Last week our Editorial Director, Bianca boarded a plane bound for Minneapolis. Why Minneapolis, Minnesota? Well, the Twin Cities has been on our must-visit list for quite some time now. Filled to the brim with creatives, neighborhoods like Northloop and Eastloop, France and 50th and Uptown are home to tons of new breweries, cute boutiques and great cuisine. Bianca packed as much into her schedule as she could and here’s what she got into while there!

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First things first, where to stay! The Luxury Collection put us in the newly reopened Hotel Ivy. Hotel Ivy is centrally located right in the heart of downtown and after undergoing a major renovation, is now the spot to stay. The design is glamorous yet not over the top. With small details like Molton Brown bath products to smart T.V.’s in every room, you definitely get a taste of luxury without the hefty price tag. Hotel Ivy is also home to the newly opened restaurant, Monello. It is hands down the best hotel restaurant I’ve ever tried. #truth

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The restaurant is on the ground floor of the old Ivy Tower and with it’s gorgeously tiled floors, blue velvet banquet, french style farm tables and leather embossed chairs that’ll make you do double take, the joint is charming and buzzing with locals. The esoteric wine list is curated with interesting boutique wines you’ll sure get a kick out of trying. And the food…did I mention, it’s the best? This foodie lover’s spot is so good it could easily go to bat in a city like San Francisco or New York. Beneath Monello, you’ll find the witty and moody bar Constantine – perfect for that nightcap.

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Since The Luxury Collection is all about showcasing the local flavor of their hotel locations, we diverted off the tourist beaten path to really get to know the Minneapolis area. It started with a boat on Lake Minnetonka {that name is so fun to say and did you know Minneapolis is the city of lakes?}. We enjoyed a gorgeous day out on the water, oogling the mansions surrounding the area, spying a bald eagle soaring above and feeling like we were in the Hamptons. Once back on dry land, we played lawn ball at one of the city’s many rooftop bars {I wish we had more rooftop bars in SF!} and took the bikes out to ride through the cycling-centric city. To top off our long day in the sun, we had plenty of snacks {and cocktails!} along the way! Our most memorable meal was at the cool neighborhood spot Corner Table. Go just for the corn and cheddar biscuits and ship some to me, will ya?

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Of course, having been a longtime fan-girl of this city, I had a long list of places I also wanted to explore on my own. I hit all of the cool stops! In the Northloop one must visit The Foundry and Willson and Willys. In Uptown, the Walker Art Center is an amazing museum, Heyday and Urban Bean Coffee are great. Over in Edina, visit Parc for shopping and walk to Lake Harriet with ice cream in hand. There are so many great recs that I got from everyone around. Here’s the full list of places to check out!

SHOPPING: Foundry, Wilson and Willy’s, ShinolaParc, Idun, Mille

DRINK: Marvel, Constantine, Parlour, tons of breweries!

FOOD: Corner Table, Heyday, Tilia, Lela, The Bachelor Farmer, Spoon and Stable, Monello, Glam Doll Donuts

TO DO: Visit any of the lakes to paddle board or picnic, peep pretty houses in the Lake of the Isles neighborhood, Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden, go to a concert {there’s a big music scene here with the second-most stages in the U.S. to New York!}, Minnesota River Rock massage at Hotel Ivy Spa

Overall, Minneapolis makes for a great quick getaway. I hear fall is the perfect time to go. And truthfully, you probably could feel satisfied with three full days of exploring. With so many creatives and amazing chefs, it seems that the city is just going to continue to grow – new restaurants and creative concept experiences seem to be popping up all the time. Have you been? What are some of your favorite spots??

And we’re curious. What’s your favorite Amercian city? Where should we head next?? For more wanderlust-worth travel tips CLICK HERE!

photography by bianca sotelo

This post is in partnership with The Luxury Collection. All thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting posts that keep apartment 34’s doors open!

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3 Comments

  1. I lived in Mpls for about 5 years and I flippin’ LOVE that city so much! It’s often called the “San Fran of the Midwest” and I think it’s very true. I lived in Uptown and adored every eclectic moment of it. When in Uptown, one absolutely must go to the awesome restaurant Chino Latino..so sad you missed it! The lakes in the city are so fun…Lake of The Isles, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet. It’s just an all around fab city – full of musicians, artists, creative folks, design, old buildings, history….just all of it. I miss it a lot. And yup, go in FALL!

  2. Late to this article, BUT I love my city! Minneapolis is still a hidden gem, a big city and small town all wrapped into one. The cold is a turn-off for some, but each of our seasons is beautiful in its own way and a draw for different reasons. So happy you enjoyed your stay!

    Alisa
    The Witty and Pretty