Minneapolis Travel Guide

Destination
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sleep
Radisson RED Downtown
Eat
Penny’s Coffee | Alma | The Hewing Hotel | It’s Greek to Me
Shop
Buffalo Exchange | Cheapo Records
See
Weisman Art Museum | Downtown architecture

Minneapolis is one of few US destinations that you can fly direct to from Winnipeg. I will be the first to admit that those direct flights were a big part of our last-minute decision to visit in June. When we were going, many of you asked the obvious question, “Why Minneapolis?” The Minnesota city isn’t generally considered an exciting destination, but it has a lot more to offer than just a direct flight connection to the city we currently call home.

Stay
Booking last minute meant we had limited hotel options. Ultimately, we chose to stick to a low budget, since a hotel is really just for sleeping. We had nothing to complain about where we stayed, but if I were going back to Minneapolis, I’d likely opt to try The Hewing Hotel or Emery.

Radisson RED Minneapolis Downtown – 609 South 3rd Street
A good option for staying downtown on a budget, the Radisson RED is a new property geared towards millenials. That means minimal design and also very minimal service – all service after check-in is app-based. This was my main complaint with the property, as actually finding a staff member to speak to was a challenge. But the beds were comfortable, the facilities were well-maintained and the location was excellent.

Eat
Since we were there to celebrate Ian’s birthday, we more or less ate our way through Minneapolis. We really didn’t try anywhere we didn’t like – the dining scene in the city is both surprising and impressive – but there were a few true gems.

Penny’s Coffee – 100 South Washington Avenue
We stumbled upon this coffee shop cum bistro on our first day in the city and were immediately drawn in by the opulent decor, not to mention the adorable branding. The marble, stoneware, wood and modern fonts on the menu all spoke to me. But it was the food I really fell for – specifically, a sweet corn crepe. I don’t even normally like corn, unless it’s popped, but this was so good that we went back to try more of what Penny’s had to offer a second time. And would have happily gone back again!
Alma – 528 University Avenue South East
Since Ian started working in hotels, I’ve come to truly appreciate a good hotel restaurant. (Since I travel a lot for work, I also experience a lot of mediocre ones.) And I would gladly stay at Alma, despite its perhaps less convenient location, to eat in their restaurant three times a day.
The Hewing Hotel – 300 North Washington Avenue
I admit – we skipped Tullibee, the restaurant in the Hewing Hotel. But the Hewing itself makes the list because of their incredible rooftop bar, which serves an array of cockails and also offers a short snack menu. We opted for cocktails and duck fat fries. Both went too quickly – so much so, in fact, that we ordered a second round of drinks just so we could enjoy the view for a bit longer.
It’s Greek to Me – 626 West Lake Street
Our shared love of Greece is pretty well-documented. We eat at Greek restaurants in Winnipeg often, and knew we had to try this one in Minneapolis. The delightful outdoor patio and fresh dishes proved to be exactly what we hoped for. If you’re missing Greece, It’s Greek to Me is a great spot to get a temporary Greek fix.

Shop
Most Canadians know Minneapolis as the home of the Mall of America. We visited, but, perhaps not surprisingly, found that it is just like every other mall, but bigger. Skip it and shop elsewhere – you won’t be missing anything.

Buffalo Exchange – 2727 Lyndale Avenue South
When we lived in Vancouver, we travelled to Seattle often – almost always with a bag of my old clothes to sell at Buffalo Exchange. I discovered this secondhand store in Minneapolis first, and this location is always full of gems. Think Coach bags from the eighties, Levi’s jeans and even the occasion DVF wrap dress.
Cheapo Records – 1676 – 2600 Nicollet Avenue
You can’t buy music in Minneapolis if you haven’t visited Cheapo Records. We’ve been shopping here for years. The once bilevel store is now sadly reduced to a single floor, but the selection of records they stock remains vast and varied.

See
There is so much to see and do in Minneapolis. We wanted a relaxed trip, so we didn’t push ourselves to accomplish much in terms of visiting specific attractions. In fact, we spent most of our time just walking around, looking up. And it was perfect.

Weisman Art Museum – 333 East River Parkway
It’s worth the trip on Minneapolis’ incredibly efficient and affordable light rail system to visit the Weisman Art Museum. An angular metal Frank Gehry designed building sits on the otherwise traditional University of Minnesota campus, home to an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and other art pieces. The museum entry is totally free, although they encourage donations from visitors. And while the collection isn’t enormous, it is full of quirky local and international art. My personal favourite piece? The Andy Warhol portait of the museum’s namesake, Frank R. Weisman.
Downtown architecture
Like Chicago on a small scale, the architecture in downtown Minneapolis is a sight to behold. If you love beautiful buildings, or vintage buildings, or just admire a well-planned city, downtown is for you. From nineteen forties stone cravings to nineteen sixties mod designs to ornate cravings that predate them both, there is something to see on every building and around every corner.