Moon Minneapolis & St. Paul

After new hotels were completed just in time for the cities to host the Super Bowl in 2018, Twin Cities visitors have more choices than ever (and a little more purchasing power), but most of the 40,000-plus hotel rooms are still clustered in two regions.

In downtown Minneapolis, you’ll find high-end chains, many of which do a fine job of masquerading as stand-alone hotels with an individual flair to suit the area. While, in general, downtown is your most expensive accommodation choice, there are also one or two surprising bargains. Keep in mind that because downtown hotels cater to business travelers, prices tend to go down, rather than up, on the weekends, sometimes remarkably so. Because it’s so easily navigable on foot and is the hub for much of the area’s public transportation, including light rail to and from the airport and Mall of America, downtown is a good choice if you’re arriving without your own transportation.

In the southern suburbs, clustered around the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, you’ll find just about every chain hotel you can name—upwards of 30, as a matter of fact. Nearly all of these offer shuttle service to and from the mall (and two options are connected to the mall itself)—convenient not only if shopping is your primary reason for visiting the Twin Cities, but also because the light rail trains depart from the mall to downtown Minneapolis and the airport. You won’t, however, find very much charm in the generic concrete jungle.

WHERE TO STAY IF…

YOU’RE ONLY HERE FOR A FEW DAYS:

Staying in downtown Minneapolis makes it easy to take in much of the best of the Twin Cities, from sports to plays to restaurants and nightlife.

YOU’RE FEELING HIP:

Settle into your Uptown digs in South Minneapolis and embrace life as a hipster. While choices for traditional accommodations here are few, the range of Airbnb options is growing.

YOU LOVE STUDENT LIFE:

University of Minnesota student life sprawls well beyond the campus confines into all of Dinkytown, where a number of hotels cater to visiting parents and professionals, as well as people who want to be close to downtown Minneapolis without feeling too stuffy.

YOU LIKE QUIET EVENINGS:

Downtown St. Paul is known for being quiet of an evening, and some people truly like it that way.

YOU’RE HERE JUST FOR THE MALL OF AMERICA:

The area’s not picturesque, but the string of hotels along the I-494 corridor in the suburb of Bloomington are all terrifically convenient to the mall and airport.

S Hewing Hotel $$$

This former warehouse in the hippest part of downtown has been done up in refined cabin chic with delightful local touches, like Faribault Woolen Mills blankets on the luxurious beds. The lobby bar, with its cozy nooks and couches, is a favorite place to spend time, and the rooftop sauna and pool are reason enough to book a room here. Pets are not only welcomed, they are doted on. The Hewing’s restaurant, Tullibee (Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm and 5pm-10pm, Sat.-Sun. 10am-2pm and 5pm-10pm), serves updated, high-end Scandinavian fare.

S Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis $$$

By the time you get to your room, you will have passed about $30 million worth of contemporary art displayed in the lobby. The contemporary rooms themselves show a careful attention to aesthetics (including valuable oil canvases), with clean, comfortable furnishings, two plasma TVs, and an iPod deck in every room. Mercy (Sun.-Thurs. 6:30am-11pm, Fri.-Sat. 6:30am-1am), the restaurant on the ground floor, is good for comfort food on an expense-account budget.

S W Minneapolis—The Foshay $$$

Wilbur Foshay’s tribute to the Roaring ’20s barely saw the glories of that high-flying decade: It was completed just weeks before the stock market crashed in 1929. Nearly 80 years later, the building’s rebirth as one of Minneapolis’s poshest hotels is at least as showy as Foshay’s original dream, if not more so. The original ceiling was restored at enormous cost, but the opulent furnishings and forward-thinking lighting are entirely 21st century. Wilbur’s own office, notoriously extravagant, is now a bar called Prohibition, and his boardroom is available to rent for private events.

Elliot Park Hotel $$$

Comfortable, unfussy luxury is the Hotel Ivy’s signature, from the cream-and-ivy color scheme to the elegant limestone bathrooms and the 400-thread-count sheets. (A nice touch: All guest rooms feature both a tub and a separate shower.) Part of the Starwood chain, it offers an accommodation option just off the skyway system and convenient to Orchestra Hall and the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Ivy Spa Club, right on the premises, offers top-of-the-line fitness facilities and spa services.

S Hotel Minneapolis $$

The Hotel Minneapolis hits some magical sweet spot, combining up-to-the-minute style and good value for a downtown hotel. While it is part of the Marriott chain, the furnishings and design are entirely unique and rooted in local history. Originally built as a bank in 1906, the building kept its original vaults and commanding marble arches as conversation pieces in the lobby and in Restaurant Max.

S Nicollet Island Inn $$

Would you like the river side, the park side, the city side, or the bridge side? The Nicollet Island Inn sits smack in the middle of the island from which it takes its name, so all of its 24 rooms offer distinctive views. The furnishings are distinctive as well, from the modern comfort of Sleep Number beds to the Victorian chairs and damask wallpaper. There’s no pool or workout room—but who needs it when some of the most inviting walking paths in the city are right out the front door?

AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown $$

The Depot is actually two hotels in one, both by Marriott: The Depot Minneapolis, a Renaissance Hotel, and, for extended stays, Residence Inn at The Depot. Both offer Marriott-level services in a fantastic location—just a block or so off the river on one side and a short walk to the skyway system on the other. Rates go way, way down on the weekends, when The Depot transforms from a business hotel to a comfortable family retreat (look for affordable packages including water park passes).

Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis/Downtown $$

The Hampton Inn couldn’t have a better location. Connected directly to the skyway system, it’s convenient for conference-goers, business travelers, and anyone here to see a show or a game at Target Center or Target Field. Expect plenty of thoughtful amenities, including free Wi-Fi, lap desks that roll over the bed, and weekday breakfast to go. Suites with kitchenettes are available.

Hilton Minneapolis $$

The Hilton makes a show-stopping first impression—all marble and mirrored columns, with chandeliers and bronze statues in the lobby. The lobby’s always a lively place, too, with frequent events in the ballrooms upstairs and a large, popular bar. The 800-plus guest rooms aren’t quite so lavishly appointed, but with carved oak furniture and up-to-date fabrics they go beyond the typical hotel room.

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis $$

On the outside this downtown stalwart looks like a giant white cruise ship docked on the end of Nicollet Mall, but on the inside it is both welcoming and modern. A small handful of the 500-plus rooms have balconies, a fun amenity on the upper floors. Ask about hypoallergenic rooms. The Hyatt is conveniently located, only three blocks away from the nearest skyway entrance.

Grand Hotel Minneapolis $$

From the red-coated doorman to the ornate furnishings to the Godiva chocolate on your pillow at night, Kimpton’s Grand Hotel harks back to a time of great luxury and service. Guests appreciate the full range of business services and the direct connection to the skyway system, as well as complimentary access to the Lifetime Fitness Center, with a full-size pool and indoor running track.

Loews Minneapolis $$

Loews offers a softer version of modern sophistication, after a design overhaul (this building was, for a long time, the Graves 601 hotel). The wood is blonder, the lobby lighter, and the art more accessible. But it’s still a place that attracts local diners with modern American cuisine at Cosmos and a one-of-a-kind champagne bar at Releve. Loews is connected to the skyway system and one block from the light rail. Ask for an upper-level room with a view of the skyline.

LuMINN Hotel Minneapolis $$

Sleek and Star Trek chic, this boutique hotel is decorated with hard lines, bright whites, and neon colors (in fact, you get to choose the color of the lighting in your room). Every room is a suite, with kitchen facilities and amazingly deep, soft beds. Most rooms don’t have great views, but otherwise its location in the heart of downtown, right off the light rail, is ideal, especially for people planning to explore the city’s nightlife.

The Marquette Hotel $$

The Marquette has consistently been one of the area’s best travel values. Located in the IDS Center, Minneapolis’s tallest building, it’s been around long enough to have mastered the art of customer service. Rooms are extra large and comfortably appointed for business travelers. Many rooms look out on the elegant obelisk that was the city’s tallest until the IDS surpassed it: the Foshay Tower.

Marriott City Center $$

The fifth-floor lobby of the Marriott City Center is like Grand Central Station: a popular meeting spot not only for guests of the hotel but for travelers and businesspeople of all sorts. The rooms, however, are serene and welcoming, with tasteful modern decor. The top floors of this 31-story hotel have stunning views (and higher prices to match). The Marriott is connected directly to the skyway and located right in the heart of downtown’s shopping and business district.

Radisson RED Minneapolis $$

One of the newest additions to downtown’s hotel scene, Radisson RED brings all the artsy hipness the brand promises, with big, bold murals on the walls, wood floors in the rooms, an app for ordering from the kitchen, and a bring-your-pooch policy. On the north end of downtown and right off the light rail, this is a prime location for bar hopping.

300 Clifton $$

Here’s a taste of how the lumber and flour barons of Minneapolis once lived, in a renovated 1887 mansion just a short walk from the heart of downtown. Choose one of five unique rooms, including the renovated former blacksmith’s forge, with its own private garden. Guests have full use of the fitness center and spa at the Hotel Ivy, about a mile away.

Aloft $

Just like your much cooler friend’s loftlike home: nine-foot ceilings, platform beds, huge walk-in showers, and funky furnishings (love the faux cowhide on the walls) feel very downtown and of-the-moment, as do the Euro-inspired lobby lounge and bar. You can’t beat Aloft’s location, a block from the river and right across from the Guthrie Theater.

Moxy Minneapolis Uptown $$

Three words that tell you this is an Uptown hotel: “vinyl listening lounge.” Also: “shuffleboard,” “foosball,” and “hammocks.” The amenities, the atmosphere, and the location are all chosen to welcome a very specific, young, hipster demographic. While rooms are small, common areas are designed like a club that never wants you to leave. It’s on the Greenway bike path and in walking distance from restaurants and nightlife.

Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown $$

The Sheraton Midtown fills a need for lodging in a neighborhood where there really aren’t many choices. The hotel is connected to the Midtown Global Market, a shopping and dining destination, and right on the Midtown Greenway, a popular bike path. It’s also about two miles south of downtown and convenient to major highways. It’s not, however, an area where you are likely to feel comfortable on your own after dark. The rooms are comfortable, up-to-date, and good-sized.

Minneapolis International Hostel $

This 1909 mansion in a gentrifying section of South Minneapolis is a short walk from both downtown and Uptown, making it perfect for younger and cash-strapped travelers. There are 30 beds in five dormitory-style rooms segregated by gender, as well as eight private rooms: three singles, four doubles, and a triple. Dorm guests get a storage locker, and linens and towels are provided. All guests share the spacious and inviting sitting room and porch, as well as the fully equipped kitchen.

Graduate Minneapolis $$

The most convenient lodging option for anyone visiting the University of Minnesota is, in fact, right on the campus itself, surrounded by academic buildings and, of course, student traffic. A renovation has brought an inviting Northwoods feel to both the rooms and the large common areas. Zip around campus on a complimentary bike.

Hotel Alma $$

This tiny, seven-room hotel is the dream of chef Alex Roberts, who is known for keeping customers very happy for over a decade at Alma, the restaurant downstairs. Each room is exquisitely appointed with custom furnishings, high ceilings, and a certain indescribable air of relaxation. Hotel Alma is near the Mississippi River and convenient to both the University of Minnesota and downtown Minneapolis.

Wales House $

The Carver family makes guests at Wales House feel like family. On the edge of the University of Minnesota’s East Bank, the inn is on a very quiet residential street, giving guests, many of whom are visiting the university from overseas, a taste of authentic neighborhood life. Guests gather for an organic continental breakfast each morning and have the use of the well-stocked kitchen and three common areas.

S St. Paul Hotel $$$

Old-school elegance is the rule at the St. Paul Hotel. The current building was built in 1910, but a hotel has operated on this spot in the heart of downtown St. Paul almost continuously since 1856. From the sweeping curved drive to the uniformed doormen in the grand lobby to the four-poster beds in the rooms, it almost feels like you’re stepping back into that Gilded Age yourself. Guests should be sure to pack their gym shoes: The fitness center, open 24 hours, is on the roof of the hotel and commands stunning views of St. Paul.

S Covington Inn Bed and Breakfast $$

This is the closest you’ll ever get to the Mississippi without getting in and swimming. The Covington is a 1946 tugboat permanently moored at Harriet Island, right in downtown St. Paul. The four suites are remarkably spacious for having been carved out of the tight decks of a small ship. In fact, you won’t have to give up any of the comforts of home while staying on the boat, from private bathrooms and air conditioning to a working fireplace. The only thing missing is a television, which your hosts chose to leave out on purpose.

DoubleTree by Hilton $$

Convenience, value, and familiarity are all good reasons to choose the Doubletree when you’re staying in downtown St. Paul. It’s right on the skyway system and offers a shuttle to the Xcel Energy Center for those here for large conferences or concerts. The fitness center is more extensive than most hotel gyms—which you might need to work off those famous Doubletree cookies.

Embassy Suites $$

While downtown St. Paul is quaint and serene enough, hotel guests who need an escape can enjoy the quiet interior courtyard with its own family of ducks. Every room at the Embassy Suites has a separate sitting area with a pullout sofa, and the hotel lives up to its brand with an extensive breakfast and happy hour.

Hyatt Place St. Paul Downtown $$

St. Paul’s Lowertown district is the place to be, and the Hyatt is right at the heart of it, built in a post office from the early 20th century. Most of the historic charm has been preserved on the outside, while the inside feels like a fresh, modern hotel. Rooms are large and the amenities are up to date.

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront $$

A change of hands has remade this accommodation into a hotel worthy of the spectacular views of the skyline and the river (22 stories up, if you wish). Expect the style and service that make the Intercontinental brand, including amenities focused on the needs of the business traveler.

Hotel 340 $

St. Paul’s only boutique hotel is a real gem. The 35 rooms take up the top floors of the St. Paul Athletic Club, a storied building with opulent turn-of-the-20th-century details. Rooms are all equipped with kitchenettes and have (so unusual in any hotel) lovely hardwood floors and ample windows. Many have views of the Minnesota State Capitol. Guests also get to use the athletic facilities at the St. Paul Club’s Summit Avenue building, about a mile away.

The Hotel Landing $$$

The Landing fits right in in tony downtown Wayzata, a charming lakeside town with a certain boat-shoes-and-polo-shirt vibe. From the outside it looks like a seaside resort. On the inside it feels like a tony club. It’s great for a spa getaway (at the in-house Läka Spa) or doing business in the western suburbs.

Intercontinental St. Paul-Minneapolis Airport $$$

While there are plenty of hotels near the Mall of America, the Radisson Blu was the first connected directly to it—and by far the ritziest in the area. Completed in 2013, this was the second Radisson Blu in North America (the first is in Chicago) and represents the top of the upscale chain’s range. The 500 rooms are decorated in three modern styles, designated “urban,” “naturally cool,” and “mansion house.” Every amenity you can think of is on-site, up to and including a spa. If there’s anything else you need, the mall is right next door.

Afton House Inn $$

When you need a getaway in the midst of your getaway, the Afton House Inn is a good choice. Located 20 miles east of St. Paul, it’s convenient to everything in the eastern metro area, and yet the quiet river town of Afton can be a destination in itself. With two dozen individually decorated rooms of all sizes, the inn has the charm of a bed-and-breakfast with the convenience of a small hotel. The Afton House Inn also offers riverboat cruises and is well known in the Twin Cities for the high quality of its restaurant.

Bird House Inn $$

Make yourself at home, borrow the kind innkeepers’ bikes, check out their extensive DVD collection—that’s the ethos here at Bird House Inn, about 20 miles from downtown Minneapolis. The Victorian house with the wide wraparound porch and second-story deck sits three blocks from the parks and public docks on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. The living and dining rooms are prim and formal, but the seven guest rooms are more relaxed (the Garden Room, in particular, is unique with its themed murals).

Crowne Plaza Bloomington $$

The Crowne Plaza is one of a host of chain hotels convenient to the Mall of America and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, but a few things set it apart. One is its Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, pleasantly surrounded by lounge chairs in a space that—unlike many hotel pools—actually invites lounging. It’s also just one block away from the Hyland Lake Park Preserve, an oasis here in concrete-covered suburbia. While at other suburban hotels, you might not even be able to walk around the block, while here you can walk, jog, or even ski in the 1,000-acre preserve.

Great Wolf Lodge $$

CAMPING OUT

You have to get pretty far outside of the central cities to pitch a tent or park an RV, but it’s still possible to combine a trip to the Twin Cities with some good old-fashioned camping.

The Three Rivers Park District (www.threeriversparkdistrict.org) maintains three campgrounds within easy driving distance of Minneapolis. Call 763/559-6700 to make reservations at any of the campgrounds. A $7.50 fee per reservation will be charged. Campgrounds are open May-October. The campground in Baker Park Reserve (763/694-7662, $20-28 per night) is 20 miles west of Minneapolis and has 203 sites, about half with electricity. The 54 sites at Lake Auburn Campground (952/443-2911, $16-19) near Victoria, about 25 miles west of Minneapolis, are more rustic, with no electric or water hookups and no showers. The sites at Red Pine Family Camping Area (763/694-7777, $16) near Prior Lake, about 26 miles south of Minneapolis, are hike-in only, with no amenities beyond pit latrines.

Two Minnesota State Park campgrounds are within easy driving distance of the metro area. Make reservations for campsites up to one year in advance at 866/857-2757 or www.stayatmnparks.com. The reservation fee is $8.50. Campsite fees are $12-20 per night. In the far east metro area, Afton State Park (6959 Peller Ave., South Hastings, 651/436-5391, www.dnr.state.mn.us) is about 20 miles southeast of St. Paul and open year-round. There are 24 tenting sites located about 1 mile from the parking lot, with wood and water available there. Flush toilets are located in the camp office, with vault toilets near the camping area. Minnesota Valley State Park (19825 Park Blvd., Jordan, 651/259-5774, www.dnr.state.mn.us) is about 40 miles southwest of Minneapolis, with 25 drive-in sites (good for car camping or RVs up to 50 feet long), 8 hike-in sites, and 3 sites that can accommodate horses. The campground is open mid-May through Labor Day.

The nationwide chain of RV parks, KOA, has two campgrounds (or is that “kampgrounds?”) in the metro area. Minneapolis Northwest KOA (10410 Brockton Ln. N., Maple Grove, 763/420-2255, www.koa.com) is 20 miles north of Minneapolis. Minneapolis Southwest KOA (3315 166th St. W., Jordan, 952/492-6440, www.koa.org) is about 35 miles south of Minneapolis. Both are open May-October and have RV and tent sites and cabins available, as well as a swimming pool and a mini-golf course on-site.

JW Marriott Mall of America $$

Walk out of your hotel room, down to the lobby, and right into America’s shopping mecca, the Mall of America. A 2015 expansion added the 342-room JW Marriott along with the MOA’s new grand entrance, a sweeping front door for the mall. The Marriott is sleek and up to date, with contemporary lines and all the modern amenities.

Westin Edina Galleria $$

Cool, modern class is the Westin’s style, and it suits this location well: directly attached to the small, upscale Galleria mall. Just south of Minneapolis and convenient to major highways on the west side of the metro, the Westin is a good choice for business travelers who don’t necessarily have business to do downtown. In addition to high-end shopping, there are also great dining options right in the Galleria, as well as a McCormick and Schmick’s seafood restaurant in the hotel itself.

S Marriott Residence Inn, Edinborough $

All Residence Inn hotels offer affordable suites with kitchenettes. This one, however, also comes with an indoor park. Edinborough, maintained by the city of Edina, is a one-acre indoor park with flowers, trees, a small waterfall, and a concert stage, along with an indoor pool, a gym, and a three-story children’s climbing structure called Adventure Peak. It’s all attached to the hotel—along with a child-care center and senior citizens residence—and guests get free entry. The park itself can be deafeningly loud, but the hotel is completely insulated from the noise.

Oak Ridge Hotel and Conference Center $

Oak Ridge is a massive complex that feels like a little city unto itself out in the western suburbs. It’s especially popular with large corporate groups but accommodates families and vacation travelers as well. The rooms feel particularly anonymous, even for a hotel, but they are freshly decorated and sizable (many suites are available). Visitors can walk the trails on the hotel’s 130-acre grounds or just enjoy the view of the small lake and woods right outside their windows.

$	Less than $100 per night
$ $	$100-200 per night
$ $ $	More than $200 per night

WHERE TO STAY

ALTERNATIVE LODGING

S Hewing Hotel $$$

S Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis $$$

S W Minneapolis—The Foshay $$$

Elliot Park Hotel $$$

Hotel Ivy $$$

S Hotel Minneapolis $$

S Nicollet Island Inn $$

AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown $$

The Depot $$

Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis/Downtown $$

Hilton Minneapolis $$

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis $$

Grand Hotel Minneapolis $$

Loews Minneapolis $$

LuMINN Hotel Minneapolis $$

The Marquette Hotel $$

Marriott City Center $$

Radisson RED Minneapolis $$

300 Clifton $$

Aloft $

Moxy Minneapolis Uptown $$

Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown $$

Minneapolis International Hostel $

Graduate Minneapolis $$

Hotel Alma $$

Wales House $

S St. Paul Hotel $$$

S Covington Inn Bed and Breakfast $$

DoubleTree by Hilton $$

Embassy Suites $$

Hyatt Place St. Paul Downtown $$

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront $$

Hotel 340 $

The Hotel Landing $$$

Intercontinental St. Paul-Minneapolis Airport $$$

Radisson Blu Mall of America $$$

Afton House Inn $$

Bird House Inn $$

Crowne Plaza Bloomington $$

Great Wolf Lodge $$

JW Marriott Mall of America $$

Westin Edina Galleria $$

S Marriott Residence Inn, Edinborough $

Oak Ridge Hotel and Conference Center $