing in the heart of Ranier just steps from Rainy Lake. You won’t be disappointed staying here!

Rooms were a very cool modern industrial style! Friendly & helpful staff helped with a booking issue we had.
Drinks from the distillery were tasty & refreshing. Food was great too!

Came to visit grandparents at the cemetery and decided to wander this cute little town. Super excited to have found this place. Not what I would have expected. Amazing flavors in the crafted cocktails. Will be back just for this. We live over 4 hours away. Waitress is adorable and so sweet.

Brand new restaurant, distillery and hotel in Rainer. Great new spot. The distillery is one block up from Loony's brewery.

The mocha with coffee liquor and lavendar whipped cream was decadent. Spare Ribs nachos over the top and do different from most cheesy, Mexican type nachos. The shrimp cocktail is extremely fresh and lovely. Wait staff are very engaging and attentive. Others were sharing a tiramisu martini that looked amazing! Cool ciazy quaint vibe!

The food was great! Drinks were nice! Pricier, but what you expect of this quality. Bought a bottle of gin to bring home because it was that good. Will likely be back, or at least try and find the gin again

Named for the architecturally intriguing bridge that makes the border crossing less than 1/2mi away, Cantilever is a unique Boutique Hotel in Ranier, MN. You'll stay on top of an active distillery in a brand new building with amenities you would expect from a Wyndham property. Would recommend for explorers, couples, and those looking for a high end experience right in the heart of the scenic Boundary Waters area.