Kipsu wants to make sure you are well-caffeinated and ready to seize the HITEC-filled day, so, we compiled a list of our favorite spots for a quality cup of joe near downtown Minneapolis. But, we couldn’t stop at just coffee, so, keep reading to see our top picks for where to grab a drink or devour a yummy dessert (or both!) after a busy day at HITEC.

Coffee Shops

First up, Spyhouse Coffee. Spyhouse has six locations across the Twin Cities, including their newest location downtown in the Emery Hotel. Some other big hits close to the convention center are Gray Fox Coffee & Wine, Penny’s Coffee, and Northern Coffee Works. Gray Fox is located in the Capella Tower and has a variety of smoothie bowls, breakfast sandwiches, and fun coffee drinks, including Fox in the Woods and Donut Latte. Penny’s Coffee, right off of Washington Ave., has an airy atmosphere and rich espressos. Northern Coffee Works is located just a few blocks from the US Bank Stadium and serves up scrumptious breakfast choices and quality coffees, including a Smoked Sea Salt Mocha. North of the convention center is Fairgrounds. Grab an Americano or one of their many teas, then explore all the Warehouse District has to offer.

Breweries & Bars

Located just a few blocks from the convention center is Lakes & Legends Brewing. With an inviting atmosphere and Adirondack chairs to make you feel like you truly are lakeside, you can grab a brew from their rotating list and a bite to eat from a food truck parked outside. A widespread favorite among many Kipsuvians (what we call all of our Kipsu team members) is Sisyphus Brewing. Sisyphus is right across from the Walker Sculpture Garden (Visit the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry to get your quintessential Minneapolis picture) and, while you probably will like everything you try there, you must try the Peanut Butter Jackpot Stout. Amazing.

We highly recommend you head north of the convention center to try out some of our favorite bars. Bunkers Music Bar & Grill in the Warehouse District is a Minneapolis stronghold with live music playing almost nightly. Dr. Mambo’s Combo, a crowd favorite for 30 years, jams out every Sunday and Monday night. Follow Washington south a few blocks and you will hit Parlour and the Hewing Hotel. Despite having an amazing burger, Parlour has expertly-crafted cocktails (they even have a cocktail making class!) served up in a cozy, basement-level bar. We would recommend trying their classic Old Fashioned. The Hewing Hotel has a swanky indoor bar AND one of the best rooftops in Minneapolis. Check out another “secret” location in North Loop and visit Marvel Bar. Marvel Bar is a speakeasy located by the Bachelor Farmer with eclectic decor and innovative drinks...but we can’t tell you much more than that. Finally, Modist Brewing. They always have a tasty and innovative selection of beers brewed in-house, including a mainstay Hazy IPA called DreamYard and a Coffee Lager called First Call.

...And the Sweets!

Okay, now onto the best part—desserts! Thankfully, we have numerous places to chose from, including a delicious option vetted by several Kipsuvians, Edwards Dessert Kitchen. Edwards serves all kinds of tasty ice creams, cakes, cookies, bars, etc., as well as wine and cocktails. What more could you want? Some of our personal favorite treats are the Mole Spice Brownie, Avocado Lime Sorbet, Dulce De Leche Cheesecake, and any of their ice cream pies. Up next, MilkJam. This ice cream shop off of Lyndale Ave. scoops up some of the creamiest ice creams you can imagine with fun flavor combos, including Cereal Killers (Orange Coriander Milk with Candied Fruity Pebbles), Hard Knock Life 2.0 (Dark Chocolate with Salted Chocolate Fudge, Whoppers, and Brownies), and Uma Thurman (Greek Yogurt with Passionfruit Lychee). Make sure you get there early too for a Jam Bun—an ice cream sandwich served between a Glam Doll Donut!

Kipsuvians love their ice cream and couldn’t decide on just one place to recommend, so, we have two more for you—Sebastian Joes and Sweet Chow Ice Cream. Sebastian Joes has two locations, but the one closest to the convention center is Lowry Hill off of Franklin Ave. We would suggest getting the oh-so-rich Nicollet Pothole flavor or Raspberry Chocolate Chip, then strolling down to Lake of the Isles to enjoy the warm evening. There is also a fairly new ice cream shop in town located within Sweet Chow (which has some of the best Asian Street Food in the cities and uses quality organic ingredients). They also have exciting flavors like Honey Roasted Plum and Thai Tea, but we also love their simple Chocolate.

Hopefully, this list is making your mouth water already. Let us know what you think of our suggestions and check out our guide to what restaurants you should go to while you’re in Minneapolis too (since you should probably eat dinner before dessert...or not).

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