Minneapolis is an art, nature, and food-filled city that needs to be on more people’s radar. I never hear people say that they are heading to Minneapolis for a vacation. I hope this guide changes your mind and you book your next trip to the Twin Cities. Spend a Day in Minneapolis is my little love letter to why you should add this city to your travel bucket list.
I travel for food. Minneapolis is a great food city.
Between the James Beard-awarded chefs, the opening of Indigenous restaurants, and some of the best Cambodian, Hmong, and Ethiopian food in the country, there are a lot of powerhouses of cooking here. This is where Juicy Lucy was invented.
This itinerary is a companion piece to The Minneapolis Guide.
Theme: Bonus
Best Day to Use This Itinerary
Any day except Monday. (The Walker is closed on Mondays, and they smartly have museum stickers that say Closed Mondays.)
Additional information
This itinerary has a lot of outdoor time. I would use this itinerary on a clear and warmer day. You will be on your feet exploring parks, museums, and sculpture gardens. Perhaps a round of art inspired mini-golf is in your future if you visit in the summer months.
This itinerary is full of art and food. Click the address links to add these stops to your Minneapolis Google Map.
Spend a Day in Minneapolis
Stop 1: Spyhouse
215 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
When I book a hotel, I always want to know where I am going to get coffee in the morning. Minneapolis has a great coffee culture and I can’t think of a better coffee shop to wake up to when you stay at the Emery Hotel. Spyhouse is a coffee lovers coffee shop concentrating on sustainable and small coffee farmers.
Want to book at the Emery? Contact me.
Stop 2: Gold Medal Park
Second Street and 11th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Grab that coffee and take a walk exploring public art in this park along the banks of the Mississippi.
The Guthrie Theater
818 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Within the park is the Guthrie Theater, which hosts the city’s live theater productions, from works by William Shakespeare to more contemporary and experimental pieces.
The cantilever “Endless Bridge” is open to the public during normal building hours and has amazing views of the river. Backstage tours are also available–book here.
The Mill City Museum
704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
The Mill City Museum is also a chance to learn about Minneapolis history and how harnessing the power of the Mississippi changed the city. There is an observation deck that provides a different perspective of Minneapolis and the views are stunning.
Did you know?
Did you Know?
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Stop 3: Mara
245 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
All that walking has probably ignited your appetite. A short walk from the park is the Four Seasons Minneapolis—the hotel is on my Bougie list. You don’t have to have a giant budget to eat at its restaurant, Mara. In fact, during the weekdays, there is a reasonable prix fix lunch. Mara is part of Chef Gavin Kaysen mini-empire of restaurants within walking distance of each other. Mara is a beautiful, bright restaurant focusing on Mediterranean cuisine.
I recommend Spoon & Stable as part of a bonus itinerary as well.
Demi, consistently in my top restaurants in the world, is part of my bougie list.
See my Minneapolis Guide.
Stop 4: The Walker Art Center
725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
The Walker Art Center changed the way I see art.
I know that is a big statement, but as a teenager, my experience with museums was pretty small. I grew up going to the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, and zoos around the mid-west. I loved these places, but it wasn’t until I saw the Fluxus show that I was exposed to art I like to call it “art to think about.” That is what The Walker features. Art that sparks conversation.
There is a lot to see here.
- The Sculpture Garden—a free outdoor art park. (Where you can find the Cherry on the Spoon)
- Rooftop artist-inspired mini-golf
- The Museum
In addition to gallery spaces, The Walker has an excellent public programming calendar with film, artist talks, and concerts. Check to see what is on when you are in town.
Stop 5: Owamni
420 S 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Our final stop of the day highlights the best of Minnesota. It isn’t just that Owamni and its chef, Sean Sherman, have won awards that make it count as a “best”; it is also the fact that this restaurant features the best of the best local and Native Minnesota products. Owamni celebrates the foodways of Minnesota’s first peoples. The state was once home to over a dozen tribes and tribal bands. Owamni’s menu is filled with ingredients eaten pre-colonization and is free of cane sugar, pork, chicken, and other things brought here.
As a Minnesotan, I am lucky to have had these foods as part of my diet—wild rice, walleye, and wild berries. I am excited for you to experience the food and the mission of Owamni.
I can’t wait to try the tasting menu when I visit Minneapolis again.
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