Hotel Recomendations off of Light Rail Line (Minneapolis, Bloomington: hotels, neighborhoods)

[lazy_d]

Hi,
I am not sure if this is possible but here goes:

My brother and will be visiting Minneapolis in February (I know, I know ) and I was wondering if there was a decent hotel that would be within safe walking distance to the light rail line.

Not in downtown and not out near the Mall of America. We would prefer to be in one of the cool neighborhoods of the city. Perhaps near bars and restaurants.

Thanks in advance for your reply!

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by lazy_d

Hi,
I am not sure if this is possible but here goes:

My brother and will be visiting Minneapolis in February (I know, I know ) and I was wondering if there was a decent hotel that would be within safe walking distance to the light rail line.

Not in downtown and not out near the Mall of America. We would prefer to be in one of the cool neighborhoods of the city. Perhaps near bars and restaurants.

Thanks in advance for your reply!

You pretty much eliminated all the hotels as they are all downtown, by Mall of America or the Airport. If you are on the railway, you can get to either end in 30 minutes or so.

I would recomend Hotel Ivy, or Westin downtown. Graves 601 and Marquette are also nice. A bit further off the rail is The Depot witch is nice but rates are a little better. Hyatt, Hilton and Marriot are decent as well. Hotel Minneapolis (doubletree) is brand new and right off the rail as well.

Downtown gives you a lot of bars and resturaunts in walking distance. If you go by the Mall or Airport, your walking choices will be more limited.

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by lazy_d

Hi,
I am not sure if this is possible but here goes:

My brother and will be visiting Minneapolis in February (I know, I know ) and I was wondering if there was a decent hotel that would be within safe walking distance to the light rail line.

Not in downtown and not out near the Mall of America. We would prefer to be in one of the cool neighborhoods of the city. Perhaps near bars and restaurants.

Thanks in advance for your reply!

Arguably, the only cool TC neighborhood the light rail serves is the Warehouse District, which is its northern terminus.

[Slig]

Originally Posted by Ben Around

Arguably, the only cool TC neighborhood the light rail serves is the Warehouse District, which is its northern terminus.

I disagree. Cedar Riverside is a very underrated neighborhood. There are a bunch of strange yet cool bars on that stetch of Cedar Ave going toward Riverside, The 400 bar, Palmer's bar, Triple Rock, Nomad World Pub as well as various Somali restaurants and corner stores. You're also blocks away from the U of M West bank which has alot to offer if you're willing to look.

Midtown/Lake St station (Powderhorn on the west side of station, Longfellow on the east side) has come a long way in the last couple of years. If you're willing to go a little ways off the stop you can check out the Global Market near the intersection of Chicago and Lake St. There are also alot of good Mexican/Hispanic restaurants and businesses on Lake, for tourists I would recommend Mercado Central on Lake St and Bloomington Ave. Get some Pozole from the Pozoleria, it's delicious. Let's also not forget about the recently coined "Poverty Paradise" right on the east side of the station where you can pick up a used warddrobe, a large pepperoni pizza and a 40 oz. malt beverage for 20.00 USD

The Franklin Ave stop is next door to a popular bar area containing the Cabooze, Blue Nile, Whiskey Junction and the Joint.

The 38th st station drops you off right in the parking lot of a south Minneapolis favorite, The Cardinal. From that stop you can head over to Cedar and 35th to a neighborhood legend Matt's Bar and The Chatterbox Pub on 35th St and 23rd Ave is my personal favorite for a good meal, a couple drinks and of course the games.

46th st station takes you right over by Minnehaha Park which is really nice in the warm months. Fort Snelling obviously takes you to the fort which is a historic landmark.

[Haver]

There's one a block or two south of the Vet's hospital, I don't remember what its called and it is definately in the class of being a "Oh is THAT still there??" type of motel. I think the only reason it exists is because Hiawatha used to be a main artery and its a convenient place for those visiting patients nearby to stay. There is nothing of consequence within walking distance besides the light rail station and a used car dealer a block south. He would have to walk two blocks to the light rail station (in February!) just to get breakfast.

The Hiawatha line is really just a commuter line, connecting downtown, the airport, some office parks, and a large swath of quiet residential post-war bungalows and a few sketchy but not all that dangerous inner-city neighborhoods that might be fun to explore, but there's no hotels or motels in the area. The route is Minneapolis's back door, so to speak, the one with the busted screen door and the friendly labrador and half-nekkid 3 year old.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by Slig

I disagree. Cedar Riverside is a very underrated neighborhood. There are a bunch of strange yet cool bars on that stetch of Cedar Ave going toward Riverside, The 400 bar, Palmer's bar, Triple Rock, Nomad World Pub as well as various Somali restaurants and corner stores. You're also blocks away from the U of M West bank which has alot to offer if you're willing to look.

I agree - the Holiday Inn Metrodome is really nice and right on 7 corners in Minneapolis in Cedar Riverside (bordering downtown), where you'll find bars, restaurants, a theatre, etc. - and just down the street (about 2 blocks away) there are more of the above on and around Cedar Ave, where you'll find an eclectic mix of folks - college students, hipsters, east african immigrants, bohemian types, yuppies, etc. all hanging and/or living in the same area- and there's usually a decent amount of live music to be found in the area as well. If you go up Washington towards/into downtown you'll find some more cool restaurants and bars. The Cedar Riverside light rail station is relatively close by the Holiday Inn Metrodome, although it's probably about the equivalent of a 4-5 block walk (you can cut off some of the distance by cutting through parking lots- and i think the hotel van might be willing to shuttle you there).

[kuan]

If you get off at the Cedar/Riverside station you can walk the bike path to the Metrodome.

I would caution you, however, that there have been a few assaults on the bike trail in that area at night. If you intend to be on foot in that area, use the Metrodome LRT stop and walk the main streets.

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by Slig

I disagree. Cedar Riverside is a very underrated neighborhood. There are a bunch of strange yet cool bars on that stetch of Cedar Ave going toward Riverside, The 400 bar, Palmer's bar, Triple Rock, Nomad World Pub as well as various Somali restaurants and corner stores. You're also blocks away from the U of M West bank which has alot to offer if you're willing to look.

Midtown/Lake St station (Powderhorn on the west side of station, Longfellow on the east side) has come a long way in the last couple of years. If you're willing to go a little ways off the stop you can check out the Global Market near the intersection of Chicago and Lake St. There are also alot of good Mexican/Hispanic restaurants and businesses on Lake, for tourists I would recommend Mercado Central on Lake St and Bloomington Ave. Get some Pozole from the Pozoleria, it's delicious. Let's also not forget about the recently coined "Poverty Paradise" right on the east side of the station where you can pick up a used warddrobe, a large pepperoni pizza and a 40 oz. malt beverage for 20.00 USD

The Franklin Ave stop is next door to a popular bar area containing the Cabooze, Blue Nile, Whiskey Junction and the Joint.

The 38th st station drops you off right in the parking lot of a south Minneapolis favorite, The Cardinal. From that stop you can head over to Cedar and 35th to a neighborhood legend Matt's Bar and The Chatterbox Pub on 35th St and 23rd Ave is my personal favorite for a good meal, a couple drinks and of course the games.

46th st station takes you right over by Minnehaha Park which is really nice in the warm months. Fort Snelling obviously takes you to the fort which is a historic landmark.

Well, that's why I said arguable, Slig I like all the neighborhoods you mentioned, but I was thinking the OP was interested in more upscale kinds of bars and restaurants, since he is traveling to our fair cities. Places like Matt's, the Cardinal, Chatterbox, etc. (and Ted Cook's @ the 38th St Station and Capp's Grill at the 50th St Station) are wonderful, comfortable places, but they are duplicated in every city in America.

I forgot about Cedar-Riverside. You are correct, that most closely meets the OP's request: hotel+interesting restaurants and bars close by. I agree with your other suggestions of things to do and see along the LRT, but the OP asked specifically about bars and restaurants, close to hotels.

[Slig]

And to correct myself Poverty Paradise is on the west side of the Midtown/Lake Street station, on the east side you'll find Target, Cub Foods, Rainbow, Nuevo Rodeo, Town Talk Diner, Manny's Tortas, Taj Mahal restaurant, etc.

[kuan]

Originally Posted by Slig

And to correct myself Poverty Paradise is on the west side of the Midtown/Lake Street station, on the east side you'll find Target, Cub Foods, Rainbow, Nuevo Rodeo, Town Talk Diner, Manny's Tortas, Taj Mahal restaurant, etc.

Midori's floating world cafe, the only place in the cities to get wasabi marinated octopus. Yuck!