Tyler and I flew to Minneapolis last weekend to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary.
We wanted to do a little getaway because it had been a while (almost two years!) since we’d been away from the girls for more than a night. And then we got it in our heads that we wanted to go to a concert because that’s one of our favorite date night activities. Turns out, Ed Sheeran was playing in Minneapolis over our anniversary weekend, so we decided to go for it!
Minneapolis is such a cute city, full of history, amazing restaurants, and unique shops. We had so much fun exploring, and even though we only had two full days, we covered a lot of ground.
Today, I’m sharing a little “highlight reel,” if you will, of our favorite things we did while we were there.
And thank you to everyone who sent recommendations!! I LOVE a crowd-sourced itinerary.
A Weekend Guide to Minneapolis
Where to stay in Minneapolis: Loews Minneapolis
We stayed at the Loews Minneapolis which was so juicy.
The Loews Minneapolis is located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis and is right in the center of the action. It’s a 20 minute walk to U.S. Bank Stadium, a 5 minute walk to Target Field, and across the street from the Target Center where the TImberwolves play (there is even direct skyway access from the hotel!).
There are a ton of fun restaurants and lively bars nearby, a few even right on the same block as the hotel. The hotel is also just a 10 minute walk away from the trendy North Loop neighborhood which was one of our favorite places to explore.
The property itself was super modern and had all of these gorgeous striking details in the lobby and throughout each floor.
Our room was spacious and clean but not in the soulless, antiseptic way that you sometimes get with bigger hotels. The bathroom was HUGE and had this ginormous spa tub and rain shower that was such a treat after walking around the city on a hot day. I felt like a princess getting ready for the concert in this bathroom.
And the VIEW! The city views from our room were insane–I’ll never forget watching the sun go down over the Minneapolis skyline, the sky a masterpiece of golden and periwinkle blue.
We very much got the sense that the Loews is the place to be. When we arrived at midnight our first night, the Cosmos bar on the 4th floor was LIT. And then we were talking to the owner of this cute clothing boutique on Friday, and she said that the Loews is where her husband takes her on their anniversary every year AND her best friend got married there.
The Loews is the perfect place to stay if you’re in Minneapolis for a concert, sporting event, or a weekend exploring the city. We had such a fun, romantic weekend here and definitely recommend staying here.
Check out my reel on IG to see the property in action.
Where to eat in Minneapolis
Most of this list is in the North Loop neighborhood, but there are a couple of spots across the river and close to the stadium too.
Backstory Coffee Roasters: We went to Backstory on two separate occasions. This coffee shop is housed in the first floor of a brand new condo complex. The builders kept many of the industrial elements of the original building, and the vibes are SO cool. I have been trying to recreate the maple cream cold brew ever since we got back.
Crisp & Green: This place isn’t necessarily anything to write home about, but they did make a great green smoothie which makes it a must-stop in my book.
Cooks | Bellecour: This is the type of bakery dreams are made of. The staff is so friendly, and they offer an enormous selection of kitchen supplies and gifts. Order the carrot muffin and thank me later.
Spoon and Stable: A few different people told us to get a reservation here, and we’re so glad we listened. We predictably panicked and ordered half the menu, and everything was delicious.
Boludo: This place is incredible. They make Argentinian-inspired pizzas and empanadas. We went here before the concert for an early dinner. We ended up waiting in line for a half hour, but it was SO worth it. I will forever dream of the chimichurri sauce–it comes with the empanadas but we ordered an extra side for our pizza and have zero regrets.
Aster Cafe: This is such a cute spot right on the river. The patio reminded me of a Parisian cafe. We ordered chilled wine and the hummus plate–so good.
Where to shop in Minneapolis
Jaxen Grey: This is a great men’s clothing boutique. Tyler is the most unsatisfying person in the world to shop with (the type who is never “in the mood” to try anything on), but even he thought this store was pretty cool.
Pacifier: My jaw hit the floor when I walked into this baby store. They have EVERYTHING: strollers, furniture, toys, clothes, a book section. It’s too much to handle.
Parc Shop: I loved this boutique so much. For once, I had the clarity of mind to purchase a souvenir for our home and bought a set of checkerboard coasters that I am obsessed with.
Arlo Boutique: This is such a cute women’s clothing boutique. I got myself a little crochet tank top because the owner was wearing it and looking amazing.
Milkweed Books: We always try to hit a bookstore (or two) when we travel. In this case, it was a double win because Milkweed shares a space with FRGMNT Coffee which means we got coffee and books.
Self-guided walking tour of Minneapolis
There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that gets me more excited than the words “self-guided walking tour.” I love the chance to experience a city by foot. It’s one of the first things Tyler and I like to do when we are in a new place.
We decided to take the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail which is a loop that goes along the river, over the famous Stone Arch Bridge, and back around the Hennepin Avenue Bridge. We started on the west side of the river, walked across the Stone Arch Bridge, hit Aster Cafe and Arlo Boutique for some pit stops, and then made our way back to the city center via the Hennepin Avenue Bridge.
