From Wikitravel

Minneapolis [1] is part of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul. At approximately 380,000 people, it is the largest city in Minnesota.

Contents 1 Districts 2 Understand 3 Get in 3.1 By plane 3.2 By car 3.3 By train 3.4 By bus 4 Get around 4.1 Public Transit 4.1.1 Public Transit Tips for First-Time Visitors 4.2 By bike 5 See 5.1 Museums 5.2 Theater 6 Do 6.1 Lakes and Parks 7 Learn 8 Work 9 Buy 9.1 Clothes 9.2 Bookstores 9.3 Record Stores 10 Eat 10.1 Areas For Dining 10.2 Bakeries and Bistros 10.3 Chinese 10.4 Diners 10.5 French 10.6 Fusion or Modern American 10.7 Indian 10.8 Italian 10.9 Japanese 10.10 Mexican 10.11 Middle Eastern 10.12 Thai 10.13 Vietnamese 10.14 Vegetarian 10.15 Pizza 11 Drink 11.1 Music 11.2 Alcohol 11.3 Coffee/Tea 12 Sleep 12.1 Budget 12.2 Mid-range 12.3 Splurge 13 Contact 14 Stay safe 15 Get out

Districts

• Downtown.
• South Minneapolis. West Bank, Uptown, Lyn-Lake, and Seward neighborhoods.
• North Minneapolis.
• Northeast Minneapolis.
• Southeast Minneapolis. The Dinkytown area and the University of Minnesota campus.

Understand

Minneapolis was born as a center of grain commerce due to its location on the banks of the Mississippi. The river cuts through the downtown, formerly dividing Minneapolis from the city of St. Anthony. What was St. Anthony is now northeast and southeast Minneapolis.

The name "Minneapolis" (meaning "The City of Lakes" in a mash-up of Dakota and Ancient Greek) refers to the five fair sized lakes (2-4 mile circumference). The city's excellent parks department maintains walking and biking paths around the lakes, offering residents a place to exercise or stroll. Personal sailboats may be buoyed on three of these lakes. The Lake Harriet Bandshell offers seasonal concerts.

The city has done an excellent job fostering developed neighborhoods, each with a distinctive feel. Linden Hills for families, Uptown and Lake Calhoun for twentysomethings, and downtown for high-rise suites, sporting events (Timberwolves, Vikings, and Twins all play downtown), and nightclub scene. Lyn-Lake offers an edgy, cool twist.

Get in

By plane

• Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, [2]. The airport is divided into the Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals with most flights arriving at the former. Savvy travelers should check to make sure they know which terminal they are arriving at/departing from.

The new light rail train is extremely convenient for those who need to get downtown from the airport. Fare is $1.50-$2 depending on the time of day. The trains are fast and clean. They also serve the Mall of America and parts of South Minneapolis. The light rail station is located at Lindbergh. There is also a station at Humphrey, but it is currently closed through late 2007 due to nearby construction. If you're arriving at Humphrey, you will need to board a shuttle bus heading to Lindbergh.

Airlines serving the Lindbergh Terminal:

• Air Canada
• American Airlines
• Comair Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Frontier Airlines
• Icelandair
• KLM
• Mesaba Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• SkyWest
• United Airlines
• US Airways

Airlines serving the Humphrey Terminal:

• Air Tran Airways
• Casino Express
• Champion Air
• Miami Air International
• Omni Air International
• Ryan International
• Sun Country Airlines
• Midwest Connect(Midwest Airlines)

By car

Interstate Highways 35 West and 94 are the main arteries into town. Both will take you very close to downtown. I-35W runs north and south (for the most part) and I-94 east and west. Both interstates will connect you to the 494/694 beltway around the metro area. Be sure to keep an eye on which lane you're in, as freeway interchanges come up fast, and traffic back-ups can occur at any time, day or night.

By train

Amtrak, [3]. Daily service to Midway station, actually between St. Paul and Minneapolis. The "Empire Builder", Amtrak train 7/27 and 8/28, serves the Twin Cities area, terminating at Chicago and Seattle or Portland (the train splits in Spokane, Washington). This train covers a route similar to the historic "Empire Builder" of the James J. Hill Great Northern Railway.

The number 16 bus route runs along University Avenue, a block south of the station, and it that will take you to downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul. Taxi is probably your best bet for getting to your final destination from the train station.

By bus

Greyhound Bus Lines, [4] and Jefferson Lines [5]. Buses arrive at the Hawthorne Transportation Center, located at 950 Hawthorne Ave (at 10th St, one block west of Hennepin) in downtown Minneapolis. It's just a few minute's taxi ride away from most of the downtown hotels. It's 4-5 blocks away from a few major bus routes and the light rail. Check the web site above for schedule details. The depot is near a homeless shelter, so it's not uncommon to see a few homeless people hanging out nearby. The area is well-patrolled and quite safe.

Megabus, [6]. Low-cost bus company that runs a nonstop route between Minneapolis and Chicago; from Chicago, you can connect to buses heading to St Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. Fares can be as little as $1 each way if ordered far enough in advance. There are two marked stops in Minneapolis. The first stop is in downtown Minneapolis on the west side of 3rd Ave N between Washington Ave and 5th St (note: it's directly under the 4th St Garage). The second stop is near the University of Minnesota on the south side of University Ave next to the University Ave Parking Ramp, across the street from Williams Arena.

Get around

The city streets have a grid system that's helpful if you take the time to learn it. Minneapolis is divided into four quadrants: North, South, Northeast and Southeast. Hennepin Avenue forms the divider between streets labeled N and S near downtown. This division continues through the smaller portion of Minneapolis that lies east of the Mississippi River, dividing it into Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE). Further to the west of downtown, this division lies along Linden Avenue, which is just north of the I-394 freeway. In North, Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis, all roads will carry the N, NE, or SE prefixes on street signs. In South Minneapolis, the north-south running avenues are marked with an S. The east-west running streets are marked with a W or E, depending if you are west or east of Nicollet Avenue. Even though the street signs show these directional designators before the street names, most locals will read the addresses with them at the end. Thus "York Avenue South" appears on street signs as "S York Ave" and "N 33rd Ave" is pronounced as "33rd Avenue North".

Minneapolis also is one of the few cities to use multi-colored street signs. These colors were originally developed to indicate the priority of plowing during winter storms. Although the plowing system has since changed, they can still be helpful to indicate what sort of street you are on. Blue signs indicate major roads which are "Snow Emergency Routes" in winter. These are still the first streets to be plowed after a storm. Rust colored signs indicate roads that run primarily east-west. Light green signs indicate roads that run primarily north-south. Dark green signs indicate scenic parkways that ring the city and the lakes.

Public Transit

• Metro Transit, [7].
  • Light rail. Serving downtown, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the airport, the Mall of America, and all points in between. This is probably the easiest, fastest, and safest bet for first-time visitors. There's a lot to do along the route, and since currently there only is one route, the odds of getting lost are considerably reduced.
  • Bus. The routes and fares are notoriously confusing to non-natives. The web site, however, is very user-friendly. It gives you the option of entering your beginning and ending points and times and points you in the direction of the best route(s) to get where you want to go. While some improvements have been made recently, you should still carry a schedule and map for any bus route you are riding. Bus stops are located very nearly everywhere throughout the city, but some are served only very infrequently, and most are not labeled as to which routes serve them at which times. The route with the most attraction is the number 6 bus which passes through Uptown, Dinkytown, and Downtown. The 16 and 50 bus routes connect Downtown with the University of Minnesota and Twin City, St. Paul.

Public Transit Tips for First-Time Visitors

There are loads of things to do downtown once you get there, and you can walk to most of them, so we won't focus a lot on the downtown stops. Let's assume you're starting downtown in a hotel somewhere. The first stop you might be interested in is The Metrodome, home to the Minnesota Vikings (football), The Minnesota Twins (baseball), various University of Minnesota games and the occasional rock concert.

Next stop, Cedar/Riverside. If you walk a few blocks east to Cedar Avenue, there's a vibrant, diverse and sometimes dangerous neighborhood known as the West Bank. When I say dangerous, I'm not talking about Cabrini Green level crime, but rather, a neighborhood where one should stay in well-lit areas and cab home if you have a few too many or stay a little too late. (Bars are open until 2 a.m.) Before you are frightened away, there's much this neighborhood has to offer that really shouldn't be missed. The 400 Bar is one of the top clubs in town. It used to be a place where local bands played on pool tables. Now they offer national touring acts from all over the country. The drink prices are a little inflated. The 400 is located on the corner of Cedar Ave and Riverside Ave. The Falafel King restaurant is across the street. If you head east on Riverside Avenue, you'll encounter the Hard Times coffee shop. Hard Times is only closed for two hours every day, from 4:00 am to 6:00 am. The quality of the food can vary widely depending on who is on duty. They offer good coffee, (often) loud music, games, etc. The Nomad is just a little further south on Cedar Ave. It has a nice outdoor patio for smoking and inside they have a stage where you can see a variety of local rock or jazz shows. Across the street from The Nomad, is Palmers. Palmers gets a little rough, if you don't know how to behave yourself while drinking. Not for the weak of heart or mind. Mind your own business if you go there. Keep heading back south down Cedar Avenue and you'll come to the Triple Rock Social Club, one of the best venues for music in town. The bar side has great food with a lot of vegetarian options. The club side has a big stage and fantastic sound system. Check their web site above for listings. Still further down Cedar Avenue are the Whiskey Junction and The Cabooze. Whiskey Junction is a favorite hang out for bikers, but a good number of those are the suburban type with expensive Harley Davidsons. The Cabooze is mostly a college hang out. Both venues offer live music most nights. If you make it to the Cabooze, you're already near the Franklin Avenue Light Rail stop. Get back on and head down to Lake Street.

Lake Street/Midtown has a lot to offer on weekend days in the spring and summer. Namely an outdoor market with lots of good food and locally made goodies. Worth a stop for sure. You can also catch a 21 bus from here to Uptown (make sure the bus is going west).

The next few stops take you to mostly residential neighborhoods. While there are things to do along them, they're not easily accessible on foot, so we'll skip ahead to 50th Street/Minnehaha Park. The Minnehaha Park station is adjacent to a park and Minnehaha Falls. You can see the 53 foot falls and walk along the creek on its way to the Mississippi River.

The Fort Snelling station is located after the VA Medical Center station. Fort Snelling makes a great day trip. It's the original settlement in Minnesota and an early wilderness outpost.

Next is the Airport and then the Mall of America, the gleaming, gargantuan monument to advanced capitalism. It offers an indoor amusement park, movies, restaurants and more shopping than is comprehensible. It's a day trip in itself, but not for the thrifty. Food, shopping and Camp Snoopy can burn through your wallet fast. Not for those with poor impulse control.

By bike

• Although biking can be more difficult the colder half of the year, Minneapolis offers biking lanes and biking trails throughout the city, [8]. Major bike trails such as the Greenway are plowed at the same time as major streets. In some neighborhoods like Downtown, Dinkytown, Uptown, and near the University of Minnesota campus, bikes are seen almost as often as cars.

See

The museums, natural parks and waterfronts, malls, shopping districts, dining zones, and should give you several options no matter what your age.

Museums

• Museum listings are on the Twin Cities regional page.

Theater

Theaters are clustered in Downtown, West Bank, and Uptown

Do

Minneapolis on the surface seems like a pretty but rather quiet tourist destination. If you properly do your research though, there is plenty to do.

• As mentioned earlier above, Minneapolis has beautiful lakes and riverfronts that the local residents work hard to keep clean. It is also easy with a car, the proper permits, and necessary equipment to go camping two hours and more out of town. And it can be delightfully cheap. Try Explore Minnesota for more info.

• Biking. An old freight train railway has been converted into the Midtown Greenway, [9], which cuts through the middle of South Minneapolis beginning on the West Bank and crossing west all the way to the Lake Calhoun area and meeting up with the Kenworth Trail, [10] which in turn connects with the Cedar Lake Trail, [11].

Lakes and Parks

• Walk, bike, drive, swim or paddle around the chain of lakes running north to south along the western side of Minneapolis proper.

• Only beer in cans is allowed in Minneapolis Parks.
• Shower soon after swimming to avoid swimmer's itch.

• Cedar Lake. Cedar Lake has a shady public swimming beach and an unofficial nude beach.
• Lake of the Isles. Lake of the Isles has bird sanctuaries on its islands, and a public skating rink (with warming house) are groomed in the winter months.
• Lake Calhoun. Lake Calhoun has a large public beach and boat rentals (and lessons).
• Lake Harriet. Lake Harriet also has boat rentals near it's bandshell.
• Lake Nokomis. Lake Nokomis has several beaches including a swimming beach with life guards on duty. It also has public boat access for canoes, kayaks and sail boats. The swimming beach also has public rest rooms and vends food (hot dogs, ice cream, etc.). Several convenience stores and a grocery store are nearby on Cedar Avenue if you need to make a run for that item you forgot on your picnic.
• Minnehaha Creek. Minnehaha Creek connects several (if not all) of the above lakes. If the water is high enough, one can canoe or kayak through all the lakes via the creek.

Learn

• University of Minnesota, [12].
• Augsburg College, [13].
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design, [14].
• Minneapolis Community and Technical College, [15].
• Normandale College, [16].

Work

Buy

• Mall of America, 60 East Broadway, Bloomington, 952 883-8800. Common thought is that it is in Minneapolis, but it is actually roughly southeast of the city, although not far. A dizzying shopping experience, and also technically the 4th largest "city" in the state. It has hundreds of stores and an IKEA nearby it. You can get there by Light Rail or bus.

Clothes

• Lava Lounge for fashion wear, it's located by Lyn-Lake. The clothes are fitted and range from hip hop to techno-industrial wear.
• Ragstock is a local chain of used clothing stores. Clothing is shipped into the downtown "Warehouse" location from thrift stores accross the country. There it is sorted through and either torn to rags for commercial use, or pulled aside to be sold in one of the stores. There are currently stores on University Av. in St. Paul, West lake St. in Uptown Minneapolis, and N. 7th St. in Downtown Minneapolis.

Bookstores

The Twin Cities are a hotbed of independent presses and bookstores.

• Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction, 2864 Chicago Avenue S., (at Lake Street), +1 612 824-6347, fax +1 612 827-6394 [17] - M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Sharing the same building with Uncle Edgar's Mystery. A treasure trove of used and new Science Fiction and Fantasy books. It is the oldest SF/fantasy book store in North America, and has a well-earned national reputation for its vast selection.
• Uncle Edgar's Mystery, 2864 Chicago Avenue S. (at Lake Street), +1 612 824-9984, fax +1 612 827-6394 - M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Sharing the same building with Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction. Specializing in used and new mystery books.
  • The prices are reasonable and you can get an extra 10% off all purchases by buying a $4 discount card. If you're buying more than $40 worth of books, it pays for itself with the first purchase. It is located in a shady part of town, so it's best to arrive with plenty of daylight left.

• Dreamhaven Books and Comics, 912 West Lake Street, +1 612 823-6161, fax +1 612 823-6062 [18] - M-F 11AM-8PM, Sa 11AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM. New and used science fiction, fantasy, horror, film and art books, comics, an adults-only room. Mail order and in-store readings.

• Orr Books & Cards, 3045 Hennepin Avenue at Lake, +1 612 823-2408 - Regional and national poetry, journals, arts, cookbooks, and course reading lists for local small graduate institutes. Splendid little bookstore in Uptown.

• College of Comic Book Knowledge, 3151 Hennepin Avenue S., +1 612 822-2309 [19] - Shares the building with Nostalgia Zone. Great for newer and more mainstream comics.
• Nostalgia Zone, 3151 Hennepin Avenue S., +1 612 822-2806 [20] - Shares the building with College of Comic Book Knowledge. Best for hard to find old comics and independents.

You can also sell comics here, and the dealers are great. The establishment is over 30 years old.

• Amazon Book Store, 4755 Chicago Avenue, +1 612 821-9630, [21]- Founded in 1970, well before the online book retailer of the same name. Boasts the title of the oldest independent feminist book store in North America. The store is practically a Minneapolis institution.

Record Stores

• Roadrunner Records, 4304 Nicollet Ave S, 612 822 0613, [22]. Has a great selection of independent LP's, CD's and DVD's. Known for their international music section. Punk and alt-country genres don't suffer. A great independent record store with lots of local and independently produced product.

• Extreme Noise Records, 407 West Lake St, [23]. Specializes in all punk and subgenres therein. A cooperative run for over ten years by local punks. Amazing selection of punk 'zines, CD's, LP's and 7-inches. The place in town for finding hard-to-find punk records, trading punk records, finding other punks, seeking out that basement show, etc. Don't let the punk rock moniker scare the less-than punk away. If you want to see what a truly independent local scene can produce and meet some of the most earnest members of said scene, you must check out Extreme Noise.

• Electric Fetus, 2000 4th Ave. S, (on the corner of Franklin Ave and 4th Ave, near 35W), [24]. Possibly the most complete selection of CD's in town across all genres. Hold on tight to your wallet when you walk in here. If there's an obscure CD you've been looking for, this place is likely to have it. Listening stations are posted throughout the store enticing all who enter to try out some new music. It's the place you would go if you had unlimited resources for buying new music. Be prepared to pay full price, although new releases are frequently on sale. Buy four CD's and get a discount. Tickets for local venues are on sale here too.

• Treehouse Records 2557 Lyndale Ave S (northeast corner of 26th and Lyndale), 612 872-7400. A somewhat small but cozy record shop. The selection of new CD's isn't very large (you might be better off going to the Electric Fetus for that sort of thing), but they have craploads of vinyl, which is what they are noted for anyway.

Eat

Minneapolis is renowned for its restaurants, ethnic or American. It would take a good half a week or so to sample just a part of what it has to offer. For a good listing of the city's best restaurants check the City Pages' Best of 2005 or their restaurant reviews [25]. Also, try The Rake [26] or the Star Tribune [27].

It's all about the locals when looking for a great place to eat. Here are some gems that earn frequent top kudos from Minneapolis' locals:

Areas For Dining

• Don't miss Nicollet Avenue South's Eat Street centered on East 27th Street for a variety of ethnic fare. Azia, the Caterpillar Lounge and Anemoni Sushi & Oyster Bar are at 2550 Nicollet, and are an upscale Asian restaurant and lounge. Other highly recommended restaurants are Quang Restaurant and Jasmine Deli for Vietnamese, Yummy for Chinese, and the so-called Black Forest Inn (which is not a hotel) for German cuisine. Little Tijuana is a nice stop for alluring punk/goth waitresses and Mexican plates. The Vietnamese restaurants are incredibly cheap ($5-$10 per person) and have received consistently exuberant reviews since their openings (Quang was even positively reviewed in the New York Times). The latter four are standard $8-$20 dollars per person except during lunch.

• The Dinkytown and Stadium Village areas near the University of Minnesota have great offerings. The daily dining specials at Sally's Saloon [28] help make it a popular afternoon and evening destination among University students.

• The Midtown Global Market [29] on 920 East Lake Street opened recently in what used to be a large Sears store, and is now home to a variety of cafes and restaurants from all around the world. Favorites like Holy Land Deli and Bakery, Andy's Garage in St. Paul, and several restaurants in Mercado Central have opened satellite locations here.

Bakeries and Bistros

• French Meadow Bakery, 2610 Lyndale Ave S (at 26th), 612 870-4740, fax 612 870-0907, [30]. Owner and founder of this excellent bakery and cafe, Lynn Gordon, has a passion for fabulous yeast free breads, and has been an artisan baker since before that term began to be applied to high-quality individual bakers. $4-$20, depending on the time of day. Cheapest in the morning.

Chinese

• See Dinkytown, Eat Street, and Stadium Village.

Diners

• Perkins forget Denny's, Perkins is a family-trad local area chain of restaurants serving plain old good food at all hours of the day and night. Several locations.

• The Wienery, 414 Cedar Ave, 612 746-4509. Located on Cedar just a few steps south of Riverside on the West Bank. Small, family owned diner that serves basic fare. It's where the punks, aging hippies and various harmless riff-raff go for breakfast or a lunch of fries, burgers, brats or hotdogs slathered with your choice of toppings. They also carry veggie dogs for the vegetarian in you. The fries are shredded right in front of you and come out oh so crisp!

• The Dinkytowner Literally underground off 14St in Dinkytown (hence the name), serves a large greasy spoon menu, along with breakfast, burgers, pizza, etc. Great bacon. By night, it becomes one of the area's best hip-hop bars. Near the University of Minnesota campus, it's probably not what you'd consider a "college bar" though. Prices are average for the city, and the service is good. Always good music, and cool sparkly vinyl booths.

French

• Cafe Barbette, 1600 W Lake St, 612 827-5710, [31]. On the corner of Lake and Irving in Uptown, $15-$30.

• Cafe Lurcat 1624 Harmon Place, 612 486-5500. Highly recommended. $18-$40. Chic establishment with French/Fusion offerings.

• Cave Vin, 5555 Xerxes Ave, 612 922-0100. Pane's sister French restaurant - blocks from Pane - it features a Mediterranean/French menu. Again, tons of charm, great food and wine.

Fusion or Modern American

• Restaurant Alma 528 University Ave SE, 612 379-4909. Amazing food which can best be described as a combination between French, Fusion, and small-town Minnesotan. They use almost exclusively organic ingredients. $30-$60 per person for a three-course meal with wine. Cheaper, but not by much, at lunch.

Indian

• Surabhi Indian Cuisine 9818 Aldrich Ave S, , in South Minneapolis, is a good place. It probably has the best Indian food in the Twin Cities. $8-$20 dollars a person.

Italian

• D'Amico's Cucina, 100 N 6th St, 612 338-2401. One of the areas most expensive restaurants, serves amazing Italian cuisine with international and fusion touches. Expect to spend over $60 for two people. Absolutely gastronomical. Call for sure for reservations and directions. It is a little hidden.

• Pane Vino Dolce, 819 W 50th St, 612 825-3201. Considered one of the best and authentic Italian restaurants in town. There's no sign, but you'll find a hand written menu taped in the window each day. There are only about 15 tables - small, romantic, and plenty of charm.

• Broder's Pasta Bar, 5000 Penn Ave S, 612 925-9202. Broder's is "Pasta cooked the way it was meant to be." The menu features around 20 different past dishes, a mix of new and old favorites. Reasonably small, often crowded, but surprisingly conversational.

Japanese

Japanese cuisine is highly competitive. Prepare to spend more at the first two establishments for sushi, which runs $5-$8 at both places per serving. The best showings are probably:

• Nami, 251 1st Ave N, 612 333-1999. Located in the Warehouse District nearby 1st Ave, which runs parallel to Hennepin. Lunch specials, decor, and very modern, relaxing atmosphere. $10 per person plus tip at lunchtime, and $20 per person in the evening

• Origami, 30 N 1st St, 612 333-8430. Best known for their sushi. Located in the Warehouse District nearby 1st Ave, which runs parallel to Hennepin. $10 per person plus tip at lunchtime, and $20 per person in the evening.

• Fuji-Ya, 600 W Lake St. 612 871-4055 A Lyn-Lake (Lyndale and Lake intersection) favorite.

Mexican

In recent years, Minneapolis has developed a core community of Mexican-born residents. As a result, several good, authentic Mexican restaurants have cropped up.

• Taco Morelos, 14 W 26th St, 612 870-0053. Near the corner of Nicollet Avenue and 26th St in the "Eat Street" area. What was once a cheap, authentic, storefront restaurant, has become a mid-price, authentic restaurant/bar with at least three locations in the Twin Cities area. The original location on on 26th St. is now called a "Tex Mex Grill", but don't let that fool you. For around $10 you can still get a fantastic burrito or one of the best plates of huevos rancheros in town.

• Mercado Central, Corner of Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue. Meant to mimic a Mexican outdoor market but all indoors (probably because of the prodigious winters). You can buy tamales to go and there's a "food court" comprised totally of Mexican and Salvadorean owned restaurants.

• Pepito's. A mainstay of South Minneapolis with two locations.
  • 4624 Nicollet Ave, 612 825-6311. The deli-style fast food version is located on the corner of Nicollet and 46th. Try the fish tacos, they're fantastic. No alcohol, but fast service and fantastic food for those on the go.
  • 4820 Chicago Ave, 612 822-2104. The sit-down restaurant version is located on the corner of 48th and Chicago Ave. There's a full bar, a kid-friendly menu and good food at reasonable prices. If you're traveling with a toddler and want decent food in a family-friendly restaurant, Pepitos has a good kid's menu with items for $4.95 each and the food comes fast. So you and yours can eat before your two year-old throws the entire bowl of chips at the adjoining booth.

• See also Dinkytown, Eat Street, and Stadium Village.

Middle Eastern

• Holy Land Deli and Bakery, 2513 Central Ave NE, 612 781-2627, and a satellite location at the Midtown Global Market, 920 E Lake St, Suite 145, [32]. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean/Greek cuisine. The gyros are some of the best in the United States, and the chicken curry gyros are very original and tasty. It's hard to go wrong with their menu, which is especially friendly towards vegetarians. The lunch/dinner buffet also is good and cheap, but call to make sure that the gyro meats will be served with it. $6-$10 dollars per person. It also sports a full-sized market. The bread, hummus, imports, and other specialties are wonderful, but call ahead to make sure that you get fresh produce on a delivery day.

• Crescent Moon Bakery, 2339 Central Ave NE, 612 782-0169. What they are known for is their savory and spicy Afghani pizza with its special sauce - one of the most underrated and unique pies in town (if not the best). What most miss due to the pull of the pizza is their equally incredible gyro meat, expertly seasoned and lightly charred for a nice texture. They also serve kabob platters. Prices run as low as $5 for a gyro and $12 for the huge Afghani pizza (could easily feed 3 normal appetites), and as high as $25-30 for one of the massive platters.

Thai

• True Thai, 2627 E Franklin Ave, 612 375-9942. True Thai stands as the current champion of Thai food in Minneapolis. The Chili-Tamarind, Rama Spinach Curry, and Pad Thai are amazing at this establishment. $9-$17 dollars per person for an entree and drink.
• Chiang Mai Thai, 3001 Hennepin Ave S, 612 827-1606. In Uptown, Chiang Mai Thai has a romantic and authentic ambiance and large servings. Try the Thai Basil or Ginger Stir Fry. Entrees are $9-$18.
• Thanh Do, 3005 Utah Avenue S, 952 935-5005. Although a trek from the city itself (in St. Louis Park) the Basil Pod Thai is the best in the area. Get it take-out, though, as the service and atmosphere is lacking.

Vietnamese

• See Dinkytown, Eat Street, and Stadium Village.

Vegetarian

• Hard Times Cafe, 1821 Riverside Ave, 612 341-9261. Located on Riverside a few steps east of Cedar on the West Bank. Open 22 hours a day every day, 6:00am-4:00am.

• Seward Cafe, 2129 E Franklin Ave, 612 332-1011. Located a few blocks east of the Franklin Ave light-rail station in the Seward neighborhood. Open for breakfast and lunch only.

• Ecopolitan, 2409 Lyndale Ave S, 612 874-7336, [33]. Raw vegan food.

Pizza

Sometimes you roll into town and you just want a good slice of pizza. Minneapolis has a few offerings.

• Punch Pizza has three locations around town and one of them know a true northern italian pizza when they see it, will be more than happy to discover this little gem. Punch is one of the few restaurants that actually has certification from the official Napoli pizza organization. Pizza Luce is the crowd favorite but Punch is the critic's. Evidently it is Meryl Streep's as well.

• Pizza Luce [34] has three locations in town.
  • Downtown: 119 N 4th St, +1 612 333-7359. Open Su-Th 11AM-2:30AM, F-Sa 11AM-3:30AM.
  • Uptown: 3200 Lyndale Ave S, +1 612 827-5978. Open daily 11AM-2:30AM.
  • Seward: 2200 E Franklin Ave, 612 332-2535. Open daily 11AM-2:30AM.

Go to the downtown location if you can on the corner of 5th St. and 2nd Ave N. Easily the best pizza in town. Full bar, punk rock staff. You can get pizza by the slice or sit down and order a whole pie. Open until 3 a.m. The Uptown location is on the corner of 32nd and Lyndale Ave. S. The pizza is still fantastic, but the service is not as good. The Seward location on the corner of 22nd and Franklin Ave has mixed results. Pizza is still good there, but not as good as the other two locations.

• Davanni's, located on the corner of 26th Ave and Riverside Avenue - Is probably the only place in town where one can get authentic, Chicago-style pizza. Beer on tap. Good hoagies too.

• Jakeeno's, 3601 Chicago Ave, +1 612 825-6827 - Jakeeno's offers good pizza and other pasta dishes. Try the potato and rosemary pizza. Located on the corner of 36th and Chicago. Not a horrible neighborhood, but not the best either. Jakeeno's is clean, friendly and family-run however. Worth the trip. Wine and beer served.

• Fat Lorenzo's, 5600 Cedar Ave, +1 612 822-2040 - Good service, good pizza. "Fat" is in the name of the place--plan accordingly. A good first stop or last stop on your way to or from the airport. Beer and wine.

• Galactic Pizza, 2917 Lyndale Ave S (a few steps north of Lake), +1 612 824-9100 [35] - Uptown's newest pizza joint. The decor is kitschy. Their stand out feature is not only a little car run 100% by electric power but the delivery driver dons a funky costume while driving said vehicle. If you order the Second Harvest pizza (which is excellent, I must say) the business donates a dollar to the Second Harvest Food Bank (for every one ordered).

• See also Crescent Moon Bakery in the Middle Eastern section above.

Drink

Music

Minneapolis has one of the most vibrant and independent music scenes in the country. The city is probably most famous for its purple pop wonder, Prince, but also boasts bands such as Soul Asylum, The Replacements, The Jayhawks, and Polara just to name a few. Several clubs in town play host to shows by local bands and your chances of finding a good one are better than average.

• For local listings see:
  • City Pages, [36].
  • The Onion, [37].
  • The Pulse, [38].
  • Star Tribune, [39].

• Downtown has several music offerings including First Avenue [40] and The Fine Line Music Cafe.
• West Bank and Uptown also have a number of good places.

• Quest
• Triple Rock, [41].
• The Cabooze, [42] .
• Terminal Bar, [43].
• Hexagon Bar.
• The 400 Bar, [44].
• Lee's Liquor Lounge, [45].
• Varsity Theater, [46].

Alcohol

The nightlife in general can be vibrant in several areas. The Warehouse District is great for clubbers, Dinkytown is good for college partygoers, Uptown is good for those with a bit more money, and The Mall of America has several spots for the middle aged and sports fans. Minneapolis is not the 24 hour city that New York is, but bars close at 2AM - so that is still plenty of time, especially if you find a party to go to afterwards (it is best to be accompanied by friends and to know someone either through a reliable acquaintance, friend, or client who knows your host's social status).

Minneapolis certainly accommodates those seeking a good drink. There are over a dozen Irish, German, or British pubs, such as The Local, Black Forest Inn, Brit's Pub, or Kieran's. Local dining, clubs, pubs, and bars in general compete for the best Happy Hour specials. It's a good idea to pick up a City Pages or to do an internet search to find the best deals.

Most liquor stores in the general metropolitan area close at 10PM. This is true for all areas on Fridays and Saturdays. The exception is in the Minneapolis city proper - stores there close at 8PM on Monday through Thursday. You can save more money by purchasing your own supply. Be sure to check out the yellow pages for liquor stores which specialize in wines or beers.

• Surdyk's, University and East Hennepin just northeast across the river from downtown. A liquor store with an amazing wine selection and an impressive amount of international specialties like sake and plum wine, beers (dozens of English microbreweries are represented), port wines, champagnes, vodkas, whiskeys, and others.

• France 44 Wines & Spirits, in southwest Minneapolis, literally across the street from the city of Edina on West 44th Street and France Avenue South. This shop used to be a converted gas station but went through a miraculous renovation a couple of years ago. Be sure to check out the walk-in beer cooler, as well as the accessories and fine spirits collection in the basement. A very competent deli shares an entrence.

Coffee/Tea

When you are a stranger, sometimes it's hard to find a good cup of coffee besides the ubiquitous Starbucks. Luckily, Minneapolis' independent spirit has yielded good cups of coffee in so many places, one can hardly throw a rock without it landing in a latte.

• Caribou [47] is second to Starbucks in number and of similar feel and quality in the drinks. The shots are 1.5 oz compared to Starbucks 1.0 ounce.
• Dunn Bros [48] is third in chains for number of locations. The coffee here is fresh (ground daily in the shop) but somewhat stronger than most places in town. Their fantastic brewed coffee is a little more impressive than the espresso, but their shots are at least a mighty 3.0 oz. Dunn Bros also excels at offering free WiFi access and (often) free Internet terminals.
• Other independent shops abound in various neighborhoods with the coffee shops per block reaching critical mass in the Uptown and Dinkytown neighborhoods. Never fear, wherever you end up, you can be assured a coffee shop is within a few blocks. Particularly in South Minneapolis.
• Wilde Roast Cafe [49] has possibly the best atmosphere of any coffeeshop in town. Its nouveau-Victorian decor - complete with a giant portrait of Oscar Wilde - make for a great relaxation or date destination. It also houses Query, a gay/lesbian-aimed bookstore with a nice selection. The drinks and expertly crafted desserts are of high-quality, but a tad pricey. If you want to show off the wallet, truly relax in the austere surroundings, or if you're looking for a more queer-friendly destination, try it!
• Tillie's Bean [50] winner of the Golden Cup award, features fresh made sandwiches and pastries. Free wi-fi and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. They are located just 1 1/2 blocks from the 38th Street Light Rail Station making it easy to access without a car.

Also see district articles for more coffeehouses.

Sleep

There is a good variety of hotels. Most of them are clustered in downtown, or near the University of Minnesota. Avoid straying too far away from town without a car. In downtown, the Doubletree hotel is a great value. There is a good Radisson, Marriott, and many Holiday Inns around the area.

The University of Minnesota Radisson is a good place to stay during times when sports and school are quiet. Refer to the Qwest Dex yellow pages for more MA and PA lodgings or for special luxury suites.

Budget

Minneapolis International Hostel, 2400 Stevens Ave (two blocks east of Nicollet), +1 612 522-5000 (toll-free +1 888-250-3315) [51] - This is the most well-established backpackers hostel in the Twin Cities. Quick walking distance to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and Eat Street. A 15 minute walk or short bus ride to Downtown, and a short bus ride to Uptown. Beds start at $24.95 per night.

Minneapolis EcoHostel, 2409 Lyndale Ave S, +1 612 584-4350, [52] - In the Ecopolitan building. Building houses the Ecopolitan Restaurant, which only serves organic raw vegan fare. Hostel patrons are instructed to abide by certain principles (e.g. don't bring any non-vegan food into the hostel). Quick and easy access to Uptown and Downtown by bus, bike, or even foot. Rates unknown, call for details.

The Railstation Hostel 3619 Snelling Ave, +1 612 242-0928 - Calls itself a "safe, Christian-based hostel," according to some hostel websites. The hostel is located a few blocks away from the 38th Street light-rail station, providng quick access to Downtown, the University area, the airport, and the Mall of America. There isn't much to do in the hostel's surrounding neighborhood, although it isn't too far away from the Mississippi River or Minnehaha Park. Beds start at $30 per night.

Mid-range

Splurge

Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Ave, +1 612 376-1000 [53].

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, 1300 Nicollet Mall, +1 612 370-1234 (fax +1 612-370-1463), [54] - Rooms start at $189 per night.

Contact

The Minneapolis Public Library [55] has computer workstations with internet access at all of their locations. You can access the internet for free for up to one hour within a 6-hour block of time. As an out-of-town visitor without a Minneapolis library card, you will need to obtain a Temporary Internet Access Card from a librarian; proper photo identification is necessary to obtain one.

Stay safe

Avoid a good part of the "North Side" of Minneapolis. This does not include "Northeast" Minneapolis, but instead is anywhere near Broadway Ave and west of Interstate 94. The south side of Minneapolis has some rougher areas as well but much of this is changing with the heating up of the inner-city real estate. The Phillips neighborhood, especially around Bloomington Avenue, is often cited as the least safe part of the south side, but is probably fine during the day. As with any major American city, keep your eyes open and your wits about you at night. Crime is relatively low in most parts of Minneapolis that you're likely to visit, but it does exist.

Get out

There are several day trip destinations near the city.

• Mall of America in nearby Bloomington.
• Valley Fair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
• Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley.
• Lutsen has what may be the best skiing in the state.
• Lake Mille Lacs offers good fishing, boat rentals and fishing guides.
• Stillwater is a beautiful, historic town about an hour away that has the highest number of celebrity sightings per capita in the state.
• State Parks. The state has many well-kept state parks for those who like to camp and fish.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!