Nicollet Island Inn is a gem of a place! Romantic, hidden in beautiful surroundings, and a wonderful menu for every budget. A wonderful bar, and beautiful building. But above all the service is top notch, with friendly and professional staff. I totally recommend it! And you can stay at the hotel there too if you're from out of town!
This was our 5th time dining at Nicollet Island Inn over the past few months (plus a couple of lunches). We loved every time. Food and service, in both dining room and Nic's Bar, are great. Atmosphere is very nice, without being pretentious. We are moving to Minneapolis and are glad we'll be within walking distance.
Nan36
I ordered the seared seabass and it was excellent. The only thing that would have made it better is if there had been a vegetable. While rice and fish are good, it would have been complete with a little veggie. When I made the reservation I said the special occasion was our anniversary. The server either didn't know that, or forgot it until I mentioned it when she was about to give us our bill. She quickly brought us a glass of champagne, but that wasn't the time for it.
RichardI
We celebrated our anniversary. The food was outstanding and the service was excellent. Dan was our server and he went above and beyond. Charming and personable with a great sense of humor. He made the evening perfect. He is really good at his job.
Darlene Aleckson
Food was wonderful.
Service: 5
Carole Kilmanas
Lunch after the MSO 1 am concert.
BrianP
Julia was our server for the night! She is very kind and an outstanding server. Julia was able to enhance the night by explaining the menu to us, explaining the background of the restaurant, and by bringing us complementary champagne for our anniversary. Nicolett island inn is very lucky to have a team member like Julia on their team
ElizabethR
The Inn and restaurant have so much potential to be a truly lovely place but are in much need of an update. It seems it's been about 25-30 years since it's had any update. It's dark and rather dreary with outdated decor. It would be lovely if there were a brighter and more welcoming atmosphere.
GDFreethinker
Perfect place for a business dinner. Food impressed a global traveler, server read the timing on our pace as we did business, quiet enough to hold a conversation, parking a snap, ambience impressive.
Kevin Engelhardt
A 5-star hotel and restaurant located on the only inhabited island in Minneapolis and just minutes from anything cool you can think of. We frequented the Nicollet Island Inn (NII) for the quiet, well-kept bar that is a hidden gem, and an occasional dinner/meal, when we lived in Northeast Minneapolis. So, when we were returning after a 4-year absence, we HAD to stay at the Nicollet Island Inn. We met friends and family for an afternoon and evening of dining, drinks and fun. We received superb service, unsurmountable attention to detail and delicious, splendid meals. Wow! NII sets the new gold standard for hotels and restaurants. All of us who travel regularly were amazed at the professionalism, genuine care and alacrity that we enjoyed with every encounter, every meal and every conversation. A huge thank you to Issa at the front desk, Brad in the NII bar, and Lillian and Rebecca in the restaurant. Everything was perfect. You impressed everyone who had the pleasure of interacting with each of you.Nearby activities: There is too much in the way of activities that are nearby. You are a 10 minute walk to downtown Minneapolis. You are in the famed Nordeast Minneapolis - just look up Nye's Bar or St. Anthony Main! Interstate 35W is 5 minutes away and the University is a quick drive or bike ride. Centrally located and yet quiet and tucked away from the wild life.Safety: The island is well protected and well-lit. The area is always busy with foot traffic and runners/joggers. The inn does a great job of securing the parking lot and managing their outdoor patio to buffer you from the passers-by. You forget you are in a metropolitan area. They still use physical room keys!! It is classic!Walkability: You can walk anywhere at anytime from the Nicollet Island Inn. The area is constantly "afoot" with St. Anthony Main at your doorstep and downtown Minneapolis just 10 minutes away. Everyone walks in this area no matter the season.Food & drinks: The menu at NII is amazing. Each menu offers great selections with a good range for all appetites. The staff does an excellent job of accommodating food allergen requirements without skipping a beat. The wine list is very well curated and the bartender has years of mixology experience to make you the perfect iteration of any alcoholic beverage. The NII should be at the top of you dining list when in Minneapolis!
We went to the bar and had dinner after for our wedding anniversary. We met the owner and were greeted with warmth and felt very welcome. The service was excellent! The ambience was lovely and the food was delicious. We will be back and even to spend the night!! We feel lucky we made the choice to have our dinner at Nicollet Island Inn! Highly recommend ?
Robert Fahr
Not a cookie cutter hotel. Oozes charm. Room keys are actual keys! What make the experience five stars is the extraordinary staff from reception, bar and restaurant. Honestly if one wanted to just spend an entire day and never leave it would be understandable.Food and beverage options are exceptional with elevated preparation and ingredients.Walkable distance into downtown including Target Field.
Service: 5
Lise Marcogliese
It’s a bit old , but very comfortable. There is no breakfast on site. The restaurant open at 11. Lots of parking. Easy to walk across the bridge for breakfast. No ice machine on the floors. Very good service
Service: 4
G V
Beautiful location with walking trails, coffee, and restaurants a stone’s throw away. Comfy beds with luxurious linens.
Service: 5
MNDiner
We enjoyed Easter brunch at Nicollet Island Inn. It was the first time I had dined there, though others in our party had been there before. It was a nice atmosphere. The food and service were just okay, in my opinion. Considering it was a limited, 3-course, prix fixe menu, I expected faster service. We were at the table quite a while before being greeted, and it seemed to take quite a while for drinks and each course. For the price ($65/person) it was expensive for the choices available. The ambiance was quiet which allowed for easy conversation at our table. I'm not sure I would go there for brunch again.
Nicollet Island Inn is a gem of a place! Romantic, hidden in beautiful surroundings, and a wonderful menu for every budget. A wonderful bar, and beautiful building. But above all the service is top notch, with friendly and professional staff. I totally recommend it! And you can stay at the hotel there too if you're from out of town!
This was our 5th time dining at Nicollet Island Inn over the past few months (plus a couple of lunches). We loved every time. Food and service, in both dining room and Nic's Bar, are great. Atmosphere is very nice, without being pretentious. We are moving to Minneapolis and are glad we'll be within walking distance.
I ordered the seared seabass and it was excellent. The only thing that would have made it better is if there had been a vegetable. While rice and fish are good, it would have been complete with a little veggie. When I made the reservation I said the special occasion was our anniversary. The server either didn't know that, or forgot it until I mentioned it when she was about to give us our bill. She quickly brought us a glass of champagne, but that wasn't the time for it.
We celebrated our anniversary. The food was outstanding and the service was excellent. Dan was our server and he went above and beyond. Charming and personable with a great sense of humor. He made the evening perfect. He is really good at his job.
Food was wonderful.
Service: 5
Lunch after the MSO 1 am concert.
Julia was our server for the night! She is very kind and an outstanding server. Julia was able to enhance the night by explaining the menu to us, explaining the background of the restaurant, and by bringing us complementary champagne for our anniversary. Nicolett island inn is very lucky to have a team member like Julia on their team
The Inn and restaurant have so much potential to be a truly lovely place but are in much need of an update. It seems it's been about 25-30 years since it's had any update. It's dark and rather dreary with outdated decor. It would be lovely if there were a brighter and more welcoming atmosphere.
Perfect place for a business dinner. Food impressed a global traveler, server read the timing on our pace as we did business, quiet enough to hold a conversation, parking a snap, ambience impressive.
A 5-star hotel and restaurant located on the only inhabited island in Minneapolis and just minutes from anything cool you can think of. We frequented the Nicollet Island Inn (NII) for the quiet, well-kept bar that is a hidden gem, and an occasional dinner/meal, when we lived in Northeast Minneapolis. So, when we were returning after a 4-year absence, we HAD to stay at the Nicollet Island Inn. We met friends and family for an afternoon and evening of dining, drinks and fun. We received superb service, unsurmountable attention to detail and delicious, splendid meals. Wow! NII sets the new gold standard for hotels and restaurants. All of us who travel regularly were amazed at the professionalism, genuine care and alacrity that we enjoyed with every encounter, every meal and every conversation. A huge thank you to Issa at the front desk, Brad in the NII bar, and Lillian and Rebecca in the restaurant. Everything was perfect. You impressed everyone who had the pleasure of interacting with each of you.Nearby activities: There is too much in the way of activities that are nearby. You are a 10 minute walk to downtown Minneapolis. You are in the famed Nordeast Minneapolis - just look up Nye's Bar or St. Anthony Main! Interstate 35W is 5 minutes away and the University is a quick drive or bike ride. Centrally located and yet quiet and tucked away from the wild life.Safety: The island is well protected and well-lit. The area is always busy with foot traffic and runners/joggers. The inn does a great job of securing the parking lot and managing their outdoor patio to buffer you from the passers-by. You forget you are in a metropolitan area. They still use physical room keys!! It is classic!Walkability: You can walk anywhere at anytime from the Nicollet Island Inn. The area is constantly "afoot" with St. Anthony Main at your doorstep and downtown Minneapolis just 10 minutes away. Everyone walks in this area no matter the season.Food & drinks: The menu at NII is amazing. Each menu offers great selections with a good range for all appetites. The staff does an excellent job of accommodating food allergen requirements without skipping a beat. The wine list is very well curated and the bartender has years of mixology experience to make you the perfect iteration of any alcoholic beverage. The NII should be at the top of you dining list when in Minneapolis!
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We went to the bar and had dinner after for our wedding anniversary. We met the owner and were greeted with warmth and felt very welcome. The service was excellent! The ambience was lovely and the food was delicious. We will be back and even to spend the night!! We feel lucky we made the choice to have our dinner at Nicollet Island Inn! Highly recommend ?
Not a cookie cutter hotel. Oozes charm. Room keys are actual keys! What make the experience five stars is the extraordinary staff from reception, bar and restaurant. Honestly if one wanted to just spend an entire day and never leave it would be understandable.Food and beverage options are exceptional with elevated preparation and ingredients.Walkable distance into downtown including Target Field.
Service: 5
It’s a bit old , but very comfortable. There is no breakfast on site. The restaurant open at 11. Lots of parking. Easy to walk across the bridge for breakfast. No ice machine on the floors. Very good service
Service: 4
Beautiful location with walking trails, coffee, and restaurants a stone’s throw away. Comfy beds with luxurious linens.
Service: 5
We enjoyed Easter brunch at Nicollet Island Inn. It was the first time I had dined there, though others in our party had been there before. It was a nice atmosphere. The food and service were just okay, in my opinion. Considering it was a limited, 3-course, prix fixe menu, I expected faster service. We were at the table quite a while before being greeted, and it seemed to take quite a while for drinks and each course. For the price ($65/person) it was expensive for the choices available. The ambiance was quiet which allowed for easy conversation at our table. I'm not sure I would go there for brunch again.