1
Hotel Ivy
Housed in the landmark Ivy Tower, a Ziggurat-style building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this luxury hotel has been newly renovated.
The 136 rooms, including nine suites that have wet bars and dining areas, feature 10-foot floating ceilings, original works from local artisans, custom armoires, pillow-top mattresses with Frette linens, and limestone bathrooms, some with soaking tubs.
There are three bars, but be sure to have a cocktail at the Constantine. The Victorian-style décor, hunting trophies and leather seating are reminiscent of an old gentlemen’s club.
A new fitness center opened in April, and the brand new Anda Spa is coming in the summer of 2019.
2
Hai Hai
Chef Christina Nguyen’s first restaurant— she had been running an arepa truck—is a nominee in the James Beard Awards Best Chef: Midwest category.
Her fresh take on the Vietnamese cooking that she learned growing up, described by food writer Joy Summers as “an adventure through sweet, salty, spicy, tart, funky and savory flavors,” garnered her “Restaurant of the Year” in the 2018 Eater Awards.
Hanoi sticky rice with ground pork, Chinese sausage and pickled vegetables; fried wontons with cream cheese and chicken livers; crispy-skinned Balinese chicken thigh with coconut rice.
The new patio is a perfect spot for sipping her innovative cocktails and slushies.
3
Restaurant Alma
A James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest and six national semifinal nominations in the Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Service and Outstanding Restaurant categories are some of the honors this acclaimed contemporary American restaurant has received.
The space was recently expanded and renovated to include a café and boutique hotel. Chef Alex Roberts offers a dinner-only, three-course, prix fixe menu that is inspired by the seasons. You can choose from four dishes for each course. Dessert, cheeses and the wine pairing are additional.
Butternut squash soup with blue shrimp, chestnut bread pudding with Maine lobster, and 12-hour braised beef.
4
Popol Vuh
Garage-door windows, brick walls, and the sea-green tiled bar and open kitchen make this James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant a cool place to dine.
Chef Jose Alarcon uses fine-dining and wood-fire cooking techniques to elevate the traditional Mexican dishes and street food to create his refined fare.
Order one of the imaginative cocktails made with tequila and mescal to pair with your selection from the à la carte or fourcourse tasting menus (dinner only).
Loin of lamb on a red mole; tostada de salpicon made with beef tartare marinated with Serrano chiles and oregano; charred corn salad with the aromatic epazote herb and creamy cotija cheese.
5
Parks in Minneapolis
Go for a run, walk or bike ride in one of the city’s 197 parks. You are never more than six blocks from a park in Minneapolis.
6
Minnesota Orchestra
Hear a performance by the Minnesota Orchestra. Some of the roughly 175 performances a year take place during Sommerfest. This year the festival, celebrating Latin American music, will run July 6 to August 3.
7
Guthrie Theater
Watch a play at the Guthrie Theater, which has stayed true to the mission of its founder, Sir Tyrone Guthrie, producing “great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights.”
8
Hennepin Trust Theatres
See a show at one of the Hennepin Trust Theatres. The 2019-2020 season features David Crosby, Jesus Christ Superstar (celebrating its 50th anniversary), and possibly Hamilton.
