Where to Dine on Special Occasions in Minneapolis
Savor life’s special moments from birthdays to anniversaries at Minneapolis's finest restaurants, where every meal is crafted for celebration.
Celebrating a special occasion in Minneapolis calls for a dining experience that transcends the ordinary. Fortunately, Minneapolis’s fine dining scene boasts an array of restaurants that promise not only exceptional cuisine but also ambiance that’s fit for memory making with friends and family. Here's a curated list of Minneapolis special occasion restaurants perfect for gathering and raising a glass together.
The Top Minneapolis Special Occasion Restaurants from Local Star Chefs
Blondette, Miaou Miaou, Colita, Martina, and Porzana from Daniel del Prado
These iconic fine dining restaurants from storied Minneapolis restaurateur Daniel del Prado offer a variety of special occasion dining rooms and menus to suit your taste. Enjoy Blondette’s French-meets-Pacific Northwest plates under a glass atrium roof on the fifth floor of Downtown Minneapolis’s historic Rand Tower Hotel (and head next door to grab a French island-inspired cocktail at chic sister bar Miaou Miaou to extend the celebration). For a taste of upscale Tex-Mex with a focus on from-scratch Oaxacan fare, Colita offers a menu that just happens to be totally gluten-free and a plant-centric atmosphere that feels like a tropical vacation. Continuing the exploration of international flavors, perennial Linden Hills favorite Martina combines Argentinian and Italian influences—think handmade pastas and fresh-from-the-grill meats plus an inventive cocktail (and mocktail) menu you don’t want to miss. For another take on Argentinian fare, reserve a table at Porzana, Daniel del Prado’s North Loop wood-fire steakhouse in the warm, brick-walled space formerly home to Minneapolis restaurant pioneer Bachelor Farmer.
Mara, Demi, and Spoon and Stable from Gavin Kaysen
Two-time James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen frequently receives nods from Food & Wine Magazine and Bon Appetit and is a regular on the national food festival circuit, but his most reliable accolades are from Minneapolis diners who frequent his top-rate restaurants. His first restaurant, Spoon and Stable in North Loop, opened in 2014 and its menu focused on seasonal midwest ingredients and French technique is still celebrated a decade later. Mediterranean-inspired Mara and tasting-menu-focused Demi also provide ample reasons to book a table for your next special occasion.
Giulia and Saint Genevieve from Steven Brown
This duo of chic eateries from Steven Brown offer two distinct options for your celebratory meal. At Giulia (inside the beautiful Hotel Emery in Downtown Minneapolis), enjoy upscale Italian plates and wood-fired pizza surrounded by elegant marble columns and fresh foliage. Escape to the cafes of Paris without leaving Minneapolis with a meal at Saint Genevieve, offering a French-inspired menu that adds a touch of elegance to your special occasion.
Nationally Celebrated Culinary Innovation
Owamni
Celebrate your special day with a unique waterfront experience Chef Sean Sherman’s James Beard Award-winning Owamni, where indigenous flavors and stories take center stage. Located on the Mississippi River with stunning views from the dining room and outdoor patio, the dining options range from seasonal tasting menus to family-style plates highlighting regional and pre-colonial ingredients.
Khâluna
This celebrated Laotian restaurant by Chef Ann Ahmed channels Southeast Asian resorts with its luxury-meets-beachy atmosphere and colorful, tropical plates. Named one of Eater’s 15 Best New Restaurants, Khâluna offers a true marriage of flavor and style that makes any meal memorable. For extra-special occasions, book the private dining room with a curated, custom menu for up to 16 guests.
Travail Kitchen and Amusements
If your idea of a special occasion meal is a little more interactive, you’ve got to check out the signature “art class dinner party” 10-course tasting menu at Travail in nearby Robbinsdale. This celebrated spot is known for curating innovative tableside experiences, and with a shifting menu of international and regional ingredients, no reservation will be quite as expected.
Kado No Mise, Sanjusan, Kaiseki Furukawa, and Gori Gori Peku
Experience the artistry of Japanese cuisine and beverages at this multiple-restaurant property, where technical precision and innovative flavors come together for a special occasion to remember. On the ground floor of the North Loop building, you can dig into Italian-Japanese fusion at Sanjusan from Daniel del Prado and Shigeyuki Furukawa, and upstairs you’ll find Kado No Mise (elevated Japanese cuisine and sushi in a clean, modern atmosphere), Kaiseki Furukawa (offering a 10-course seasonal tasting menu at an intimate chef’s counter), and Gori Gori Peku (a premium Japanese whisky bar).
Young Joni
James Beard award-winning chef Ann Kim's Northeast Minneapolis restaurant Young Joni offers wood-fired delights—from pizza and Korean pork spare ribs to lamb kebabs with tzatziki—in a chic setting, providing a perfect backdrop for a celebration filled with globally inspired flavors.
Tried and True Minneapolis Steakhouses for Fine Dining and Special Occasions
P.S. Steak
Located in a historic Loring Park building, P.S. Steak offers truly opulent service and atmosphere, making it an ideal venue for special celebrations. With a large selection of cuts and a menu that leans more seasonal than most traditional steakhouses, the restaurant offers something for everyone in a truly special setting.
Manny’s
Minneapolis steakhouse staple Manny’s—inside the W Minneapolis in the historic Foshay Tower—takes steak so seriously that they source breed-specific Black Angus beef from their own Midwest-raised cattle. They even offer a “bull to table” menu that allows diners to explore multiple cuts of “Manny’s Heritage Beef.” On the dinner menu, you’ll also find classics like fresh seafood towers, oysters rockefeller, and steakhouse-style salads.
Murray’s
A Minneapolis classic since 1946, family-owned Murray’s offers a timeless setting for celebrating special moments with their legendary “silver butter knife” steaks and warm hospitality. Located in one of the oldest buildings in the city, Murray’s delivers that quintessential upscale steakhouse experience perfect for a romantic evening, a birthday celebration, or holiday.
Butcher’s Tale
Boasting Minnesota beef, housemade sausages, inventive sides, a toast-worthy whiskey list, and a few private dining room options, Butcher’s Tale is a great choice for any special occasion. If you can’t imagine celebrating life’s special moments without your four-legged family members, the outdoor beer garden is dog-friendly and open in every season.
801 Chophouse
Inspired by 1920’s-era New York steakhouses, 801 Chophouse offers an atmosphere of steak-and-seafood centric sophistication for your special occasion, plus a truly epic wine selection on Nicollet. For a larger dinner (from 18-50 guests), you can book one of four private dining rooms.
Minneapolis Italian Special Occasion Restaurants
Bar La Grassa and 112 Eatery
Minneapolis restaurant power couple James Beard award-winning chef Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre offer two Italian-influenced restaurants perfect for a special occasion. Bar La Grassa offers a bustling dining room, small plates and pasta, and a neighborhood feel, while 112 Eatery offers a more intimate and upscale experience with elevated comfort food.
Zelo
Offering contemporary, upscale Italian food on Nicollet Mall with a focus on Midwest ingredients since 1999, Zelo is a Minneapolis go-to for special occasion meals. From housemade ravioli and walleye milanese to wild mushroom flatbread and beet caprese with local burrata, the fresh menu and white-tablecloth service combine to make any birthday, anniversary, or celebration memorable.
i.e. Italian Eatery
South Minneapolis neighborhood gem Italian Eatery offers a warm and inviting atmosphere along with a menu that pays homage to traditional Italian flavors with shareable plates and hearty pasta dishes. The restaurant offers private dining reservations for large parties and special events in several chic spaces.
Minneapolis Fine Dining Restaurants with Cozy and Intimate Settings
Alma
James Beard Award-winning chef Alex Robert’s seasonal tasting menus at Alma combine cozy ambiance and innovative flavors to make this spot a perfect choice for an intimate celebration. Complete with thoughtful wine pairings and craft cocktails, this understated and elegant eatery puts the focus on local farmers and producers, and has been a celebrated special occasion spot since it opened in 1999.
Petite León
Located in South Minneapolis’s charming Kingfield neighborhood, chef Jorge Guzmán’s Petite León combines fine dining with a welcoming, neighborhood vibe and sustainable ingredients. From a remarkable cheeseburger and fries to mussels, steak, and chicken entrees, this inviting spot has something for everyone.
Chloe by Vincent
Offering un-stuffy French food in a historic space that’s now the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District hotel, Chef Vincent Francoual’s Chloe offers specials inspired by the chef’s family recipes (think French onion soup, cassoulet, and steak tartare). For diners with little ones, there’s an innovative Kid’s Menu that offers classics inspired by French school cafeteria food.
All Saints
Specializing in upscale wood-fire cuisine and craft cocktails, All Saints in Northeast Minneapolis offers a minimal, elegant dining room and romantic terrace for a variety of special occasion dining options. Known for their innovative veggie-forward dishes, All Saints is best for diners that like to fill the table with shareable delights.
