MINNEAPOLIS + ST. PAUL GUIDE
Coffee
Roots Roasting
This place is across the street from the Mac House. Their coffee and teas are great. They have a few baked goods as well. Conveniently located for your stay.
Spyhouse Coffee
There are a few locations and all of them are really beautiful. Tasty warm drinks and appropriate pick me up for all your caffeine needs.
Quixotic Coffee
This place is typically busy, so go at your own risk (of not getting a table) BUT it is a really cool spot. Some local baked goods, great nitro coffee.
Nina’s Coffee Cafe
In the most BEAUTIFUL building ever in St. Paul. GREAT Vibes. Great coffee, tea, baked goods. Worth the visit!
Coffee Cup
Greasy Spoon, small diner breakfast. Really good. Low key. It’s like a St. Paul tradition I think.
Buttered Tin
You can’t go wrong with the downtown St. Paul staple. Great breakfast.
Breakfast
Keys Cafe
It's a Twin Cities institution. Great breakfasts. Lots of baked goods. Multiple locations.
High Hat
Cozy, brunch vibe lounge spot in St. Paul. Busy on the weekends. Worth the wait.
Hot Plate
Super quirky diner. Go for the food and wait just so you can explore the interesting inside. Seriously, you will know when you go in… And that pecan roll..
Berry Sweet Kitchen
Casual, homey feel.
Serving crepes, burritos, and more!
Buttered Tin
You can’t go wrong with the downtown St. Paul staple. Great breakfast.
Stonegarden
Upscale, modern, brunchy spot!
Wise Acre Eatery
Farm to Table - delightful eatery
Standish Cafe
Really good little cafe serving brunch.
Meat
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<h3><a href="https://handsomehog.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Handsome Hog</a></h3>
You start walking up to this place and you will understand. Delicious smoked meats for all.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
Quote Source
Food for the Rest of the Day. - - change to columns that say meat, sandwiches, pizza, mexican, burgers, all things asian, other with no category
Meat
The Handsome Hog - meat
You start walking up to this place and you will understand. Delicious smoked meats for all.
Cecil’s Delicatessen - sandwiches
The best Reuben's in Minnesota. A couple versions, all amazing. Great baked goods. Great malts. All around a good place for a bite to eat!
Pizza Luce pizza
My (Tanya’s) Favorite place for pizza in the Twin Cities. High quality ingredients. Tasty crust. Lots of good variations (umm a mashed potato pizza..). You can’t go wrong!
Christos - other
If you like Greek food you are in for a TREAT. We found out this place is on Yelp Top 100 in the US and for a good reason. Their gyro meat is the best I have ever tasted and everything else on the menu is great too. I mean, who doesn’t love flaming cheese, OPA! Finish your meal off with a Cherry Pie which is NOT a piece of pie. It’s a grown up and magnificent version of a Toaster Strudel. My mouth waters anytime I think of it.
Cosetta’s pizza
Italian food and pizza in a deli counter setting. St. Paul staple since 1911. Bakery, gelato shop, and Italian market under the same roof. You won't be sorry you chose Cosetta's.
Red Wagon Pizza pizza
There is a good reason this place has been on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. It’s incredible.
emQue Viet - asian
This place has amazing egg rolls, wontons, lo mein and beautiful drinks! They have state fair famous (it’s a thing here in MN) garlic cream cheese wontons that you maaaay dream about after you get an order. Catch their happy hour for a good deal on them!
Andale Taqueria - mexican
Authentic, street-style Mexican cuisine!
La Taquieria Hacienda - mexican
los ocampo - mexican food
La Cocina de Ana - mexican food - real good
Matt’s Bar - burgers juicy lucy, famous. so good. Bring cash or an ATM is there. You will likely be waiting but its owrth it
If casper & runyon’s the Nook is too long of a wait goto their sister bar Shamrock’s on West 7th. Less of a wait typically and same great burgers
Brasa Rotisserie - meat
Locally sourced, quality ingredients. Seriously stick to your ribs satisfying!
Casper & Runyon's the Nook Burgers
Arguably the best Juicy Lucy (regional favorite, cheese stuffed burger) in the Twin Cities. Great wings and cheese curds, too!
Hmong Village - asian
Want something way different? Check this place out. It’s hard to explain. It is ONLY for the adventurous. You may very likely get lost in here, but the food you find is so good.
Carbones pizza
Randys Pizza (100% Gluten Free shop) - expensive but Minnesota style and so good
Pad thai (on grand avenue) - asian
FYI, the two chipotles in our neighborhoods are not very good
OTHER : Moscow on The Hill
Russian food. This place will make you appreciate those delightful flavors AND they have so mnay house made vodka options..
Red Cow - Burgers
Incredible burgers. Try any of them. Their Ahi Crisps are delightful as well.
Sonder Shaker Burgers
A new restaurant in Minneapolis. They have the best burger we have ever had in Minnesota. Do yourself a favor and try it. And get the brussel sprouts. These are grown up and tasty as heck.
Holyland - other
If you like Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-ins & Dives, you will love this place, he put his stamp of approval on it! They have cones of meat and the best hummus ever. If you are the adventurous type, go here, order food, eat then wander into the attached grocery store for a new experience!
ZZQ - Gluten Free BBQ Place. (meat)90% of their stuff is GF. Kind of a drive but so so good
Guavas cuban cafe (other)
TREATS
Sebastian Joe’s
The best Oreo ice cream I have ever had. We just keep going back. Multiple locations and some of the local restaurants carry it on their own dessert menu’s.
Grand Ole Creamery
Has been here forever and is so so good!
Nelsons Ice Cream
So this ice cream is basic, nothing to write home about BUT the kids scoop portion is ENorMOUS. You will literally get a half gallon of ice cream haha. Good to go just to see the spectacle
Treats Cereal Bar & Boba
This place is new and it's incredible. They use vanilla soft serve and magically mix in cereal for a really fun treat. It is worth it, we promise.
Marc Heu Patisserie Paris
If you are feeling fancy, check this place out.
Nadia Cakes
Get a dozen and cut all of them in halves or quarters. Share. Everything is amazing there. They have won lots of awards for a reason. Not sure why they chose Minnesota to branch out to, but we appreciate it!
Hold the Wheat
It’s a bit of a drive to St Louis Park but if you are gluten free this place has GREAT pastries that are fun treat. Check hours BEFORE you drive there though.
Cafe Latte
Their cakes. Are. Amazing. SO maybe they should be in the dessert category? Or maybe you should have cake for breakfast!
T-Rex Cookies
1/2 Pound Cookies. So much gooey goodness. Try their Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Chip. Get extras.
Traditional Bars - let’s do categories - downtown STP, Downtown MPLS, Mac Grove Nieghborhood, Wenonah & Nokomis Area, Other
Sweeney’s Saloon - MG
Conveniently located by the Hart House. Perfect little local bar to have some drinks with friends.
The Gnome (check this is the name) STP
WA Frost - STP
Groveland Tap - lots of beers very close to Groveland Inn house (STP)
The Vegas Lounge Other
Karaoke bar. Such good people watching at a place like this. Stuff drinks. Bring cash. Have fun.
Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub DT STP
If you’re coming for St. Patrick’s Day, a hockey game or a concert, this is a great place to stop!
1029 Bar Other
Karaoke bar. Some of the best camaraderie that comes with drunk singing. Worth a visit.
Sidebar at Surdyk’s Other
In the summer this place is open to the outside elements. Super cool design. Amazing craft cocktails.
Breweries & Distilleries - let’s make a list for these as well - MPLS Area & St Paul Area
Confirm the below are stll open (the ones linked already) - also add to the agenda//list to do a blog post or three with routes to breweries in MPLS and St Paul (seperately)
Check times on their websites. Some closed on Monday’s & Tuesday’s**
Sociable Cider Werks MPLS
Surly (MPLS)
We need to google some for St Paul
Lake Monster (STP)
Urban Growler (STP)
Fulton (MPLS)
Wandering Leaf (STP)
Summit Brewing Company (STP)
Venn Brewing Company (MPLS by Dearly Beloved)
Town Hall Tap (MPLS by Dearly Beloved)
Northbound Smokehouse + Brew Pub (MPLS by wenonah house)
Add a title to this area with things to do around the Twin Cities
Add to blog agenda thing to do a “beaches” of the Twin Cities
Lakes & Boating
We have oodles of them. Rent boats: Here, Here & Here
Theatre
Minnesota actually has more than 400 stages for theatre. The Guthrie. The Fitzgerald Theatre. The Ordway. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. The State Theatre. The Pantages Theatre.
Amusement Parks
Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. Valley Fair in Shakopee.
Paisley Park
Are you a Prince fan? Maybe you aren’t. You’ll still find this place interesting.
Summit Mansions
Just Google Walking Tours. There are so many original MN Mansions. It’s really neat.
Lots of Trails & Hiking.
Pretty ones. Curvy Ones. Straight Ones. Biking ones. Jogging ones. Walking ones. Cross Country Skiing Ones.
Art
See the Cherry & the Spoon at The Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden. Minneapolis Institute of Art.
U of M Arboretum
It’s beautiful and outdoorsy.
Add a title here that is SHOPPING - click all links and confirm they all work//go somewhere
let’s add a book stores area too!
Mall of America
Boutique’s in Stillwater
Add title here:
In town for sporty or music things?