Best of Minneapolis/St. Paul – Eat, Drink, Workout, To Do
Published 10/26/2017 • Updated 12/30/2021
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Minnesota is an amazing state full of personality, active fun, and beauty. We have put together a list of our favorite places to eat, drink, workout, and do in the Minneapolis and St.Paul metro-area. Looking for something to do outside the cities? We also included Team Fit Foodie’s favorite places to hike and camp in Minnesota!
Hi there! It’s Team Fit Foodie here to talk to you about everything MINNESOTA. As much as we love to travel, Minnesota will always be one of our favorites. Minnesota is home. We all live in Minneapolis proper (Lee, Linley, and Emily), which makes getting around pretty easy and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Why is Minnesota so awesome? The Minneapolis/St.Paul (the Twin Cities) area is rich with food, culture, entertainment, amazing people and more. If you are an active person there are lakes and state parks within 30 minutes from the cities and if you’re a city dweller, you will fit right in. Basically, you have the best of both urban + rural living. Minneapolis has been ranked high on top lists such as most active cities, best bikable cities, and more.
We have been receiving email inquiries from Fit Foodie Finds readers asking where our favorite places to eat, drink, workout, and do are in Minnesota. Whether you are asking because you are traveling to Minnesota or are native to Minnesota and are just looking for new things to do, we heard you! We have been meaning to write this post for a while now, so here it is! Even better, we now have a Minnesota Love page that you can reference when you’re looking for something specific to do.
PLACES TO EAT–
Oh Minnesota, how we love your food. The Twin Cities are full of restaurants that will tantalize your taste buds. There are talented chefs coming out of the woodwork in every pocket of the Minneapolis/St.Paul area. Whether you are looking for a tasty grab-n-go meal or are looking for a sit-down meal that you’ll remember forever, there is something for everyone on this list!
PLACES TO DRINK –
Beer and cocktails are done right in the Twin Cities. If you are in Northeast Minneapolis you will stumble upon a number of hoppy and delicious breweries! It is easy to hide out for a whole afternoon playing bags and sipping a peanut butter porter (hey, Dangerous Man). If it is a cocktail you’re looking for, distilleries and speakeasies are starting to pop up all over the city. Make sure you take an Uber or have a DD, because these places know how to mix a drink. BE SAFE.
PLACES TO WORKOUT –
It’s no secret that Team Fit Foodie has our favorite places to workout. If you follow us on Instagram, you know that Switch Minneapolis is our main-squeeze when it comes to getting our sweat on. However, there are studios we love all over the cities and we are looking forward to hearing your recommendations for new places to check out!
THINGS TO DO –
There are countless things to do in the Twin Cities. We have museums, festivals, and races to fill your calendar. If you are looking for something outside of the cities we have amazing state parks where you can camp and hike in the summer, as well as snowshoe and cross country ski in the winter. There is something for everyone!
Now, go have fun and don’t forget to let us know if you have any great recommendations!
Nice post, i love it!
Hello,
This is such a great website for a foodie like me.
Thank you for keeping me healthy!
Do consider me as one of your reader from Asia, Singapore.
Best regards
*** I have subscribe to your website and have not yet received my e-book 🙂 It’s ok, as long as your website is still up for browsing your healthy recipes. Great job.
I just moved to the Twin Cities so I am bookmarking these favs and can’t wait to check them out!
Welcome to the best city ever!!
LOVE this list & of course love your blog! I must say, although I’m not a big burger person, I can’t resist a Parlour Burger (I believe you can also order it at Borough’s bar area)!
I’ve never been to Parlour!!!! Must go.
The article is very nicely written and the content is very good keep on sharing the articles like this
When is the best time to go?
I would say June – October!
Ah I missed it! I’ll have to go next year!
I wouldn’t be a foodie if I did not add a few restaurants for you to try (if you haven’t already done so):
– Mucci’s: Italian food in St. Paul. The restaurant is tiny so be sure to go a few minutes before they open and wait in line like everyone else. They also have THE BEST doughnuts on Saturday and Sunday Mornings
– Chimborazo: Ecuadorian Restaurant in Northeast on Central. Get the Beef Saltado and sub the potatoes for sweet plantains and thank me later
– Sanora Grill: Longfellow Restaurant with awesome tacos. The Kale side dish is the best.
– Revival: Best fried chicken in town
AH! Thank you for the recommendations! I don’t know how Chimborazo missed the list. I just updated- it’s so good. As for the other restaurants, we will have to add them to our list to try!
I have one to add to your drink list (and you guys MUST check it out!!) – Wander North Distillery. It’s veteran owned and Brian mixes together some killer cocktails… and he’s a great dude who happens to live in my neighborhood. And it shares a building with Northgate (probs my fave brewery behind Dangerous Man)… which also isn’t on your list!! Go check them out 🙂
Also… you guys should add a Dive Bar category too… putting 1029 and Mayslacks at the top of your list!!
Wonderful! We will have to check them out!
I have never even heard of Wander North! I know what I’m doing this weekend after the Lake Monster event 😀
I’d be remiss not to recommend a couple additional spots (if you haven’t tried these, seriously do it!)
Barbette has easily my favorite breakfast in Minneapolis. Their Eggs Benedict is TO DIE FOR and they always have an amazing daily quiche. And everything is SO INEXPENSIVE it kinda blows my mind (Located on Lake & Irving)
Smack Shack also has an amazing brunch and their lobster roll is the best I’ve had (outside of east coast). I also recently tried their chicken and waffles at brunch and it was the bomb.
Moto-i — if you are in the mood for some ramen, Moto-i has AH-MAZING ramen. Highly recommend the abura ramen. Plus, it has the best rooftop in Minneapolis, in my opinion 🙂
Definitely added a few new spots to try thanks to your list! First up will be Kings Wine Bar… YUM.
Thanks for posting! 🙂
Love Barbette and Moto-i (their patio, though!).
Ahh so many faves on this list!! Crisp & Green is another great lunch spot in the North Loop and Wayzata 🙂 Try the Chef Curry Bowl if you go!
YES! OMG, we went to the one in Wayzata recently. Adding it to the list!