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Orange almond financiers are an ideal way to start the day at Cafe Alma
Alma [Official]

Restaurants Worth Seeking Out Around Dinkytown and the West Bank

From Ethiopian feasts to fine pastries, there’s a little bit of everyone around the University of Minnesota

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Orange almond financiers are an ideal way to start the day at Cafe Alma
| Alma [Official]

Flanking the sprawling University of Minnesota East and West Bank campuses on either side of the mighty Mississippi, Dinkytown and the West Bank are full of eating and drinking options that go way beyond classic college dives.

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This Dinkytown restaurant/cafe/boutique hotel hybrid far exceeds what anyone might expect out of a college-adjacent establishment. Offering dinner-only, seasonally inspired three-course meals, wine pairings and dessert are options for those who want to go all out. Or visit the coffee shop and cafe during the day for Scandinavian vibes and approachable seasonal food.

The exterior of Alma’s restaurants and hotel
All day and all night eating, with a cozy place to stay upstairs
Hotel Alma [Official]

The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

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It would be a crime to dine on the West Bank and pass up the beloved Ethiopian food that The Red Sea serves. A local favorite since the 1990’s, there’s also often live music and Ethiopian beer and a full bar to boot.

A black metal plate holds strips of cooked beef, onion, and green peppers
The neighborhood named West Bank Special
The Red Sea [Official]

Baarakallah Restaurant Somali Cuisine

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Serving up an array of East African dishes with a focus on Somali cuisine, this no-frills spot puts all of its energy into the flavor of its food and it shows. Step past the threshold into Baarakallah’s welcoming atmosphere.

Dilla Ethiopian restaurant

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Also a West Bank Ethiopian gem, the options at the colorful Dilla’s are almost endless. The best part is that there are plenty of choices for vegetarian and vegan diners. So, there’s something flavorful and spicy for everyone.

A hand dips into a huge spread of colors and textures: tomatoes, greens, lentils, and more beside a plate of injera
The feast
Dilla’s [Official]

HardTimes Cafe

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This longtime holdout is infamous for its long hours (it’s open from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m.), punk rock attitude, and vegetarian and vegan fare. A worker-owned operation, visitors will find students posted up working on homework and sipping coffee until the wee hours of the morning here.

The iconic, hand painted exterior of Hard Times Cafe
Open at all hours for cramming both knowledge and veggie-friendly food in

Annie's Parlour

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This is the place to go to get one of the best burgers in the Twin Cities. Don’t eat meat? The veggie burger is one of the few that’s packed with flavor and doesn’t fall apart the second it’s picked up. Pair it with one of their many classic malts or milkshakes and order a basket of fries to share.

Loring Bar & Restaurant

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This beautiful, low-lit spot is a date night favorite (a $30 dinner for two on Tuesdays) especially because of its proximity to the Varsity Theater. The staff-owned restaurant also serves buffet-style brunch on the weekends and often host weddings and other events in their eclectically outfitted space.

View of the eclectic seating upstairs and down on the lower level
Notably located no where near Loring Park. It’s a long story. Just enjoy the views and the comfort food.
Loring Bar & Restaurant [Official]

Al's Breakfast

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Famously featured on national food-focused TV shows and considered a Minnesota icon, this 14-stool diner came into existence in the 1950’s and has been whipping up eggs, pancakes, and other breakfast classics for hordes of hungry students alongside visitors from across the metro area ever since.

Black and white image of a server putting down a couple of giant pancakes in front of a shadowed person at the slim counter
Grabbing one of these coveted seats is a Dinkytown rite of passage
Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

Alma

This Dinkytown restaurant/cafe/boutique hotel hybrid far exceeds what anyone might expect out of a college-adjacent establishment. Offering dinner-only, seasonally inspired three-course meals, wine pairings and dessert are options for those who want to go all out. Or visit the coffee shop and cafe during the day for Scandinavian vibes and approachable seasonal food.

The exterior of Alma’s restaurants and hotel
All day and all night eating, with a cozy place to stay upstairs
Hotel Alma [Official]

The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

It would be a crime to dine on the West Bank and pass up the beloved Ethiopian food that The Red Sea serves. A local favorite since the 1990’s, there’s also often live music and Ethiopian beer and a full bar to boot.

A black metal plate holds strips of cooked beef, onion, and green peppers
The neighborhood named West Bank Special
The Red Sea [Official]

Baarakallah Restaurant Somali Cuisine

Serving up an array of East African dishes with a focus on Somali cuisine, this no-frills spot puts all of its energy into the flavor of its food and it shows. Step past the threshold into Baarakallah’s welcoming atmosphere.

Dilla Ethiopian restaurant

Also a West Bank Ethiopian gem, the options at the colorful Dilla’s are almost endless. The best part is that there are plenty of choices for vegetarian and vegan diners. So, there’s something flavorful and spicy for everyone.

A hand dips into a huge spread of colors and textures: tomatoes, greens, lentils, and more beside a plate of injera
The feast
Dilla’s [Official]

HardTimes Cafe

This longtime holdout is infamous for its long hours (it’s open from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m.), punk rock attitude, and vegetarian and vegan fare. A worker-owned operation, visitors will find students posted up working on homework and sipping coffee until the wee hours of the morning here.

The iconic, hand painted exterior of Hard Times Cafe
Open at all hours for cramming both knowledge and veggie-friendly food in

Annie's Parlour

This is the place to go to get one of the best burgers in the Twin Cities. Don’t eat meat? The veggie burger is one of the few that’s packed with flavor and doesn’t fall apart the second it’s picked up. Pair it with one of their many classic malts or milkshakes and order a basket of fries to share.

Loring Bar & Restaurant

This beautiful, low-lit spot is a date night favorite (a $30 dinner for two on Tuesdays) especially because of its proximity to the Varsity Theater. The staff-owned restaurant also serves buffet-style brunch on the weekends and often host weddings and other events in their eclectically outfitted space.

View of the eclectic seating upstairs and down on the lower level
Notably located no where near Loring Park. It’s a long story. Just enjoy the views and the comfort food.
Loring Bar & Restaurant [Official]

Al's Breakfast

Famously featured on national food-focused TV shows and considered a Minnesota icon, this 14-stool diner came into existence in the 1950’s and has been whipping up eggs, pancakes, and other breakfast classics for hordes of hungry students alongside visitors from across the metro area ever since.

Black and white image of a server putting down a couple of giant pancakes in front of a shadowed person at the slim counter
Grabbing one of these coveted seats is a Dinkytown rite of passage
Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

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