Day One

MORNING

Breakfast: Although more commonly known as a brewpub, The Freehouse takes breakfast seriously as well. Here you'll find plenty of healthy options, American breakfast classics and homemade English muffins to help get your girls weekend started. And if you're looking to be a little more adventurous in the morning, try their gnocchi breakfast special—basil pesto, cream bacon, arugula.

Shop: A short walk away, an awning of suspended pots and pans hints at what’s inside Cooks | Bellacour. You can score just about any kitchen accessory you’re looking for, along with all sorts of things you didn’t think you needed in your life until now (wiener-dog-shaped corn cob holders!) Best of all, this is the spot for a fun cooking class with the besties. A few blocks away, the North Loop area presents a multitude of boutiques and local shops. Find a few statement pieces and unique accessories to upgrade your closet.

AFTERNOON

Lunch: A trio of food-loving girlfriends launched Hen House Eatery in 2014 to serve farm-fresh fabulousness among downtown’s skyscrapers. Their Avocado Tuna Melt with pickles, bacon, tomatoes and mozzarella is a hit, and if you love breakfast food for lunch, it’s hard to go wrong here, with build-your-own omelet ingredients including chorizo, quinoa, feta cheese and hollandaise sauce.

Shop: Founders Sabrina Jones and Angela Lamb-Onayiga bring their entrepreneurial backgrounds of handmade goods, skincare and clothing to Sistah Co-Op in downtown's IDS center. These entrepreneurs and friends opened up a new collaborative shop that celebrates local BIPOC brands and business owners.

Treat yourself: In August of 2019, Hotel Ivy renovated and renamed its spa, making it one of the most sought-after places to escape in the cities. Anda Spa features an unmatched menu of services, including crystal-based healing practices and hydrotherapy in addition to more traditional scrubs and massages. Once you’re left feeling as relaxed as a wet noodle, head to Lontis Day Spa for mani-pedis and some polish to prep for a snazzy night out.

EVENING

Dinner: James Beard award-winning chef Isaac Becker has crafted so many magical Italian dishes at North Loop’s Bar La Grassa, it’s hard to know where to start. Our tip: share as many plates as you can. The soft egg and lobster bruschetta and gnocchi with cauliflower and orange are best-sellers for good reason.

End your night: Long communal tables allow plenty of room to chat with old friends—and make new ones—at Royal Foundry Craft Spirits. A giant Union Jack, a red phone booth and British-style bowling lanes lend across-the-pond vibes to the distillery serving gin-, rum- and whiskey-based drinks.

Alternative: Right next to Royal Foundry but thousands of miles away in style, La Doña Cervecería pours Latin American-inspired brews such as the Fired Up chili pepper IPA among brightly colored murals and other wall art.

Day Two

MORNING

Brunch: Weekends are a drag (the fun kind) at Union Rooftop. Themed Flip Phone drag brunches run the gamut from Grease and The Greatest Showman to Lizzo and Nicki Minaj. Even when sassy queens aren’t sashaying among the tables, the glass-enclosed space is the perfect spot to sip mimosas, dive into eggs benedict and savor the Minneapolis skyline.

Explore: For a quieter cultural experience, stroll through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Pose for an iconic shot in front of the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry, then head for the newest favorite: a towering blue rooster called Hahn/Cock. The adjacent Walker Art Center showcases an eclectic mix of contemporary works, plus an artist-designed miniature golf course during the summer months.

AFTERNOON

Treat yourself: Theater is a big deal in Minneapolis, with dozens of companies based in the region. Even longtime locals often find themselves stumbling upon a venue they’ve never heard of before. If you’re looking for a longtime legend, check out a matinee at the Guthrie Theater, home to the best intermissions thanks to its Endless Bridge overlooking the Mississippi and the stunning Stone Arch Bridge.

Alternatives: Other renowned companies in town include Jungle Theater, staging creative new works each season, and Theater Latté Da, performing at the intimate Ritz Theater.

Play: Create your own floating Happy Hour with Minneapolis Water Taxi. Up to six passengers are allowed on cushy, covered boats helmed by Captains Greg Hoseth and Cory Parkos, who navigate past Mississippi River landmarks while you enjoy BYO snacks and drinks (alcohol is allowed) on this 1-hour cruise.

Alternative: You’re never too old for the artist-designed indoor miniature golf course at Can Can Wonderland. Each of the 18 holes is delightfully unconventional (on the 17th, you wear a helmet, place your ball on top of a tee and swing at it with a bat). This underground playground also stars vintage arcade games, cocktails and way more fun than should be legal.

Shop: Customers come to Kitchen Window for the incredible selection of cooking gear and gourmet food, then stay for the classes at the state-of-the-art cooking school. This is the perfect place to learn and execute your “I’ve always wanted to try this” list of recipes: sushi, handmade pasta and Thai cuisine, for starters.

EVENING

Dinner: Rooftop dining at places like LynLake Brewery are warm-weather musts. No matter the season, the brewery’s sampler platter delivers the perfect shareable starter, with spicy pepper-cauliflower poppers, tempura avocado, fresh potato chips and addictive chicken wings

End your night: Don’t be intimated by the occasional line out the door at Milkjam Creamery; the small-batch ice cream treats are worth the wait. Get a flight of four flavors to maximize your sampling, or go big with the Jam Bun: your flavor of choice sandwiched between two halves of a Glam Doll doughnut.