Our Go-To Places to Eat, Drink & Shop in Minneapolis + St. Paul
A living list of our favorite places to eat, drink, and shop in Minneapolis and St. Paul. These are the restaurants, coffee shops, and local spots we return to again and again around the Twin Cities.
We’re Minneapolis realtors and spend a lot of time exploring neighborhoods around the city, so clients often ask where we like to go. This isn’t a “best of” list or a roundup of what’s trendy this month. This is a living guide of our go‑to spots in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. These are the places we return to, recommend without hesitation, and love for the food and the vibe. Because in our opinion, you need both to make the list.
Eat
i.e, Italian Eatery by Travail: One of our go-to spots. Great for groups, grabbing a bar seat, or relaxing on the patio.
Diane’s Place: The vibe, the food, the whole experience, it’s perfect.
Company Bar: We’ve always loved this laid-back spot, with great drinks and food. If you go, try the pepper ap, it’s a must.
All Saints: We have never had a bad experience here, a great place for a group, because then you get to try everything.
Emerald Lounge: It’s not a large menu but I’m confident you’ll like it.
Gus Gus: We really do like the food, but if we’re honest, we’re here for the small neighborhood vibe and the Jell-O shots.
Estelle: A cozy neighborhood spot with great drinks and food. The Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish influences make it a fun mix.
The Bungalow Club: The menu always changes so we can’t tell you want to order but it’s always off the charts, it’s one of our favorites for a reason.
Bar La Grassa: Tried, true, and always a good idea.
Pizzeria Lola: Pull up a spot at the bar next to the fire and order the Xerxes with pepperoni and the vegetable special of the moment.
Rosalia: A great patio spot, and the pizza and appetizers are just as good.
LowBrow: Get the Americana Burger, we never order anything else.
Lake and Irving: 3 of us get the chicken sandwich, Matt gets the burger.
George and the Dragon: The Asian Hangover and the cookies for dessert.
Heather’s: We’ve never been disappointed here. If you go, get the Quinoa Breakfast Bowl.
Bulls Horn: The vibe is small town dive bar with pull tabs and good food.
Copper Hen: We’ve always been happy here, it’s cozy and perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Grand Szechuan: This one requires leaving the city and venturing to a Bloomington strip mall. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Ciao Bella: We love the food, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the patio.
North Star Deli: Because a really good sandwich always hits the spot.
Marty’s Deli: A cute sandwich shop serving breakfast and lunch.
Sabores de México: A Mexican grocery with a deli and some of the best burritos around.
Hazels: You have to get the Meat waffle.
Graze Food Hall: No better spot to grab a bite in the sunshine before a Twins game.
Drink
Nye’s: Drinks and music. Is there a better combination? We also love the nod to the old Nye’s .. yes we’re old enough to remember.
Hewing Hotel, Rooftop Bar: Hands down the best view of the Minneapolis skyline.
Stargazer: This is a new favorite. The atmosphere is dark and intimate and the cocktails feel elevated in a sophisticated way.
Emerald Lounge: Made both the eat and drink lists for a reason. Highly recommend the Anne with an E.
Nightingale: This is the kind of place you can go, skip food, and not feel weird about it. The vibe is easy, welcoming, and unpretentious. Matt and I love that we don’t feel old or young here. It’s just comfortable.
Tailgate: A great spot to watch the game and have a few drinks. Nothing fancy and that’s the point.
Nina’s Coffee: Go for the architecture stay for a latte.
Shop
Madge Home + Market: This place is adorable. A new go-to for gifts and fun home accessories.
Hermine: Curated vintage with a high-end boutique feel. Think ’90s Ralph Lauren.
Golden Fig: A little bit of everything for the home including spices.
Carousel + Folk: The best curated vintage in the city for all things home.
Hunt & Gather: This place is an experience. Filled to the brim, and there’s always a treasure to be found.
Jaxon Grey: It’s not easy to find a solid men’s clothing store in Minneapolis. No surprise they’ve expanded.
Equation: My go-to for jeans and dresses. They always have a great selection of both. I usually go to the Edina location, but there’s one in Wayzata too.
Flirt: Knowledgeable staff and over-the-top customer service make shopping for the prettiest intimates a great experience here.
Combine: Great selection of name brand jeans and the coziest sweaters. This shop is perfect for both men and women.
This guide is personal by design. If you’re new to Minneapolis, we hope it helps you get your bearings. If you’ve lived here forever, we hope you find one or two new places to try.
As always, if you go, let us know what you think!
Kathy and Matt