Roberta Aguirre
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) has been lauded for its excellent dining, business travel services, and amenities. If you have a long layover at MSP, there are plenty of things to keep you entertained within the airport and beyond. MSP is conveniently located between Minneapolis and St. Paul, so you're never far from anywhere in the metro community. If you're looking to stay within the airport, you can grab a bite at Shoyu, French Meadow Bakery & Café, or Ike's Food & Cocktails. You can also treat yourself to a massage at XpresSpa or browse the shops, including Uptown Minnesota and Hammer Made. If you want to explore outside the airport, you can take a short ride to the Mall of America or downtown Minneapolis, where you'll find attractions like Minnehaha Park, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Warehouse District.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield |
| Transport | Light rail, bus, taxi, app-based ride services, and shuttles |
| Attractions | Mall of America, Guthrie Theatre, State Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Children's Theatre, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Art Center, Hennepin Avenue, and Nicollet Mall |
| Dining | Shoyu, French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, Ike's Food & Cocktails, Surdyk's Flights, and Redcow |
| Shopping | Uptown Minnesota, Hammer Made, Creative Kidstuff, Minnesota!, Local Brew, and Aveda |
| Relaxation | XpresSpa, massage chairs, and Chiroport |
| Entertainment | Video arcades, Digiboo movie kiosks, Minnehaha Park, and Sea Life Aquarium Minnesota |
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What You'll Learn
Eat at Shoyu, French Meadow Bakery & Café, or Ike's Food & Cocktails
MSP Airport is conveniently located among several cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. This central location offers easy access to numerous attractions and dining options.
One popular dining choice at the airport is Shoyu, which is known for its delicious Asian fusion cuisine.
For those seeking a quick bite or something to satisfy their sweet tooth, French Meadow Bakery & Café is an excellent choice. Founded by Lynn Gordon in 1985, it was the first organically certified bakery in the country. The bakery, located on-site, offers a variety of organic yeast-free breads, indulgent gluten-free desserts, and vegan specialties. French Meadow Bakery & Café prides itself on using fresh, organically grown, and sustainably sourced ingredients, partnering with local farms to bring the best to their customers.
Ike's Food & Cocktails is another beloved dining spot at MSP Airport. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, Ike's has become a travellers' favourite. Ike's has been serving the airport since 2005, with Champions' Grille by Ike's located in Terminal 1's main mall, offering superior food quality and a welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you're looking for a quick bite, a sweet treat, or a hearty meal, these dining options at MSP Airport are sure to please. With their unique offerings and commitment to quality, they have become favourites among travellers, enhancing the airport experience.
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Shop at Uptown Minnesota, Hammer Made, or Aveda
MSP Airport is conveniently located among several cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. This central location offers easy access to numerous attractions and shopping destinations in the surrounding metropolitan areas.
If you're looking for a unique shopping experience at MSP Airport, Uptown Minnesota, Hammer Made, and Aveda are three excellent options to consider.
Uptown Minnesota is a vibrant and eclectic shopping district known for its diverse range of local boutiques, vintage shops, and one-of-a-kind specialty stores. Here, you can discover hidden gems, browse through unique fashion finds, and support local businesses. Uptown Minnesota offers a refreshing change from typical airport mall offerings, providing a more authentic and distinctive shopping experience.
Hammer Made, located in Terminal 1 of MSP Airport, offers a distinctive selection of men's shirts. Their shirts feature striking details, unexpected elements, and limited-run fabrics that will surely make you stand out from the crowd. As the winner of the 2018 MSP Five-Star Award for exemplary customer service, Hammer Made ensures that your shopping experience is just as exceptional as their shirts.
Aveda, also located in Terminal 1, invites you to explore their range of naturally derived and environmentally conscious beauty products. Aveda offers free rituals of renewal, such as a stress-relieving neck and shoulder ritual—perfect for tired and stressed travellers. Their plant-powered products can help refresh your body, revive your hair, and hydrate your skin, leaving you feeling rejuvenated and relaxed during your travels.
With these three distinctive shopping destinations, you can indulge in some retail therapy, discover unique finds, and even treat yourself to a relaxing beauty experience, making your time at MSP Airport even more enjoyable and memorable.
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Relax at XpresSpa or Xpresspa Regis Salon
If you're looking to unwind and relax during your time at MSP Airport, look no further than XpresSpa or XpresSpa Regis Salon. Nestled in Concourse D, XpresSpa offers a sanctuary for travellers seeking rejuvenation and pampering. With a range of services, you can indulge in massage therapy, reflexology, nail treatments, or even waxing. They also provide shower facilities, perfect for freshening up during a long layover. For $40, you can enjoy a 30-minute shower session, a worthwhile investment for comfort and relaxation.
Additionally, XpresSpa offers speedy manicures, pedicures, facials, and haircuts, ensuring you look and feel your best before boarding your flight. And that's not all; you can purchase XpresSpa-branded products, such as travel pillows, eye masks, massagers, and skin treatment items, providing you with a comprehensive travel self-care kit.
For a full salon experience, the XpresSpa Regis Salon is an ideal choice. Located conveniently at the entrance to the C and D concourses, you can easily access haircuts, styling, shampoos, blowouts, and even men's shaves. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the salon caters to travellers' needs, ensuring you arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Remember, every dollar you spend at XpresSpa and their partner locations earns you reward points through their XWELL Rewards program. So, not only do you get to relax and unwind, but you also accumulate rewards, making your next visit even more rewarding.
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Play video games at one of the three video arcades
If you're looking for entertainment at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), video games and arcades are a great option. As of March 2024, the airport was considering opening a new gaming-focused Priority Pass lounge called "The Portal", in partnership with GameWay, Inc. This 3,000-square-foot entertainment lounge would offer video gaming, food, drinks, and a limited bar. It would be equipped with consoles for Xbox, Playstation, and PC, as well as lounge areas and private business pods. The proposed location for this lounge is the D Concourse, which previously housed the Xpress Spa.
In addition to this upcoming gaming lounge, MSP Airport currently features two small arcades with pinball machines. One of these arcades, Aurora Borealis, is located by Gate C1 and usually has pinball machines in good working condition. The other arcade, with four machines, is located near the end of Concourse F.
Video games in airports are becoming increasingly popular, with companies like GameWay creating bespoke gaming lounges that offer light and airy spaces with gaming stations, consoles, lounge chairs, 4K TVs, and noise-cancelling headphones. These gaming lounges provide a great opportunity for airports to boost engagement with passengers and offer a unique entertainment option during layovers or delays.
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Take the light rail to downtown Minneapolis
The Minneapolis-St. Paul airport is conveniently located between the Twin Cities and is surrounded by several suburban cities. A great way to explore the area is by taking the light rail to downtown Minneapolis.
The METRO Blue Line Light Rail (LRT) is a cheap and efficient way to get downtown from the airport. Trains run frequently, approximately every 12-15 minutes, starting at around 4 am until 11:30 pm. The journey to downtown Minneapolis takes about 25 minutes. To find the Terminal 1 platform, follow the signs to the baggage claim area and take the escalator down to the tram that will take you to the METRO Blue Line station. From there, take the tram to the Red/Blue Ramps and then take the escalators down to the station platform. Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines at the rail stations or on the Metro Transit app, and children under 5 ride for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
Once you arrive in downtown Minneapolis, there are plenty of things to do and see. Minnehaha Park offers a relaxing green space with beautiful waterfalls. For a cultural experience, visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art or the Mill City Museum. If you're looking for a bustling city experience, the Warehouse District offers a variety of great restaurants and shops.
If you're looking to do some serious shopping, the Mall of America is the largest mall in the US and can be reached in about 12 minutes by train from the airport. The mall also features a theme park with indoor roller coasters, perfect for family entertainment.
Remember to allow enough time to return to the airport and pass through security for your next flight.
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Frequently asked questions
MSP airport has a range of shops, restaurants, and lounges. You can eat at Shoyu, French Meadow Bakery & Café, or Ike’s Food & Cocktails. You can also shop at Uptown Minnesota, Hammer Made, Aveda, Creative Kidstuff, and more. If you want to relax, you can pay to enter a lounge with unlimited food and drinks, WiFi, TV, and comfortable seating.
You can walk the 1.4-mile MSP Start! Walking Path in Terminal 1. You can also relax in massage chairs near several gates in Concourses C, E, and F for $1.
MSP airport is conveniently located between Minneapolis and St. Paul, so you can easily access downtown Minneapolis, Minnehaha Park, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Mill City Museum, and the Warehouse District. You can also take the light rail to the Mall of America.
You can take the light rail or a bus, taxi, app-based ride service, or shuttle.
This depends on how long your layover is and your preferred method of transportation. Some people recommend taking a taxi to the Mall of America, as taking the train can take up to 1.5 hours each way.
