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Where to wander for the best in eating near the MCC
Photo Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center

Where to Eat Near the Minneapolis Convention Center

The best in eating and drinking that’s walking distance on the street and in the skyways

by Joy Summers
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Where to wander for the best in eating near the MCC
| Photo Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center
by Joy Summers

Most seasons in Minneapolis are beautiful. There’s the verdant green of summer and all the other ones that are easily viewed from our skyway system connecting most of downtown in an ariel glass pathway that means while visiting, it’s easy to stay out of the elements. The Convention Center is connected, although it’s a bit of a winding hike. The good news is that at the end of these journeys, there are plenty of places in downtown Minneapolis to explore for great food and world class drinks. Here are the best bets, walking distance from the Convention Center.

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P.S. Steak

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A quick Uber/Lyft ride away is the most elegant restaurant in Minneapolis, an a perfect spot to grab an impressive steak dinner. At the base of an historic building that houses high-end condos is an opulent dining room with a menu and beverage that are the best in expense account dining.

Outside walk.

510 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 886-1620
(612) 886-1620
One of two dining rooms available
Lucy Hawthorne/Eater Twin Cities

Also featured in:

Lotus Restaurant

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A longtime favorite for takeaway Vietnamese fare with legendary eggrolls.

Outside walk.

113 W Grant St, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 870-1218
(612) 870-1218
Lotus / Facebook

Also featured in:

Butcher & The Boar

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This beer and bourbon meat paradise has been packed since it opened several years ago. Vie for bar space inside, try and snag a reservation or dip into the year-round beer garden out back. Inside massive pork chops are smoked, while outside brats and sausages pair perfectly with the beer selections.

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 238-8888
(612) 238-8888
A tray with a big sandwich and fries on top of a barrel in front of an Adam Turman mural that was the side of Butcher and the Boar. The mural shows yellow flowers and barrels
Snacks out on the patio or a decadent, higher end full dinner inside
Butcher and the Boar [Official]

Also featured in:

Lakes & Legends Brewing Company

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This slick brewery is a favorite of Minneapolis beer aficionados. Have a hang with a beer flight and a round of hammerschlagen. There’s no food made on site, but food trucks make a regular appearance.

Outside walk.

1368 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 999-6020
(612) 999-6020

Also featured in:

The Nicollet Diner

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A 24 hour diner with classy griddled and fried food along with malts and some boozy options.

Outside walk.

1428 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 399-6258
(612) 399-6258

Also featured in:

Sushi Train

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Grab a plate from the rotating ones available on the little train rolling through the restaurant. Incredibly fresh, satisfying sushi are available for lunch and dinner.

Outside walk.

1200 Nicollet Mall Suite C3, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 259-8488
(612) 259-8488
Sushi Train/Facebook

Also featured in:

Brit's Pub

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An English-style pub with fantastic rooftop bocce ball court and plenty of nooks and crannies for a pint and a plate of hearty bar fare.

Outside walk.

1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 332-3908
(612) 332-3908

Also featured in:

Devil's Advocate

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A cozy bar/restaurant right on Nicollet Avenue with a pretty fireplace for cool evenings and sidewalk seats when the weather cooperates. Open for lunch and dinner with a menu full of pizza, pasta, and a few sandwiches. DA is best known for a wide selection of great beer.

Outside walk.

1070 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 354-7735
(612) 354-7735

Zelo

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A polished pasta restaurant with an attached bar. Sleek style and classic Italian fare that’s a continually popular downtown lunch and happy hour stop.

Accessible by skyway.

831 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-7000
(612) 333-7000

Also featured in:

Monello

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Monello is an ideal spot for an elegant dinner from executive chef Mike DeCamp. The restaurant has a way with pasta and no matter what the meal, it should always include a dish of the freshly-made noodles and a liquid pairing from the impressive wine list.

Accessible by skyway.

1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 353-6207
(612) 353-6207
Fresh pasta at Monello
Always, always get the pasta
Monello/Facebook

Also featured in:

Hell's Kitchen Inc.

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An institution of downtown dining, Hell’s Kitchen is known for its incredible breakfast with dishes like the sausage bread, lemon ricotta pancakes and outstanding homemade peanut butter, that’s available to purchase by the jar. The Ralph Steadman art and gothic style leads from breakfast right on through lunch and into a pleasant setting for happy hour or drinks after a long day of meeting.

Accessible by skyway.

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 332-4700
(612) 332-4700
The exterior of Hell’s Kitchen
Begin with breakfast
Hell’s Kitchen [Official]

Also featured in:

Manny's Steakhouse

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A masculine old-school steak house with massive cuts of beef with polished service at the base of a hotel.

Accessible by skyway.

825 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 339-9900
(612) 339-9900

Also featured in:

Cafe Patteen

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A rare standalone, independent coffee shop just a quick skyway jaunt away. Patteen also serves quiche and baked goods made inside this tiny slip of a shop.

Skyway accessible.

920 2nd Ave S #295, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 371-0262
(612) 371-0262
Cafe Patteen/Facebook

Also featured in:

Hot Indian

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What began as a food truck has become a massively popular lunch stop in the skyway. Hot Indian is known for it’s Indian burritos, stuffed with your choice of meat or vegetarian options, wrapped in naan and the irresistibly crispy, spiced fries.

Skyway accessible.

801 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Two wraps with naan, meats, and veggies Hot Indian Food / Website

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P.S. Steak

510 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

A quick Uber/Lyft ride away is the most elegant restaurant in Minneapolis, an a perfect spot to grab an impressive steak dinner. At the base of an historic building that houses high-end condos is an opulent dining room with a menu and beverage that are the best in expense account dining.

Outside walk.

510 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 886-1620
(612) 886-1620
One of two dining rooms available
Lucy Hawthorne/Eater Twin Cities

Lotus Restaurant

113 W Grant St, Minneapolis, MN 55403

A longtime favorite for takeaway Vietnamese fare with legendary eggrolls.

Outside walk.

113 W Grant St, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 870-1218
(612) 870-1218
Lotus / Facebook

Butcher & The Boar

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

This beer and bourbon meat paradise has been packed since it opened several years ago. Vie for bar space inside, try and snag a reservation or dip into the year-round beer garden out back. Inside massive pork chops are smoked, while outside brats and sausages pair perfectly with the beer selections.

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 238-8888
(612) 238-8888
A tray with a big sandwich and fries on top of a barrel in front of an Adam Turman mural that was the side of Butcher and the Boar. The mural shows yellow flowers and barrels
Snacks out on the patio or a decadent, higher end full dinner inside
Butcher and the Boar [Official]

Lakes & Legends Brewing Company

1368 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

This slick brewery is a favorite of Minneapolis beer aficionados. Have a hang with a beer flight and a round of hammerschlagen. There’s no food made on site, but food trucks make a regular appearance.

Outside walk.

1368 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 999-6020
(612) 999-6020

The Nicollet Diner

1428 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

A 24 hour diner with classy griddled and fried food along with malts and some boozy options.

Outside walk.

1428 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 399-6258
(612) 399-6258

Sushi Train

1200 Nicollet Mall Suite C3, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Grab a plate from the rotating ones available on the little train rolling through the restaurant. Incredibly fresh, satisfying sushi are available for lunch and dinner.

Outside walk.

1200 Nicollet Mall Suite C3, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 259-8488
(612) 259-8488
Sushi Train/Facebook

Brit's Pub

1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

An English-style pub with fantastic rooftop bocce ball court and plenty of nooks and crannies for a pint and a plate of hearty bar fare.

Outside walk.

1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 332-3908
(612) 332-3908

Devil's Advocate

1070 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

A cozy bar/restaurant right on Nicollet Avenue with a pretty fireplace for cool evenings and sidewalk seats when the weather cooperates. Open for lunch and dinner with a menu full of pizza, pasta, and a few sandwiches. DA is best known for a wide selection of great beer.

Outside walk.

1070 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 354-7735
(612) 354-7735

Zelo

831 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402

A polished pasta restaurant with an attached bar. Sleek style and classic Italian fare that’s a continually popular downtown lunch and happy hour stop.

Accessible by skyway.

831 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-7000
(612) 333-7000

Monello

1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Monello is an ideal spot for an elegant dinner from executive chef Mike DeCamp. The restaurant has a way with pasta and no matter what the meal, it should always include a dish of the freshly-made noodles and a liquid pairing from the impressive wine list.

Accessible by skyway.

1115 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 353-6207
(612) 353-6207
Fresh pasta at Monello
Always, always get the pasta
Monello/Facebook

Hell's Kitchen Inc.

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402

An institution of downtown dining, Hell’s Kitchen is known for its incredible breakfast with dishes like the sausage bread, lemon ricotta pancakes and outstanding homemade peanut butter, that’s available to purchase by the jar. The Ralph Steadman art and gothic style leads from breakfast right on through lunch and into a pleasant setting for happy hour or drinks after a long day of meeting.

Accessible by skyway.

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 332-4700
(612) 332-4700
The exterior of Hell’s Kitchen
Begin with breakfast
Hell’s Kitchen [Official]

Manny's Steakhouse

825 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402

A masculine old-school steak house with massive cuts of beef with polished service at the base of a hotel.

Accessible by skyway.

825 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 339-9900
(612) 339-9900

Cafe Patteen

920 2nd Ave S #295, Minneapolis, MN 55402

A rare standalone, independent coffee shop just a quick skyway jaunt away. Patteen also serves quiche and baked goods made inside this tiny slip of a shop.

Skyway accessible.

920 2nd Ave S #295, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 371-0262
(612) 371-0262
Cafe Patteen/Facebook

Hot Indian

801 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402

What began as a food truck has become a massively popular lunch stop in the skyway. Hot Indian is known for it’s Indian burritos, stuffed with your choice of meat or vegetarian options, wrapped in naan and the irresistibly crispy, spiced fries.

Skyway accessible.

801 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Two wraps with naan, meats, and veggies Hot Indian Food / Website

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