Minneapolis/Southwest

Streets run east/west and generally have numbers that increase as you go further south. Nicollet Avenue divides the streets. Append the direction at the end of streets such as W 27th Street to indicate west of Nicollet. Avenues run alphabetically west from Lyndale (Aldrich, Bryant, Colfax) far into the suburban surrounding communities. When the alphabet reaches Z, it starts again at A. Avenues are named in no particular order in a small half-mile band between Lyndale and Nicollet, then numbered east from Nicollet Avenue heading towards South Minneapolis, where the numbered avenues continue until you reach Saint Paul. The first part of addresses on the avenues are based on the nearest cross street. For example, 4000 France Avenue South is at the corner of France Avenue and 40th Street.

By public transit

• Route 2 begins at Hennepin and Franklin and travels east along Franklin Avenue through the Wedge and Whittier neighborhoods before continuing on to Phillips, Seward, the West Bank, and the University of Minnesota.
• Route 4 travels along Lyndale Avenue from downtown to 31st Street (passing through Lyn-Lake), and then jogs over two blocks west to Bryant Avenue, which it travels on from 31st Street to 46th Street. At this point, the route splits into two branches, with one going back to Lyndale Avenue and the other continuing on Bryant until 50th Street, where it goes west to Penn Avenue, and then going south from there.
• Route 6 travels along Hennepin Avenue from downtown to its end at 36th Street (passing though Uptown), turns west, and skirts the southeastern edge of Lake Calhoun. The route splits in two at 39th Street and Sheridan Avenue; one continues west on 39th Street to France Avenue, then travels south from there (passing through the 50th & France commercial district), and the other travels south on Sheridan Avenue, which merges onto Upton Avenue (passing though the Linden Hills commercial district), turns west on 44th Street, and then continues south on Xerxes Avenue.
• Route 11 begins in Columbia Heights and runs through Northeast Minneapolis and Downtown. In the Whittier neighborhood it runs along 3rd Avenue, passing by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Hennepin History Museum, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. At 28th Street it jogs over to 4th Avenue in Phillips and continues through western Powderhorn and Nokomis before terminating in the Kingfield neighborhood at 46th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
• Route 12 enters Minneapolis along Excelsior Boulevard, which soon ends and merges onto Lake Street. The route continues until its end at the Uptown Transit Station; during rush hours it will continue travelling along Hennepin Avenue into downtown.
• Route 17 travels along Nicollet Avenue from downtown to 24th Street, turns west, then turns south on Hennepin Avenue. Past the Uptown Transit Station, it will turn west on Lagoon Avenue, which then merges onto Lake Street, and continue from there into the west suburbs.
• Route 18 travels along Nicollet Avenue through the entirety of Southwest Minneapolis, passing through Eat Street along the way.
• Route 21 travels along Lake Street from neighborhoods to the east until its end at Uptown Transit Station, passing through Lyn-Lake along the way.
• Route 23 travels along 38th Street to Bryant Avenue, jogs two blocks north to 36th Street, then travels west to Hennepin Avenue, continuing north from there until its end at the Uptown Transit Station
• Route 46 travels along 46th Street to 34th Avenue, jogs four blocks north to 42nd Street, then travels west to Cedar Avenue, jogs four blocks south to 46th Street, continuing west from there until either Nicollet Avenue or Bryant Avenue, jogs four blocks south to 50th Street and continues from there into the west suburbs.
• Route 53 is a limited stop route travelling on Lake Street alongside the 21 (see above); stops are located at Uptown Transit Center, Lake & Girard, Lake & Lyndale, Lake & Nicollet, and Lake & 1st. This service only operates during rush hours, eastbound in the morning and westbound in the afternoon and evening.

By bike

• Midtown Greenway is a bike path (grade-separated east of Hennepin) that runs east-west one block north of Lake Street. It continues east into South Minneapolis, and the west end the of the Greenway links to the Southwest LRT Trail that head to St. Louis Park, Hopkins, and beyond.
• Kenilworth Trail runs roughly north-south between Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. It acts as a connector between the Cedar Lake Trail to the north (a commuter trail running between Downtown and the west suburbs) and the Midtown Greenway/Southwest LRT Trail to the south.

By car

• Interstate 35W is along the eastern edge of the district, with exits at Lake Street/31st Street (northbound exit/southbound entrance only), 35th Street/36th Street, 46th Street, Diamond Lake Road, and 60th Street. For northbound travellers, the 31st/Lake exit will be useful for getting to Lyn-Lake and Uptown areas, just travel westbound on either street. Southbound I-35W travellers wanting to get to those two areas should exit onto westbound I-94 (see below).
• Interstate 94 is to the northeast of the district. The Lyndale Avenue/Hennepin Avenue exit is useful for getting into the area. Follow Lyndale southbound to get to Lyn-Lake or Hennepin southbound to get to Uptown.
• Interstate 394 is along the northern edge of the district.

Museums

• The Bakken Museum

  phone: +1 612 926-3878
  address: 3537 Zenith Ave S
  The world's only museum devoted to medical electricity.

• Hennepin History Museum

  phone: +1 612 870-1329
  address: 2303 3rd Ave S

• Minneapolis Institute of Art

  phone: +1 612 870-3131
  address: 2400 3rd Ave S
  "The Minneapolis Institute of Arts houses more than 100,000 objects from diverse cultural traditions spanning 5,000 years of world history."

• The Museum of Russian Art

  phone: +1 612 821-9045
  address: 5500 Stevens Ave
  Museum showcases Russian art from the 20th century, including Soviet art.

Parks

• Lakewood Cemetery

  phone: +1 612 822-2171
  address: entrance along 36th St at the foot of Hennepin Ave

• Lyndale Park

  address: 1300 W 42nd St
  Home to an arboretum, rose gardens, perennial gardens, peace gardens, and a bird sanctuary.

• Beard's Plaisance

  address: 4525 Upton Ave S
  Along the west side of Lake Harriet. Contains a picnic area with a large picnic structure, a playground, and tennis courts.

Film

Head to Uptown for some independent film:

• Uptown Theatre

  phone: +1 612 823-3005
  address: 2906 Hennepin Ave
  One screen. Films often run for a week or two. Afterwards they sometimes move down to the multi-screen Lagoon Cinema. In addition to the usual concessions, the Uptown Theatre also serves alcoholic beverages in the upstairs bar.

• Lagoon Cinema

  phone: +1 612 825-6006
  address: 1320 Lagoon Ave
  Five screens.

Lakes

• Cedar LakeCedar Lake has a shady public swimming beach.

• Lake of the IslesLake of the Isles has bird sanctuaries on its (officially off-limits) islands, and a public skating rink (with warming house) are groomed in the winter months. Check the newspaper; you may get lucky and catch a world-class speed-skating competition here. Its shores also feature some of the best climbing trees in the city, particularly for those who carry a short rope ladder in their pack.

• Bde Maka SkaBde Maka Ska has three public beaches and boat rentals (and lessons), and a snack bar that resembles a real restaurant more every summer.

• Lake HarrietLake Harriet also has boat rentals near its bandshell.

Theater

• Jungle Theater

  phone: +1 612 822-7063
  address: 2951 Lyndale Ave S

• Bryant-Lake Bowl

  phone: +1 612 825-8949
  address: 810 W Lake St
  Vintage bowling alley with a small theater attached, hosting various small-scale theater, improv, and music events. The BLB is also a decent dining and drinking option.

Other

• Como-Harriet Streetcar Line

  address: W 42nd St and Queen Ave S
  Heritage streetcar line running along a one-mile track between Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun), which used to be part of a much longer streetcar line that ran all the way to Lake Como in Saint Paul, hence the name. It is operated by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, which also operates a heritage streetcar line in Excelsior, near Lake Minnetonka. Its fleet includes two streetcars from the 1900s built by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company and one PCC streetcar from the 1940s built by the St. Louis Car Company. Streetcars begin and end their journey at Linden Hills Station located at 42nd and Queen on the west side of Lake Harriet. There is also a second much less used stop on near the east side of Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun) at 36th Street and Richfield Road.

Asian markets

• New Orient Market

  phone: +1 612 871-7946
  address: 2800 1st Ave S

• Shuang Hur Supermarket

  phone: +1 612 872-8606
  address: 2710 Nicollet Ave

• Truong Thanh Market

  phone: +1 612 879-0561
  address: 2520 Nicollet Ave

Bookstores

• College of Comic Book Knowledge

  phone: +1 612 822-2309
  address: 4632 Nicollet Ave
  Great for newer and more mainstream comics.

• Magers and Quinn

  phone: +1 612 822-4611
  address: 3038 Hennepin Ave
  New and used books.

• Once Upon A Crime

  phone: +1 612 870-3785
  address: 604 W 26th St
  Mystery bookstore. Ask about The Annex: two giant rooms full of rare first editions, out of print books, magazines, journals, and thousands of hard-to-get gently used volumes. Great for finding new titles and plenty of back-list books for hordes of mystery and thriller writers.

• Wild Rumpus

  phone: +1 612 920-5005
  address: 2720 W 43rd St
  A renowned children's bookstore with a plethora of live animals roaming around; the cats somehow manage to coexist peacefully with the birds, mice, chicken, and other animals.

Clothes

• Ragstock

  phone: +1 612 823-6690
  address: 1433 W Lake St
  A local chain of used clothing stores. Clothing is shipped in from thrift stores across the country and sorted through and either torn to rags for commercial use, or pulled aside to be sold in one of the stores. There are stores around the Twin Cities area in addition to the Uptown location listed above.

Record stores

• Cheapo

  phone: +1 612 827-8238
  address: 2600 Nicollet Ave
  Cheapo specializes in all areas of music as well as DVDs and vinyl records. If you are looking for something that's hard to find, it's a good bet that they will have it. If not, they can order it for you. They also have a large collection of used CDs with huge inventories coming in everyday.

• Electric Fetus

  phone: +1 612 870-9300
  address: 2000 4th Ave S
  Possibly the most complete selection of CDs in town across all genres. Hold on tight to your wallet when you walk in here. If there's an obscure CD you've been looking for, this place is likely to have it. Listening stations are posted throughout the store enticing all who enter to try out some new music. It's the place you would go if you had unlimited resources for buying new music. Be prepared to pay full price, although new releases are frequently on sale. Buy four CDs and get a discount. Tickets for local venues are on sale here too.

• Extreme Noise Records

  phone: +1 612 842-0100
  address: 407 W Lake St
  Specializes in all punk and subgenres therein. A cooperative run for almost 20 years by local punks. Amazing selection of punk 'zines, CDs, LPs and 7-inches. The place in town for finding hard-to-find punk records, trading punk records, finding other punks, seeking out that basement show, etc. Don't let the punk rock moniker scare the less-than punk away. If you want to see what a truly independent local scene can produce and meet some of the most earnest members of the scene, you must check out Extreme Noise.

• Fifth Element

  phone: +1 612 377-0044
  address: 2411 Hennepin Ave
  Record store specializing in hip-hop. Established in 1999 by local record label Rhymesayers Entertainment.

• Roadrunner Records

  phone: +1 612 822-0613
  address: 4304 Nicollet Ave
  Has a great selection of independent LPs, CDs and DVDs. Known for their international music section. Punk and alt-country genres don't suffer. A great independent record store with lots of local and independently produced product.

Eat Street

• The Bad Waitress

  phone: +1 612 872-7575
  address: 2 E 26th St
  Hipster diner. You have to write your order on a ticket and give it to the cashier, hence the restaurant name.

• Black Forest Inn

  phone: +1 612 872-0812
  address: 1 E 26th St
  The most renowned German restaurant in the Twin Cities.

• Christos

  phone: +1 612 871-2111
  address: 2632 Nicollet Ave
  Greek.

• El Mariachi

  phone: +1 612 871-5200
  address: 2750 Nicollet Ave
  Mexican.

• Evergreen Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +1 612 871-6801
  address: 2424 Nicollet Ave
  Taiwanese cuisine, very vegetarian and vegan friendly.

• Harry Singh’s Original Caribbean Restaurant

  phone: +1 612 729-6181
  address: 2653 Nicollet Ave
  The menu at Harry Singh's is dominated by roti wraps and creole rice dishes.

• Jasmine 26

  phone: +1 612 870-3800
  address: 8 E 26th St
  A fancier Vietnamese restaurant operated by the owners of Jasmine Deli. The salt and pepper tofu appetizer is to die for. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.

• Jasmine Deli

  phone: +1 612 870-4700
  address: 2532 Nicollet Ave
  Ridiculously cheap but well-regarded Vietnamese food. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. No credit cards.

• Little Tijuana Cafe

  phone: +1 612 872-0578
  address: 17 E 26th St
  Totally inauthentic Mexican, but mindblowing food isn't what people really come here for. A quirky little hole-in-the-wall joint open very late and popular with the punks, drunks and other weirdos. Crayons and paper tablecloths are offered to keep its patrons from defacing the tables or walls; if they like your artwork they might even hang it up!

• Pancho Villa

  phone: +1 612 871-7014
  address: 2539 Nicollet Ave
  Mexican. Two-for-one margaritas and selected beers on weekdays. Spanish language karaoke!

• Peninsula

  phone: +1 612 871-8282
  address: 2608 Nicollet Ave
  Malaysian cuisine. They make their own tofu, but vegans beware that it contains egg.

• Pho 79

  phone: +1 612 871-3226
  address: 2529 Nicollet Ave
  Vietnamese.

• Pho Tau Bay

  phone: +1 612 874-6030
  address: 2837 Nicollet Ave
  Vietnamese.

• Quang

  phone: +1 612 870-4739
  address: 2719 Nicollet Ave
  Vietnamese.

• Rainbow Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +1 612 870-7084
  address: 2739 Nicollet Ave

Lyn-Lake

• French Meadow Bakery and Cafe

  phone: +1 612 870-7855
  address: 2610 Lyndale Ave S
  Owner and founder of this excellent bakery and cafe, Lynn Gordon, has a passion for fabulous yeast free breads, and has been an artisan baker since before that term began to be applied to high-quality individual bakers. Virtually everything on the menu is delicious and original, and save room for the desserts and fair trade coffee. On weekends arrive early to avoid the brunch rush. Vegetarian and vegan options available.

• Fuji-Ya

  phone: +1 612 871-4055
  address: 600 W Lake St
  Popular sushi restaurant, a Lyn-Lake favorite.

• Galactic Pizza

  phone: +1 612 824-9100
  address: 2917 Lyndale Ave S
  The decor is kitschy. Their stand out feature is not only a little car run 100% by electric power but the delivery driver dons a funky costume while driving said vehicle. If you order the Second Harvest pizza (which is excellent) the business donates a dollar to the Second Harvest Food Bank (for every one ordered). Vegetarian friendly, vegan soy cheese and mockmeats available.

• It's Greek to Me

  phone: +1 612 825-9922
  address: 626 W Lake St
  One of the best Greek restaurants in the Twin Cities.

• Milkjam Creamery

  phone: +1 612 424-4668
  address: 2743 Lyndale Ave S
  Ice cream shop with flavors ranging from normal like the Black (very dark cocoa) to odd ones like the Elvis (curry peanut butter banana). Most of the flavors are gluten-free, and some are vegan.

• moto-i

  phone: +1 612 821-6262
  address: 2940 Lyndale Ave S
  Japanese restaurant with house-brewed sake and a rooftop patio.

• Muddy Waters Bar and Eatery

  phone: +1 612 872-2232
  address: 2933 Lyndale Ave S
  Formerly a coffeehouse at 24th and Lyndale, Muddy Waters has moved down to Lyn-Lake and expanded into a full-service restaurant and bar.

• Pizza Lucé

  phone: +1 612 827-5978
  address: 3200 Lyndale Ave S
  You can get pizza by the slice or sit down and order a whole pie. Vegetarian friendly; vegan soy cheese, nut cheese, and mockmeats available. Also offers gluten-free pizzas.

Uptown

• Barbette

  phone: +1 612 827-5710
  address: 1600 W Lake St
  French-inspired cafe. Also hosts the annual Bastille Day block party celebration in the summer.

• Davanni's

  phone: +1 612 822-3111
  address: 1414 W Lake St
  Chicago-style pizza, beer on tap, good hoagies too.

• Isles Bun and Coffee

  phone: +1 612 870-4466
  address: 1424 W 28th St
  A classic city bakery and coffee shop. Very limited seating inside, but with sidewalk tables and two blocks to Lake of the Isles it hardly matters. Bakers work in full view in a sunken work area behind the counter, putting out some of the best rolls, buns, and other delectables in the city. Check out the cinnamon roll and their savory breakfast items.

• Origami

  phone: +1 612 223-8666
  address: 1354 Lagoon Ave
  Best known for their sushi. Generally a posh, overly-sedate crowd and indifferent service.

• Tin Fish

  phone: +1 612 823-5840
  address: 3000 E Calhoun Pkwy
  Right on the shore of Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun). Serves mainly seafood, and is of high quality. Prices are reasonable. Service is quite good.

The Wedge

• Namaste Cafe

  phone: +1 612 827-2496
  address: 2512 Hennepin Ave
  Namaste is located in a duplex converted to a restaurant and gift shop, so try to keep your eye out when heading down Hennepin. The owners are Nepali and the food is very similar to Indian cuisine. The cooking is very homey and the prices are quite reasonable for such a prime location. Lunch will cost around $8. Try one of their amazing chai teas; 8 varieties to choose from. They grind their own spices and mix up one heck of a good cup. Vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Other areas

• Broders Cucina Italiana

  phone: +1 612 925-3113
  address: 2308 W 50th St
  Small Italian deli, limited seating available.

• Broders Pasta Bar

  phone: +1 612 925-9202
  address: 5000 Penn Ave S
  The sit-down restaurant operated by the same people that run the deli across the street. The menu features around 20 different past dishes, a mix of new and old favorites. Although reasonably small and often crowded (they don't take reservations), it is worth the wait!

• Cavé Vin

  phone: +1 612 922-0100
  address: 5555 Xerxes Ave S
  Cave Vin features a Mediterranean/French menu. Tons of charm, great food and wine.

• Gigi's Cafe

  phone: +1 612 825-0818
  address: 824 W 36th St
  Gigi's is a great little cafe: "coffee house by day, dinner joint by night." Free parking and WiFi. Gigi's has new management, Kim Bartmann, founder of the much celebrated Barbette, Bryant Lake Bowl, and Red Stag Supper Club.

• Hola Arepa

  phone: +1 612 345-5583
  address: 3501 Nicollet Ave
  Restaurant specializing in Venezuelan arepas, which are cornmeal griddle cakes with various fillings.

• Pepito's Mexi-Go Deli

  phone: +1 612 825-6311
  address: 4624 Nicollet Ave
  A deli-style fast food version of their sit-down restaurant on 48th and Chicago. Try the fish tacos, they're fantastic. No alcohol, but fast service and fantastic food for those on the go.

• Piccolo

  phone: +1 612 827-8111
  address: 4300 Bryant Ave S
  Small plates artfully crafted.

• Punch Neapolitan Pizza

  phone: +1 612 929-0006
  address: 3226 W Lake St
  Neapolitan pizzeria in a strip mall on the opposite side of the lakes from Uptown. Pizzas are baked in an 800F wood-burning oven for 90 seconds. Punch is one of the few restaurants that actually has certification from the official Napoli pizza organization.

• Victor's 1959 Cafe

  phone: +1 612 827-8948
  address: 3756 Grand Ave
  Cuban restaurant with good portions and a somewhat fashionably divey atmosphere; the interior is covered in graffiti from previous patrons. The cafe looks like a shack on the outside and seating is pretty limited; be prepared for long waits on the weekends.

Alcohol

• CC Club

  phone: +1 612 874-7226
  address: 2600 Lyndale Ave S
  A cheap and popular punk/alternative hangout, a favorite of the Replacements and the setting for their song "Here Comes a Regular."

• Red Dragon

  phone: +1 612 874-8877
  address: 2116 Lyndale Ave S
  Nominally a restaurant serving unremarkable grease-bomb Chinese food, the Red Dragon is more noted for its alcohol menu. That menu includes the infamous Wondrous Punch, a mixture of four different kinds of rum with a bit of grenadine and fruit juice; one order of punch is plenty for most people.

Coffee

• Bob's Java Hut

  phone: +1 612 871-4485
  address: 2651 Lyndale Ave S
  Free wifi. Frequently a day-time biker hang out. Nice staff.

• Caffetto

  phone: +1 612 872-0911
  address: 708 W 22nd St
  Free wifi.

• Canteen Local 3255

  phone: +1 612 824-6611
  address: 3255 Bryant Ave S
  Free wifi.

• Dogwood Coffee

  phone: +1 612 202-8986
  address: 3001 Hennepin Ave
  One of the few coffee shops in town that roasts their own beans. Try the single-origin espresso.

• Misfit Coffee

  phone: +1-414-839-5565
  address: 2401 Lyndale Ave S
  Misfit started out as a coffee truck but now have a brick-and-mortar location. They offer standard espresso drinks and brewed coffee, plus nitro cold brew and a menu of cold brew-based flavored drinks.

• Spyhouse Coffee

  phone: +1 612 871-3177
  address: 2451 Nicollet Ave
  Free wifi.

• Spyhouse Coffee

  phone: +1 612 377-2278
  address: 2404 Hennepin Ave
  Free wifi.

• Uncommon Grounds

  phone: +1 612 872-4811
  address: 2809 Hennepin Ave
  Located in a renovated Victorian house. Free wifi.

• Urban Bean

  phone: +1 612 325-1390
  address: 822 W Lake St
  Free wifi.

• Vicinity Coffee

  phone: +1 612 545-5972
  address: 3350 Lyndale Ave S
  Features locally roasted small batch coffees. Free wifi.

There aren't many lodging options in Southwest Minneapolis, but the Downtown hotels aren't too far from the Uptown, Lyn-Lake, and Eat Street areas.

• Minneapolis International Hostel

  phone: +1 612 522-5000
  address: 2400 Stevens Ave
  This is the only backpackers' hostel in the Twin Cities. Quick walking distance to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and Eat Street. A 15 minute walk or short bus ride to Downtown, and a short bus ride to Uptown. A credit card number is required to be on file for every party staying with them.

• Moxy Hotel

  phone: +1 612 822-5020
  address: 1121 W Lake St
  A boutique hotel from the Marriott chain that's mostly oriented to a younger crowd. The guest rooms are modern but on the smaller side. There is a bar and lots of common space on the ground floor. The hotel attracts a party crowd and might not be the best option for those seeking peace and quiet.

• Linden Hills Library

  phone: +1 612 543-6825
  address: 2900 W 43rd St

• Walker Library

  phone: +1 612 543-8400
  address: 2880 Hennepin Ave

• Washburn Library

  phone: +1 612 543-8375
  address: 5244 Lyndale Ave S

• Much of the artist community that has been priced out of Uptown moved to Northeast.
• If you're still hungry for more Southeast Asian food after eating your way through Eat Street, there's another large concentration in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul.
• If you keep heading north along the trails near Cedar Lake you'll eventually find yourself in Theodore Wirth Park.