The Heart of Downtown: Nicollet
Walk the Line From the Walker Art Center to the River
Nicollet (formerly known as Nicollet Mall) has long been downtown’s core shopping and entertainment artery. Its comprehensive remodel has enhanced the experience for visitors, folks who work downtown, and the area’s residential population. With motor vehicles restricted to buses and taxis, this mile-long, go-to pedestrian oasis is lined by bar and restaurant sidewalk seating, art, bountiful greenery, and many shopping options. Before marching down this strip of leisure and people watching, stop by the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center, located right on the corner of 5th Street and Nicollet. Here you can get all your Minneapolis questions answered by staff, including directions and suggestions about things to do in the area.
Nicollet Skyway
It’s difficult to miss the numerous skyways crossing Nicollet. The Minneapolis Skyway System is the largest, contiguous system of enclosed, second level bridges in the world, composed of roughly 8 miles of pathways connecting 80 city blocks. This grim-weather retreat contains multiple places to eat, shop, and drink as well as access to Orchestra Hall, Target Center, Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, and more.
On Nicollet, there are a number of skyway access points, including the cavernous Crystal Court in the IDS (between 7th and 8th Street)—the tallest building in downtown—and the flagship Target store on Nicollet and 9th Street. Along Nicollet, eating options on the skyway level (or accessible by skyway) include chains like Freshii, Roti, Naf Naf Grille, Chipotle, Dairy Queen, Leann Chin, and Starbucks. For locally owned options, check out The Brothers Deli and Caribou Coffee.
If you're looking for something cozy and warm, and you don't really want to leave the skyway, then look no further than Come Pho Soup. This French Vietnamiese fusion restaurant offers steaming bowls of pho (including build your own!) and filling Banh Mi sandwiches.
If you’re shopping along the Nicollet skyway corridor, you’ll have access to Target, Hubert White, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack, and Walgreens.
Where to Eat & Drink
Minneapolis has a particular affinity for outdoor dining. At ground level, Nicollet has a pleasing series of sidewalk patios that invite long, lazy meals, drinks, and people watching without having to shout over cars, trucks, and motorcycles roaring by.
Closing in on 30 years of business, Brit’s Pub has evolved into a kind of English Pub attraction as much as it is a place to get a bite and a pint. Soccer and rugby games bring in a specialized audience of passionate sports fans and the massive rooftop English Garden Park has a 10,000 square foot lawn bowling green, as well as offering a pleasant place to catch some sun.
Enjoy modern Latin American tacos and tapas, plus a truly wonderful happy hour, at Barrio. The made-to-order guacamole and pork carnitas tacos are excellent with a margarita made with over 100 tequila varieties.
The news theme décor in The News Room is a little out of place with the Star Tribune offices being several blocks away, but WCCO TV is just up the block, so we’ll allow it. The giant restaurant, punctuated by the clipper ship-shaped bar, is known for its menu of American food and it's spacious room acoustics. We won’t spoil the surprise, but the bathrooms here are memorable.
Need a quick pick-me-up or looking for something to sip on while stroll this main street in the heart of downtown? Coconut Whisk is a gluten free, vegan and allergen friendly cafe that serves re-imagined takes on waffles and pancakes as well as healthy spins on boba tea flavors and coffee.
Located in the iconic IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis, noa is the new hotspot for lunch. This inviting and spacious California-inspired eatery, serves chef-crafted fare and signature cocktails.
Where to Shop
The two-level, flagship Target Store at 9th Street has become the one-stop destination for downtown workers and residents to satisfy virtually any need. The grocery section in particular has grown to be a comprehensive shopping option for both residents doing their weekly shopping and visitors seeking quick hotel-room breakfasts and snacks. Inside the IDS building on 7th Street, you'll find Sistah Co-op. This collaborative shop that celebrates local BIPOC brands and business owners is perfect for finding some one of a kind souvenirs. And Strive Bookstore uplifts voices of Black authors and carries culturally relevant children's books. At their storefront in IDS, you can shop or attend a multicultural literary event.
For more low budget shopping head down the escalators of the City Center building and browse through the latest trends and styles at Marshalls.
Nearby, is Departments at Daytons, which houses a diverse array of vendors from across Minnesota to sell their unique goods, everything from jewelry and candles to hats, apparel, and crafts.
Uniquely Global provides fast fashion at designer boutique quality, spices you only smell and taste in restaurants, statement art pieces that are handmade and worthy of conversation, and so much more. This woman-owned store can be found on the ground level of the Gaviidae Commons.
Things to Do
Walker Art Center
Acting as an unofficial bookend to Nicollet is the Walker Art Center, a Minneapolis institution since 1940. Its continued work and relevance has made it one of the most visited modern and contemporary art museums in the country. Permanent and temporary interdisciplinary exhibits are supplement by places to rest your feet on the roof-top terrace, plazas, and gardens. Across the street, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the largest urban sculpture park in the world. The park features some 40 works of contemporary art, including the city’s iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry” and a striking, 15-foot, blue chicken. Orchestra Hall is home to the distinguished, Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, founded in 1903, who stage roughly 175 performances each year. The venue is known for its outstanding acoustics, which one can visually appreciate with the more than 100 panels on the ceiling and back wall of the stage, directing sound down and out into the house. They also host all manner of touring modern, popular, and classical music groups and special events.
The Dakota Jazz Club is a delightful music venue/chef-driven restaurant combination. It has hosted a wide variety of artists including Lucinda Williams, Philip Glass, Rickie Lee Jones, Suzanne Vega, Cowboy Junkies, Angelique Kidjo, Mavis Staples, Anoushka Shankar, Nick Lowe and Ronnie Spector. Prince liked to frequent the Dakota as both guest and as performer, which is about as high praise as a place can get.
You can find the popular Mary Tyler Moore statue at Nicollet and 7th Street. A beloved attraction by fans, tourists and locals since it first arrived on Nicollet in 2001, the statue captures the iconic moment Mary throws her Tam o' Shanter in the air during the opening credits of the 1970s hit TV Show.
Take on one of three exclusive escape room experiences at Escape the Room Minneapolis. Test your smarts and puzzle-solving abilities in these secret and mystery filled rooms.
Most of the action on Nicollet happens on the south end of the street, but alternatively, you can walk or ride north and, with a zig and a zag, you’ll run into the mighty Mississippi River. This section of the river has been designated as the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, so whether you go right or left when you hit the water, you’ll be in prime walking, jogging, and biking grounds.
Still left wondering where to go next? Visit the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center for maps and guides for getting around Minneapolis.
Getting To and Around Nicollet
The easiest way to get to Nicollet is by light rail. Both Blue and Green line trains make a stop right on the main street. You'll also find a Nice Ride bike share station on the corner of 5th Street and Nicollet if you feel the urge to get to the other end of Nicollet in a hurry.
From here, if you head south along Nicollet, look for the “Light Walk,” a pedestrian-scaled trellis serving as an armature for a two-block-long overhead light installation made from mirrored fins and programmable LED lights. The same area also features the “Art Walk,” an alternating row of trees, light masts and lantern, which will be the main staging area for markets and events. Without lingering too long in the street (obviously), keep an eye out for the 50 new, decorative Minnesota-themed manhole covers along Nicollet.
