Made famous in Prince's song "Uptown", the area surrounding Hennepin and Lake Street in Minneapolis is a youthful fusion of global cuisine, local retail, and lively nightlife with nature rooted just beyond the bustling main intersection.

Block by block you'll find multitudes of restaurants, bars, and shops, and adventuring a little further will bring you to Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun), the largest fixture in the city's Chain of Lakes

A favorite for rooftop brunch fans (per the weather's approval), Uptown will not disappoint.

Things To Do

Bde Maka Ska, Photo by Krivit Photography

Outdoors

Minnesotans celebrate the outdoors like few other cities. Sure, we like our winters, but the first time the temperature pokes its head above 45, the shorts come out (no kidding) and people flock to the lakes and parks. The Chain of Lakes is the city’s most popular of our many, many parks. (Fun fact: By design, no Minneapolis resident lives farther than six blocks from a park.)

The Chain of Lakes is also a key component of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, a 51-mile loop composed of parkways, trails, and the Mississippi River Boulevard. It’s the only scenic byway in the country located entirely within an urban area. The chain is composed of Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun), Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, and Brownie Lake. They all have bike and pedestrian paths, boating docks, boating, kayaking, gardens, and picnic areas. Also available at some lakes are facilities for archery, fishing, tennis, soccer, volleyball, grills, skiing paths, ice rinks, and lakeside restaurants.

Perennial Cycle on Hennepin sells, repairs, and rents bikes if the sudden desire to bike around the lakes hits while you are bike-free. If it’s aquatic transportation you’re looking for, Wheel Fun Rentals rents stand-up paddle boards, pedal boats, kayaks, and canoes among other biking equipment as well.

Arts & Nightlife

Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater is an all-in-one date night destination, with bowling (you'll have to learn how to keep score the old school way here), live shows, and a great tap selection (where else can you enjoy two entrées, a bottle of wine or a few beers, and one round of bowling for $28 per couple?). For more cinematic entertainment options, Lagoon Cinema screens new releases, but it’s better known for showing indie, foreign, and avant-garde films that are otherwise absent from larger, national theater chains.

Make sure to visit Arts + Rec Uptown, a playful and artsy rooftop patio that serves fair-inspired eats and some of their cocktails in a pouch (adult juice boxes, anyone?) during the warm months. There's also a 9-hole mini golf course designed by local artists, a black box theater and a bopping speakeasy to be explored all year round.

A prominent hot spot for a night on the town, Uptown appeals to bar hoppers, late nighters, and fun seekers alike. Some popular night spots include Amazing Thailand and The Pourhouse Uptown.

Where to Shop

No matter your taste in clothing or goods, you're bound to find something you like shopping around Uptown. Covered features designer brands for women and has a group of "lifestylists" to help you find the perfect outfit — by appointment only. Les Sol is owned by a pair of sisters and carries unique styles inspired by good summer vibes. They consider themselves part of the "slow fashion" movement. Similarly, Combine stocks European-esque clothes and goods made by independent designers or small businesses. H&M offers affordable, trendy menswear and womenswear. And if you're into skateboarding or just cool streetwear in general, pop into Cal Surf to find clothes for all, shoes, skateboards and other accessories.

New to Uptown is Primitiva Collective — a gallery-style boutique featuring the creations of female makers in Minnesota, many of whom are women of color. Each maker has their own space with goods from pottery and artwork, to candles, accessories and skin care products and contributes 30% of their sales to the collective. Along with boutiques and clothing stores, there's Penzey's Spices and The Eye Mpls — your gateway store to all things metaphysical. Leisure World Vintage is another spot to check out. This secluded, garden-level shop specializes in affordable, true vintage clothing.

A neighborhood institution, Magers & Quinn Booksellers has been Uptown’s independent, new and used bookstore and literary events space for over 20 years and among the best bookstores in the state. They also sell cards, maps and other gifts.

Where to Eat & Drink

Barbette

Offering a trip across the Atlantic for your taste buds is the much-loved French bistro Barbette. Serving breakfast, brunch and dinner with frequent live music, its daily late night happy hour is a crowd favorite. Even better, they get much of their ingredients from farmers and producers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Lake & Irving Restaurant and Bar serves up globally influenced gastropub dishes—like Korean gochujang smoked chicken wings, hot fries with ghost pepper aioli, loaded burgers, and Hawaiian loco moco—along with a great patio, top-notch cocktails, and welcoming neighborhood vibe. They also host trivia every Thursday night!

Kiku Bistro serves creative Japanese options, including excellent sushi. Darbar India Grill has a giant menu of contemporary Indian dishes, including numerous lamb, seafood, and vegetarian options—and some of the best naan in the area. Local health food chain, Agra Culture Kitchen & Press, serves light fare with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, along with juices and smoothies.

La La Homemade Ice Cream sells traditional and creative ice cream flavors as well as ice cream cakes, take-home pints, and floats made with house-made sodas. (Check out more sweet treat options along Lake Street).

There are a few cozy places in the neighborhood to have a quiet date night and Troubadour Wine Bar is one of them. It’s an intimate, upscale place with small plates, live acoustic music and, of course, thoughtfully selected wine.

How to Get to and Around

Metro Transit

(Starting point of Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center on Nicollet)

Free parking in this area is typically limited to neighborhood streets and may require a bit of a short walk, but is perfect for getting your steps in! A few places have dedicated parking, otherwise you’ll most likely find the closest parking at a meter or nearby ramp. Good news is that prices are comparable to most other places outside of downtown. If you’re not up for the short walk, paying for a closer spot will definitely not break your bank.

From the Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center in downtown, the quickest way to get to Hennepin & Lake on public transport is to catch the Metro Transit Route 6 Bus, which runs through downtown on Hennepin Ave. every 10 minutes. It’s about a 25 minute ride in good traffic.

Other Public Transit Routes in the Area: Bus Routes: Route 6, Route 17, Route 21, Route 23, Route 114, Route 115, Route 612

For more information on route options from your point of interest, visit Metro Transit's website and for information on other transportation options in the city, visit our Maps & Transportation info page.

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. Uptown 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

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