- If you visit
Minneapolis , you have to try the local eateries,food trucks, and distilleries. - Head to the Midtown Global Market for a diverse array of food.
- Get a signature Minneapolis burger at Matt's Bar, but make sure to bring cash.
If you're visiting Minneapolis, make sure to come with an appetite.
Whether you're looking to try street food, fresh pasta from award-winning chefs, or grab a drink at a craft distillery, you're guaranteed to find a delicious take on a classic or a tasty dish you can't resist. Make sure you bring cash, as a ton of eateries don't take credit cards.
Keep reading for the best dining recommendations.
Spoon and Stable is where locals go to splurge on special occasions
Helmed by James Beard Foundation award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen, this North Loop restaurant pairs French techniques with Midwestern ingredients.
Although the menu changes seasonally, you can expect exquisitely prepared starters, fresh pasta plates, and meat and seafood entrées.
And be sure to save room for dessert - the elegantly plated creations taste as beautiful as they look.
There's also a delightful brunch menu available on Sundays.
Tip: If you can't snag a dining-room reservation, take a seat in the first-come, first-served lounge and enjoy cocktails, appetizers, or full meals from the dinner menu.
Messob Ethiopian Restaurant is perfect for family-style dining
Minneapolis has an impressive array of East African restaurants, and this spot is one of the best.
Richly flavored beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetable stews are served on large pieces of injera, a spongy fermented flatbread you can use on the side as a makeshift utensil.
Tip: Opt for one of the veggie or meat combination platters so you can try a little bit of everything.
Young Joni serves globally inspired wood-fired pizzas
The northeast restaurant by the James Beard-award-winning chef Ann Kim has a menu of unique pies topped with ingredients like chorizo, Korean beef short ribs, and Calabrian chili peppers.
Vegetable and meat dishes have a similar international bend, such as a whole fish served with the Thai condiment nam jim.
For dessert, order the church-basement cookie and bar plate for a sampling of Midwestern specialties.
Plan ahead and get a reservation, especially on the weekends.
Tip: Enjoy craft cocktails at the cozy no-reservations-required back bar, which also serves pizza. You can find the entrance in the alley adjacent to the restaurant - just look for the red light.
Matt's Bar is the spot to get Minneapolis' signature burger
This neighborhood eatery claims to be the home of the original Juicy Lucy, a burger filled with molten cheese.
The straightforward menu also includes classic hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fries.
Tip: The restaurant doesn't accept credit cards, but there's an on-site ATM.
Owamni by the Sioux Chef celebrates Native American cuisine
The menu at this restaurant by chef Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson is composed entirely of foods from North America, so you won't find ingredients like wheat flour, cane sugar, or dairy.
Instead, you'll experience modern cuisine highlighting foods like game, fish, Native American heirloom produce, and hand-harvested wild rice.
Tip: The food menu is entirely gluten-free, and there are many vegetarian and vegan options.
Tattersall Distilling is a great place to get drinks
This northeast craft distillery serves unique cocktails in an industrial-chic setting.
The drink menu changes frequently, but expect 20 or more options that highlight a variety of spirits and flavor profiles.
There are often nearby food trucks, but you can also order delivery from a local restaurant.
Tip: Try an aquavit-based cocktail - the Scandinavian spirit flavored with botanicals is a local favorite.
The Fulton Brewing Taproom offers a taste of the local craft-beer scene
Minneapolis is home to over 30 breweries, and this North Loop taproom is a longtime standby.
The tap list has something for everyone, from the easy-drinking Lonely Blonde to the hop-forward Sweet Child of Vine and the richly flavored brown ale aged in Jameson barrels.
There's a spacious indoor seating area as well as a patio, and the kitchen serves up crowd-pleasing sandwiches and tacos.
Tip: Fulton also produces tasty hard seltzers - I recommend the strawberry-rhubarb one - and nonalcoholic sparkling water flavored with hops.
Hai Hai serves Southeast Asian street food on a stellar patio
The menu at this trendy spot in Northeast Minneapolis is inspired by chef Christina Nguyen's Vietnamese heritage and travels in Southeast Asia. It offers items like Thai grilled chicken, Vietnamese crepes, and salt-and-pepper fried tofu with lime-leaf sauce.
Try a drink from the tropical-themed cocktail list, like a rum-spiked slushie or the Tour Bus Tales, which pairs gin with ginger, lemongrass, and Thai basil.
In addition to the exposed seating area, there's a covered heated patio that's ideal on cooler spring and fall days.
Tip: Bring a credit or debit card - the restaurant doesn't accept cash payments.
Sebastian Joe's scoops up the best ice cream in town
The local ice-cream shop has crafted mouthwatering flavors for over 30 years using fresh fruit, high-quality chocolate, and other premium ingredients.
Flavors are made daily in small batches, and the lineup is ever-changing, though the seven most popular options are always available.
Tip: Try Pavarotti - a caramel, banana, and vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips - or the local favorite Nicollet Avenue Pothole - a chocolate-and-caramel scoop with Heath-bar chunks, fudge truffles, and a fudge sea-salt swirl.
Midtown Global Market highlights Minneapolis' cultural diversity
The globally themed food hall features over a dozen eateries serving tacos, camel burgers, arepas, sushi, barbecue, Indian street food, Moroccan fare, and more.
In addition to counter-service food stalls, the market also houses Eastlake Craft Brewery and Salsa a la Salsa, a full-service Mexican restaurant.
Tip: An hour of free parking is available in the nearby ramp on 10th Avenue and Lake Street - just show your ticket to any vendor, and they'll give you a voucher.