A Local’s Guide to Minneapolis

As a University of Minnesota alumna and former Minneapolis resident, I know a little something about Minneapolis.  Some might say the city was my first love, although I’m sure my husband would argue that point.

Although I currently am not a “local”, Minneapolis is where I first felt independent and where I fell in love. The city has a way of wiggling itself into your heart and setting up shop.

Minneapolis is not what you might consider a tourist city, such as New York. Regardless, you shouldn’t discount Minneapolis as a place to visit, especially for a fun weekend trip in the summer. 

If you are already planning your trip to Minneapolis or are considering a visit, below is my Minneapolis Guide full of places that I think are worth your time. 

Stone Arch Bridge

The stone arch bridge is one of the most scenic spots near downtown Minneapolis. I discovered this place while on a run during college.

To this day, I can’t honestly think of a better place to take in the Minneapolis skyline. You will find visitors and locals alike strolling, running, and biking across the bridge.

For summertime, I love starting from the St. Anthony Main side of the bridge and walking across to get ice cream at Izzy’s. In the winter, I end my route on the Main side and head to Wilde Cafe for a hot beverage.

If you’re looking to make a morning of it, there are a few phenomenal brunch places nearby, my personal favorite being Alma Cafe. Additionally, if you’re up for more exploration, there are paths on the St. Anthony side that take you down by the river and provide a different perspective as well as an older bridge that allows you to walk over to Nicollet Island. 

Uptown/Chain Lakes

Uptown is what most locals might refer to as the trendy part of town. During the day this a fun place to mill about, shop, and get some outdoor activities in.

Uptown is located south of downtown Minneapolis and sits right next to the Chain Lakes (Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Cedar Lake). At Wheel Fun Rentals, you can rent a variety of things to take out onto the lake, including paddle boards and kayaks.

The paths around the lakes are typically bumping with people as Minneapolis has a highly active population.

One of my favorite, less trafficked gems right next to Lake of the Isles is called Cedar Lake. Cedar Lake tends to be slightly less busy if you are looking for a quieter area to enjoy the day. Additionally, this area is perfect for picking up the extensive trail system in Minneapolis, particularly if you rent a Nice Ride bike and plan on doing some exploring. 

At night, Uptown turns into a lively night scene with numerous bars to frequent. The neighborhood offers a little something for every type of night owl, from the dance floor/music scene of Green Room to the rooftop of Daisy’s and late-night food at Uptown Ties.

For those that like to keep a low profile, there’s also a speakeasy called Volstead’s Emporium a few blocks away that I’ve been itching to visit. Additionally, Uptown caters to all types of foodies.

Hoban Korean BBQ is a barbeque joint in the center of uptown. As a ramen lover, I personally can’t get enough of Tenka Ramen. Of course, if you’ve never tried Mesa Pizza, then you need to stop there for a slice. This is the place to get pizza if you are a little tipsy (or a lot) and need something to fill you up.

Northeast

One word: nostalgia. Northeast was my home for one year while my husband and I did long distance for his first year of Medical School. I lived in a duplex with one of my close friends and it was, to date, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Northeast is the hipster cousin to uptown. Just north of downtown, Northeast is a more eclectic area of Minneapolis, but well worth the visit. On the weekend, you’ll find hoards of locals hanging out at the many breweries that are scattered across the neighborhood.

If you are gluten intolerant or celiac, some fabulous alternatives include Sociable Ciderwerks and Tattersall Distilling. Otherwise, if a good brew is something that peaks your interest, see below for a list of my favorites:

• Indeed Brewing
• Dangerous Man Brewing
• Bauhaus Brew Labs (insane outdoor patio)

The above is by no means an extensive list but is what I would recommend starting with. If you visit Indeed Brewing in the winter, check online to see if the indoor Northeast Farmers Market is happening upstairs. It happens every third Sunday of the month.

In terms of food, you cannot go wrong with Young Joni. This restaurant is relatively new but has some of the best pizza that Minneapolis has to offer (and a great vibe to boot).

For large parties, I typically steer towards Psycho Suzi’s on the river as it can accommodate bigger groups and has great outdoor seating in the summer. This Tikki Bar is eclectic and provides a fun atmosphere for any celebration.

For a more flavorful experience, hit up Holy Land which has phenomenal Middle Eastern food (and a lot of it) as well as a grocery section.

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

I couldn’t write a Minneapolis guide without including the University of Minnesota campus. For those unfamiliar with the Twin Cities, this campus is one of the largest in the country currently enrolling upwards of 55,000 students.

The campus spans from East Bank (main campus) to West Bank (across the river) all the way to the St. Paul campus. East Bank is where you will find most of the historical buildings as well as housing, the stadium, and the infamous Dinky Town.

If you choose to venture to West Bank, where I spent most of my time learning, I highly recommend checking out Afro Deli which is directly across from the Carlson School of Business. If you’re looking for a drink, hit up Town Hall Brewery just a short walk down the street.

On East Bank, start at the student union and walk through campus towards Dinkytown to get a real flavor of campus.

Once in Dinkytown, check out Al’s Breakfast for some great diner food. This place only seats about 10 people so you may have to wait in line depending on when you arrive.

If you’re in the mood for something a little more adventurous, head to Bahn Appetit. This just recently reopened in Dinkytown (previously in Stadium Village).

My friends and I used to frequent Bahn Appetit (known to us as Bahn Mi) and it is a well loved establishment among University alumni. The fries and special dipping sauce here will blow your mind. 

In terms of drinks/bars, Burrito Loco used to be my favorite bar in Dinkytown. It’s cheap Mexican food with an upstairs bar. Truly nothing fancy but such a fun experience.

Blarney’s Pub is the “go-to” spot for going out in Dinkytown. It’s also a great place to grab drinks and food during the day.

It’s worth noting that Minneapolis’s metro line runs from downtown through campus and onwards to St. Paul. This is a cheap, effective way to get around the city if you plan on staying within a certain radius. Most students use the line to get back and forth from classes or to travel downtown for weekend activities. 

Downtown

If I’m being honest, downtown isn’t one of my favorite places in Minneapolis because certain areas of it are pretty empty on the weekend. That being said, one area that actually sees decent foot traffic is the North Loop.

If you’re on the hunt for a nice upscale restaurant, look no further. North Loop is known for its top-notch cuisine.

I don’t think you could go wrong, but if I had to choose I would settle on Bar La Grassa for some tasty Italian fare. Another go-to if you’re not in the mood for Italian, is Smack Shack. Smack Shack is probably the only place in Minneapolis that can guarantee quality seafood because, let’s be real, the Mississippi doesn’t really cut it.  

Although downtown isn’t my all-time favorite place to hang out, it’s hard to deny that it houses some of the best places to see a show or experience the arts. The Orpheum Theatre and the Guthrie Theatre both reside downtown and are excellent places to catch a show on the weekend.

If you’re more into the music scene, hit up 7th Avenue or Target Center for a concert. Brave New Workshop, a comedy theatre, has some of the best improv I’ve seen. Connor and I celebrated our first anniversary here and we still laugh about it today.

Eat Street

Also known as Nicollet, Eat Street is home to just that – all of the eats. Years ago, Connor and I discovered our all-time favorite Minneapolis restaurant here.

It all started with a guide that his co-worker had given him to the city (ironic I know). As excited graduates on a mission to get to know the city a little better, we picked Quang for date night. Long story short, we will always be loyal compatriots of Quang regardless of where our lives take us.

Quang is a Vietnamese restaurant well known for their delicious Pho. You will be hard-pressed to find anything in the menu over $10. The amount of food is impressive and I typically expect to bring leftovers home.

Even now as a vegetarian, there are multiple options available on the menu that will make you drool. If the dedicated parking lot is full, the dentist’s office next door has parking after office hours.

If you’re feeling up to it, after dinner you can swing by Glam Doll Donuts for a calorie-packed dessert.

In the winter, a typical date for us entails a day at Vertical Endeavors followed by dinner and a donut. Vertical Endeavors is a climbing gym for all experience levels. The walls are equipped with auto belays making it less terrifying. Yes, ya girl has a fear of heights.

Hit up Copper Hen for a fancier dinner vibe (you won’t be disappointed). The desserts here are out of this world.

St. Paul

Depending on how much time you have, you may want to consider gallivanting over to St. Paul for a day. St. Paul is the smaller sister city to Minneapolis, but still has some great things to do.

I am a huge fan of Summit and Grand Avenue. Grand has a lot of little shops and boutiques scattered along it. Meanwhile, Summit has dozens of old, historical houses and buildings to gawk at.

If you’re looking for a hearty brunch that won’t break the bank, try Keys Cafe. 

One of the staples in downtown St. Paul for food is Cosetta. This is Italian food cafeteria style and it’s almost always busy. Their pastry shop is a must-do after you finish your meal.

If you’re in a large group or you have a lot of dietary restrictions, check out Keg and Case Market. This is a newer food hall that has just about anything you might want.

In terms of beer, you need to check out Wandering Leaf Brewing. I may be biased since this is my cousin’s brewery, but I promise you the beer is incredible and the vibes are immaculate.

Conclusion: A Local’s Guide to Minneapolis

I know I’ve raved incessantly in this post because, like I said, Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart. That being said, some of the things that I’ve seen visitors do that I don’t think are worthwhile include the following:

• going to see the cherry spoon (so overrated)
• Minnehaha Falls (if you’re in the area then I’d stop by, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it)
• Mall of America (only if you can tolerate the crowds) or you desperately want to visit a store that you can’t find anywhere else

All in all, you really can’t go wrong in Minneapolis. If you’re curious about something, ask a local and they’ll steer you in the right direction.