What to Do in St. Paul and Minneapolis If You’re Here for Business (2025)
Minnesota is the birthplace of the supercomputer, developed for code-breaking during World War II. Tech giants of the era, including Cray Research and Control Data Corporation, were based in the Twin Cities. And although Al Gore is infamous as “the inventor of the Internet,” humble Minnesota can actually claim a role in the University of Minnesota’s first contribution to the Gopher Protocol in the early 1990s.
The Twin Cities are located on opposite banks of the mighty Mississippi River — Minneapolis is the bigger brother of smaller, sleepier St. Paul — and make up a metropolitan area of about 3.76 million people. The region’s technology industry includes technology-driven medical technology, financial technology, artificial intelligence, and agriculture companies. Minnesota is home to a number of Fortune 500 companies with strong ties to technology, including 3M, Best Buy, US Bancorp, UnitedHealth Group and Target.
If you’re a tech worker visiting the Twin Cities for business, you’ll find locals who prioritize work-life balance and appreciate the area’s four distinct seasons. In the summer, it’s easy to find people on video calls while walking their dogs around the chain of lakes or enjoying happy hour on a crowded patio near a body of water. In winter, hardcore cross-country skiers and big bikers commute to the office on the area’s trails. For those who fear the cold, another Minnesota invention – the Skyway system – connects the office buildings, stores and residential skyscrapers of the two downtowns.
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Where to stay in the Twin Cities
Minneapolis is the largest and most modern of the Twin Cities, but there are many tech-related businesses on the east side of the city in and around St. Paul. Here’s where to stay in either Twin.
Downtown Minneapolis
Courtesy of Four Seasons
245, avenue Hennepin, (612) 895-5700
For visitors with a spending account or looking to splurge, a stay at the Four Seasons is a top choice for its luxury and location. Minnesota’s only five-star hotel opened in 2022 and quickly became known for its VIP scene and high-end amenities. Its fine dining restaurant, Mara, was created by award-winning local chef Gavin Kaysen. In winter, Nordic-inspired saunas and private dining spaces line the hotel’s rooftop.
300 N. Washington Ave., (651) 468-0400
This boutique hotel in the trendy North Loop neighborhood offers meeting rooms and event spaces as well as a rooftop bar with spectacular skyline views. It’s a popular spot to settle into the bustling lobby with a laptop or as a jumping-off point to explore the area’s upscale restaurants, speakeasies, and entertainment venues.
201 S. 11th Street, (612) 746-4600
History and architecture buffs enjoy this luxury hotel located in an iconic 20th-century building that opened in 1929. The hotel completed a massive renovation in 2024 and offers all updated services and meeting rooms in a luxurious environment. Connected to the skyway, its location makes it easy to visit nearby cultural icons Orchestra Hall and the State Theater.
Saint Paul, Minnesota – Skyline at Dusk – City LightsPhotography: Aerial Views/Getty Images
26 E. Exchange Street, (651) 222-0848
Here is the opportunity to stay in a renovated convent in the heart of Saint-Paul. This quirky yet practical 71-room boutique hotel once housed the convent and music conservatory of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet. This history is on display throughout with plenty of church-themed meeting spaces and networking amenities.
350 rue du Marché, (651) 292-9292
Self-described as “one of the best historic hotels in the country,” this elegant and charming hotel occupies a prominent place in compact downtown St. Paul. Just steps from sports arenas, theaters, and concert halls, it’s easy to see why this hotel and its lively restaurant and bar are popular with conventioneers, out-of-town visitors, and locals on a date night. Stop by the bar or lobby after a show or Minnesota Wild home hockey game, and you’re likely to rub shoulders with a band member or professional athlete.
Where to work
Downtown Minneapolis with the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minnesota, USA. Pictorial look at the city center.Photo: Saibal/Getty Images
1400 Van Buren St NE, Suite 200 and 400 S. 4th St., Suite 401
Originally launched as COCO in St. Paul, this organization is known for starting the coworking scene in the Twin Cities, and Google has invested in entrepreneurship programs here. The St. Paul office has since closed and a failed rebranding has caused some confusion, but there are still two separate operating locations that offer meeting and event spaces, private offices and a number of resources for different budgets.
Five Twin Cities locations, including St. Paul, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park
The Coven made Minnesota headlines in 2018 when four publicity executives opened the first coworking office aimed directly at female, non-binary and transgender members. Now boasting five Twin Cities locations and additional spaces in Wisconsin and North Carolina, the franchises offer coworking spaces, meeting and event rooms, walk-in offices and community events. Day passes are available.
Locations in Edina, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park
Life Time Fitness, another Minnesota-based company, expanded its health club model to include luxury coworking spaces across the country in 2018 and offers three facilities in Minnesota. These popular offices leverage the concept of healthy living to combine smart workspaces like ergonomic furniture and nutritious snacks with access to fitness facilities. Think: PowerPoint presentation followed by pickleball.
225 S. Sixth St. and 729 N. Washington Ave.
For employees who are already WeWork members, consider these two downtown Minneapolis locations, about 2 miles apart, for added convenience and independent charm.
801, avenue S. Marquette, suite 200, (612) 488-0644
Part of the national Workbox chain, this centrally located meeting and office space offers an industrial decor with open kitchen and living rooms, as well as a rooftop terrace, fitness center and access to the Skyway system. Day passes are available.
Where to find your coffee
Courtesy of Fairwave Specialty Coffee Collective
Six cafes in the Twin Cities, including St. Paul and Minneapolis
Known as Minneapolis’ most tech worker-friendly coffee chain, grab a coffee and open your computer at one of the many tables surrounded by plenty of outlets and strong Wi-Fi. The North Loop (Minneapolis) location is close to coworking spots, hotels, and entertainment venues, while another Minneapolis location is located inside the Emery Hotel.
Multiple locations, including Minneapolis and St. Paul
Founded in Minnesota but now with stores and booths around the world, this coffee company rivals Starbucks as a place for coworking and casual gatherings. With 292 Caribou Cafes in Minnesota alone, be sure to confirm the voucher if you meet someone there, because it might be the other Caribou across the street.
213, Fourth Street, Saint-Paul (651) 493-4694
Part cafe, part restaurant, part bar, part pinball room, and part art gallery, this funky café has plenty of nooks and crannies for tech work, virtual meetings, and face-to-face meetings. Located next to the Twin Cities Light Rail station and across the street from the Union Depot Transportation Center, it’s easy to get to and a fun discovery near the Mississippi River.
4208 S. 28th Ave., Minneapolis (612) 353-4222
This micro-roaster and specialty cafe was born out of a bike shop, and it shows. With an Up North theme, it’s located close to the city center and the international airport and offers decent Wi-Fi as well as decadent drinks.
111 E. 26th Street, Minneapolis (612) 460-7739
This charming Minneapolis cafe, located in the booming Whittier neighborhood, had the noble goal of bringing beauty to the community and offers artisan coffees and Japanese-style teas. Focus on your work while enjoying some peace and quiet.
Where to eat
Courtesy of Owamni/NATIFS.org (Traditional North American Indigenous Food Systems)
420 S. First St., Minneapolis (612) 444-1846
The Twin Cities are full of impressive ethnic restaurants, and Owamni deserves its buzz three years after winning the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2022. Chef Sean Sherman, a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, focuses on indigenous dishes without using colonial ingredients such as dairy, cane sugar, and wheat flour. The dishes are inventive and surprisingly satisfying. Owamni recently announced that she would be moving to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in 2026, making dinner and a show an attractive option.
825 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis (612) 339-9900
An aptly named restaurant, Manny’s is what people think of when describing a “steakhouse.” For those with a corporate card and a big appetite, the red meat dishes, cocktails and desserts are impeccable and impressive. Voted one of the top 10 steakhouses in the country by the Zagat guide, expect to find visiting celebrities, tech colleagues, and local business executives dining here every night.
3500 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis (612) 722-7072
The opposite of upscale Manny’s, Matt’s Bar is a must for the Minnesota classic, Jucy Lucy. There’s some debate over which restaurant first introduced these melted cheese-filled burgers, but Matt’s has the most authentic dive bar vibe of all and, therefore, the tastiest version as well.
