Northeast Minneapolis covers a large area and is located right where you would expect – Northeast of downtown Minneapolis. I tend to think that Northeast is comprised of 3 different areas: St. Anthony Main (the historic mill district and Stone Arch Bridge), Hennepin and Central Ave (the focus of this article), and what I call “true” Northeast (the old industrial turned brewery hub of Minneapolis).
We live downtown Minneapolis, so we consider Northeast to be our backyard. We thought it would be fun to spend an afternoon in the Hennepin and Central Ave area of Northeast to share some of our favorites spots with you! But there are much more where this came from!
Walk over Hennepin Ave bridge
Catch a glimpse of the iconic Grain Belt beer sign by walking over Hennepin Ave bridge (which is pretty iconic in itself!). This is the best spot to see the sign and you can do this day or night, as the sign now lights up! And if you haven’t already, make sure to try a classic Grain Belt Premium or Nordeast while you’re in Northeast!
Lunch at Spitz
For some great Mediterranean street food, head to Spitz. The vibe is casual and the food is amazing. Make sure you get a döner wrap if you’ve never had one before. Cole’s favorite is the Street Cart, and I chose to try a bowl and ordered the Remix. You’re able to choose your own protein and I always recommend the beef and lamb! Also, be sure to try their sangria!
Shop local at Urban Violet
In my opinion, Urban Violet is the best clothing boutique in Northeast. It’s so fun and the prices are so reasonable! I love their accessories and love that they are local even more. Make sure to check this out if you want some different clothes or a gift for someone!
Get a Mac and Cheese Donut at Glam Doll Donuts
I was so excited when Glam Doll opened a location in Northeast. This is THE spot for out of this world donuts in Minneapolis. This time, however, we decided forgo the sweet donuts and instead try the Belly Bomb which is literally mac and cheese deep fried into the shape of a donut. It was really fun to try (maybe even a little TOO cheesy for me) but if you’re a cheese lover you’ll eat it up!
Shop vintage at The Golden Pearl
You gotta shop for some vintage while in Northeast Minneapolis. The Golden Pearl is the best of the best! Prices are a little more expensive being they’ve done all the hard work for you and pulled the cute vintage items out of thrift stores around the state. I tried on the cutest skirts from the 1940’s – I love how they add the year to the item of each tag – so cool!
Sip on drinks at The Sonder Shaker
The Sonder Shaker opened up in half of the old Nye’s space and is a trendy spot for drinks and American food. We stopped by the bar for a drink in-between our shopping adventures. We were surprised and delighted that they had a happy hour on Saturday! I ordered the Samurai Cop with habanero vodka and Thai basil shrub and it was SO YUMMY. And with happy hour it was only $6.
Find gifts at I Like You
Another Northeast Minneapolis staple is the I Like You store. It’s the best spot to go if you’re visiting Minneapolis and want to take home something local! It’s also great if you live here and want something unique or if you’re looking for a gift. The store is comprised of all local makers, from art to clothes to jewelry to cards…the list goes on and on! Just make sure to get a photo in front of the I Like You wall before you go 🙂
Step back in time at Nye’s Bar
Speaking of Northeast staples, Nye’s Bar takes the cake. The original bar opened in 1950 for polka and polonaise dancing and has been a favorite of the area for decades. The bar closed, made room for a new apartment building, and rebuilt in the same (but smaller) location. Today, its interior is designed just like it was back in the day. And the piano bar is still going strong every night!
Bowl at Elsie’s
This final spot gets a little deeper into Northeast Minneapolis, but I’ll write about it anyways! Elsie’s is a popular bar/restaurant and bowling alley a just a few minutes from Hennepin Ave. It’s a great spot for no-frills bowling, karaoke, and a night out with friends, which is exactly what we did to wrap up our day! Bowling is $50 per lane per hour and shoe rental is $3.50.
That wraps up our afternoon in Northeast Minneapolis, but these spots just scratch the surface to what Northeast as a whole has to offer! Stay tuned for more where this came from!
