Kyle Green
If you’re visiting the twin cities area, the biggest metropolis in Minnesota, you might find yourself thinking about where to enjoy the best brunch in Minneapolis.
In the summer, it’s the perfect midday or late-morning way to relax in the sun, and in the cold, snowy winters of the upper midwest, it’s sometimes the best way to warm up on the weekend.
When you have a bloody mary or mimosa craving, and you can’t decide between breakfast or lunch, it’s time to head out for brunch.
But what places have fluffy pancakes with sweet maple syrup and also serve good lunchtime sandwiches? Is there a place with the right combination of menu items and atmosphere for your group?
The best way to know where to go for the best brunch in Minneapolis is to keep reading.
I spent some time tasting my way through the best restaurants in Minneapolis, so I know where they have the best meals. Check out my list of the best brunch spots in Minneapolis below!
Keys Cafe & Bakery
Multiple locations
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Keys Cafe has eight locations, with the Minneapolis spot downtown, just blocks from the Minnesota Orchestra.
Each location features this family-owned bakery’s signature sweets, bread, and buns. But they don’t just bake – they have a massive menu of brunch items too.
Breakfast is available all day, so whenever you get there, you can have eggs, bacon, sausage, bagels, toast, oatmeal, granola, and other morning staples. Or choose from their lunch and dinner items.
I had the Keys’ steak sandwich, and the homemade wheat toast ruined all other bread for me for about a month. Salads, soups, and hearty entrees round out the menu.
But the signature Keys’ cakes, pies, and sweets are what put this place over the top.
Hazel’s Northeast
2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Phone: 612-788-4778
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Hazel’s is right by Audubon Park, and they’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
But their all-American menu of classic and contemporary favorites really hits the spot for brunch.
And even though there’s quite a bit of traditional fare to choose from, there are some dishes that put quite a spin on the old-school brunch favorites.
For instance, try a classic Belgian waffle stuffed with bacon, ham, and cheese. Or, get a bowl of the wild rice gumbo for a Creole meal with a Minnesota twist.
How about a falafel burger or fish and chips? If you’re in the mood for it, Hazel’s Northeast probably has it, and it’s delicious.
Hell’s Kitchen Inc.
80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612-332-4700
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Hell’s Kitchen in Downtown West is widely considered one of the top restaurants in Minneapolis and features a menu with locally-sourced ingredients and unique dishes described as fun but not fussy.
The vibe is a bit underground, with red lighting and dark frames for photographs on the wall.
This restaurant was founded by Mitch Omer, his wife Cynthia Gerdes, and their friend Steve Meyer.
I tried their signature chicken sandwich, and the buttermilk fried bird, chipotle mayo, and spicy pickled veggies were amazing. If you’ve never had bison sausage, try the maple glazed patties.
Or, get the Totchos Grande tater tots, a spin on nachos with a decidedly mid-western twist.
Plus, there’s all the standard breakfast fare, burgers, sandwiches, and an array of bloody mary and mimosa options. If you’re ready to party a bit, try the ScrewMosa, with a shot of vodka!
Al’s Breakfast
413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-331-9991
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Al’s Breakfast has a narrow front entrance and only holds about a dozen seats. This Dinkytown legend fills up fast and can be really fast-paced and crowded.
Founded in 1950 by Al Bergstrom, this place doesn’t have a freezer, so they prepare everything fresh.
If you’re in the mood for breakfast food, this is the place. Have an omelet in various styles with just about any savory add-on you can think of, a classic egg dish, a variety of scrambled egg options, pancakes, or waffles. It’s a simple menu, and there is no booze.
But, you won’t miss your mimosa when you’re plowing through a stack of fluffy blackberry pancakes or two eggs over-easy with corned beef hash.
Hi-Lo Diner
4020 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: 612-353-6568
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This small diner traveled from Pennsylvania to Minneapolis back in the 1950s.
The retro-diner vibe is apparent when you first walk in between the turquoise booths with the thick Formica-topped tables.
This Cooper neighborhood diner feels like it’s from a time gone by. Now it’s serving up classic diner meals like grilled cheese, eggs over easy, and meatloaf, alongside some more inventive menu items.
For instance, the fish and chips are a taste of England, the tempeh bowl with garbanzo stew and pearl couscous is a vegetarian’s dream, and the chicken wings are a perfect snack to eat with your hands.
For me, the Gary Cooper hi-top with buttermilk fried chicken served on top of the signature house donut made up for the no-alcohol policy!
The Lowry
2112 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Phone: 612-341-2112
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The Lowry is right near the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The subtitle of the sign outside the restaurant lists burgers, whiskey, oysters, and eggs.
The vibe is casual but modern, and the restaurant itself has a creative decor with elegant touches that make it fun for all who enter.
Some of the creations on the menu might be worthy of an exhibition at the Mia! I went with the Lowry Breakfast Margarita from the featured drinks menu.
The orange crema was the perfect counter to the tequila. From a full breakfast menu featuring more than twenty staples to burgers, tacos, and sandwiches, there’s something at the Lowry for everyone.
Our Kitchen
813 W 36th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-825-3718
If you’re near the Kolo Apartments, you might decide to stop into the nearby Our Kitchen for brunch.
As soon you walk into this tiny restaurant, you’ll smell the home-cooked food prepared in the back.
You can sit at the counter, facing the grill, or face the other way for a window view of the street outside. There are only about a dozen seats in the whole place.
They serve their entire breakfast menu all day, so we could choose from omelets, egg sandwiches, pancakes, and eggs. They even make their sausage patties from scratch.
I had the Kitchen Special with two eggs, hash browns, sausages, and a choice of toast or a pancake with coffee. They also have a lunch menu with burgers, chicken strips, chili, soup, and more.
Spoon and Stable
211 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-224-9850
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Located right by Target Field, Spoon and Stable is the perfect spot to grab brunch before a game – or any time. This restaurant serves up high-end cuisine in a converted horse stable.
It doesn’t have any hay on the floor or anything, though. Instead, it’s an open space with industrial decor and comfortable seating. You may be blown away by how good the food is!
Select from brunch drinks like gin or vodka bloody Marys, or enjoy a Salty Dog with vodka, grapefruit, lime, and a splash of fizzy soda.
If you’re going to a game right after, you might stay away from the heavier stuff like the full English breakfast and the pot roast hash.
Sun Street Breads
4600 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Phone: 612-354-3414
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This bakery is off of 46th Street – and it’s also a full-service restaurant! I heard about their Thursday night crowds for their busy Pizza Night, and I tried to stop by, but the line was out the door.
I knew they must be doing something right, so I swung by for brunch with a friend one Saturday morning.
They serve breakfast all day (from opening to closing at around 2 pm) and a selection of lunch items after 11 am.
The Toast Flight on the menu was the perfect light brunch and came served with three kinds of bread and three kinds of toast.
I also ordered a biscuit sandwich with swiss cheese, mushrooms, and greens rolled into a crepe and stacked on the bread.
Hola Arepa
3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-345-5583
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Arepas’ brunch menu is a full-blown Mexican extravaganza. The vibe is a cross between a cantina and a surf bar, and there’s a bit of a tropical theme to the decor and the menu.
That’s pretty rare in the South Uptown neighborhood. But that’s also how Chef Christina Nguyen & her partner Birk Grudem like it!
Looking at their dishes on offer, I had a tough time choosing because they all seemed tempting.
I went with the tostada chilaquiles with slow-roasted pork, and I was not disappointed in the least. The salsa, black beans, and fried eggs were fresh, and the meat was very tender.
It was so good I went back for dinner and enjoyed one of their namesake arepas sandwiches, made with cornmeal griddle cakes.
Hot Plate
5204 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Phone: 612-824-4794
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The first thing you might notice about this family-friendly restaurant is the zany decor. They know it’s funky, and that’s just how they like it.
They’re right in the heart of the Hale neighborhood, so check them out if you’re anywhere on the west side of Lake Nokomis.
The house specials are the perfect brunch menu, with eggs benedict, biscuits with gravy, chicken fried steak, waffles, french toast, and corned beef hash to choose from.
Or have some huevos (eggs), frijoles (beans), and tacos for a taste of their South of the Border options. There are also fried egg sandwiches, burgers, and more to choose from.
Italian Eatery
4724 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: 612-223-8504
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If you’re craving some refined Italian food for your brunch, check out the appropriately named Italian Eatery right by Lake Hiawatha Park.
This place is a traditional restaurant with rustic wooden tables and a welcoming feel that goes well with the food and the hospitable staff.
If you’re feeling a little bit exotic, you can try the roasted octopus with fregola, Castelvetrano olives, shaved pepperoni, pistachios, and lemon aioli.
Or stick with the simple Roman-style meatballs made with a combination of veal, pork, and beef. Each dish is prepared carefully and served elegantly at reasonable prices.
There are also a few options to choose from for ‘take and make’ kits with complete meals, pouches of fresh pasta, and loaves of bread to bring home.
Parlour Bar
730 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-354-3135
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Parlour Bar’s food truck makes the rounds, and if you see it while hiking nearby at Bassett’s Creek Trail, you can follow it to its home base only a few blocks away.
The seating is casual, with a long bar and plenty of dark wood, and the menu is straightforward but offers a taste of everything you might want to eat or drink.
They really put the customer first. In fact, the name is intentionally misspelled, with the added a ‘U’ as a reminder that without ‘U,’ there is no Parlour.
They have an extensive selection of beers in bottles, cans, and on draft. Plus, there’s a wine menu and a locally inspired list of cocktails on the menu. I chose the fried chicken sandwich with dill brined breast meat, lettuce, and pickles with dill.
They also offer cupcakes, popcorn, cheese, charcuterie plates, and the Parlour burger with a mix of ground chuck, ribeye, and brisket.
Hai Hai
2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Phone: 612-223-8640
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Hai Hai is in the heart of Minneapolis. It’s about three blocks to the east of the Mississippi River, and I stopped in before a visit to the Minnesota Firefighters Museum right down 22nd Avenue.
The menu is high-end Asian, and each dish has a simple presentation with a touch of flair that appeals to the eye.
The Beef Laab lettuce wraps come to the table with ground beef, lime, toasted rice, cucumber slices, and sesame shrimp chips piled invitingly. Use fresh lettuce to make little bundles packed with flavor.
There’s also fried tofu, pork ribs, spring rolls, mussels, and various soups and salads to choose from. Keep in mind that this restaurant charges 20% on every bill as a substitute for tipping, so no additional payment is required.
Hen House Eatery
114 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612-345-4664
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The Hen House Eatery in Downtown West uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients to create and serve homemade meals with a creative twist.
They’re open daily from the early morning until mid-afternoon, and their breakfast and lunch menus are served throughout.
If you’re thinking about a late breakfast, you can stop in for brunch and opt for their Green Acres Avocado Toast and a Lupita Burrito stuffed with eggs, cheese, veggies, and beans.
Or, if it’s too late for you to want breakfast, switch to the lunch menu with a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. There’s also a vegan menu available, and the kitchen can make almost any item into a gluten-free treat.
Their breakfast bar is full of a surprising variety of specialty drinks, but I strongly recommend the Bacon Me Crazy Bloody. It was $14 well-spent!
St. Genevieve
5003 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Phone: 612-353-4843
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Located in the northeast corner of the Lynnhurst neighborhood, this brunch spot is right off West 50th Street.
They have a reputation for serving refined pub food with French inspiration, and this bistro’s modern take on classic dishes rarely disappoints.
If you want to brunch at St. Genevieve on Saturday, you’re out of luck. They’re only open for Brunch on Sundays from 10 am-2 pm.
Along with your New Orleans inspired bloody mary, french press coffee, or mimosa, you can enjoy a range of dishes, including a Calabrian Brie fondue burger, french toast with pork belly,
Shrimp toast with sourdough bread and trout roe, or a variety of egg dishes inspired by the choicest local ingredients of the day.
