The Top 10 Guide to Dating in Minneapolis

Looking for a new dating adventure in Minneapolis? Let eHarmony Advice guide you.

Picture of Minneapolis during the daytime
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Below, you'll have an opportunity to give us your tips for dating in Minneapolis, so let us know what you think!

Dating is often intimidating, no matter where you live or what kind of person you are. Overcoming your butterflies about dating in Minneapolis can be easy if you learn a bit about what you're up against. This top ten guide will give you an insider's view on dating and socializing in Minneapolis.

1. Be Open to Meeting New People

Whether you've just moved to Minneapolis and need a little extra help meeting people or have lived here for a while and just want to be introduced to a new group of people, don't be afraid to let your personality show.

2. Let Your Interests Guide You

If you appreciate good wine – Try Spill the Wine on Washington Avenue, as it has frequent wine-tasting events. This is a great spot for meeting singles or for going on a date! If you love coffee and art – The Birchwood Café on 25th Street is a quaint little café that caters to vegetarians and vegans. The Espresso Royale Caffe on Washington Street has a great artsy atmosphere for quiet talk—perfect for learning more about the person you’re with.

3. Know the Nightlife

Hometown of well-known artists such as Prince and Soul Asylum, Minneapolis is very musical. Whether it's live polka at Nye's Polonaise Room in the heart of Minneapolis, or blues, reggae, and drinks at Cabooze on Cedar Avenue, music makes for a great date every time!

4. Get the Right Gear

In warmer weather, slacks or khakis and button-down or polo shirts for guys are great, no matter where you're going. Women will find that jeans or a skirt are appropriate for clubs and dancing, and don’t forget to add a jazzy touch with dressy shoes! In the winter, be sure to layer your clothing so that you can remove layers to suit your comfort level. Don't forget boots, gloves, and a scarf to keep you toasty!

5. Where to Go

Typically, in Uptown you will find the young hipsters. The Chain of Lakes in Uptown brings you into contact with people swimming, fishing, and biking. The Northeast neighborhood typically attracts artists and art lovers.

6. What Will You Pay?

The typical cost for a great dinner at a place like Fugaise or Bayport Cookery is around $50 per entrée. Of course, once you factor in drinks and extras, you should expect to pay about $70 to $100 per person. This is typical of "date" restaurant, so unless you plan on taking your date to a popular fast-food chain, know what to expect!

7. Seasonal Events

One of the greatest things to do when you're dating in Minneapolis is visit one or more of the great festivals, fairs, or events that take place throughout the city!

Spring/Summer – In June, Minneapolis hosts the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Located in Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis and Mears Park in St. Paul, this event always delivers great music and fun! If you're into art, the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts, also in June, is host to over 250 artists' booths, as well as stages featuring performing arts, music, and dance. Art-a-Whirl, typically held in May, features more than 400 artists in the bustling Northeast neighborhood.

Winter/Fall – The St. Paul Winter Carnival, usually held in January, features ice mazes, ice skating, sled races, and snow sculptures. Don't forget to dress for the cold!

8. Shopping

If you want to pick up a small token for your date, try Nicollet Mall in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. You will enjoy the historic surroundings and have a great choice of boutiques, popular retailers, and upscale gift shops to peruse.

9. Great Shows

The Guthrie Theater on South 2nd Street is a great place to see live actors and great shows. Tickets typically cost around $18 to $50 each, depending on the show. The Brave New Workshop on Hennepin Avenue is a great comedy theater, offering improv and comedy shows, as well as scripted shows. The cost of tickets is usually between $15 and $30.

10. Call for More Information

Simply pick up a phone and dial 311. This is a great service that locals and visitors can use to get information on businesses and report problems.

Have Ideas for Minneapolis Dating? Post them Below!

Connect with people like you!


Rate this article:
unstarunstarunstarunstarunstar
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Comments

8 comments on “The Top 10 Guide to Dating in Minneapolis


Recent comments on this article

Read all comments

Posts: 32

See Profile

A few of my favorite dates in the twin cities. (Reposted from another thread) **Minnehaha Falls is an excellent place to go both in the summer and the winter. **The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a very nice place when it's in bloom. If you are into beautiful flowers and walking trails this would be the place to go. While I have not been there in the fall I hear the colors are spectacular. **The Walker Art Museum. You can tour the place for free on Thursday nights. It's also fun to walk around the park across the street with the oversized sculptures. (Beware; the museum tends to have exhibits that may cause some embarrassment if you are going on a first date!) **I know it's a bit of a drive but St. Croix Falls has a great state park where you can walk/hike trails. **Why not go mini-golfing? There are a lot of great places to go in the cities. **How about walking around one the "lakes" and going to eat ice cream afterwards. **Go to the Como Zoo (it only requires a $2 donation). You could also go to Izzy's to get ice cream afterwards. (Okay, you now know that I really like ice cream!) **Catch one of the local art fairs. From Edina, to Excelsior, Anoka, and Uptown, there are many options. **Dinner at Pizza Luce **One of my favorite dates was to Valleyfair. While I love the thrill rides (and so did my guy) there are also rides for those less inclined to being scared! If you go after 4pm, twilight admission is much cheaper. **And one of the obvious ones...go to a Twins game. I love going to them for dates. While the games can be really long, if you are a good conversationalist and/or a big Twins fan it's time well spent.

Posts: 32

See Profile

ThePriestess wrote:
Top 10 guide? Wouldn't a top 1 guide be better ... MOVE? :P Frigid wasteland!
What an ignorant comment! "The Priestess" have you ever spent a good deal of time in MN? Perhpas you don't know was a beautirul place, rich in culture, complete with four seasons, that it is! I truly feel there are more opportunities for great date venues here than many of the other cities I have been (and most of the places I have been weren't even on the EH list).

Posts: 592

See Profile

Yeah, yeah. I get it. None of you pansies can tough out a little chilly weather. Minneapolis is not cold! Places like Grand Forks, where there are weeks when it doesn't get above -30, are cold. Minneapolis a practical warm-weather getaway in comparison.
8 comments so far » read more

Not an Advice member? Sign up to contribute to the discussion.

Sign Up for eHarmony Advice
Female  Male
I have read and agree to the eHarmony.com
privacy policy and Terms of Service.

Create an account above to save and post your reply. This information is private: only your screen name will be visible to other Advice members.

Advice members, log in to post your reply.

Members Log In


eHarmony account holders: your signup information will not work in the Advice Community. You must create an Advice screen name by using the sign-up form to the right.



ADVERTISEMENT