randy

looking for a very nice restaurant, as we're in the twin cities for my wife's birthday!!Could use a tip on a great hotel also.Close to the airport would be nice but not necessary.

Linda S

I was in the Twin Cities for a very large convention this summer and spent a lot of time downtown. There is a Scandinavian restaurant that is first class. I can't remember the name, but it's a one-word name and is in an inside mall around the corner from the Marriott downtown. I think it is also on Nicollett Mall street. Good Luck! The executive chef for this restaurant was in a magazine of top 10 bachelors for the US we were told and the food should be great. We only had dessert and tea and it was exquisite.

Cali

The name of the restaurant mentioned above is Aquavit. We frequently stay at the Radisson PLaza Downtown Mpls. and have enjoyed that as it is hooked to the skyway system and allows you to go all over downtown Mpls. and shop and dine. We have also stayed at the Hilton Downtown and the Marquette. All have been fine but we prefer the Radisson. We also stay out in the Bloomington Area and have stayed at Hotel Sofitel, Hawthorn Suites, Doubletree and Hilton. Think I like the Sofitel best in that Area. Another restaurant in downtown if The Local. There are many others but I have a mental blank right now on the names. Will let you know the names if I remember. Oh, there is also Kincaids in Bloomington, which we enjoy, The St. Paul Hotel in St. Paul (like the hotel and restaurants) and also Ruth Chris, Mortons and Murrays. If you like a smaller hotel in the downtown area there is the Whitney, but it isn't on the skyway system. There is also the Nicollet Inn which is on the Mississippi River near downtown and has great food. Enjoy your trip.

Ellen Griswold

Ok, maybe this wouldn't be the "nicest" restaurant....but why not take her to the Mall of America?! If she hasn't been there, she would love it! There are many nice restaurants ~ the last time we ate at "Odyssey" -something - and it was great - good food and moderately priced.

At dinner, present her with a gift certificate to the Mall and let her pick out something (or many thingsspecial to celebrate her day. JMHO of course, but what woman doesn't like to shop? Have fun!

arjay

Is the Nicolet Inn a hotel, as well - or just a restaurant? Loooks like we'll be making a first-time visit to The Cities later this month. I'd love to see any must-do recommendations. What's the pref in terms of staying in Minneapolis, as opposed to St. Paul??? Any further details on the Whitney, or other recommended, smaller hotels? Thanks for any feedback!

Cali

Yes, the Nicollet Inn is a hotel as well as a restaurant. It is on an island (connected to land now) in the Mississippi River near downtown Mpls. The Whitney Hotel (think it is now a Hyatt or something - but still Whitney) is on the River near downtown. It is a very nice smaller hotel but is a little too far from things to walk to them. I prefer Mpls. but St. Paul has it's nice places too. The St Paul Hotel is definitely a favorite of mine. I also enjoy going to the Grand Ave. Area for shops and also to eat.

Jim Lloyd

I live in the Twin Cities area and there are numerous hotels around the airport, most of which I've seen. Some of the best however are:

-Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport South (Near 34th Avenue)

-Marriott Minneapolis Airport (Completed renovation, although not as good as Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport South for value)

-Hilton Minneapolis Airport (More business travelers than leisure on weekdays, weekends some families, although very few for the most part)

The Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport South I have been to numerous times and have also stayed there and have had good experiences always. Their ten story atrium is spectacular, as is their indoor pool/whirlpool area. They like other Embassy Suites offer a complimentary breakfast cooked to order as well as a evening reception in the atrium. This hotel offers shuttle to the airport and the Mall Of America which is where you can find some of the better restaurants in the Bloomington area such as: (Rainforest Cafe, California Cafe, Napa Valley Grill, Ruby Tuesday, and others). If you have a car you might want to explore some of the restaurants down in St. Paul by Grand Avenue such as Ciattis, Cafe Latte, and others).

If you need any help with restaurants/hotels please feel free to e-mail me!

anne

We've had very good special event dinners in the Cities. For what it's worth, the distances just aren't that far apart in the Cities, so I wouldn't restrict myself to "near the airport" - you can get to downtown Mpls in 20-30 min. and the same for St. Paul. Specific suggestions are: Goodfellow's (in downtown Mpls) and La Belle Vie (Stillwater - about 1/2 hour east of airport). Haven't been to the St. Paul Hotel, but have heard very good reports. Enjoy!

Jerry

Minneapolis is completely DEVOID of hotels that fit your qulification of "great". The Whitney has gone steadily downhill since the early 1990's and Hyatt has done nothing to shore it up. Stayed in a suite there 2 months ago. Marquette has large corner rooms and is a good value, but has also deteriorated. Often rooms aren't quite clean and bathrooms are aging noticeably.
The Hilton is as sterile as they come and overpriced for what you get.
Radisson, Embassy, Marriott...yadda yadda. Nothing to write home about.
St. Paul Hotel is inconvenient and rooms are quite variable in size/quality...some shoebox size rooms.
Sorry to rant but MPLS needs a decent high end hotel. It's really a nice town and it deserves one.

Jim Lloyd

I personally think that the airport is a good location if you want to just be near the Mall of America and the airport, although St. Paul would be the next best place to stay if you didn't want to stay near the Bloomington area. In St. Paul I would consider the St. Paul Hotel, I have been inside here before and it was a very nice place, and also I know they have a great restaurant on site. Another place is the Radisson Hotel St. Paul which just completed a renovation of the lobby, the hotel in my opinion before the renovation was just so-so although after the renovation the pictures I've seen looked great. Although I'll have to see it in person to see if it really turned out as good as it appears in photos they've shown.

Overall it comes down to what you want to see in the area. St. Paul is about 30 minutes from the Bloomington area and Minneapolis is about the same distance away, so in that reason it is very centrally located so that is why it's good to stay there. Minneapolis is a very modern city, while St. Paul is more historic.

If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.

jwagner

I like Buca De Pepo, an Italian restaurant downtown. A little offbeat, but good food. You can reserve a table in the kitchen and watch the cooks, well, cook, if you want. Warning. The portions are served family style so you have to have similar tastes if you go there in small groups.

Julie

If you are still looking for a great spot, I would recommend something Other than the Mall of America (stale). Try Kinkaids (excellent romantic restaurant located in Bloomington off 494 and Hwy 100 - about 10 minutes from the airport. Or consider eating at D'Aminco in the quaint Linden Hills neighborhood - a nice place for a stroll through some more original shops after dinner.

Jim Lloyd

I must agree with Julie that Kincaids is an excellent restaurant. I believe it was rated one of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities area a while ago, and for that it is for sure a restaurant to consider if you don't want to try Mall Of America.

BJ

I'm with Ellen, go to the Mall of America and give her a handful of cash. What woman wouldn't enjoy that? Food is secondary to shopping in my book.

BTW, Bucca de Beppo is a chain. We also have one nearby. Fun place, though - love the Pope's Room!

randy

thanks for the tips ..Will do Aquavit for sure .Now I need to choose between Murrays ,Mortons or Kinkaids for a great steak ! Any thoughts???

Stan

Steak? The obvious choice is Casper's Cherokee Sirlion Room on Smith Avenue just over the High Bridge from downtown in St. Paul. A local institution and reasonably priced. For more upscale ambiance I suggest Axel's River Grille in the quaint historic village of Mendota, across the river from MSP airport (take Highway 55 east from MSP then Highway 13 NORTH 1 mile to this picturesque village on the Mississippi. If you visit in the daylight hours you can see the home of Minnesota's first governor The Sibley House, very interesting site. If history is of interest visit Minnesota's only WWII museum located at South St. Paul Airport/Fleming Field. web site is www.cafsmw.org. Stop by on Wednesday or Saturday when the museum is open to the public or e-mail me and I'll buy lunch! Great displays of artifacts andairplanes from WWII. Several decent restaurants close by as well.

jwagner

I keep forgetting that Buca's is a chain. The Buca off Hennepin is the original. Ruth Chris and Morton's are also chains, btw.

Jodi

Steak... Well, Morton's is a chain so I'd rule that one out. Murrays is the steak place your grandfather went to. Waitresses have all been there for 10+ years, menu hasn't changed much. Kincaids is the hipper restaurant, its known for its steak AND fish. I've been to both several times, and prefer Kincaids (but if I was taking my grandfather out, I would go to Murrays

Brooke

I liked the Odessey at the Mall, not too fancy, but fun and different. Supposedly the Sarengeti (sp??) room is the best.

We have been there twice and stayed at the Homewood Suites across from the Mall and it is only a few years old and a with separate living area. The staff was really nice too. The airport is about 2 miles away and there is a free shuttle to the airport and the mall.

As for where not to eat.....Just heard a disusting story from my sister. They were in MSP on Thanksgiving day and didn't think about no where being open for Thanksgiving. After calling all over, the only place open was called "Old Country Buffet". They didnt really have any choices, so they figured they would try it. My sis said she felt like she was eating in a soup kitchen (not that there is anything wrong with that)

BUTTT.........she was a paying customer and she said a man at a table across from them did his insulin injection at the TABLE!!! Disgusting!

cali

I don't know where your sister looked on Thanksgiving Day but there were many places open and we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner at a restaurant. If they were guests at a hotel they should have asked for recommendations. The Hotel Sofitel always does wonderful Holiday Dinners too.