Spring has finally arrived, and with the warmer temps comes the long-awaited return of cycling season. With the Twin Cities consistently ranked among the most bike-friendly places in the U.S., there's nary a restaurant in the city that's unreachable by bike. But whether you're looking for coffee, ice cream, a hearty sandwich, or a cold beer, you hardly have to stray onto the street with these nine spots to eat and drink along Minneapolis's bike trails, mapped for your cycling pleasure (and also including directions on how to reach each spot on two wheels).
Did we leave off your favorite spot to fuel up mid-ride? Let us know in the comments.
Named one of the top 10 bakeries in America and serving coffee from local artisan roasters Dogwood, Rustica is a step above your typical coffee & pastries stop. Have a chocolate croissant while you decide how you'd prefer your coffee brewed (pour-over? Clover drip?). If you're hungry for more than a pastry, try the new lunch menu, created by Victory 44's Erick Harcey. Take the Midtown Greenway and look for the "Calhoun Village Shoppes" exit just a couple hundred feet north of the Burnham Trail exit.
Anyone who has biked around Lake Calhoun has witnessed the swarm surrounding this laid-back seafood stand. Already revered for their fish tacos, this summer Tin Fish will also feature a food truck that will circle Lake Calhoun serving ice cream and popsicles. Located at the NE corner of Lake Calhoun, steps from the Chain of Lakes trail, Tin Fish typically opens from Late April - Mid October, depending on the weather. This year, it opens Friday, April 26th at noon.
Operated by restaurateur Kim Bartmann - who also owns Bryant Lake Bowl, Barbette, the Red Stag, and Pat's Tap - Bread and Pickle sources local, in-season ingredients to create their picnic-friendly menu. Whether you want to make a quick stop for some popcorn or a longer lunch stop (you earned those cheese curds!). It's located right at the band shell on the west side of Lake Harriett, right off the Lake Harriet Parkway trail between 42nd and 44th St.
You can often spot the long lines from the trail, but they simply confirm that Grand Ole Creamery offers some of Minneapolis's best homemade ice cream. Despite the lines, the wait isn't actually too long, so take a pedaling break for a scoop of Nutty Professor in a handmade waffle cone. Take the E. Minnehaha Parkway trail to Cedar Ave and you'll find the Grand Ole Creamery right off the trail next to the Caribou Coffee.
Well known for their fresh oysters, fish tacos, and po' boys, getting to Sea Salt is far more convenient on two wheels than four. Great seafood means big crowds, and parking in the popular Minnehaha Park district is often a challenge. Instead ride the Hiawatha Bike Trail all the way to Minnehaha Park, and Sea Salt is right off Minnehaha Pkwy, just a stroll above the famous Minnehaha Falls.
For those who can never make up their mind, Midtown Global Market is an ideal stop with endless award-winning cheap eats to fuel your two-wheeled trek. Pick up a kimchee-scallion pancake from the Left Handed Cook, grab a Sonoran Hotdog from the new Sonora Grill, and finish with dessert from the James Beard-nominated Salty Tart. Ride right up by taking the Midtown Greenway to the Chicago St. exit, and take the steps up to the market.
A bike commuter haven, the Midtown Bike Cafe is located within the Freewheel Bike Center on the Midtown Greenway. Offering Peace Coffee, nutrition bars, and facilities outfitted with bike storage, bike repair, and showers; there's no better pit stop to re-feul both your body and bike. Ride the Midtown Greenway to find the cafe just beneath 10 Ave S.
From the owners of Edina Grill, Longfellow Grill is a laid-back neighborhood eatery offering familiar favorites like grilled cheese alongside offerings like a steak & pierogis platter. Take the W. River Parkway trail to the Lake Street exit, and the grill is on your right after about 500 feet.
Whether you want a craft IPA microbrew or a gourmet black cherry soda, Pracna's got a great beverage menu for quenching your post-bicycling thirst. (Plus, a full lunch/dinner menu.) Just take the historic Stone Arch pedestrian/bike bridge to the east side of the river, and head west on the riverfront trail to find Pracna just steps from the bike path.
Named one of the top 10 bakeries in America and serving coffee from local artisan roasters Dogwood, Rustica is a step above your typical coffee & pastries stop. Have a chocolate croissant while you decide how you'd prefer your coffee brewed (pour-over? Clover drip?). If you're hungry for more than a pastry, try the new lunch menu, created by Victory 44's Erick Harcey. Take the Midtown Greenway and look for the "Calhoun Village Shoppes" exit just a couple hundred feet north of the Burnham Trail exit.
Anyone who has biked around Lake Calhoun has witnessed the swarm surrounding this laid-back seafood stand. Already revered for their fish tacos, this summer Tin Fish will also feature a food truck that will circle Lake Calhoun serving ice cream and popsicles. Located at the NE corner of Lake Calhoun, steps from the Chain of Lakes trail, Tin Fish typically opens from Late April - Mid October, depending on the weather. This year, it opens Friday, April 26th at noon.
Operated by restaurateur Kim Bartmann - who also owns Bryant Lake Bowl, Barbette, the Red Stag, and Pat's Tap - Bread and Pickle sources local, in-season ingredients to create their picnic-friendly menu. Whether you want to make a quick stop for some popcorn or a longer lunch stop (you earned those cheese curds!). It's located right at the band shell on the west side of Lake Harriett, right off the Lake Harriet Parkway trail between 42nd and 44th St.
You can often spot the long lines from the trail, but they simply confirm that Grand Ole Creamery offers some of Minneapolis's best homemade ice cream. Despite the lines, the wait isn't actually too long, so take a pedaling break for a scoop of Nutty Professor in a handmade waffle cone. Take the E. Minnehaha Parkway trail to Cedar Ave and you'll find the Grand Ole Creamery right off the trail next to the Caribou Coffee.
Well known for their fresh oysters, fish tacos, and po' boys, getting to Sea Salt is far more convenient on two wheels than four. Great seafood means big crowds, and parking in the popular Minnehaha Park district is often a challenge. Instead ride the Hiawatha Bike Trail all the way to Minnehaha Park, and Sea Salt is right off Minnehaha Pkwy, just a stroll above the famous Minnehaha Falls.
For those who can never make up their mind, Midtown Global Market is an ideal stop with endless award-winning cheap eats to fuel your two-wheeled trek. Pick up a kimchee-scallion pancake from the Left Handed Cook, grab a Sonoran Hotdog from the new Sonora Grill, and finish with dessert from the James Beard-nominated Salty Tart. Ride right up by taking the Midtown Greenway to the Chicago St. exit, and take the steps up to the market.
A bike commuter haven, the Midtown Bike Cafe is located within the Freewheel Bike Center on the Midtown Greenway. Offering Peace Coffee, nutrition bars, and facilities outfitted with bike storage, bike repair, and showers; there's no better pit stop to re-feul both your body and bike. Ride the Midtown Greenway to find the cafe just beneath 10 Ave S.
From the owners of Edina Grill, Longfellow Grill is a laid-back neighborhood eatery offering familiar favorites like grilled cheese alongside offerings like a steak & pierogis platter. Take the W. River Parkway trail to the Lake Street exit, and the grill is on your right after about 500 feet.
Whether you want a craft IPA microbrew or a gourmet black cherry soda, Pracna's got a great beverage menu for quenching your post-bicycling thirst. (Plus, a full lunch/dinner menu.) Just take the historic Stone Arch pedestrian/bike bridge to the east side of the river, and head west on the riverfront trail to find Pracna just steps from the bike path.
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