Flying under the radar of most travelers in the USA, Minneapolis remains an underrated destination. Sitting pretty amid dozens of Minnesota’s famed lakes, the city’s distinctive neighborhoods transform from one world into another depending on which area you step into. Luckily, it’s easy to hop around these neighborhoods, making it worth your while to explore several activities across the Minneapolis map.
Northeast
Best neighborhood for arts and breweries
Chock-full of riverside patios and cobblestone streets, Northeast is conducive to leisure wandering. Home to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, you’ll find studios, galleries, and festivals throughout this much-loved neighborhood. Stop into the Northrup King Building, a 101-year-old former warehouse-turned-studio where more than 300 artists showcase their works. On the banks of the Mississippi River, Boom Island Park offers a breezy patch of greenery with picturesque views of the city’s skyline.
In Northeast, worn-in dive bars rub shoulders with up-and-coming craft breweries. Neon signs illuminate the windows of red-brick buildings, beacons that signal longstanding neighborhood favorites. Grab some pull-tabs and a cheap beer at The Moose or sip on a flight of craft creations at Dangerous Man Brewing Company. Despite having its own hopping social scene, Northeast also has plenty of quiet corners for families to enjoy too.
Linden Hills
Best neighborhood for families
Linden Hills is the best of both worlds. Emulating the Minneapolis spirit with just a dash of suburban charm, this neighborhood is an ideal hangout for families. Moreover, it’s minutes away from the two most popular lakes in town, Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska, part of the area’s allure. Lake Harriet Bandshell Park features a whimsical-looking music arena that resembles a castle, providing a full roster of activities including free live performances throughout summer and fall, sunrise yoga, and popup festivals. Between bookstores and bespoke apparel, Linden Hills showcases an unpretentious yet upscale selection of shops. Highly lauded restaurants, such as Argentinean-inspired Martina, sit adjacent to beloved favorites like Sebastian Joe’s ice cream parlor.
North Loop
Best neighborhood to experience hip Minneapolis
North Loop has blossomed into Minneapolis’ social scene, drawing crowds for its warehouse-chic aesthetic and innovative restaurant scene. Known as the Warehouse District, North Loop is full of refurbished buildings from the late 1800s as well as modern developments. For can’t-miss views of the city, a visit to the sumptuous Hewing Hotel is essential. North Loop has some of Minneapolis’ most highly acclaimed restaurants, including James Beard Award-winning Spoon and Stable. Consequently, there’s an abundance of brilliantly designed culinary masterpieces in this neighborhood, the type of art on a plate that is sure to elicit a gasp.
Due to its proximity to Target Field, the Minnesota Twins stadium, the area fills with locals and visitors on game days. In the summer, you’ll find plenty of folks hopping from low-key craft beer joints to glitzy rooftop bars pouring artisanal cocktails.
Whittier
Best neighborhood for restaurants
Whittier is hands down the foodie neighborhood of Minneapolis. On a stretch of Nicollet Avenue, nicknamed Eat Street, lies a diverse array of cuisines, including Vietnamese, Jamaican, Greek, German, and Mexican delights. Dig into fragrant jerk chicken at Pimento Jamaican Kitchen and Rum Bar or try booze-infused cupcakes at The Copper Hen. Apart from an extensive selection of incredible restaurants, Whittier is also the location of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), boasting over 90,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years of history, almost resembling a miniature stateside version of the Louvre.
Loring Park
Best neighborhood for classic Minneapolis sights
Loring Park is a tourist-frequented area just west of downtown. Appearing on postcards, this neighborhood is home to the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry, a famous sculpture commonly associated with the city. Loring Park, a central green space with a lilypad-filled pond and winding paths, is the neighborhood’s namesake. Numerous cafes and small businesses line its perimeter, providing airy spaces to take a break from the near-city environment.
The Loring Park neighborhood is worth a visit for its famous sights alone. Swing by the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which features an array of abstract outdoor art. Right across the street, visit the Walker Art Center to view world-class contemporary art exhibitions.
Minnehaha
Best neighborhood for urban nature
Minnehaha is the quickest way to escape the urban environment without actually leaving the city. Most famous for Minnehaha Regional Park, this neighborhood encompasses 193 acres of riverfront wilderness. Even better, it only takes 20 minutes to reach the area from downtown via Light Rail. Visitors gather at Minnehaha Falls, a 53ft waterfall that tumbles into a gorge. It’s a joy to behold in any season, but particularly magical when frozen and dusted with snow. In the summer, the enticing aroma of fish tacos wafts through the park, courtesy of the onsite seafood joint Sea Salt Eatery.
Beyond the park, a museum-like collection of antique and resale shops dominates the scene on Minnehaha Avenue, often referred to as the Minnehaha Mile. Save some room in your luggage for a retro trinket.
University Area (East and West Bank)
Best neighborhood for student life and international culture
Buzzy campus excitement and the hum of the city coexist in idiosyncratic harmony around the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Separated by the Mississippi River, the area is divided into East and West Bank, creating a fusion of worlds between students, academic professionals, and East African communities residing in the neighboring Cedar-Riverside area.
East Bank is just a five-minute ride on the Light Rail from downtown, making it easy to catch a Big Ten football game or relax on the lawn of Northrop Mall, the heart of campus. With more than 50,000 students, this neighborhood is brimming with lively energy, especially in Dinkytown, a particularly vibrant nightlife hub. Don’t be surprised if a trail of boozy students passes by at a questionably early hour.
On West Bank, arts and culture thrive. The local music scene flourishes at venues such as The Cabooze and Cedar Cultural Center, which host performances from all genres. Enjoy bar food or delve into some of the city’s best Ethiopian and Somali cuisine.
Uptown
Best neighborhood for nightlife
It’s hard to pinpoint just one area as the best for nightlife in Minneapolis, but Uptown certainly holds a reputation for vibrant socializing that often extends until sunrise. The area is packed with recent college graduates, creative individuals, and young professionals. Head to Stella’s Fish Cafe for a plate of sushi, and stay for the lively atmosphere on weekend nights. While some residents lament the area’s changes and developments in recent years, Uptown remains an integral part of Minneapolis’ social fabric. Notably, Prince wrote a song about it, making it a fair guess that the neighborhood deserves much of its hype.
