One of the best things about a furnished studio at Oaklands on 9th is the full kitchen — but let’s be honest, you didn’t come to downtown Minneapolis to do dishes every night. The happy truth is that some of the city’s best eating is a short, flat walk (or an indoor skyway stroll) from our front door at 215 South 9th Street. Whether you’re here for a week of work, a month-long assignment, or a weekend away, here’s how a local would eat their way around downtown — from quick skyway lunches to a proper night out.
Step outside onto Nicollet Mall
Walk a couple of blocks west and you’re on Nicollet Mall, the mile-long pedestrian street that forms the spine of downtown dining. Closed to everything but buses and the occasional taxi, it’s lined with sidewalk patios, lunchtime food trucks, coffee shops, and restaurants for every budget. The flagship Target at Nicollet and 9th sits right there too, which is handy for anything you forgot to pack.
Skyway lunches, no coat required
Minneapolis is famous for its skyway — a climate-controlled, second-floor walkway system that links much of downtown, so you can grab lunch in January (or on a sticky July afternoon) without ever stepping outside. From the skyway level near us you’ll find quick, reliable spots — sandwiches, salads, burrito bowls, good coffee — alongside locally owned counters like a classic deli and an independent coffee roaster. If you’re working a downtown contract, it makes for an easy daily routine. For more on getting around on foot, see our guide to staying downtown without a car.
Downtown classics worth a reservation
When you want a real night out, downtown delivers. Manny’s Steakhouse, inside the historic Foshay Tower, is regularly ranked among America’s best steakhouses. Hell’s Kitchen serves beloved, slightly mischievous comfort food in a cavern-like underground space with live music most evenings. For Italian, Zelo has been a Nicollet Mall institution since 1999, and chef Gavin Kaysen’s Mara, toward the north edge of downtown, turns out Mediterranean-leaning plates well worth the stroll. Any of them makes a fine anniversary or end-of-assignment dinner.
…or cook in — that’s what the kitchen is for
Some nights you’ll want to stay in, and that’s where your full kitchen earns its keep. On Saturday mornings, the Mill City Farmers Market on the riverfront is about a 15-minute walk and a lovely way to stock up on Minnesota bread, cheese, and produce. The rest of the week, the downtown Target has a full grocery. With free laundry and all utilities included, settling in for a home-cooked week is genuinely easy here.
Make a weekend — or a month — of it
Eating is only part of the fun. Once you’ve found your favorite lunch spot, there’s a whole downtown to explore, from riverfront festivals to free summer events within walking distance. Friends who’d rather wake up in a grand old mansion can book our sister B&B, 300 Clifton, near Loring Park — and a ride with Minneapolis Trolley Tours, or a haunted-history tour at the Pillsbury Club, is a fun way to learn the lay of the land.
Stay in the middle of it all
Our furnished studios at 215 South 9th Street put a full kitchen, free laundry, WiFi, and all utilities within walking distance of every table above — with no long contract, whether you stay a night, a week, or a month. Check availability and book online, or call us at (612) 314-5124 and we’ll help you find the right studio for your downtown Minneapolis stay.