Never been to Mpls., going 4 wedding in June HELP

Hi! I have never been to Mpls. and we%26#39;ll be there this June for 6 nights- attending a wedding. I really need your help and would appreciate any and all advice!

Where is the best area to stay?

Hotel reccomendations?

We are renting a car- Are there places to avoid that aren%26#39;t car friendly? Any hotels that don%26#39;t charge for parking?

We are foodies and also love to drink- Where would you reccomend we go? I also love to shop...

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Never been to Mpls., going 4 wedding in June HELP

Where%26#39;s the wedding at? That might be a start.

Downtown has plenty to offer for hotels / food / thinks to do. You might not need a car for all of your stay. Most hotels in downtown proper will charge for car parking. Those out of downtown (494 strip / 394 strip / by the Mall of America - won%26#39;t charge, but you wouldn%26#39;t be in Minneapolis, but a neighbouring burb.

here%26#39;s a pretty good downtown map with hotels, and things to do

minneapolis.org/media/鈥mdowntown.pdf

Here%26#39;s a dining guide for the metro area.

Any specific cuisine?

If I knew your ages, that might help with a place to drink.

http://www.twincitiesdiningguide.com/

Never been to Mpls., going 4 wedding in June HELP

Hi Downtown. Thanks for your help.

We aren%26#39;t sure where the wedding is, yet. But we are willing to stay wherever it makes sense as tourists. It%26#39;s only one day out of our trip, so we%26#39;re not basing where we stay on it. I should%26#39;ve added that in my previous post.

It will be my boyfriend and myself and we%26#39;re 26 %26amp; 33. We enjoy trying different cuisines... any cool gastronomy places? Also, we%26#39;re into bars that are innovative by drink, decor, food and also divey, hole in the wall, family owned bars.

Thanks, again!

Here%26#39;s a few bars with unique flair -

Nyes Polonais

Psycho Suzis (pizza too)

Tony Jaros (get the Greenie)

Gasthaus

Mayslacks

Brits Pub

the Local

O%26#39;Donovans

Eat %26amp; Drink -

Hells Kitchen

Seven (and top floor outdoor patio)

Masa

Azia

Consider staying downtown -

there%26#39;s a new W, Westin, The Hotel Minneapolis, and if you get a good rate - Chambers or Graves 601.

Every spot in my list above is either walking distance or quick taxi ride.

I agree with DowntownMinneapolis on staying downtown. If you%26#39;re here to do some sightseeing (in addition to the wedding of course) then stay where there are sights to see.

I would say you should avoid the car rental on the days you plan to explore downtown. Car is not a good way to get around downtown because most places can be walked to or taxi%26#39;d to for under $10. It%26#39;s a pretty compact downtown area.

Save the car for the days you want to explore outside of downtown and/or drive to the wedding (if it%26#39;s not downtown).

Hotel suggestions depend on your budget. I%26#39;ve always loved the Marquette because it does things the old-fashioned way in terms of service and the rooms are very nice. Classy place.

But there are several more modern places like the Graves or Chambers or brand new like the W and the Minneapolis Hotel or the Ivy. Bottom line: a lot of excellent hotels in a pretty small area. Maybe start with your budget per night and we can go from there.

Also, most hotels downtown charge a parking fee per night (and some do it valet-style, which some like and some don%26#39;t. I don%26#39;t). I have a friend who insists there are hotels downtown that offer complimentary parking but it%26#39;s never been where I%26#39;ve stayed.

If you love to drink then go to Nye%26#39;s. This town loves to drink by the way, as shown in a few ';drinkingest cities'; rankings lately, so you%26#39;ll find no shortage of places to do it. I think Nye%26#39;s is a must. It%26#39;s just across the Mississippi from downtown. You%26#39;ll want to take a cab.

If you supply your age and bar preferences we can help you more.

I%26#39;d agree with the other suggestions on bars and hotel recommendations. However, since you consider yourselves foodies, here are my recommendations:

North Hennepin are by Nye%26#39;s:

Gardens of Salonica

Brasa Rotisserie

Cue at the Guthrie (although they%26#39;re currently changing owners to some local stars, should be amazing!)

Downtown area:

112 Eatery

2021 at the Walker (great Sunday brunch %26amp; enjoy the sculpture garden)

Cafe %26amp; Bar Lurcat

Barrio

Solera (rooftop patio)

Chambers Kitchen

The Dakota (great jazz %26amp; cocktails)

Palomino

Porter %26amp; Frye (I haven%26#39;t been but hear great things)

Saffron (same as above)

Vincent

La Belle Vie

Hell%26#39;s Kitchen - also a fave of mine

Uptown or Eat Street area:

Barbette

Chino Latino

Azia - I second this place

Downtown, mntoathens, and creason-THANK YOU! I really appreciate all of your suggestions and am definitely going to stay downtown and consider the days we%26#39;ll be renting a car. I look forward to visiting and exploring your city! I am up for more suggestions should you ever have them. Again, thank you! You%26#39;ve helped me(us) more than you know.

There are rental car locations downtown where you could easily rent a car for a day or two. The outlets are near the Hilton hotel.

If you want to check out concert / play -

we have several major theaters downtown

Check out this link, and check the schedule for anything that catches your eye playing at the State, Orpheum, or Pantages Theater.

http://www.hennepintheatredistrict.org/

Likewise, there may be something at the Guthrie. Even if you don%26#39;t see a performance, check out the building (it%26#39;s free), and the observation ledge overlooking the Mississippi River, lock %26amp; dam, and riverfront district

http://www.guthrietheater.org/

There%26#39;s free shuttles to Mystic Lake Casino (40 min southwest from downtown). They%26#39;ve also had big name performers %26amp; comedians. It%26#39;s on tribal land so there are different rules. You can smoke inside, and no alcohol is allowed.

http://www.mysticlake.com/

For the kid in you, maybe a day at ValleyFair -

very near the casino.

http://www.valleyfair.com/

Lastly, keep an eye on our local free paper for a pulse of what%26#39;s going on, where -

http://www.citypages.com/

If you can catch the Kurt Jorgensen band, you will really enjoy. Buy from Kurt some of his CD%26#39;s and he%26#39;ll autograph for you if you ask.

http://www.kurtjorgensen.com/

Divey, hole in the wall bars, eh. I happen to prode myself on finding those.

They%26#39;re all over north and south Minneapolis -- not really downtown. I%26#39;m more an expert on the south Mpls dives. None is divier than the Sunrise Inn at 46th Street and 34th Avenue (not far from the 46th Street light-rail station).

That might be a little TOO divey. A step up and a real fun time is the Schooner Tavern next to the Rainbow Foods grocery at Lake Street. If you%26#39;re lucky you%26#39;ll win a hunk of pork in the meat raffle! Pull tabs too.

But I think overall, the one place that is a must is in the downtown area -- technically across the river. Nye%26#39;s Polonaise. It%26#39;s a hoot. But make sure to go on a Friday or Saturday, otherwise it%26#39;s just not the same place. That%26#39;s when the polka band plays. And Lou on the piano.

For food, I agree with La Belle Vie (spendy) and 112 Eatery (very reasonable) for sure. I%26#39;d be sure not to miss 112. But call a week ahead to ensure reservations on a weekend. You might grab a cocktail at the Imperial Room a few block up 1st Avenue. Not a bad place and often has a nice happy hour. Sit in the lounge area or at the bar.

DT and MN really hit many good suggestions on restaurants and hotels. I would echo the general sentiment of staying downtown if your intent is to do city sightseeing. I would also agree that you may not need a car for your days in downtown Minneapolis, especially since I know of no hotel that does not charge for parking downtown.

A few additional suggestions I don%26#39;t think were mentioned: you may want to check out the ';Uptown'; area. Just south of downtown Minneapolis proper with some shopping to be had, plus good food options. Chino Latino is probably the biggest name in the area, but also places such as Zeno (for wine and desserts), Bar Abilene (southwestern tex-mex type food), Stella%26#39;s Fish Cafe, Sushi Tango, and the Independent are just a few. Additionally, you will be near Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet, two of Minneapolis famous in-city lakes with walking/biking trails (with businesses nearby for bike rental or even boat rental, I believe).

Shopping in downtown...there are a number of department stores in downtown Minneapolis, including Macy%26#39;s (which was formerly Marshall Field%26#39;s, and formerly and originally Dayton%26#39;s Department store). Important thing here is while most native Minnesotans will probably think Macy%26#39;s could never have the distinction of our original Dayton%26#39;s Department stores, this particular store is of the size and from the era of when you have very large downtown department stores. There is also a Neiman Marcus and a Saks ';off 5th'; store to check out, plus other smaller stores.

Finally, regarding additional shopping. If you stay downtown, you%26#39;ll be within walking distance of the Light Rail Train for service to/from Mall of America. About a half-hour ride from downtown, and lets you not need a car if you don%26#39;t want one. You could buzz out to the MOA for some additional shopping (and dining, for that matter). The train is pretty convenient, running about every 10 minutes during the day and evening.

Just a few more ideas...