Welcome to StuartCo’s “Playing Tourist” series, where we’ll be exploring different communities within the Twin Cities, and reporting back with recommendations for dining, shopping, and entertainment. Be sure to check out all of our stops here!
As the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, Minneapolis is rich in culture, dining, and entertainment. Within city limits are the award-winning Guthrie Theater and the historic First Avenue nightclub.
We love our Minneapolis properties, in two of the most sought after neighborhoods in the city!
Heritage Landing in the exciting, trendy North Loop neighborhood:
And 430 Oak Grove in the Loring Park neighborhood:
These two neighborhoods are incredibly vibrant with so much to do and see. Here are some great tips on exploring right outside our doors!
NORTH LOOP
If you’re a Heritage Landing resident, you may be aware of your North Loop expert on staff, receptionist and resident events planner Nicole. She recently shared some great insider tips on the hot spots in an already hot neighborhood!
Delicious breakfast
Spoon and Stable makes incredible pastries on Sunday mornings—you don’t even have to go to brunch, you can just walk in and buy a pastry, but ONLY on Sundays.
Moose and Sadie’s is a neighborhood favorite for all of their local and organic ingredients, but not as many people know how fantastic their pie and cinnamon rolls are.
The Bachelor Farmer has the best cup of black coffee around—they also buy special almond milk, so your iced drinks always look BEAUTIFUL. And as one of the most sought-after dining experiences in the city, you’ll want to make dinner reservations while you’re there—just make sure to plan ahead, as they book up fast!
Cuzzy’s serves breakfast during the week—everyone should know about this, but they don’t!
The best cocktail joints
Parlour Bar for an old fashioned and a burger
Marvel Bar for the Oliveto cocktail (a must try!)
Spoon and Stable for their twist on a dark and stormy cocktail. Rob is their cocktail coordinator and has amazing ideas!
Monte Carlo for the South Side cocktail—and to ogle the beautiful display behind the bar!
A variety of entertainment options
Cooks of Crocus Hill recently opened up in the North Loop—they offer date night specials and a variety of cooking classes.
Acme Comedy Co. is great for laughs—they have an open mic night where you can see local comedians FOR FREE! They also have a full-service bar/restaurant with a happy hour after the shows.
Bunker’s has music every night of the week, AND they make homemade lunches every weekday!
Clubhouse Jager is great if you’re looking to experience a talented DJ. On Wednesdays and the second Friday of each month, they also have inexpensive food options.
The Hewing Hotel is set to open later this year—it will provide an upscale establishment for visitors and residents alike, including a 21+ bar/restaurant on the rooftop.
If you’re looking to be a bit more active, the West River Parkway near Heritage Landing is amazing— follow it north for beautiful hidden paths and bridges.
Shop ‘til you drop
Russell & Hazel is a beautiful store that recently opened up in the North Loop. If you stop in, make sure to tell them Nicole sent you—the owners are residents of Heritage Landing!
James and Mary Laurie Booksellers is a delight to dig through—it’s an awesome little spot for an afternoon of book shopping.
LORING PARK
Just across the street from our historic 430 Oak Grove building is Loring Park, the largest park in central Minneapolis and home to various cultural and social events, including Twin Cities Pride every June, one of the largest festivals in the state!
The park is just the tip of the iceberg for activities in and around the neighborhood.
We talked with StuartCo employee Mike (The Alton’s Housing Director), who lives at 430 Oak Grove, to get his insider tips for a great Loring Park experience!
Art and culture galore
The Walker Art Center is just across the street from 430 Oak Grove—take in an exhibit indoors, or walk around the sculpture garden outdoors and see that iconic Minneapolis cherry spoon sculpture for yourself!
If you’re into architecture, St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Mary are awe-inspiring and not to be missed.
And if you’re in the mood for an evening of beautiful music, Orchestra Hall is nearby with a full calendar of music, including an upcoming Harry Potter series!
Not only is there art and music in the neighborhood, there’s also an abundance of theatre—check out the Orpheum Theatre and the State Theatre for some truly talented, original work.
If you’re looking for a unique gift with a little bit of local flavor and culture, Luna Lux is a letterpress studio using vintage letterpress equipment to create charming paper goods such as stationery, greeting cards, and invitations. And bonus—our Apartment Connoisseur Louie has given the store his stamp of approval!
Unique dining experiences on every corner
Eat Street on Nicollet Avenue is home more than 50 ethnically diverse and renowned restaurants—from Mexican (Pancho Villa) to German (Black Forest Inn) to Taiwanese (Evergreen) to Malaysian (Peninsula) to Vietnamese (Quang’s) to American (Eat Street Social). However, you must save room for a Glam Doll Donut, voted the best donut in the state!
If you’re looking for something a little closer to the park…
4 Bells is not to be missed. Start with either the Seelbach cocktail or the Moscow Mule (bonus: they make their own ginger beer!). The fried green tomatoes are delicious, and the fried chicken is some of the best in the city—it comes with a few different sauces to try. The brick chicken is another must-try—it’s based off an old style of cooking where bricks are placed on the chicken to sear them. They also have a delicious roasted beet salad and a great oyster selection, in addition to a fantastic rooftop.
And Bar Lurcat has a great patio and wine selection—the perfect place for a date!
While Dunn Bros Coffee isn’t unique to the neighborhood, the Loring Park location offers a large work room in the back, so you can stretch out while you work—fully caffeinated of course!
Plenty to do without ever leaving the park
While Loring Park may be just one facet of the neighborhood, it’s a big one.
The park offers and endless amount of options to fill your day, including athletic courts, a playground, biking and walking paths with benches to feed the ducks and squirrels, public art, a fishing pier, a dog park, and shuffle courts.
In the summer, you can catch music and a movie in the park on Monday nights—bring a blanket, a picnic basket and a bottle of wine for a perfect summer evening.
Are you a Minneapolis resident with a recommendation of your own? Let us know in the comments below!
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