7 Best Hotels in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

"Inner geek-meets-chic" is the self-proclaimed—and apt—description of this cozy and quirky University-area hotel in Minneapolis whose warm, inviting vibe, starts at the fire pit in the driveway (where guests can roast s'mores) and continues to complimentary apple cider in the lobby. A roster of unique activities and events—from Book Butlers and Sudoku "sleep-ins" to mixology lessons, Words with Friends Wine Hours, and Retro Bar Bingo—are what help make the "Commons" name refer more to "communal" than "typical." Other social draws include the Beacon Public House gastro-pub, serving regional cuisine and creative cocktails, and a refurbished fitness center. Up on the eight floors, the redone rooms now have an upscale-academic decor of blue velvets, rich leathers, and argyle wallpaper, plus features like iPod docks, LCD TVs, Starbucks coffee, rain showers, and free Wi-Fi. Upgrades to a Superior room get you robes and bottled water, while suites have separate living areas with sleeper sofas.

This boutique hotel, in the heart of the Business District, offers traditional rooms with crown molding, an on-site spa, and complimentary access to a 58,000 square foot gym. The hotel's restaurant, Martini Blu, serves excellent sushi.

Eclectic art adorns the gleaming white walls of this ultrahip and trendy boutique hotel in the downtown Theatre District, giving off a cosmopolitan, mod feel. The hotel's swanky restaurant, celebrity chef Jean Georges Vongerichten's Chambers Kitchen, serves artful fare.

Formerly a Loews hotel, this fashionable boutique hotel, steps away from the bustling Warehouse District, is a sleek, serene environment and now part of the Hilton family. A trendy lounge and AAA Four Diamond restaurant complete the package.

This charming 1893 limestone inn is on Nicollet Island in the middle of the Mississippi River, with downtown Minneapolis on one shore and the Riverplace and St. Anthony Main on the other. There's early-American reproduction furniture in the rooms, some of which have river views.

This 12-story, marble-pillared 1910 landmark on Rice Park has been a stopover for presidents, heads of state, and celebrities. It's within 7 blocks of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Civic Center, and the Children's Museum. Rooms are traditional in style.

Minneapolis's historic Farmers & Mechanics Bank was transformed into this luxurious hotel without losing the original woodwork, marble staircase, and light fixtures in the bank lobby. The building's two original vaults are now a meeting room and a wine vault.