5 New Restaurants To Try In Downtown Minneapolis (Coming 2025 & 2026)

If you’re searching for restaurants in downtown Minneapolis that food lovers are buzzing about, the next two years are bringing exciting new options. With chefs, developers, and hospitality groups investing in fresh dining concepts, the city’s culinary scene is poised to grow even stronger. From French bistros to high-end steakhouses, here are the new spots you’ll want to add to your must-visit list.

• Anticipated openings: Several confirmed restaurants will debut in 2025, with more expected in 2026.
• Unique dining concepts: Each new addition brings something different, from refined French classics to barbecue and music venues.
• Downtown energy: These openings are helping revitalize the city’s core and enhance its reputation as a dining destination.

🍽️ Why Downtown Minneapolis Keeps Growing As A Food Hub

Downtown Minneapolis combines business, sports, and cultural attractions, making it a natural hub for dining. Restaurants thrive here thanks to event-goers at Target Center and U.S. Bank Stadium, theater lovers from Hennepin Avenue, and locals seeking exciting new food options. The surge of openings in 2025 and 2026 reflects this demand, with chefs and restaurateurs betting on the area’s future growth.

🍛 5 New Restaurants Coming To Downtown Minneapolis

Here’s a closer look at the confirmed new openings set to add flavor to downtown in the next two years:

1. Stock & Bond Steakhouse: A whiskey-focused upscale steakhouse from Apicii Hospitality, opening summer 2025 inside The Westin Minneapolis. The space, located in the historic Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank building, will preserve its Art Deco design, including 33-foot ceilings and gilded chandeliers. Expect premium steaks, shareable sides, and one of the city’s most robust whiskey programs.
2. Bellecour North Loop: Chef Gavin Kaysen is reviving his beloved French bistro concept in downtown’s North Loop in late 2025. By day, the space will serve pastries, bread, and coffee to-go. By night, it transforms into a lively full-service restaurant with a full bar, showcasing French classics and seasonal specialties.
3. Animales Barbecue & Music Hall: Launching fall 2025, this collaboration from the team behind Animales BBQ and Berlin jazz club will combine barbecue with Americana music. The venue promises smoked meats, craft beer, and a stage for live shows — making it a unique mix of food and entertainment near downtown.
4. Ono Hawaiian Plates: After success at North Loop Galley, Ono Hawaiian Plates will reopen in a permanent location in the former Guacaya Bistreaux space. Diners can look forward to authentic Hawaiian comfort food like plate lunches, kalua pork, and poke bowls, adding a tropical twist to the downtown dining scene.
5. LaSalle Plaza Food Hall: A major food hall is being developed on the first floor of LaSalle Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. The 30,000-square-foot space, which will replace the former Rock Bottom Brewery, is slated to open in 2026. It will feature around 16 restaurant stalls, two bars, a self‑pour beer wall, a kids’ play area, and even courts for pickleball and shuffleboard—offering a dynamic, communal dining and entertainment destination in the heart of the city.

⭐️ Tips For Trying New Downtown Restaurants

With so many highly anticipated spots opening, planning ahead will help you get the most out of your dining experience.

• Make reservations early: Buzz-worthy openings book quickly, especially during opening months.
• Follow on social media: Many restaurants share menu previews, soft opening dates, and special events online.
• Go during off-peak times: Lunch or early dinners can mean shorter waits and more relaxed service.
• Sample signature dishes: Chefs usually highlight a few must-try plates that define their concept.
• Keep an open mind: New restaurants are a chance to explore unique flavors and styles, so try something outside your usual comfort zone.

❗️ Why These Openings Matter For Minneapolis

The Minneapolis food scene has long been celebrated for its creativity, and these openings add momentum to the city’s reputation as a Midwest dining leader. With downtown continuing to recover and grow, new restaurants not only serve great food but also bring jobs, energy, and a sense of community. For locals and visitors alike, 2025 and 2026 promise to be exciting years for dining out.

🤝 How New Restaurants Benefit Both Locals And Visitors

The wave of new restaurant openings isn’t just about adding more dining options — it reflects the growth and vibrancy of downtown Minneapolis. For locals, these restaurants create more variety for weeknight dinners, special occasions, and casual meetups with friends. They also provide reasons to rediscover parts of downtown that residents may not visit regularly.

For visitors, the addition of new restaurants makes the city an even stronger destination. Business travelers, event-goers, and tourists often look for memorable dining experiences, and having exciting new spots to choose from enhances their impression of the city. This influx of restaurants also supports the local economy, creating jobs for chefs, servers, and hospitality workers while keeping more dollars circulating within the Twin Cities community.

Ultimately, the growth of restaurants in downtown Minneapolis benefits everyone by strengthening the city’s cultural and social heartbeat. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, these new openings are helping redefine what dining in Minneapolis looks like in 2025 and 2026.

👉 Plan Your Downtown Dining Adventures

From fine dining at Bellecour North Loop to the excitement of the new LaSalle Plaza Food Hall, the lineup of restaurants downtown Minneapolis shows just how much this city continues to grow and thrive. These openings aren’t just about food — they’re a reflection of the community spirit and resilience that make Minneapolis such a special place to live.

At Northface Construction, we share that same local pride. Just as these new restaurants are shaping the city’s future, we’re committed to protecting and improving homes across Minneapolis with roofs built to last. We live here, we work here, and we love this city.

If you’re planning your next night out or your next home project, remember that supporting local businesses, from restaurants to roofing, strengthens the community we all call home. Reach out to Northface Construction today for a free quote, and let’s keep building a stronger Minneapolis together.