My husband and I are coming to the twin cities to see Elton John/Billy Joel in mid April. We're staying for the weekend and would love to explore the area/cities. I'd like to get some advice on where to stay and what to do over the weekend. I've read about a lot of restaurants (thanks!) from other postings but not sure what the best place/neighborhood is to stay. We are in our late 30s/early 40s with no kids in-tow.

We love live music (especially jazz) and good food and wouldn't mind some good shopping. Also, we'd like to stay in a hip neighborhood but not sure if we should stay in Minneapolis or St. Paul. We'd like to be able to walk out of the hotel to good restaurants, etc.

We'll go to Mall of America (maybe) but what other places are there for good medium to high end shops?

Also, advice for must see's would be great. Thanks in advance for the help!
Tricia

The concert is at the Xcel center, right? There is a nice Holiday Inn across from the Xcel. Very convenient, you walk to the concert, don't have to worry about parking. The area is very close to Grand Ave. which has many nice shops and great restaurants. Let me know if you want more info on Grand Ave. .

There is a new Le Meridien downtown, right next to the Target Center arena.
This is within walking distance of a great deal of good shopping and dining downtown.
The downtown shopping has declined a lot since its peak in the mid 1990's, but there is still the Saks/Neiman/Marshall Field stores, a very nice (large, beautiful) Polo store, and the various other smaller places all clustered into an easily walkable area.

Downtown St. Paul is rather dull for shopping, and too long a hike to be able to come and go from downtown MPLS more than once.

The other major shopping areas are Mall of America, the area around 66th and France (Galleria mall and Southdale mall, next to each other), and the area around 44th-50th and France.

The 'funky' area of MSP is around Uptown (as per the title of the Prince song), but I wouldn't recommend staying in a hotel around there. It is very close, however, to MSP's best outdoor walking area, around the lakes Calhoun and Harriett. They are glorious on a warm, sunny day.

Have fun!

I would recommend either the Grand Hotel or the Nicollet Island Inn. They are both in downtown Mpls though very different. The Grand is very high end and the Inn is a smaller hotel on the river with more of a B & B feel to it. While it needs a little bit of a face lift, the restaurant is good, there are great paths along the river, good jazz just a few blocks away, etc.

Finally saw your repost!
Husband and I recently went to D'Amico Cucina, I believe it's on 2nd right behind the Target Center--lovely food and atmosphere! Unfortunately, we were hurrying to a show afterward (you can walk from the restaurant to the State, Pantages and Orpheum theaters, as well as the Target Center and Block E, an entertainment and shopping complex), but our waiter timed our meal perfectly for us. Next time, we'll linger, it was just divine haute Italian cuisine, pricey but worth it, and not stuffy, either.

Mpls is also home to just a ton of good ethnic reaturants, it's a very culturally diverse city. Inquire at your hotel about Eat Street--it's a section of Hennepin Ave. that is wall-to-wall restaurants, a lot of them Asian, most quite good.

There's a local chain, Italian, called Buca di Beppo, that's quite good and has a fun, old-timey, kitschy atmosphere. The only problem for you might be that they only serve enormous, family-style portions--one order of pasta is 20 ounces of pasta! When hubby and I go, we order one salad and one pasta dish and go home with enough left over for another meal, which we enjoy thoroughly, but would be hard to deal with in a hotel room.

Lastly, I know of 2 good Greek restaurants in the cheap-to-moderate range, It's Greek to Me and Gardens of Salonica. People argue about which is better, I liked them both.

I hope you have a great time!

My husband and I go to MSP alot-----staying downtown is quite convenient for walking to restaurants,etc. There aren't any really really upscale hotels downtown------the Marquette, the Radisson, the Marriott are all downtown and are nice-----convenient for walking to downtown restaurants and clubs, but not anything special. Lately, we've been staying at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington (southwest side of Mnpls). Don't know if you've stayed at a Hotel Sofitel before, but it's tres French, and fun. Nice restaurants, and the rooms have recently been renovated complete with bidets! (and WONDERFUL French shower gels, lotions and soaps----nice in-hotel store too with fun French gifts). The downside is there is no pool or whirlpool (if that's something desirable), but the hotel is about 20 min. from the Mall of America, about 20 min. from downtown, about 10 min. from Southdale Mall, and about 10 min. from the fun little shopping area called "50th and France".
If you have a car and a map, the MSP area is easy to navigate. You won't be able to walk to restaurants from the Hotel Sofitel, but the 2 restaurants and bar right on the premises are very nice (I always feel kind of like I'm having an affair in "gay Paree" when we go there) and there are a couple of really nice restaurants within a few driving minutes from there such as: Ciao Bella (trendy Italian, dark, big black "Coach leather" booths, funky bar), Kincaids (cool bar, very upscale steak and salmon place---pretty), the Redstone Grill (very busy happening place, hamburgers, steaks, sea bass, flat-bread pizzas,outdoor seating with an outdoor fireplace, trees with little white twinkle lites, and heat lamps in case Minneapolis decides to thrill you with a chill. In St. Paul, don't miss Tulips for wonderful French food (ask for the corner table with the lighted umbrella), and W.C. Frost is a great place for Sunday brunch (off the menu, not the typical cattle-call salad bar brunch). WC Frost is a little hit and miss on the food end, but has a great atmosphere---some outdoor seating and very romantic, historic decor inside. Have fun!