photo by Chad Rieder
Travel
The Ultimate Guide to 20 of Minneapolis' Coolest Spots
Minneapolis, or one half of the Twin Cities, is lighting up our radars with new restaurants, hip hotels, endless cute cafés and plenty of historic and natural sites to take in. Should you find yourself in this storied city,...
photo by Chad Rieder
Minneapolis, or one half of the Twin Cities, is lighting up our radars with new restaurants, hip hotels, endless cute cafés and plenty of historic and natural sites to take in. Should you find yourself in this storied city, uncover all it has to offer from breweries to museums. Here’s 20 spots to stay, places to eat and things to do proving Minneapolis is the perfect place for your next family or group getaway.
Reporter: Scout | Location: Minnehaha Falls
Reporter: Scout | Location: Minnehaha Falls
Every winter, the Minnehaha Falls freeze. A beautiful site of plunging icicles make up what would otherwise be a running creek from Lake Minnetonka to the Mississippi River. Take a trip to the Minnehaha Regional Park and see this natural wonder with your own eyes.
Hewing Hotel is inspired by Minnesota’s lakes and woods. What used to be a farm implement warehouse now has a luxury cabin feel. North Loop, their restaurant, has Scandinavian roots. This culinary destination is inspired by Nordic practices when it comes to their butchery and fermentation techniques. You can't forget the hotel perks – their rooftop bar and pet friendly policy.
This 1915 Upper Midwest building houses over 100,000 objects to fill your afternoon with. We recommend taking one of their hour-long public tours to really get a deeper understanding of their permanent collection. Surround yourself with the works of Rembrandt and Van Gogh as you take a break from the action of the city.
Visit: Forshay Museum and Observation Deck at the W Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Photo by Jordan Renie Gahler
Visit Minnesota’s first skyscraper, The Foshay Tower, which remained the tallest building in Minneapolis from 1929 to 1971. Take a tour and learn all about its architectural design and engineering along with its late 1920s history. Get ready for some heights – their observation deck has 360 degree views of the city. The perfect way to soak up the landscape of Minneapolis!
This self-proclaimed “urban inn” is the ultimate lodging for the aesthetic enthusiast. With only seven guest rooms and an attached restaurant and cafe, retreat from the city in privacy and exit with a cappuccino in hand. Not to mention, it’s super close to the action. Central and trendy? Yes, please.
This restaurant and cafe does more than just serve up baked goods and a 3-course prix fixe dinner menu. They also provide seven guest rooms for lodging. The vibe is casual and comfortable. Whether you are looking to grab a yogurt smoothie on your way out or want to relax for dinner over some seared sea scallops, Alma Restaurant and Cafe has historic hospitality.
Building, growing and making their own beer is what makes Able Seedhouse and Brewery so unique. No football viewing party is complete without beer and here is where you can find that quality sip. Their locally grown seeds and grains aid the malting and brewing process while their large former factory space brings the urban cool ambiance.
No weekend is complete without a trip to a diner. Eggy’s Diner is designed after the diners of the 1960s with a “Mayberry” feel to it. With a menu that focuses on fresh and local ingredients, have your choice from pancakes to egg benedicts. With their “EGGY’S” marquee sign, you know this brunch will be one for the books.
For some Argentinian inspired cuisine, head over to Martina located in the Linden Hills neighborhood. Indulge in some seafood and meat from their wood-fire grill. What to order: cinnamon fried calamari.
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Eat farm-to-table cuisine at The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen, perfect for an intimate or romantic meal. Their local ingredient list is plentiful: organic flour, honey, grass-fed beef and their rustic country and wheat breads. For those who love a rustic ambiance, this eatery is your dinner destination.
The Bachelor Farmer lives in an 1881 building that has historically housed small businesses. Their menu is filled with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and they follow traditional Minnesota techniques when they practice whole-animal butchery. With a dress code of “come as you are,” The Bachelor Farmer is a no-brainer for a good casual meal.
With views of the Mississippi River and the Saint Paul skyline, the Science Museum of Minnesota is the perfect way to experience the city and learn a thing or two. Explore their dinosaurs and fossils exhibit, their experiment gallery or even their omnitheater for a science-filled day.
Stay: The Marquette Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Marquette Hotel is perfect for a long weekend because it is just a walk away from the city's biggest attractions. The modern decor and floor-to-ceiling windows mean you get to come home to an architectural aesthetic.
Bardo has the gourmet new American cuisine you have been looking for. Their minimalist and tasteful decor matches their classic menu with a twist. Take your pick from seafood, fresh pasta and pasture for your main meal. Did we mention their buttermilk house bread?
This steakhouse has a steak menu and a pizza menu, making it perfect for the entire family or crew. Throw some prosciutto on their funghi pizza or go for their 100% grass fed New York steak. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
What’s a tailgating weekend without a trip to a food truck? Hola Arepa is a Latin cuisine restaurant and food truck known for their Venezuelan stuffed arepas. What started as just a food truck has blossomed into a brick and mortar restaurant. It’s up to you - kick it on the streets or sit down for some Latin flavor.
Stay downtown for the weekend at Loews Hotel, named the top hotel in the state of Minnesota. Tailgate the fancy way at their Relevé Champagne and Wine Bar and treat yourself to sophisticated dining at their restaurant Cosmos.
With over 50 arcade games, take your pick of pinball machines, Nintendo 64 and many, many more. Best part about this arcade game frenzy? All games cost only 25 cents. Grab a beer and slice of pizza and start playing!
Head over to The Freehouse for their house crafted beers known for their quality ingredient selection. Not a beer drinker? Their hand-crafted cocktails should do the trick. Pair your drink with some of their Beer Bites for an extra good time.
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Stay: Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Photo by Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Stay at the center of Minneapolis in luxury at Hotel Ivy, a hotel transformed out of the 1930s historic skyscraper Ivy Tower. Recharge with a day trip to their spa or Ivy Fitness Club. Also don’t forget their old school shoe shining service - it’s all in the details!
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