Things To Do In Uptown Minneapolis

While I was researching our short trip to Minneapolis in order to attend a friend’s wedding, I kept coming across extremely helpful and extensive articles about all the wonderful adventures there are. After a while, I started to notice a common theme – visit Uptown Minneapolis.

Since that’s exactly where we were staying, it was nice to hear some encouragement for the city after hearing it called “Mini-hell” for so long.

Personally, I found Minneapolis to be quite the opposite.

To encourage you to also visit this safe and clean side of the city – I’ve put together a list of all the best things to do in Uptown Minneapolis.

How it started

First things first, I need to apologize for being so absent lately. It feels like forever since I posted a new blog post!

June has been BUSY.

During Memorial Day weekend, I decided to give my body a break and visit my hometown. Let me just give you a glimpse into my life after I returned from that sabbatical:

Saturday through Tuesday morning, I was visiting my hometown.

Tuesday night, I had therapy and a massage.

Wednesday and Thursday, I worked my full-time AND my part-time job.

Friday was full time and a baseball game with a friend.

Saturday, I worked part time all day.

Sunday was gym and packing.

Monday, I worked my full-time job and my part-time job.

Tuesday, I worked my full-time job during the day and then hoped in the truck to spend the night in Annapolis before jumping on a plane to Minneapolis on Wednesday morning.

Then in two weeks, I head back to my hometown to attend my stepsister’s wedding.

Oh – and in the middle of all of this, I found out my entire heat pump is going to need replaced.

I’m having a time y’all. So I hope you’ll forgive me for taking so long to get this post out to you!

Where to stay

The Moxy Uptown Minneapolis

There is really only one true hotel in Uptown Minneapolis and that is The Moxy.

The location of this hotel is excellent since it is right at the corner of Lake St and Emerson Ave and right smack dab in the middle of all the action. It also happened to be a block and a half from the wedding venue.

I should warn you that if you’re looking for a traditional hotel, The Moxy Uptown Minneapolis is not for you. You won’t have a continental breakfast, cushy chairs, or a business center to look forward too. In fact, the lobby of The Moxy consists of a bar and an entertainment area with several different options:

• Life size Jenga
• Life size Connect 4
• Foosball
• Miniature foosball
• Card games
• Board games
• Miniature air hockey

…just to name a few.

Like every place you stay, the rooms had their own pros and cons.

Pros:

• Large, comfortable bed
• Dark curtains to block all light, if needed
• A fold down desk
• A large walk-in shower
• Complimentary tea and coffee near the front desk
• Water bottle fill up stations on each floor
• Clothes steamer in each room
• Ironing board on each floor

Cons:

• No closet
• No mini fridge
• No complimentary breakfast

Overall, I would recommend The Moxy because it was a comfortable stay, the staff were extremely friendly, and the location was perfect.

Airbnb/VRBO

As always, Airbnb is always an option. Since we got an amazing discount due to the fact that my date’s father works for Marriott – we didn’t even bother looking at this option.

Something I’ve noticed gaining a lot of steam lately is VRBO, another option that maybe doesn’t have as good of a marketing team as Airbnb.

Uptown Minneapolis is filled with several high-rise apartment buildings and is surrounded by a lot of small and quiet neighborhoods, which is why there are so many Airbnb and VRBO options.

Between all of these options, finding a place to stay in Uptown Minneapolis is a piece of cake!

Where to Eat

Breakfast

• Lake & Bryant Cafe – Two blocks from The Moxy is Lake & Bryant Cafe. We loved it so much that we actually went twice! Walking in the front door, you are greeted with the delicious aroma of coffee specialty crafted by the in-house chef and coffee coinsurer. Once you are drooling over your delicious food, you can choose to sit in the abundant natural light of one of the large windows or in one of the lounge chairs that surround the center fireplace. But if you’re like me and will always vote to sit outside in the sunlight, there is also a small patio around back. Can you think of a better place to enjoy a peaceful morning?!
• The New Uptown Cafe – To find this cafe, you will have to take a very small detour off of the main street. Don’t let the location or muted appearance fool you, this place has earned the title of “Best Breakfast and Lunch Experience in the Twin Cities”. Not only did I have a hard time deciding what to order based on all the delicious menu items, I was not prepared for the plate they were going to put down in front of me. If I had known the portion size, my date and I could have easily split it and STILL had some to take back to the hotel for later (our hungover friend was extremely appreciative for our leftovers). The food was delicious by itself, but when we asked for hot sauce to compliment it with, we were presented with SEVEN separate options! So all I can say is be sure to bring your appetite when you plan to visit The New Uptown Cafe.
• Andy’s Diner – This is a Mexican American style diner closer to the lakes. This was our wedding day breakfast after grabbing coffee at Caribou Coffee¹. There are several breakfast and lunches options, all served in hefty portions. This is a very low key, easy place to hang out. You will not go hungry or unsatisfied after leaving Andy’s Diner.

¹Vacation rule number one is not to eat at chains but since Caribou Coffee is not a chain we actually have on the East Coast, I was willing to break that rule this time.

Lunch/Dinner

• Moto-i Ramen and Sake House – If you think it’s hard to find a good noodle place these days, look no further than Moto-i on Lyndale Ave. We ended up returning twice during our trip to enjoy some delicious ramen. Not only is all their food delicious and authentic, but they are also the only craft sake brewery in Minneapolis.
• Uptown Tavern and Rooftop – I am a sucker for a good rooftop bar and this tavern did not disappoint! With several local beer options and a generous bartender, we sat around making friends for several hours. Inside is a large game room with pool tables, Skee-Ball, and many other options. For a quick video tour – head over to my Instagram.
• Morrisseys Irish Pub – Right on Lake Street, in the heart of the city, you will find traditional Irish pub fare as well as some American options for those of us that are less adventurous. As with any Irish pub, it’s the atmosphere and the drinks that will keep you returning. But if you ask me what my favorite part was – it was definitely their logo.

It was June 2022 when we visited Minneapolis and it didn’t take long to find out that the restaurants and businesses were still recovering from not only COVID lockdowns, but also the riots that soon followed in May of 2020. I am a strong advocate for small business, and I am excited that I was able to not only support them during our short stay in Minneapolis, but to also help spread the word about their existence.

What to do

We went to Minneapolis for a wedding, so in between trying to site see, we were also attending to various wedding duties including suit fittings, rehearsal dinner, and wedding day set up. Unfortunately, this limited what we were able to do and see.

• Visit the Lakes – The two closest lakes to Uptown Minneapolis are Bde Make Ska and Lake of the Isles. In between the two lakes is Lake of the Isles dog park where you can take your furry friend out to play! If you’re into canoeing or kayaking, you can take your own vessel out or rent one while you’re there. Uptown Minneapolis is meant to be a walking and biking town so all the trails around the lake have separate walking and biking trails, which are both completely separate from the main road. If you make it to the west side of the lake, you can reward yourself by scrunching your toes in the sand at Thomas Beach. The lakes are so large that you could spend a day or two trying to get around both of them.

• The Cafe Meow – Minneapolis’s first CAT CAFE. Yup, you heard me – a cat cafe! A fifteen-minute walk from Uptown Minneapolis proper, the cat cafe is a place where you can go to hang out with about a dozen adoptable cats. It is $10 for 1 hour of kitty play time and this cost helps cover the care of the cats, including food, litter, and toys. While you’re there, be sure to get cat-finated with a “calico”, a “sassy cat”, or a cup of “kittea”. If you really bond with a furry friend and are interested in being their fur-ever home, be sure to check the bulletin board for their name and all their information. Be aware that some cats do come in pairs, just like any shelter. Before you visit The Cafe Meow, make sure you make reservations at thecafemeow.com.

• Wander – I hail from the East Coast – Maryland specifically. My idea of city life is Baltimore so being in Uptown Minneapolis was definitely a different world for me. When I was walking to The Cafe Meow, I stopped to ask the girls at the front desk of our hotel if I would be safe to do so by myself. The answer was a unanimous yes. I felt surprisingly at ease walking around the city and the surrounding areas. Obviously, I was a little more cautious at night (my ladies understand), but during the day I was comfortable to walk around and explore independently. I would encourage you to do the same. I hope you can find some other exciting places to visit that I didn’t! When you do, can you tell me about them in the comments?

A wedding invite took me to Minneapolis but after being there for a few days, I’m really glad I said yes. It wasn’t somewhere I’d ever thought to put on my list, but I never turn down an opportunity to see somewhere new.

The first time I sat in an Uber was on the ride to the airport, but there was never a moment I felt bored. Uptown Minneapolis was definitely a beautiful, vibrant, and busy area. If given the opportunity, I would definitely return to explore a lot more of the city.

What is your favorite spot in Minneapolis? Leave your idea in the comments for when I go back!