Downtown and Warehouse District
Downtown. Downtown is bounded on the north by Washington Avenue, on the south by Loring Park, on the east by the financial district, and on the west by the warehouse district, a portion of which can be considered part of the center.
The downtown area revolves around the pedestrian Nicollet Mall, which is a continuation of Nicollet Avenue. Nicollet Mall is renowned for its open-air market in summer and its many boutiques and department stores, making it one of Minneapolis' premier shopping destinations. The street is also home to numerous bars and pubs renowned for their happy hours. Its name is a tribute to the French explorer Jean Nicolet, who discovered Lake Itasca and identified it as the source of the Mississippi River. Since 2024, the city has embarked on a vast redevelopment project dubbed "New Nicollet", which aims to revitalize the artery between Lake Street and downtown, with more housing, shops and public spaces.
Hennepin Avenue, running parallel to Nicollet Mall, is named after Louis Hennepin, a missionary who explored the region in the XVIIᵉ century. This is no doubt why this avenue serves as a starting point and demarcates the north from the south of the city. So, when Washington Avenue South crosses Hennepin Avenue, it becomes Washington Avenue North. This is what's commonly known as "ground zero": it's from here that 1st Avenue South and North, 2nd Avenue South and North, etc., start. It separates the center from the warehouse district. This avenue is home to numerous theaters and is regularly referred to as the Hennepin Theater District, as it is home to the State Theater, Hennepin Stages and the Orpheum, among others.
Warehouse District. The Warehouse District was once the industrial district that has preserved its early 20th-century architecture. Here you'll find red-brick buildings that resemble Chicago's from the same period, and Richardsonian Romanesque-style buildings. It's now a very fashionable district that's being transformed into a residential area with boutiques and galleries. You'll find plenty of bars and restaurants between Hennepin Avenue and 3rd Avenue North.
Riverfront and Arts Districts
Riverfront District. Sometimes called the Mill District, this neighborhood stretches along both sides of the Mississippi, between Central Avenue and the Stone Arch Bridge. To the south, it's bordered by Washington Avenue, and to the north by University Avenue. Although part of Downtown, this district is distinguished by its industrial architecture and rich historical past, punctuated by discovery trails. This is where Minneapolis was born: Saint Anthony Falls is the city's birthplace. Named in 1680 by French missionary Louis Hennepin, one of the first Europeans to explore the region, in honor of its patron saint, Antoine de Padoue. These falls - the only ones on the Mississippi River - enabled the rapid development of the town from the XVIIIᵉ century onwards, thanks to the exploitation of hydraulic power. The flour and lumber industries flourished here, with firms such as General Mills and Pillsbury establishing a lasting presence. Today, the district is undergoing major renovation. Old mills and brick warehouses have been transformed into modern lofts, with breathtaking views of the river. It's a popular area for strolling, as well as for its unique residential ambience.
Arts District. Located in the northwest of the city, this district is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River and on the east by Central Avenue.
Once working-class and industrial, it was the arrival point for numerous waves of immigrants from the Ukraine, Poland and Germany in the XIXᵉ century. They built churches, schools and shops here, which still bear witness to this rich cultural diversity.
Today, the former warehouses are home to art galleries, artists' studios, microbreweries and independent cafés. 13th Avenue remains the liveliest thoroughfare, with a diverse culinary scene ranging from Asian to Indian cuisine. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a mix of working-class heritage and bohemian spirit.
University of Minnesota and Dinkytown
University of Minnesota. The University District is located north of the Mississippi River, around the main campus of the University of Minnesota, founded in 1851 and one of the oldest and largest public universities in the United States. A large proportion of students live on or around the campus, making for dense student housing and a lively, youthful atmosphere. Huntington Bank Stadium, dedicated to American soccer, opened in 2009 and is home to the Golden Gophers team, in addition to other stadiums dedicated to field hockey and basketball. The university has played a major role in the development of the neighboring Dinkytown district, a vibrant area of cafés, bookstores, restaurants and student businesses.
Dinkytown is located between 4th Street Southeast and 14th Avenue Southeast. It's a young neighborhood with a mix of small independent shops (bookstores, clothing and music boutiques). It's also home to some great little restaurants and friendly, inexpensive bars. It almost feels like a small village, even though it's only four blocks long.
Uptown, Eat Street and Lake Area
Uptown is located at the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street, east of the Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun). It's Minneapolis' "hype" neighborhood, the hip and underground. It seems to be self-sufficient, with its share of restaurants, art dealers, theaters and numerous independent boutiques. The district developed mainly at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, when exorbitant real estate prices drove the population out of the city center. That's why you'll find so many houses dating from this period. A little further north, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is located on the edge of Eat Street, a cluster of ethnic grocery stores and restaurants.
Lake Area lies to the west and south of Uptown. The chain of lakes - consisting mainly of Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake - has become an affluent and livable residential area. This part of the city is a real source of oxygen, offering a wide range of outdoor activities. Tennis courts are available free of charge, and you can hire boats or kayaks on the shores of Bde Maka Ska, swim, fish or cycle on the 20 km of cycle paths along the lakes.
