What to do in Minneapolis (while working remotely)

I haven’t had many opportunities to really get a sense of what’s happening in the middle of America, but I was genuinely surprised by how cool Minneapolis turned out to be. There’s so much to do there! While working remotely for four days as my mom attended a conference, I carried my laptop around and went from museum to café to restaurant, exploring and answering emails along the way. I included places I visited and those I planned to visit but didn’t have time for.

If you’ve got a heavy 9:00-to-5:00 workday, head out to a café, explore something during your lunch break, then keep working and take advantage of the city’s activities in the evening. Minneapolis felt very cool and surprisingly walkable.

I’ve included everything I did (and wish I had time for) during my 4 days in Minneapolis.

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How to get around and where to Stay in Minneapolis

Ubers typically cost around $8 or $9 to get between locations when I didn’t feel like walking more than 30 minutes. There were also Lyft bikes and scooters available, which many people were using. I stayed in the downtown area because it was convenient and one of the hotels offered a conference rate for my mom (DoubleTree Suites Downtown). Plus, staying here made it easy to explore what to do in Minneapolis, from popular restaurants to nearby museums and attractions

What to do in Minneapolis

Museums

If you’re a fan of art and history, you’ll love exploring what to do in Minneapolis, from the renowned Minneapolis Institute of Art to the icon sculpture garden.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

• Free
• Outdoors, not great for remote working

You can spend about two hours exploring the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. I especially loved the Sculpture Garden for its iconic Spoon and Cherry sculpture and the rooster sculpture, which we also have in DC and is one of my favorites.

Walker Art Museum

• $18
• Free on Thursdays 5pm-9pm and the first Saturday of every month.
• Not that great for remote working, but there is a cafe.

The  Walker Art Museum features contemporary art right next to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The exhibits rotate, so check if it’s worth the admission for you. I enjoyed it!

The museum is not that great for working at, so plan to go during the weekend or during a lunch break.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Free

Great for remote working by the cafe or in the art exhibits around the corner from the cafe.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art has an excellent collection of art spanning thousands of years. I spent about 2 hours exploring the exhibits.  

Weisman Art Museum

• Free
• Good for remote working

Visit for the building almost more than for the exhibits inside the Weisman Art Museum, located on the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities campus.

The exhibits rotate so check what’s on when you visit.

There is a nice cafe on site as well that’s good for working and answering emails.

American Swedish Institute

• Tickets $15
• Great for remote working at the cafe or in the shade outside.

The American Swedish Institute is a museum and cultural center housed in the historic Turnblad Mansion, built in the early 1900s by Swedish immigrant and newspaper publisher Swan Turnblad. Swedish immigrants started arriving in Minnesota in the 1900s. Minnesota has a rich history of Swedish immigration, with many Swedes settling there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn by opportunities in farming, logging, and industry. Today, the institute showcases Swedish art, culture, and history through its exhibitions.

Besides the museum, there is a cafe selling classic Swedish cinnamon and cardamom rolls. Cardamom rolls are my favorite!

Mall of America

• Free
• Don’t plan to work remotely here though there is a food court where you could work.

Okay, so not technically a museum—unless you treat it like one as I did—the Mall of America is a 20-minute Uber ride away from town. It’s a good activity of what to do in Minneapolis on a rainy (or cold) day when you’re looking for indoor fun. The mall is huge. You can walk around the mall and shop. Or hit some highlights like the Lego shop and Nickelodeon Park.

I liked the Spongebob vibe at the park! Too funny.

Inside the park, you can also go on the Fly Over America ride. For $20, you can get a 4-D experience seeing natural and man-made wonders across the country.

Mill City Museum

• $15

Although I didn’t visit the Mill City Museum, for a lesson on how the city’s flour milling industry skyrocketed.

Cool Neighborhoods

Warehouse District

Warehouse District has a cool industrial, up-and-coming vibe. To get here, walk along Great River Road.

Check out the shops Parc Shop, like Statement Boutique, and Martin Patick. There are also popular shops like Allbirds and Madewell.

Work at Fairgrounds Craft—it’s got great food, kombucha, tea, and coffee in a fun space. I really enjoyed it. Or, try Spyhouse Coffee or In the Loop.

Walk to the chaotic and cool James & Mary Laurie Bookseller.

For lunch in the area, try Tullibee (for Scandinavian-inspired food) or Graze Food Hall by Travail.

If you’re here around dinner, then make a reservation at Spoon and Stable (my recommendation) for excellent food in an old horse stable. Or, for an Italian vibe visit Bar La Grassa.  

Whitter

Check out the American Swedish Institute and get coffee + a cardamom bun at the Fika Cafe.

Then, visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art. You can work from here at the cafe or, visit the Spyhouse cafe a couple of blocks away.

Walk down Nicollet Avenue towards the thrift shop b. Resale to check it out.

Get lunch at Lu’s Sandwiches for legit Bahn Mi sandwiches (including a delicious tofu version I tried!). There are also several other unique-looking restaurants or you can walk down further until Eat Street Crossing, a food court at the end of the Nicollet Ave.  

Loring Park

Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Walker Art Center, stopping at Dunn Brothers for coffee. Afterwards, get lunch at Gai Noi.

Central Minneapolis and Downtown East

Work at Corner Coffee in the morning for a bit. Then, stop into Strive Bookstore and Uniquely Global shop. Then, walk by the Prince Mural.

Continue towards the Mississippi River. Walk along the Mill Ruins Park and check out the historic Stone Arch Bridge.

Here, you can also see the Guthrie Theater (and catch a performance) and stop into the Mill City Museum.

Although it took me a little out of the way, I walked to the Vikings Legacy Ship for fun—it’ll add 15 minutes or so to your walk so you can see if it fits into your schedule.

Restaurants

Gai Noi

For a unique dinner eat at Gai Noi, a fantastic Laotian restaurant. Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations, so plan to arrive when they open or be prepared to wait for a table. We waited 40 minutes and spent the time walking around the block before being seated around 8:30pm.

The food was amazing, and they take their spice levels seriously! I hadn’t had anything so spicy in years—it was as hot as they warned, but the same spice level for the chicken dish was much milder. I ate it all anyway! The cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks were also delicious, and the service was excellent.

Owamni by The Sioux Chef

You must make a reservation at Owamni by The Sioux Chef as soon as you book your tickets to Minneapolis. This restaurant specializes in indigenous cuisines from the region. The food is so unique and delicious—all the ingredients are sourced locally. Owamni is an absolute must in Minneapolis.

Eggy’s Diner

A classic American breakfast spot, head to Eggy’s for huge portions of waffles, pancakes, and more.

Midtown Global Market

I didn’t have a chance to visit the Midtown Global Market but I had it on my radar. The market has internationally themed stalls and crafts.

Kramarczuk’s Sausage Co. Inc.

Although I didn’t visit Kramarczuk’s Sausage Co. Inc., this Polish deli has homemade sausages.  

The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant is the spot to visit for Ethiopian cuisine in Minneapolis.

Lu’s Sandwiches

Lu’s Sandwiches for legit Bahn Mi sandwiches!

Remote Work Cafes

Corner Coffee Downtown has a great breakfast bagel and coffee.

Fairgrounds Craft’s vibe is great for working. I sat there for about 3 hours, getting drinks and eventually lunch.

Misfit Coffee is a little bit away from the center of town, but it’s a popular cafe to work remotely at.

In the Loop Coffee and Spyhouse Coffee Roasters are located in the Warehouse District.

Other things to do in Minneapolis

• Birchbark Books & Native Arts is a bookshop featuring Native American books and crafts. I didn’t have a chance to visit but it was on my list! They also host events throughout the month. Check it out if you have time.
• Explore Minneapolis’ Craft Brewery scene on this tour.
• Go to St. Paul for the day or do a proper walking tour of Minneapolis.
• Visit the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
• Check out a Candlelight Ghost Trolley Tour