The Longfellow neighborhood is a calm Minneapolis neighborhood on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It's a perfect place to have a peaceful drink on a summer evening, or a coffee with your date after a movie at the neighborhood icon Riverview Theater. Here's the best bars and cafes in Longfellow, in Minneapolis.
The Longfellow Grill
The Longfellow Grill is across the West River Parkway from the Mississippi River so doesn't quite have a river view. But it does have a killer turkey burger and the best patio in the neighborhood to have a beer on a summer evening.The Fireroast Mountain Cafe
Coffee shops love to brand themselves as "welcoming", but the Fireroast Mountain Cafe really, truly is a friendly place to hang out, for long-time locals and newcomers alike. Live music and community events are held here several days a week. The food has a Mexican slant, the breakfast burritos are huge and their soups are the talk of the neighborhood. The coffee is smooth, the baked goods offer the usual suspects (brownies, cookies) and the unusual (cardamom ginger blondies).There is a cozy lounging area for grownups and a separate playroom with nice clean toys and books for younger children.
The Riverview Wine Bar
Kitty corner to the iconic Riverview Theater, this is a favorite pre- or post- movie hangout spot. The wine list is extensive, and the Riverview offers wine flights which are a great way to sample several new wines from one region or theme. The beer list is almost as long as the wine list, with several local brews from the upper Midwest. And to compliment drinks, a small food menu has salads and pizzas with interesting toppings.The Riverview Cafe
Next door to the Riverview Wine Bar is the Riverview Cafe, a coffee shop with occasional live music and perpetual good coffee. The Riverview Theater plus a drink at the Riverview Wine Bar is a classic date in Minneapolis, but for a lower budget option, or if your date doesn't drink, substitute coffee at the Riverview Cafe. Buying your date a slice of their raspberry cake with white chocolate frosting is sure to impress.Merlin's Rest Pub
Up on Lake Street in the north of the Longfellow neighborhood, this little pub is run by an Englishman and a Welshman, and the walls are decorated with rugby memorabilia - Wales' national sport - and other items from home. Of course there are plenty of beers from the UK and Ireland, and a food menu of mostly British dishes, with a couple of American classics. If you are homesick for British grub, you'll be in heaven. If you are not accustomed to the peculiar kind of stodge they serve over the pond, you might be a little disappointed.Merlin's Rest is best known for whiskey. They hold the largest single malt stock in the Twin Cities, and host monthly single-malt tastings.
