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Photo: Muddy Waters, Northland Beer

Readers Vote: The 9 Best Spots for Dining Solo in MPLS

by Claire Stanford
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by Claire Stanford
Photo: Muddy Waters, Northland Beer

Last week, on a certain solo-discriminating holiday, we asked readers to name their favorite Twin Cities spots for eating alone. The solo dining recs came pouring in, through comments, the tipline, and Twitter, highlighting places with friendly service, good bar seats, and laid-back, solo-friendly atmospheres. Plus, a pro tip about being able to walk-in at one of the North Loop's most popular (and most booked) restaurants, unencumbered by a large party.

So, without further ado, here are the 9 best spots for dining solo in the Twin Cities, as voted by you, the readers.

Want to add your favorite solo dining spot to the list? Let us know in the comments.


· What Are the Twin Cities' Best Restaurants for Dining Solo? [Eater MPLS]
· All Previous Open Threads [Eater MPLS]

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Corner Table

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On Twitter, @markdewes let us know that he likes to go solo to this Kingfield restaurant's bar, where diners can talk with owner Nick and chef/owner Thomas. @lisagaulke seconds the motion: "YES! Best place to commiserate about winter over cassoulet!"
4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 823-0011
(612) 823-0011

Lucia's Restaurant

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Commenter eb03 likes to dine solo at Uptown farm-to-table spot Lucia's: "Lucia's in Uptown is my favorite place to dine alone. It's lovely in the Spring and Summer to sit on the patio and dogs are welcome. Inside you can choose from the cafe or the dining room. It's always quiet enough to read or work also and the food is healthy and the staff is always upbeat and friendly."
31st Street, Minneapolis, MN
612-825-1572
612-825-1572

Muddy Waters Bar & Eatery

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Commenter Jeremy Smith gives the nod to uptown coffee shop/bar Muddy Waters. He writes: "The servers are super friendly and the cozy atmosphere helps you not feel that alone. Plus, with the laid back atmosphere, it is a great place to relax with a Surly beer and a book."
2933 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 872-2232
(612) 872-2232

Common Roots Cafe

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MplsFoodmonster likes to go to Uptown organic spot Common Roots to dine alone: "Common Roots Cafe is perfect for a weekday breakfast. Their scramble with fresh veggies is delish, or you can just get a house-made bagel and cream cheese with a bottomless mug of coffee and read a book or get some work done at one of the sunny window booths."
2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 871-2360
(612) 871-2360

Icehouse

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On Twitter, @eatdrinkrabbit (the Twitter handle of The Rabbit Hole restaurant) puts in a vote for this Whittier bar/restaurant/nightspot. "If I'm solo I'd hit @icehousempls and hide in a dark corner with grub/booze."
2528 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 276-6523
(612) 276-6523

Midtown Global Market

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Commenter tkswan84 likes to graze the stalls at Midtown Global Market for a solo bite: "I love going to the Midtown Global Market grabbing a bite from any of the stalls and people watching. It is the perfect form of solo-relaxing in my opinion."
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 872-4041
(612) 872-4041

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The Bachelor Farmer

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An email came in through the tipline with a vote for this North Loop hotspot (plus a pro tip about walking in): "The Bachelor Farmer's Norsten Bar is definitely my favorite place to eat solo. I can sit at a bar with a friendly and knowledgable staff, enjoy the full TBF food and drink menu, and best of all: it's walk-in only."
50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3920
(612) 206-3920

Joan's in the Park

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An email came in through the tipline with a nod to St. Paul restaurant and wine bar Joan's In The Park, specifically the bar. There was no reason given, so we can only assume it's because of dishes like bone marrow and burrata, which solo diners never have to share.
631 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116
(651) 690-3297
(651) 690-3297

The Strip Club

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Commenter queenofbigtime puts in a vote for St. Paul standby the Strip Club: "Strip Club. Just because." And over on Twitter, @eatdrinkrabbit (the Twitter handle of The Rabbit Hole restaurant), also gives the restaurant a nod, to "chat up Dan at the bar."
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106
(651) 793-6247
(651) 793-6247

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Corner Table

4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
On Twitter, @markdewes let us know that he likes to go solo to this Kingfield restaurant's bar, where diners can talk with owner Nick and chef/owner Thomas. @lisagaulke seconds the motion: "YES! Best place to commiserate about winter over cassoulet!"
4257 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 823-0011
(612) 823-0011

Lucia's Restaurant

31st Street, Minneapolis, MN
Commenter eb03 likes to dine solo at Uptown farm-to-table spot Lucia's: "Lucia's in Uptown is my favorite place to dine alone. It's lovely in the Spring and Summer to sit on the patio and dogs are welcome. Inside you can choose from the cafe or the dining room. It's always quiet enough to read or work also and the food is healthy and the staff is always upbeat and friendly."
31st Street, Minneapolis, MN
612-825-1572
612-825-1572

Muddy Waters Bar & Eatery

2933 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Commenter Jeremy Smith gives the nod to uptown coffee shop/bar Muddy Waters. He writes: "The servers are super friendly and the cozy atmosphere helps you not feel that alone. Plus, with the laid back atmosphere, it is a great place to relax with a Surly beer and a book."
2933 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 872-2232
(612) 872-2232

Common Roots Cafe

2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
MplsFoodmonster likes to go to Uptown organic spot Common Roots to dine alone: "Common Roots Cafe is perfect for a weekday breakfast. Their scramble with fresh veggies is delish, or you can just get a house-made bagel and cream cheese with a bottomless mug of coffee and read a book or get some work done at one of the sunny window booths."
2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 871-2360
(612) 871-2360

Icehouse

2528 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
On Twitter, @eatdrinkrabbit (the Twitter handle of The Rabbit Hole restaurant) puts in a vote for this Whittier bar/restaurant/nightspot. "If I'm solo I'd hit @icehousempls and hide in a dark corner with grub/booze."
2528 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 276-6523
(612) 276-6523

Midtown Global Market

920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Commenter tkswan84 likes to graze the stalls at Midtown Global Market for a solo bite: "I love going to the Midtown Global Market grabbing a bite from any of the stalls and people watching. It is the perfect form of solo-relaxing in my opinion."
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 872-4041
(612) 872-4041

The Bachelor Farmer

50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
An email came in through the tipline with a vote for this North Loop hotspot (plus a pro tip about walking in): "The Bachelor Farmer's Norsten Bar is definitely my favorite place to eat solo. I can sit at a bar with a friendly and knowledgable staff, enjoy the full TBF food and drink menu, and best of all: it's walk-in only."
50 2nd Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 206-3920
(612) 206-3920

Joan's in the Park

631 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116
An email came in through the tipline with a nod to St. Paul restaurant and wine bar Joan's In The Park, specifically the bar. There was no reason given, so we can only assume it's because of dishes like bone marrow and burrata, which solo diners never have to share.
631 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116
(651) 690-3297
(651) 690-3297

The Strip Club

378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106
Commenter queenofbigtime puts in a vote for St. Paul standby the Strip Club: "Strip Club. Just because." And over on Twitter, @eatdrinkrabbit (the Twitter handle of The Rabbit Hole restaurant), also gives the restaurant a nod, to "chat up Dan at the bar."
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106
(651) 793-6247
(651) 793-6247

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