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Minnesota, United States

Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront

Two nights downtown for the riverfront skyline, steak dinners and a midnight show. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 3 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés from our curated routes.

Plan Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront with friendsBrowse 8 places
Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront, Minnesota, United States
Places
8

2 See · 3 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Minneapolis New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

29°C / 84°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-6°C / 22°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 130 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Minneapolis, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront

8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront across Mill District and Downtown.

  • Stone Arch Bridge in Downtown Minneapolis & the RiverfrontPhoto: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Stone Arch Bridge

    1883 stone railroad bridge, now a walkway over St. Anthony Falls, with the classic view of the skyline and the Gold Medal Flour sign.

    Tip Cross at dusk on Dec 30 or 31, when the mills and towers light up.

    • Mill District
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Dusk
  • See

    IDS Center

    The city's tallest tower, with the glass-roofed Crystal Court; its 50th floor hosts a ticketed New Year's Eve Crystal Ball.

    Tip The Crystal Court is a warm skyway crossroads even if you skip the party.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Midnight

Eat

3 places to eat across Downtown and North Loop, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Murray's

    Family-run supper club on Sixth Street since 1946, known for the Silver Butter Knife Steak carved for two.

    Tip Reserve early for Dec 31 and order the steak for two.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Manny's Steakhouse

    Big-portion steakhouse since 1988, now on the ground floor of the 1929 Foshay Tower.

    Tip Go early, then take the elevator to the Foshay's 30th-floor deck if it's open.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Spoon and Stable

    Gavin Kaysen's restaurant in a former horse stable in the North Loop, open since 2014.

    Tip Book weeks out; it often runs a set menu on Dec 31.

    • North Loop
    • $$$$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

2 bars & cafés across Downtown West and Downtown for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    First Avenue

    Downtown music club since 1970, famous from Prince's Purple Rain, with silver stars of past performers on its outside walls.

    Tip Its New Year's Eve show sells out; buy tickets when they go on sale.

    • Downtown West
    • $$
    • 4 hr
    • 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
  • Drink

    Brit's Pub

    British pub on Nicollet Mall with a rooftop lawn-bowling green and a long-running New Year's Eve party.

    Tip Its party is ticketed; buy ahead if you want in after 9 p.m.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Late evening

Stay

Places to stay in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront in Downtown.

  • Foshay Tower in Downtown Minneapolis & the RiverfrontPhoto: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Stay

    Foshay Tower

    1929 Art Deco obelisk modeled on the Washington Monument, now the W Minneapolis hotel with an open-air observation deck.

    Tip Skyway access means no coat between the hotel and dinner downtown.

    • Downtown
    • $$$

How to fit Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront into a trip

Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront is stop 1 of 2 on our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Weather by month, based on Minneapolis

Our climate figures for Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront come from Minneapolis, about 1 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from -6°C / 22°F in January to 29°C / 84°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 130 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Minneapolis. Minneapolis weather (covers Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront) →

Near Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront

7 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront. On our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 16 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront best known for?

Two nights downtown for the riverfront skyline, steak dinners and a midnight show. Standouts on our list: Stone Arch Bridge (1883 stone railroad bridge, now a walkway over St. Anthony Falls, with the classic view of the skyline and the Gold Medal Flour sign); IDS Center (The city's tallest tower, with the glass-roofed Crystal Court; its 50th floor hosts a ticketed New Year's Eve Crystal Ball); First Avenue (Downtown music club since 1970, famous from Prince's Purple Rain, with silver stars of past performers on its outside walls).

When is the best time to visit Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront?

Our Minneapolis New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Minneapolis put the warmest highs in July (29°C / 84°F), the coolest in January (-6°C / 22°F) and the most rain in June (about 130 mm).

What are the best things to do in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront?

Start with Stone Arch Bridge and IDS Center. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 2 sights, 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront?

Our picks: Murray's (Downtown); Manny's Steakhouse (Downtown); Spoon and Stable (North Loop). Reserve early for Dec 31 and order the steak for two (Murray's).

What is near Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront?

The closest destinations in our guides are Minneapolis (about 1 km / 1 mi), Minnehaha Falls (about 8 km / 5 mi) and Duluth (about 220 km / 137 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown Minneapolis & the Riverfront with your crew

Open the Minneapolis New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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