Lyndale & Lake — LynLake
Vibrant and Independent
A fun selection of indie stores, entertainment, bars and restaurants in the most walkable neighborhood in Minneapolis makes for a pleasant day and night of indulgence. Lyndale & Lake is an entertainment district with strong visitor appeal. Some of the city’s most diverse shops can be found here along with live performance venues and neighborhood must-stops to keep you entertained.
Where to Eat and Drink
Picture fresh margaritas, a delicious plate of tacos, a cozy sun-filled patio and you've got the setting for a meal at Lago Tacos. The wide selection of burritos and tacos will make sure you never go home hungry.
For local brews and great views, head to LynLake Brewery. You'll find great pints on tap, burgers, and a stellar rooftop and event space. In search of a nostalgic sports bar? Beckett's will soon be your favorite new neighborhood joint. Get there early to take advantage of their happy hour deals: $5 buckets, burgers and big beers.
For vegan options, head to Trio Plant-Based for delicious soul food from Louis Hunter. Enjoy burgers, buffalo mac & cheese, and slow-cooked collard greens at the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minneapolis.
With an amazing rooftop, plenty of Japanese flavors, including ramen, specialty sushi and homemade steam buns, moto-i has been a favorite spot in this neighborhood for years. What makes this place even more special is a menu dedicated to their in-house brewed sake. If you're looking for a place to end the night, Volstead's Emporium has you covered. This secret bar, tucked in a back alleyway, features some amazing cocktails.
Built from the popularity of their World Street Kitchen food truck, WSK is the year-round neighborhood restaurant creation from brothers Sameh and Saed Wadi. Featuring flavors from across the globe—from Asia to the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and beyond—this very popular restaurant serves staples, specials, sweets, and cocktails in one friendly spot. After your meal, be sure to grab a scoop from Milkjam Creamery next door!
Wrecktangle Pizza is known for its Detroit-style, a rectangular pan pizza with a thick, crispy and chewy crust. On the menu find flavors that include the Elote (Tajin aoli corn, queso fresco, pickeled red onion, tajin aoli, cilantro, lime) and the Freeway (House brisket mixed with caramelized onions and roasted red pepper, provolone, house whiz, bag of chips). They have plenty of other stuff on the menu too, like sandwiches or wings and many things can be made vegan or gluten free.
Need a pick-me-up? Third Space Café is a community hotspot that serves up picture-perfect specialty lattes. Saimaa Café just opened, and its name comes from Oromo language in Ethiopia which has multifaceted meaning of "come inside" and "memories." They've got all the classic coffee drinks as well as delectable baked goods.
Things to Do
The eternally hip Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater is a foundation of this neighborhood’s decades-long appeal. The combination diner, bowling alley, and live theater space attracts a lively crowd in search of someplace to have some good old fashioned fun.
For more old-school entertainment, head to Up-Down Minneapolis and retreat into your happy childhood memories through stand-up video games, pinball, and gaming consoles, upgraded for grownups with the addition of craft beer (and pizza, don't forget the pizza).
Ready to shop? The Corner Store has sold used, vintage and consignment clothing, shoes, jewelry and vinyl records — priced for all budgets — since 1979. A large variety of bikes, clothing, accessories and all manner of repair are available Erik’s Bike Board and Ski.
In a neighborhood with plentiful bikes, bars restaurants, and vintage clothing shops, there’s bound to be a lively tattooing culture. Tatu's By Koré has been anchored in Lyn-Lake since 1990 and Ink Lab, they also do piercings, since 1995.
Minneapolis has a long, celebrated history of live theater and is second only to New York in theater seats per capita. The Jungle Theater, founded in 1991, operates out of a 150-seat space, where they impressively produce five shows each year in their mission to be “a neighborhood theater with national impact.” Minneapolis also has a long history with comedy improv, a tradition celebrated almost nightly at HUGE Theater since 2010.
Getting to and Around Lyndale & Lake
(Starting point of Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center on Nicollet)
Parking in the area can be challenging depending on when you visit. Few places have dedicated parking, so you’ll have to scour the streets. If you decide to use public transportation instead, the quickest way to get to Lyndale & Lake from downtown, is to catch the Metro Transit Route 4 Bus, which runs through downtown on Hennepin Ave. every 15 minutes. It’s about a 20 minute ride in good traffic.
Public Transit Routes:
Route 4 Bus