Guidebook for Minneapolis
Food Scene
Cafe Ena
4601 Grand Ave SGreat Latin-fusion restaurant a block from the house!
Amazing, award-winning French bakery a block from the house. Great coffee. Bring a handkerchief to wipe the drool from your mouth, because this place is delish!
84 locals recommend
Patisserie 46
4552 Grand Ave SAmazing, award-winning French bakery a block from the house. Great coffee. Bring a handkerchief to wipe the drool from your mouth, because this place is delish!
Caribou Coffee
4745 Cedar Ave SNeed a quick cuppa jo? Caribou will do the trick.
Haute cuisine with prix fix menu for a VERY special night out. Easy to stroll to (and stumble back) from the house.
21 locals recommend
Corner Table
4537 Nicollet AveHaute cuisine with prix fix menu for a VERY special night out. Easy to stroll to (and stumble back) from the house.
Get your morning bagel fix in this chain bagel spot. Coolest thing? It's housed in an old fire house! (Plus it's just a couple blocks from the house.)
10 locals recommend
Bruegger's Bagels
4554 Nicollet AveGet your morning bagel fix in this chain bagel spot. Coolest thing? It's housed in an old fire house! (Plus it's just a couple blocks from the house.)
This traditional Vietnamese restaurant is a mainstay with my family and friends. Great pho. Cheap prices. Fast service. Delicious smells. Full tummies. LOVE this place!
56 locals recommend
Quang Restaurant
2719 Nicollet AveThis traditional Vietnamese restaurant is a mainstay with my family and friends. Great pho. Cheap prices. Fast service. Delicious smells. Full tummies. LOVE this place!
Walk into the front door of this place and be transported to a French bistro. Delicious tartines, fries and mussels and a great selection of French wines. Save for a special night out. Be sure to make reservations! This place is within walking distance of the house--about 8 blocks.
29 locals recommend
Saint Genevieve
5003 Bryant Ave SWalk into the front door of this place and be transported to a French bistro. Delicious tartines, fries and mussels and a great selection of French wines. Save for a special night out. Be sure to make reservations! This place is within walking distance of the house--about 8 blocks.
Some of the best Thai in town! Order out or stay in. Delicious, homestyle recipes. When your tummy is full, take some time to walk around downtown Linden Hills--a beautiful part of the city. This is a 10-minute drive from the house.
19 locals recommend
Naviya's Thai Brasserie
2812 W 43rd StSome of the best Thai in town! Order out or stay in. Delicious, homestyle recipes. When your tummy is full, take some time to walk around downtown Linden Hills--a beautiful part of the city. This is a 10-minute drive from the house.
Great atmosphere at this place! And one killer burger. Owned by the same owner/chef as Saint Genevieve. A great place for lunch or dinner. Take some time to walk Linden Hills while you're over there!
60 locals recommend
Tilia
2726 W 43rd StGreat atmosphere at this place! And one killer burger. Owned by the same owner/chef as Saint Genevieve. A great place for lunch or dinner. Take some time to walk Linden Hills while you're over there!
I love this place! A seasonally inspired menu, great atmosphere and friendly staff. The brunch here is amazing. Grab a booth for a romantic getaway.
47 locals recommend
Blackbird
3800 Nicollet AveI love this place! A seasonally inspired menu, great atmosphere and friendly staff. The brunch here is amazing. Grab a booth for a romantic getaway.
A 3-block walk from the house, check out this delicious haute-cuisine Mexican menu and be amazed. Get there early to grab a spot on the patio. Service is kind of slow, but definitely worth the wait!
10 locals recommend
El Asador
4750 Grand Ave SA 3-block walk from the house, check out this delicious haute-cuisine Mexican menu and be amazed. Get there early to grab a spot on the patio. Service is kind of slow, but definitely worth the wait!
Drinks & Nightlife
Classic Minneapolis dive bar with nightly music. Tuesday nights (St. Dominic's Trio) and Sunday nights (Shotgun Ragtime) have great cover bands and no cover. People watching is top notch!
18 locals recommend
Driftwood
4415 Nicollet AveClassic Minneapolis dive bar with nightly music. Tuesday nights (St. Dominic's Trio) and Sunday nights (Shotgun Ragtime) have great cover bands and no cover. People watching is top notch!
Parks & Nature
Just 13 blocks from the house, Lake Harriet is one of the finest city lakes. Free concerts almost every night during the summer at the band shell, free yoga at 6:30 every morning between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and a great place to ice skate, snowshoe and cross-country ski during the winter. Catch the bike trail here to circle the lake or to take the Grand Rounds around several of the city lakes. South Beach is a lovely place to watch the sunset year-round!
185 locals recommend
Lake Harriet
4135 W Lake Harriet PkwyJust 13 blocks from the house, Lake Harriet is one of the finest city lakes. Free concerts almost every night during the summer at the band shell, free yoga at 6:30 every morning between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and a great place to ice skate, snowshoe and cross-country ski during the winter. Catch the bike trail here to circle the lake or to take the Grand Rounds around several of the city lakes. South Beach is a lovely place to watch the sunset year-round!
The walking/bike trail that leads to Minnehaha Falls is less than a mile away. The trail itself is stunning if you're up for a walk. Drive along Minnehaha Parkway to get all the way to the falls or take your bike for a great ride. The Falls are beautiful any time of year. In the summer, stop by Sea Salt in the park for some great seafood and suds.
613 locals recommend
Minnehaha Falls
4801 S Minnehaha DrThe walking/bike trail that leads to Minnehaha Falls is less than a mile away. The trail itself is stunning if you're up for a walk. Drive along Minnehaha Parkway to get all the way to the falls or take your bike for a great ride. The Falls are beautiful any time of year. In the summer, stop by Sea Salt in the park for some great seafood and suds.
Arts & Culture
Slate enough time to see this enormous collection! There's an amazing Asian collection and there's always a great special exhibition. My favorites are the period rooms and the African section. Free admission.
524 locals recommend
Minneapolis Institute of Art
2400 3rd Ave SSlate enough time to see this enormous collection! There's an amazing Asian collection and there's always a great special exhibition. My favorites are the period rooms and the African section. Free admission.
One of the most reknown collections of modern art in the Midwest. Check what's showing before you go--sometimes the art can be a challenge. DO be sure to check out the sculpture gardens for the iconic "Spoonbridge and Cherry" and the "Blue Cock" (garden is free admission). Put your feet up in Esker Grove for a nice drink, tasty bites, and a lovely view.
606 locals recommend
Walker Art Center
725 Vineland PlOne of the most reknown collections of modern art in the Midwest. Check what's showing before you go--sometimes the art can be a challenge. DO be sure to check out the sculpture gardens for the iconic "Spoonbridge and Cherry" and the "Blue Cock" (garden is free admission). Put your feet up in Esker Grove for a nice drink, tasty bites, and a lovely view.
The best view in the city, in my opinion, is off the hanging bridge of the Guthrie Theater. Have a cocktail in the lounge and wander outside and you're assured a smile! The Guthrie is the most famous of our many great theaters, and the shows here are usually a good bet. Check out the rush line for discounted tickets.
376 locals recommend
Guthrie Theater
818 S 2nd StThe best view in the city, in my opinion, is off the hanging bridge of the Guthrie Theater. Have a cocktail in the lounge and wander outside and you're assured a smile! The Guthrie is the most famous of our many great theaters, and the shows here are usually a good bet. Check out the rush line for discounted tickets.
Shopping
This little-known antique store is an adventure just waiting you! Even if you're not in the market for anything, just spend an hour taking a walk down memory lane with all the fun stuff in here. It's close to the house--just a 5-minute drive.
12 locals recommend
Hunt & Gather
2917 Xerxes Ave SThis little-known antique store is an adventure just waiting you! Even if you're not in the market for anything, just spend an hour taking a walk down memory lane with all the fun stuff in here. It's close to the house--just a 5-minute drive.
If you're looking for one-of-a-kind designer finds and have a lot of cash, check this place out. Or, just go over there and oogle at all the cool stuff. Inspiring!
Larue's
4301 Lyndale Ave SIf you're looking for one-of-a-kind designer finds and have a lot of cash, check this place out. Or, just go over there and oogle at all the cool stuff. Inspiring!
Are you a thifter? Love fashion? Hop in the car and head over to Opitz, where you'll find designer fashions for up to 70% off. This place takes some work, but you'll be sure to find something you can't walk away without.
6 locals recommend
Opitz Outlet
4320 Excelsior BlvdAre you a thifter? Love fashion? Hop in the car and head over to Opitz, where you'll find designer fashions for up to 70% off. This place takes some work, but you'll be sure to find something you can't walk away without.
This is a great place to grab locally themed gifts for your pals back home. Or really, just great gifts for anyone. From lotions to jewelry, coloring books to marshmallow guns, Patina is definitely worth the trip.
74 locals recommend
Patina
1009 W Franklin AveThis is a great place to grab locally themed gifts for your pals back home. Or really, just great gifts for anyone. From lotions to jewelry, coloring books to marshmallow guns, Patina is definitely worth the trip.
Sightseeing
Make your way across the Stone Arch Bridge for great photos of the city and the Mighty Mississippi. A great place to add to a bike ride.
250 locals recommend
Stone Arch Bridge
100 Portland AveMake your way across the Stone Arch Bridge for great photos of the city and the Mighty Mississippi. A great place to add to a bike ride.