The Twin Cities Geek 2025 Downtown Minneapolis Convention Guide

Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Douglas Muth via Flickr

Maybe you’re getting ready for CONvergence at the Hyatt Regency or Twin Cities Con at the Minneapolis Convention Center. And maybe you’re a little nervous because you aren’t that familiar with downtown Minneapolis. Don’t panic! Whether it’s your first downtown convention or your umpteenth, this guide will point you in the right direction for food, supplies, transportation, and more. Our custom map highlights all of the businesses listed here, coded by category.

Note: We acknowledge that many people are currently boycotting Target as well as Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, for a number of reasons related to diversity, corporate donations, worker conditions, and more. Listing them here is not an endorsement of those companies.

Eating

Whether you’re going to a convention for the day or staying in a downtown hotel, it’s a good idea to have some sort of idea of what you’ll be doing for meals—con-goers shouldn’t count on even the best-stocked con suite to sustain them for the entire weekend. Both the Hyatt Regency and the Minneapolis Convention Center have onsite food options available, with the coffee shop in the Hyatt being fairly reasonable on price and options for all meals of the day.

Though many of the cheaper eating options throughout downtown are oriented toward the office workforce in terms of both operating hours and locations, there are many options that will work for con attendees. Since many places may not be open on Sundays or holiday weekends, be sure to verify operating hours of any place you’re planning on visiting. Hours listed here are accurate as of June 2025; we’ve noted hours for Independence Day when we were able to verify them with the business.

Restaurants

Many of the restaurants downtown are closer to the theaters and other nightlife spots, but there are plenty of options within a reasonable distance from convention venues. Here are a few of the many, many possible options within just a couple blocks of the Hyatt and/or convention center.

• Brit’s Pub (1110 Nicollet Mall): An English pub that serves pints, eats, and—with reservations—afternoon tea (open regular hours July 4)
• Lotus (13 W Grant Street): A Vietnamese restaurant that also does takeout with online ordering (closed July 4)
• Mother Clucker’s Pizza (1428 Nicollet Ave.): Open until 2:00 a.m., with takeout available until 4:00 a.m. (open regular hours July 4)
• Nicollet Diner (1333 Nicollet Avenue): A diner open 24/7 and a cocktail bar open 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.; the diner features a convenient takeout window for online orders (open regular hours July 4)
• Sushi Train (1200 Nicollet Mall, Suite C3): A conveyor-belt sushi restaurant that also serves ramen and poke bowls (open regular hours July 4)

Widening your radius just a few blocks more will get you options like Hell’s Kitchen and Dancing Ganesha (both of which are open regular hours on July 4). A quick search on Google, Yelp, or your other preferred method for finding food will provide a bounty of choices!

Sushi Train is just down the block from the Hyatt Regency. Douglas Muth via Flickr

Fast Food

Most of the skyway-level locations that serve faster, less expensive food focus their hours around weekday lunchtime, but the following options aren’t too far and have some wider operating hours.

• Chipotle (1040 Nicollet Mall): Open until 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays; closes at 3:00 p.m. on July 4)
• Qdoba (50 S 10th Street): Open 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. during the week (closed July 4)

Coffee Shops

There are coffee shops of all kinds all over downtown, so do your research if you have particular wants and needs, but here are a few nearby options:

• Boiler Room Coffee (1830 3rd Avenue South): If you’re at the convention center and want to get out of downtown for a coffee break, this independent shop is just a couple blocks south of I-94 (historically open regular hours on July 4)
• Caribou Coffee (1100 Nicollet Mall): Just a couple blocks up Nicollet from the Hyatt, this coffee shop also works in a pinch for a quick meal (closes at 3:00 p.m. on July 4)
• Dunn Bros. (329 West 15th Street): In addition to the Dunn Bros. inside the Minneapolis Convention Center, there is this location right on Loring Park (historically open regular hours July 4)
• Fawkes Alley Coffee (1621 Harmon Place): An independent coffee shop on the north side of Loring Park
• Gray Fox Coffee (multiple locations): This independent shop has several downtown locations, including 801 Marquette Avenue South
• Muffin Top Cafe (1424 Nicollet Ave.): Just west of the Minneapolis Convention Center and open 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily (open regular hours July 4)
• Starbucks (multiple locations): Locations throughout downtown; the one on the second floor of Target at 900 Nicollet Mall is closer to the Hyatt and Convention Center and open later than the one in the IDS Center

Food Trucks

If the venue allows, conventions sometimes invite food trucks to park in a convenient location to help feed hungry fans. Other food trucks targeting people who work downtown may also be within reasonable proximity to your convention site on weekdays.

Hungry Anime Detour attendees wait for food from the Don Oishi food truck. Rae Black

Groceries

Run through your room snacks? Just craving veggies?

• Lunds and Byerlys (1201 Hennepin Avenue): An upscale grocery-store chain that generally has a decent grab-and-go food section; this location also has a liquor store onsite (open regular hours on July 4)
• Target (900 Nicollet Mall): A two-level Target with a CVS Pharmacy and a liquor store (open regular hours on July 4)
• Whole Foods (222 Hennepin Avenue): This store, located further away from convention sites, also has a liquor store (closes at 6:00 p.m. on July 4)

Liquor Stores

Need to make a beer run?

• Greenway Liquors (105 West Grant Street): A standard liquor shop in close proximity to both the Hyatt Regency and the convention center (open July 4)
• Haskell’s Wine and Spirits (81 S 9th Street #130): A store specializing in wine but with a selection of other adult beverages, as well as a cheese bar (closes at 5:00 p.m. on July 4)
• Target, Lunds and Byerlys, and Whole Foods (listed above) all have attached liquor stores

Taste of Minnesota

On July 5 and 6, 2025, the Taste of Minnesota food festival will return to downtown Minneapolis, about six blocks north of the Hyatt Regency on Nicollet Mall, on the same weekend as CONvergence. The expected food vendors are listed on the festival website and encompass a wide range of culinary offerings beyond the standard downtown fare. Be aware that the presence of the festival may complicate traveling through downtown.

Getting Around

Downtown can be a little intimidating the first time you drive there, especially if you aren’t sure where you’re going. If you’re feeling anxious, having a plan can make a big difference and will help make sure you’re not scrambling for parking.

Skyways

The downtown Minneapolis skyway system can help you zip around downtown without needing to step outside, which is handy if it’s raining or especially cold or hot. It also can give you easy access to some of the food options in the area.

Keep in mind that the skyways are owned by the buildings to which they connect, so accessibility depends on building operating hours (which are often closed on the 4th of July or on Weekends) Also, be aware that the skyway will not always help you save time in walking—it has taken me 20 or 25 minutes to make it between locations using the skyway system that are less than 10 minutes apart using sidewalks.

The Skyway Access website provides a helpful map and information about individual building hours to help you plan your trip through the great hamster tunnels of the sky. There are also helpful maps posted at a few points within the skyway system.

The skyways can get you between buildings without having to go outside, but they may take longer and close after hours. Ken Lund via Flickr

Driving and Parking

Sometimes, car travel is unavoidable. If that’s the case for you, expect to pay for parking in downtown. Research it early so you can make it part of your budget instead of an unexpected and unpleasant surprise when you’re trying to leave a parking ramp. Be aware of any road closures that might affect your trip and any big events, like sports games and the Taste of Minnesota mentioned above, that may increase traffic.

Start with the information your convention publishes on its website—there may be information about relevant road closures, and cons are sometimes able to strike a deal with a nearby parking ramp. However, don’t assume a deal with one event will be available for another event at the same venue. Your convention may also have a shuttle that stops at parking locations around the downtown area. When in doubt, check the website!

If you’re able and willing to walk or haul your things a few blocks, you may be able to find cheaper parking. Conventions held at the Hyatt (such as Furry Migration, CONvergence, and Anime Detour) have been able to make arrangements for attendees to use the Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) parking lot, but there may be restrictions.

City-operated parking meters are not enforced on city holidays, which includes Independence Day (July 4) and Veterans Day (November 11).

A service like Spot Hero can also be useful—it allows you to reserve parking ahead of time and research the cheapest options.

Public Transportation

Using public transportation can be a great way to save on parking. The Metro Transit website offers great tips for new riders, and CONvergence also put together a wonderful primer that’s worth checking out even if you’re attending a different event. Once you have a handle on how the buses and light rail work, the Metro Transit interactive Transit Map can make planning your trip easier. Be aware of any detours or service interruptions due to construction or other causes.

The northbound route 18 and southbound route 10 are free along Nicollet Mall—watch for the buses labeled FREE RIDE. Other routes are 50 cents within the downtown zone and between $1 and $3.25 elsewhere; all-day passes are also available for $2 to $5. You can either pay by cash or use the mobile app. See the Metro Transit website for full details.

Both the Hyatt and the Minneapolis Convention Center have bus stops nearby. Some conventions, including CONvergence, have even set up deals with Metro Transit for free or reduced fares on certain days, making the trip even easier. Buses and light rail trains follow Sunday/holiday schedules and fares on July 4.

Free buses are available along Nicollet Mall. Minneapolis Public Works

Ride Sharing

If the bus or train isn’t feasible due to luggage or other reasons and you live close enough to downtown Minneapolis, you might want to check what the cost of taking a taxi, Lyft, or Uber would be in comparison to parking. Alternatively, you could try organizing a carpool in which everyone splits the parking cost. Twin Cities Geek’s online discussion spaces and convention-specific groups like CONvergence Connections can be good places to connect with people for such arrangements.

Bike and Scooter Rentals

Unfortunately, the long-running Nice Ride bike rental program is defunct as of 2023. However, you can still rent bikes and scooters from services like Lime and Spin. You’ll need to create an account with the relevant company.

Other Information of Note

Safety Tips

While downtown Minneapolis does see some crime, mainly because it’s a population center, it is generally safe. However, it doesn’t hurt to take a few precautions, especially at night.

• Stick to sidewalks and avoid dark alleys
• Be aware of cars, especially if you’re bicycling or walking
• If your convention offers a shuttle bus, take advantage of the service, especially at night, if you’re traveling alone, and/or if you’ve been drinking

Last-Minute Supplies

Need something for a cosplay? Forgot your toothbrush? Convenient options include:

• Walgreens Pharmacy (655 Nicollet Mall)
• Target and CVS Pharmacy (900 Nicollet Mall)

And if you need something for your gaming session, Level Up Games has a location just west of the convention center (1425 LaSalle Avenue).

Settings for Cosplay Photos

If you’re a cosplayer and looking for a few good casual photography locations, the Loring Greenway (which begins right next to the Hyatt), Loring Park, and Peavey Plaza are convenient options. There’s also the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which is just across I-94 from Loring Park and accessible via pedestrian bridge. Extended or professional photography sessions generally require a permit.

The Minneapolis Convention Center, venue for Twin Cities Con and other events. Madeleine Vasaly

For some additional recommendations that cover a wider radius beyond downtown, check out CONvergence’s food and shopping guide.

Have a great find you want to share? Let us know in the comments or by email!