Brunch in Minneapolis and St. Paul: Twin Cities Guide

Brunch in Minneapolis is a serious matter, and the Twin Cities have the pancakes to prove it. The metro area has downtown dining rooms with hotcakes the size of a plate, diners in restored railcars and Swedish pancake houses that have drawn lines for decades. A downtown dining room and a Swedish pancake cafe are the classic stops.

Pancakes are the point, whether the thin Swedish kind or hotcakes the size of a plate. Reviewers of the downtown dining room advise calling ahead, and brunch is busiest late on Sundays in both cities.

What is the best brunch in Minneapolis?

It depends on the mood. A downtown restaurant is known for lemon ricotta hotcakes, sold in a three-cake stack and garnished with berries and maple syrup. Weekend brunch is its busiest time, and reviewers advise calling ahead for reservations. The restaurant also has a Bloody Mary bar.

If you want a more relaxed, retro setting, try a diner. If you want a long table with friends, try a restaurant with a bar. If you want a quick plate before a walk, choose a counter.

Where can you find a Minneapolis diner brunch?

For an old-school brunch, a railcar diner in the Longfellow neighborhood that was moved to Minneapolis from Pennsylvania serves the classics, and an American diner in the Lyn-Lake area offers creative comfort food.

A Minneapolis diner brunch is about eggs, hash browns, toast and bottomless coffee. Order a plate to share, and add a side of pancakes for the table.

Which Minneapolis pancakes are worth the trip?

Minneapolis pancakes range from fluffy buttermilk stacks to thin Swedish pancakes. A Swedish pancake cafe has moved to St. Paul. The Star Tribune has written about the best places for a pancake fix, and a downtown dining room's lemon ricotta hotcakes appear in nearly every roundup.

Swedish pancakes are thin and delicate, served with lingonberries or fresh fruit. American pancakes are thick and fluffy. Order one of each if you are with a friend, and compare.

What does St. Paul brunch offer?

St. Paul brunch tends to be a little quieter than Minneapolis. A St. Paul cafe is noted for its scones and beignets. The neighborhoods around Grand Avenue and Selby have a dense set of cafes and restaurants, and a walk along the avenue is a pleasant way to spend a morning.

Cross the river on a bridge or take a short drive, and make a day of it. St. Paul's brunches often come with a little more elbow room.

How do you handle Twin Cities brunch crowds?

Twin Cities brunch crowds are largest on Sundays after church and on holiday weekends. Go early, before ten, or go late, after one. If a restaurant takes reservations, use them. If not, put your name in and wait with a coffee.

Winter weather can make waiting uncomfortable, so choose a place with an indoor waiting area. In summer, a patio table is worth the wait.

What should you order?

If you are new to the Twin Cities, order something local. A Swedish pancake plate, a hash with local sausage and eggs, or a pastry from a bakery are good choices. Pair them with strong coffee, and ask about seasonal specials, such as dishes with Minnesota berries or wild rice.

If you are with a group, order a mix of sweet and savory and share. A table of three can usually split two main dishes and a side.

How do you pair brunch with a walk?

The Twin Cities are made for walking after a big meal. In warm weather, the lakes and parks of Minneapolis offer paths that loop around the water, and the Stone Arch Bridge gives a view of the river and the old mill ruins. In St. Paul, Grand Avenue has shops and cafes in a row of historic buildings, and the streets around the cathedral have long views of the downtown skyline.

In winter, a different plan applies. Both downtowns have skyway systems, which are enclosed walkways that connect buildings, so you can walk between a restaurant and a museum without a coat. Check which buildings are open on weekends, since access varies.

Whatever the season, give yourself a pause after a heavy brunch. A short walk and a cup of coffee turn a big meal into a pleasant half day, and you will want to compare notes about which pancake won.

What else should you eat around Minnesota?

For an evening after brunch, read the Northeast Minneapolis and North Loop restaurants guide. The Minneapolis farmers markets and food halls guide covers weekend markets, and brunch in Detroit is a good comparison. The US guides page lists more cities.

How do you keep a list of Twin Cities brunch spots?

Brunch crowds make for fast, forgettable meals unless you write something down. Rate the pancakes, the eggs or the coffee by the dish, tag the stop Brunch and note how long the wait was.

Keep a Twin Cities list split between Minneapolis and St. Paul and share the invite link with the friends who want a slow Sunday.

A brunch is a plate that disappears fast. Download the Mosey app, rate each plate by its eggs, its pancakes and its coffee, and keep a Twin Cities list that tells you where to go on the next slow Sunday.