Minneapolis-Roasted Coffee

If you're looking for Minneapolis-centric gifts for a coffee lover, there's no shortage of roasters to choose from! Sample your way through some local lattes—from roasters like Dogwood Coffee, Five Watt Coffee, Misfit Coffee, The Get Down Coffee Co. and Northern Coffeeworks, among many others—and bring home a bag of your favorite beans.

Minnesota Wild Rice

Did you know Minnesota has more acres of wild rice than any other state in the country? Wild rice, known as manoomin (“good seed”) in Ojibwe, is actually a native grass that grows in shallow waters like Minnesota’s plentiful lakes and rivers. Wild rice is a culturally, religiously, and culinarily important resource to Indigenous peoples in the Great Lakes region, and has become a celebrated ingredient in Minnesota comfort food, from pancakes to soups to stuffings. Many local companies have offered local wild rice hand-harvested by canoe on Minnesota lakes and rivers for decades, and you can find Minnesota wild rice at the Indigenous Food Lab inside Midtown Market (including the Red Lake Nation Foods brand), the Minneapolis Farmers Market, and most local co-ops and supermarkets.

Hai Hai Coconut Chili Crisp and Hola Arepa's Nut & Seed Salsa Macha

We love stocking our pantry with ingredients that celebrate the diversity of Minneapolis, and this duo of "Keep it Spicy" condiments from James Beard Award-nominated Minneapolis chef Christina Nguyen's celebrated restaurants is tailor-made for zesty gift giving (or keeping for yourself). Born in the Twin Cities after her parents met at the University of Minnesota—both her mother and father came to the area as refugees from Vietnam in 1975—Nguyen is known for putting her passion for her Vietnamese-American heritage into every recipe. Order the pair for pickup at Hai Hai to make anything taste a little more like your favorite Minneapolis restaurants.

Hell's Kitchen Bloody Mary Mix (and Peanut Butter!)

Hell's Kitchen, the popular downtown Minneapolis restaurant, is 100% employee-owned and represents an exciting shift in restaurant profit sharing that spreads the wealth around to the people who make restaurants great. Hell’s Kitchen is perhaps best known for its epic 35-foot bloody mary bar, but it's also developed a cult following for its delectable small-batch peanut butter. Take home a little of each with a bottle of Bloody Mary Mix and some of the peanut butter that has earned acclaim from PB&J aficionados worldwide. (If you’re wondering why a Minneapolis restaurant’s homemade peanut butter became famous, Hell’s Kitchen’s PB got a big hat tip from NPR’s Splendid Table back in 2005, which was kind of like winning the foodie lottery.)

Tattersall Lowball Glasses or Minneapolis-Made Beer

Sure, you could bring home a bottle of Tattersall's Minneapolis-made spirits, but why not also grab some gorgeous eight oz. low ball glasses made from recycled Tattersall bottles that will last long after you pour the last drop? For more brewed and distilled local gifts, Minneapolis’s abundant local breweries and bottle shops are a great bet! We love Ombibulous in Northeast Minneapolis, the only liquor store selling 100% made-in-Minnesota beer, cider, wine, seltzers, and spirits.

A Build-Your-Own Juicy Lucy Kit (Really)

Ask a Minneapolitan what foods the city is best known for, and the Jucy Lucy is likely to come up! Two Minneapolis bars, Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club, claim to have invented the hamburger patty stuffed with cheese, and many local restaurants have since jumped on the delicious bandwagon. If you've fallen for the stuffed cheeseburgers made famous for burning countless mouths with molten cheese, you can have 5-8 Club's Juicy Lucy burgers and sweet potato puffs delivered to your door on ice via Goldbelly.

Some Nordic Culinary Staples from Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts

Ever since hundreds of thousands of Norwegian and Swedish immigrants settled in Minnesota in the late 1800s—thanks to a thorny combination of bad conditions in their home countries, the promise of free land from the U.S. government for white settlers, and the ensuing displacement of Dakota and other Indigenous peoples of the land—Nordic and Scandinavian traditions have been closely tied to Minnesotan culture (see: the Minnesota Vikings, the phrase “​uff da,” and lots of Scandinavian food that’s well suited to warm you up on a Minneapolis winter night). Ingebretsons, founded by immigrants from Norway in 1921, was located at the heart of Minneapolis’ Scandinavian immigrant community and is still a great place to stock up on deli meats and Nordic gifts, especially around the winter holidays. It’s easy to picture yourself surrounded by other hungry Minneapolitans stocking up on Swedish cardamom buns, Julekake (Norwegian Christmas bread), lefse (soft potato flatbread), and Swedish meatball mix for a feast!

Cookbooks by Minneapolis Chefs

It's no secret that Minneapolis is home to an incredible variety of restaurants, and you can bring a taste of Minneapolis home with cookbooks authored by renowned local chefs. No matter where you call home, you can cook like you're still in Minneapolis with cookbooks like "Northern Soul: Southern-Inspired Home Cooking from a Northern Kitchen" by Justin Sutherland (a Twin Cities native and Top Chef competitor), "At Home" by Gavin Kaysen (two-time James Beard Award-winning chef of Minneapolis restaurants Spoon and Stable, Bellecour Bakery, Demi, Mara, and Socca Café), or "Herbivorous Butcher Cookbook: 75+ Recipes for Plant-Based Meats and All the Dishes You Can Make With Them" by Aubry Walch and Kale Walch (the sibling duo who revolutionized vegan eating in Minneapolis and beyond).

(Wondering where to find local books? Explore the shelves of Minneapolis independent bookstores like Moon Palace Books, Magers & Quinn, Eat My Words Bookstore, and Wild Rumpus to discover cookbooks, novels, poetry, children's books, and non-fiction by writers with deep connections to the city. Minneapolis has a thriving literary scene, and there's no shortage of talented local authors!)

Bakeware for your kitchen

If you've ever baked up a Bundt®cake, then you must grab an iconic Bundt® Pan from Nordic Ware. The Minnesota company's co-founder Dave Dalquist, coined and trademarked the name to describe the design of the company's unique ring cake pan. Nordic Ware started by selling specialty Scandinavian cookware products and now has an extensive line of American-made cookware, bakeware, grillware and microwave accessories. Check out their Nordic Ware Factory Store for the latest products.

Art from Artists in the Northrup King Building or Casket Arts Building

The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is home to a staggering abundance of working artist studios, including two large spaces—Casket Arts and Northrup King Building—that make buying art directly from local artists a breeze. At Northrup King, the largest art complex in Minnesota, explore paintings and stained glass from Minnesota-born Ashley Mary (whose murals you’ll see around the Twin Cities, from Dripping Root juice bar to Dogwood Coffee), collages and modern paintings by Minnesota-born Ashtyn Sibinski, and illustrations from Jena Holliday (known for her joyful depictions of Black women and mothers, Holliday recently received both the Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant and the Minnesota Regional Arts Council Next Step Grant). At Casket Arts, check out Gina Gaetz’s ethereal abstract paintings, joyful florals from Sandra Felemovicius (a Jewish Mexican artist born in Mexico City who has called Minneapolis home for nearly three decades), Carmen Gutierrez-Bolger (whose work explores the immigrant experience of cultural assimilation and displacement), and many more.

A Piece of Minneapolis-Made Pottery

Take home a piece of Minneapolis's clay scene with ceramic earrings, a one-of-a-kind mug, or a clay fine art sculpture. Local potter favorites include Sandwich Ceramics (functional works handmade with locally produced clay), Amy Von Bargen (who creates handbuilt pottery from stoneware slabs in the Northrup King Building), and Fringe & Fettle Pottery (who you’ll find featured at Julmarknad holiday market at the American Swedish Institute). You can also find locally made ceramics at Northern Clay Center and Dock 6 Pottery and Tile.

Handmade Native American Art and Crafts

Minnesota has a rich Indigenous heritage and vibrant Native community, and you can explore both through unique gifts such as handcrafted jewelry, pottery, and traditional beadwork. The Woodland Crafts Gift Shop at the Minneapolis American Indian Center is a great place to find these one-of-a-kind treasures, as is Birchbark Books & Native Arts, owned by Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa member and author Louise Erdrich.

Art Books featuring Minneapolis Museum Collections

Head to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (know as Mia to locals) for the coffee table-worthy Mia Collection Handbook featuring nearly 400 artworks from their impressive permanent collection or Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists written by Jill Ahlberg Yohe, the associate curator of Native American art at Mia and independent curator Teri Greeves (Kiowa).

Jewelry from Local Makers

Minneapolis has many talented jewelry designers, making for an easy-to-transport gift that can tuck away in your carry-on (or hang from your ears). Check out local gift shops like I Like You, Carousel + Folk, and Les Sol for designs by Larissa Loden (a former middle school art teacher and University of Minnesota alumn turned handmade jewelry entrepreneur), Alison Wendy (a jewelry maker born and raised in Northeast Minneapolis working in brass and silver), and Nelie G Mae (a proud member of the Red Lake Nation who connects to her Ojibwe and mixed European ancestry via intricate beadwork).

A University of Minnesota Collegiate Sweatshirt

The University of Minnesota’s main campus is located in the heart of Minneapolis, minutes from downtown on the banks of the Mississippi River. Head to the University of Minnesota bookstore for an unmatched selection of apparel emblazoned with M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A, and you'll be able to cozy up in the colors of the Golden Gophers no matter where you call home. (Fun fact: UMN is one of only five universities in the nation with an engineering school, medical school, law school, veterinary medicine school, and agricultural school all on one campus!)

Sports Gear from Twin Cities Teams

Whether you're rooting for the Twins at Target Field, vibing with the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, taking in a Timberwolves or Lynx game at Target Center, getting pumped for the Gophers at the U of M, going loony for the Loons of Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field, or wildly waving the banner for the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center, you'll be in a prime spot to collect some only-in-Minnesota sports gear. Grab a jersey, cap, or signature pair of Nikes to represent Twin Cities sports! You can pick up any gear at the stadium, and if you’re visiting on non-game days, find local sports gear at the Target Center Team Store, the Minnesota United Team Store, the Golden Gophers Fan Shop, Northmade Co., and several sports “locker room” shops at the Mall of America.

An Electric Fetus Pom Pom Beanie

Swing by Electric Fetus to explore the legendary Minneapolis record store that’s been a gathering spot for music lovers (including Prince) since it was founded by University of Minnesota drop-outs in 1968—and was famously crowned “the worst name for a business” by National Lampoon. You’ll discover hidden gems from well-known and up-and-coming musicians and over five decades of Minneapolis music history. While you're there, pick up some merch (like a quintessentially Minneapolis pom pom beanie, guitar pick earrings, socks, pint glasses, and shirts) that will make everyone double take and admire your excellent music taste.

David Hockney's 80's Walker Art Center Sweatshirt

The good folks at the Walker Art Center recently discovered some archival photos of artist David Hockney wearing a red sweatshirt with the word "Walker." The sweatshirt was given to visiting artists as a gift in the early 1980s, and Walker recently decided to reproduce it for regular folks, too!

Purple Rain T-Shirts and other Prince Memorabilia

No Minneapolis gift guide would be complete without a nod to the legendary Prince, who was born in North Minneapolis, graduated from Minneapolis Central High School (which closed in 1982), made First Avenue a national music destination, and put Minneapolis on the American cultural map. Paisley Park, Prince's former home and studio in nearby Chanhassen, Minnesota, is now a museum where you can purchase exclusive Prince-themed merchandise. From t-shirts to collectible memorabilia, you'll undoubtedly find the perfect Prince keepsake.

First Avenue Merch

If you are lucky enough to catch a show at First Ave. you will have an experience of a lifetime. Known for its Star Wall outside of the venue that features the hundreds of famous artists that took the stage here at some point in their careers, First Avenue is a landmark concert venue in Minneapolis. It was also featured in Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain. Grab all kinds of t-shirt, socks, hoodies and hats from their merch store and represent one of the most famous places in the city.

Handmade Mittens

Where better to get a pair of mittens that will keep you warm all winter than in Minneapolis? Stellar Handcrafted Goods stitch together one-of-a-kind mittens by taking old wool sweaters and up-cycling them. Every product is made to be completely unique with vintage buttons, hand stitching and creativity.

Goodnight Loon Board Book

Inspired by the childhood favorite "Goodnight Moon," this early reader published by the University of Minnesota Press will bring a Minnesota mood to evening storytimes (think tater tot hotdish, a view of a lake out the window, yellow canoes, and walleye eating rhubarb pie. Pick up a copy at Wild Rumpus, one of our favorite local bookstores.

Minnesota Made Music

The Minnesota Orchestra is a Grammy award winning orchestra known for acclaimed performances here in Minneapolis and around the world. You can listen to them in your own home with one their recordings from over the years. Many of these recordings are under the direction of storied conductor Osmo Vänskä.

A Puzzle Challenge

A fun gift that will remind you of the beautiful images of Minneapolis is a puzzle from PuzzleTwist. They work with local artists to create puzzles that reflect the scenery and culture of Minneapolis and Minnesota, but with a twist. The image on the box cover is a little different than the puzzle you build, making this a fun new challenge on your puzzling adventure. PuzzleTwist is a Minneapolis company and their products can be found at many local gaming stores, gift shops and pop-up markets.