The Brooklyn
of Minneapolis is
Northeast Minneapolis.

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The case for Northeast Minneapolis

Northeast Minneapolis is the coolest neighborhood in Minneapolis for Kramarczuk's sausages, taprooms in old grain elevators, and vintage hunting at The Golden Pearl.

Nordeast is where Polish grandmas and screen printers share Central Ave. Old grain elevators turned brewery taprooms. Art studios stacked in converted warehouses. You'll smell Ecuadorian llapingachos on one block and fresh-roasted coffee on the next. Nobody's pretending it's Manhattan, and that's the whole point.

Each May, Art-A-Whirl draws over 1,400 artists to 100 sites across Northeast Minneapolis, the largest annual open studio tour in the country.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Minneapolis.

North Loop

North Loop has the reclaimed wood and exposed brick thing down cold. Great restaurants, better warehouses. Minneapolis's most put-together neighborhood that somehow still has a personality.

Uptown

Uptown used to be the rebellious one. Lake Street still has good bars and Bde Maka Ska is right there. A little more chain-adjacent than it once was, but still worth a wander.

Powderhorn

Powderhorn rallies around its park and its people. Strong DIY energy, community gardens everywhere, and some of the best Mexican food in the metro hiding on Lake Street.

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Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Northeast Minneapolis.

01
Stay in Northeast Minneapolis

Nordeast is best experienced on foot, which means staying close.
02
Eat & Drink in Northeast Minneapolis

Central Ave is where Nordeast eats.
03
Do & Shop in Northeast Minneapolis

The Northrup King Building on Jackson Street holds hundreds of working artist studios - open studio nights let you wander through and Art-A-Whirl in May turns the whole thing into a neighborhood-wide party worth planning a trip around.
All 22 spots mapped out

Northeast Minneapolis, corner to corner.

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Our 22 top picks

The Northeast Minneapolis guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyUSD
LanguageEnglish
Cost level $$$Moderate to expensive
Best monthsSeptember, plus June and early July
Local time UTC-5
Plug type US plug · 120V/60Hz
Emergency911
Local tip
Art-A-Whirl in mid-May turns every warehouse into an open studio and every parking lot into a party. Plan around it.
North America · USA

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Richmond — Jackson Ward
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Head to head

How does Minneapolis stack up?

All comparisons →

Detroit vs Minneapolis

North America

Minneapolis vs Pittsburgh

North America
Common questions

Things to know about Northeast Minneapolis.

What is the Brooklyn of Minneapolis?
The Brooklyn of Minneapolis is Northeast Minneapolis. Nordeast is where Polish grandmas and screen printers share Central Ave. Each May, Art-A-Whirl draws over 1,400 artists to 100 sites across Northeast Minneapolis, the largest annual open studio tour in the country.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Minneapolis?
Northeast Minneapolis is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Minneapolis. Nordeast is where Polish grandmas and screen printers share Central Ave. Old grain elevators turned brewery taprooms. Art studios stacked in converted warehouses. You'll smell Ecuadorian llapingachos on one block and fresh-roasted coffee on the next. Nobody's pretending it's Manhattan, and that's the whole point.
Where should I stay in Northeast Minneapolis, Minneapolis?
The boutique hotel to know in Northeast Minneapolis is Nicollet Island Inn. Limestone inn sitting on its own island in the Mississippi, a five-minute walk across the bridge to Nordeast. The bar is genuinely old-school, all dark wood and river views through heavy windows.
Is Northeast Minneapolis in Minneapolis safe at night?
Northeast is one of the calmer parts of the city day and night. The main commercial corridors are well-lit and active until bar close at 2am on weekends. Standard urban awareness applies: lock the car, don't leave bags visible. The blocks closest to the river and the arts district feel busier; the further industrial edges get quiet fast after dark.
Is Minneapolis expensive?
Expect to pay for it. Minneapolis runs on the higher end, though a rideshare from MSP to Northeast is only about $25 to $40. Hotels here rarely include breakfast, so budget $15 to $25 for a buffet, and factor in 18 to 20% tips on restaurant tabs.
When is the best time to visit Minneapolis?
September is the one to circle - days in the 70s, cool nights, low humidity, and fall color arriving late in the month. June and early July are also good, if humid and buggy near the river. Skip mid-January through February unless sub-zero cold appeals. May runs rainy, and August often hits 90 with mosquitoes out in force.

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