Update: September 28, 2021

This area of Minneapolis is working to rebuild its community after the events and unrest following George Floyd's death. The community continues to stay resilient and hopeful. In addition to supporting local businesses in this area, you can help by donating directly to the We Love Lake Street fund.

A fun selection of indie stores, entertainment, bars and restaurants in the most walkable neighborhood in Minneapolis makes for a pleasant day and night of indulgence. Lyndale & Lake is an entertainment district with strong visitor appeal. Some of the city’s most diverse shops can be found here along with live performance venues and neighborhood must-stops to keep you entertained.

Where to Eat and Drink

World Street Kitchen

Picture fresh margaritas, a delicious plate of tacos, a cozy sun-filled patio and you've got the setting for a meal at Lago Tacos. The wide selection of burritos and tacos will make sure you never go home hungry.

For local brews and great views, head to LynLake Brewery. You'll find great pints on tap, burgers, and a stellar rooftop and event space.

Galactic Pizza is a place where superheroes and pizza collide. The eccentric decor makes it a fun spot to visit, are the locally sourced, fresh ingredients and specialty pizzas, including vegan options and a choice of gluten-free crusts, will keep everyone in your group satisfied.

For even more vegan options, head to Trio Plant-Based for delicious soul food from Louis Hunter. Enjoy burgers, buffalo mac & cheese, and slow-cooked collard greens at the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minneapolis.

With an amazing rooftop, plenty of Japanese flavors, including ramen, specialty sushi and homemade steam buns, moto-i has been come a favorite spot in this neighborhood for years. And what makes this place even more special is a menu dedicated to their in-house brewed sake.

Built from the popularity of their World Street Kitchen food truck, WSK is the year-round neighborhood restaurant creation from brothers Sameh and Saed Wadi. Featuring flavors from across the globe—from Asia to the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and beyond—this very popular restaurant serves staples, specials, sweets, and cocktails in one friendly spot. After your meal, be sure to grab a scoop from Milkjam Creamery next door!

Need a pick-me-up? Third Space Cafe is a community hotspot that serves up picture-perfect specialty lattes. Saimaa Cafe just opened, and its name comes from Oromo language in Ethiopia which has multifaceted meaning of "come inside" and "memories." They've got all the classic coffee drinks as well as delectable baked goods.

Things to Do

Up-Down Minneapolis

The eternally hip Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater is a foundation of this neighborhood’s decades-long appeal. The combination diner, bowling alley, and live theater space attracts a lively crowd in search of someplace to have some good old fashioned fun.

For more old-school entertainment, head to Up-Down Minneapolis and retreat into your happy childhood memories through stand-up video games, pinball, and gaming consoles, upgraded for grownups with the addition of craft beer (and pizza, don't forget the pizza).

Ready to shop? The Corner Store has been selling used, vintage and consignment clothing, shoes, jewelry and vinyl records—priced for all budgets—since 1979. A large variety of bikes, clothing, accessories and all manner of repair are available Erik’s Bike Board and Ski. Or, sip a cup of coffee while browsing through a large selection of vinyl at Disco Death Records. They also share space with Basement Lab, a modern-day darkroom for film development.

In a neighborhood with plentiful bikes, bars restaurants, and vintage clothing shops, there’s bound to be a lively tattooing culture. Tatus By Koré has been anchored in Lyn-Lake since 1990 and Ink Lab, they also do piercings, since 1995.

Minneapolis has a long, celebrated history of live theater and is second only to New York in theater seats per capita. The Jungle Theater, founded in 1991, operates out of a 150-seat space, where they impressively produce five shows each year in their mission to be “a neighborhood theater with national impact.” Minneapolis also has a long history with comedy improv, a tradition celebrated almost nightly at HUGE Theater since 2010.

Work off some of that delicious food you're enjoying throughout Lyn-Lake at Peer Pressure Fitness and get way more than just a workout—the gym hosts fashion shows, movie nights, networking galas, and more.

Want more? See what other family-fun activities you can enjoy along Lake Street.

Getting to and Around Lyndale & Lake

Metro Transit

(Starting point of Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center on Nicollet)

Parking in the area can be challenging depending on when you visit. Few places have dedicated parking, so you’ll have to scour the streets. If you decide to use public transportation instead, the quickest way to get to Lyndale & Lake from downtown, is to catch the Metro Transit Route 4 Bus, which runs through downtown on Hennepin Ave. every 15 minutes. It’s about a 20 minute ride in good traffic.

Public Transit Routes:
Route 4 Bus

See More of Lake Street

Known as the mid-line of Minneapolis, Lake Street stretches all the way through east and west of the city limits. Lyn-Lake is just one section of this popular and energetic street. Check out more of what to see and do along Lake Street with these travel guides:

Sweet Tooth Tour
Family Fun Tour
Fish Tacos Tour
Music & Books Tour
Green Tour

Neighborhood Map

Download PDF Version