South Minneapolis lake district around Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. Hennepin and Lake hosts patios; Lyn-Lake runs the dive bars, taquerias and pizza counters.
Hoban Korean BBQ in Uptown has grilled tabletop bulgogi and galbi in Minneapolis since 2016. Korean barbecue, stone-pot bibimbap and rich stews.
Signature: Bulgogi, Bibimbap
Order: Bulgogi grilled at the table with banchan, plus a sizzling stone-pot bibimbap.
Tip: Tables have built-in grills, so come with a group to share several cuts. Closed Mondays.
Mateo Mackbee and Erin Lucas's Tenant on Bryant Avenue runs a 14-seat Minneapolis tasting room since 2024. Beard-finalist chef pair; six-week menu rotations.
Signature: Five-course tasting, Seasonal kaiseki
Order: The full prix fixe; menu changes every six weeks. Beverage pairing recommended.
Tip: Tickets release on the website the first of every month; book the same day. No walk-ins.
Ann Ahmed's Khaluna on Lyndale runs a refined Southeast Asian dining room in Minneapolis since 2021. James Beard nominee; sister to Lat14 in Golden Valley.
Signature: Khao soi, Whole branzino
Order: Khao soi northern Thai curry noodles and the whole salt-roasted branzino.
Tip: Book the chef's counter; the cocktail program leans tropical. Closed Mondays.
Mackbee and Lucas's Tenant on Bryant Avenue runs a 14-seat tasting room in Minneapolis since 2024. James Beard finalist 2024; six-week menu rotations.
Sameh Wadi's World Street Kitchen on Lyndale runs global street food in Minneapolis since 2013. At 2743 Lyndale Ave S. Reservations advised.
Signature: Yum yum rice bowl, Bangkok burrito
Order: Yum yum rice bowl with chicken and the Bangkok burrito.
Tip: Take a seat at the counter or get it to go. Bar Wadi cocktail room sits next door.
Sarah Botcher's Black Walnut Bakery on Hennepin Avenue has baked Tartine-trained French viennoiserie in Uptown Minneapolis since 2019. At 3157 Hennepin Ave.
Worth the queue: Croissant
Isles Bun and Coffee on 28th Street West has run Uptown Minneapolis's classic cinnamon-roll counter since 1994. Open daily 07:00-17:00. At 1424 W 28th St.
Worth the queue: Puppy dog tail cinnamon roll
Sameh Wadi's Milkjam on Lyndale has run Asian-inspired ice cream in Minneapolis since 2015. Located in Uptown. Open daily 13:00-22:00. At 2743 Lyndale Ave S.
Worth the queue: Black ice cream
Troubadour Wine Bar on Hennepin Avenue has poured 40 by-the-glass selections in Uptown Minneapolis since 2018. At 2827 Hennepin Ave. Booking recommended.
Signature pour: Wine flight
Wine focus: 40+ by-the-glass, West Coast style
Food: Panini, charcuterie
The Saloon on Hennepin Avenue has run a Twin Cities LGBTQ+ bar in downtown Minneapolis since 1977. Located in Uptown. At 830 Hennepin Avenue.
Signature drink: Vodka soda
Food: Pub menu
Sameh Wadi's World Street Kitchen on Lyndale runs global street food in Minneapolis since 2013. Yum yum rice bowls and Bangkok burritos at counter speed.
Try: Yum yum rice bowls
The Sunday Mpls Farmers Market in Uptown has run weekly stalls in Minneapolis since 2003. South Minneapolis's neighbourhood produce circuit.
Uptown Art Fair on Hennepin and Lake has packed art booths and food trucks into Minneapolis since 1963. Three-day August weekend; the city's largest free.
Tip: Get there before 11:00 to find shade. Food row sits along Lake Street west of Hennepin.
Open Streets Minneapolis closes a city avenue to cars on summer Sundays since 2011. Each Sunday a different street, with food trucks, bike rides and pop-up.
Tip: Lyndale, Lake Street and Franklin avenue editions are the food-truck-densest. Calendar at the Our Streets Minneapolis website.
Sameh Wadi's World Street Kitchen on Lyndale has run global street food in Minneapolis since 2013. Located in Uptown. At 2743 Lyndale Ave S.
Try: Yum yum rice bowl
Lake and Irving in Minneapolis serves Uptown's reliable Hawaiian-American brunch on West Lake Street, with loco moco, spam musubi and weekend cocktails.
Order: Hawaiian loco moco with kalua pork and a sunny egg.
Tip: Patio seats face Lake Street; the kitchen runs a Hawaiian-Regional Cuisine angle on Sunday brunch with spam musubi and saimin.
Moto-i in Minneapolis runs the country's first sake brewpub at Lyn-Lake, with weekend izakaya brunch, ramen and the rooftop garden in summer.
Order: The Tokyo straight ramen plus the breakfast buns with cured pork belly.
Tip: Open until midnight every night, so brunch rolls into late-afternoon ramen. The rooftop garden seats 24 in summer; first come first served.
CC Club in Minneapolis is the Uptown dive that fed The Replacements and Husker Du, with Heggies burgers and cheese curds served until 2am every night.
Try: Heggies burger, hot dogs, pickle fries and cheese curds
Tip: The Replacements and Husker Du local. Kitchen runs late but pickle-fries-and-curds order is the safe 1am pick; jukebox is the room.
Volstead's Emporium opened December 2015 in a basement behind a Lake Street alley door with a red light above. Live jazz, burlesque and comedy run most.
Tip: Look for the alley entrance behind the building; the door with the red light. Reservations via Tock Wednesday to Sunday; walk-ins always welcome.
The Saloon on Hennepin Avenue opened 1977 and is the oldest gay-owned and operated dance club still standing in Minneapolis, with weekend drag.
Tip: 18+ after 21:00 Sunday to Thursday, 21+ on Friday and Saturday. Saturday Pride Block Party runs through summer.
Mortimer's at the corner of Lyndale and Franklin in Lyn-Lake has been a no-nonsense Uptown dive since 1976, with strong cheap drinks, a back patio.
Tip: Kitchen runs late and the burger menu is the order. Walk in, cash and card both work, expect a wait on weekends.
The CC Club on Lyndale traces its roots to Prohibition and remains the dark, working dive at Lyn-Lake. Cheap drinks, kitchen open through the night.
Tip: Open daily until 02:00. Kitchen runs late, jukebox loud. Cash friendly but card accepted; weekend crowds pack the booths by 22:00.