Nicollet Island Inn

The hotel is historic and thus has some charm. The bed felt old. The shower head is also historic. Nice shower heads are $59 at Home Depot, so really no excuse to have an old shower head that makes for a less pleasant shower experience.

Extremely friendly staff, inviting and knowledgeable about the history of the inn and all of island.

Was surprised at the extra historical charge.

Lovely old property. Not loaded with amenities but just fine for a work stay. Only negative was the bed, mattress should have been replaced long ago. Otherwise, would definitely stay again.

This is a lovely place. It is quiet, stately and comforting. The location is perfect for exploring the area. Highly recommend!

Thank you

We love the location and the quaintness of the hotel. However our room was freezing and there wasn't any way to turn down the air-conditioning. For the price, which included an extra fee since it was on the historic register, I wish the room had been more comfortable. I think we will choose a different place in the future.

We began our evening with a boat ride on the Mississippi. The Inn had prepared a delicious appetizer basket with Champagne and wine for us to share!
When we returned to the Inn, we had an exceptional dinner.
I would highly recommend this experience to all!

It was like stepping back in time. Rooms were nice and quiet. Within walking distance of a lot of stuff including downtown Minneapolis. Breakfast was kind of sad. Muffins were cold like taken of freezer recently. Not real good to be honest. Bed was awesome. Overall I would stay here again.

We are regulars at Nicollet Island Inn. Always great food and friendly service. Sometimes we go to the bar and Brad will make us perfect rye old fashioneds. Then we split a hamburger with fries with a couple of beers.

Cozy atmosphere and lively banter with Brad. The hamburgers are made from leftover beef tenderloin with Swiss cheese and thick sliced bacon. Probably one of the best we have ever had.

After eating in the restaurant and visiting the bar periodically over many years, I decided to stay overnight to get the full experience of this property. The overall ambiance is indescribable! EVERY staff person I encountered was friendly, welcoming, sincere, and compassionate. I was thrilled to see that the holiday decor remains on display throughout the month of January! The food NEVER disappoints here, and the servers/bartenders are the best in their profession, trust me...My beautiful corner room was LITERALLY warm and cozy (despite subzero temps outside), and it had such a "warm feeling" (decor-wise). Because the Inn was so quiet and my bed was so comfortable, I slept as well as I do at home - this was amazing and unprecedented for me!
I especially enjoyed the DELICIOUS, classy, and complimentary coffee/continental breakfast service available at 6AM on each floor. I highly recommend selecting the brunch or other meal package to savor the peaceful view of the river in the wraparound dining room. The entire value of this experience exceeded my expectations. I'll definitely stay again and recommend Nicollet Island Inn to friends and family!

Nicollet Island Inn has old school charm. We went to for a wedding and chose to stay there for the convenience to be where the reception was.
The service was wonderful - Jenny was spectacular; so friendly and helpful.
We hope to go back when it is warmer.

A beautiful vintage inn! We dined at the restaurant New Years Eve, then brought the remaining wine to our room. The staff was friendly & efficient, parking free on site, rooms nicely appointed. Lovely views of the city.
We will most definitely visit this place again.

In an age where hospitality increasingly gravitates toward the casual and contemporary, it is refreshing—indeed, rather heartening—to discover an establishment that maintains the highest standards of traditional service excellence. Such is the case with Minneapolis's Nicollet Island Inn, a bastion of gracious dining that has been delighting discerning patrons for more than four decades.

Situated in a historic setting, the Inn presents itself splendidly during the festive season. The Christmas decorations, while abundant, demonstrate admirable restraint: multiple trees adorned with tasteful ornaments, and wreaths releasing the most divine fragrance of fresh pine—precisely the sort of seasonal embellishment one hopes to encounter in a fine establishment.

While the Inn offers a formal dining room of considerable elegance, I found myself drawn to the more intimate bar area, where I encountered service that would not be out of place in London's finest establishments. The bartender, Brad—a gentleman whose expertise and attention to detail warrant specific mention—exemplified the increasingly rare art of genuine hospitality. His command of the menu and intuitive understanding of guests' preferences proved nothing short of extraordinary, particularly impressive given this was Boxing Day.

The culinary offerings, while firmly rooted in American classics, display moments of inspired creativity. Consider their interpretation of that humble favorite, the grilled cheese sandwich: elevated with cottage bacon, premium cheddar, and fresh tomato, served on pillowy challah bread. It arrives accompanied by a tomato soup that, when enhanced with their carefully curated selection of condiments (Melinda's ghost pepper sauce being a particularly inspired choice), transforms into something quite remarkable.

The beverage program deserves special commendation. Their signature Island Fashioned, crafted with Buffalo Trace bourbon and an ingenious combination of cranberry and peach bitters, demonstrates sophisticated mixology. The wine list, too, shows careful consideration, with selections like a particularly good Spanish Rioja that proved the perfect complement to a frosty Minnesota day.

Observation of dishes being served to fellow diners revealed consistently high standards across the menu, with the salad preparations showing particular finesse. The Inn also offers special events, including afternoon tea services that any anglophile would surely appreciate.

In conclusion, the Nicollet Island Inn represents that increasingly rare combination of historical charm, impeccable service, and culinary excellence. It stands as a reminder that proper hospitality need not be confined to coastal establishments or European capitals. For visitors to Minneapolis seeking a dining experience of genuine refinement, this establishment is, quite simply, essential.

One final note: in an era where exceptional service often goes unremarked, the professionalism displayed by Brad and his colleagues deserves special recognition. Their dedication to the finer points of hospitality proves that the art of proper service is, thankfully, still alive and well in certain corners of America.

We've been going to the Nicollet Inn for Sunday brunch for years. Recently we have mourned the fact that Nicollet Inn decided to drop its three course brunch in favor of individual entrees. That disclaimer aside when we went this last Sunday we were astonished at one of their entrees, specifically the Lobster/Steak Eggs Benedict. I chose to get the option that made the dish solely lobster (for an upcharge). It certainly didn't disappoint. The eggs were on a bed of hash browns and prepared perfectly. I had ordered a Bloody Mary with infused bacon vodka and that augmented the dish perfectly.

I also want to put in a thanks to the incredibly attentive wait staff at Nicollet Inn. They strike the perfect balance of attentiveness that only a seasoned group of professions can give.

As much as we miss the three course brunch, we'll be going back if nothing more than to sample the Lobster Benedict again.

I have known the Nicollet Island Inn since I was a teenager....which was a long time ago. During my recent 5-day stay, over Thanksgiving, Minneapolis fell into a cold spell....5 degrees! With such a sudden dip in temp, there were a lot of heat problems throughout. The staff could not have been more wonderful! Moving me twice, to find a room with sufficient heat and eventually putting me in a King Suite. These moves happened late at night. The staff was so kind and helpful! So thank you!

We had a wonderful time. Food was excellent. Room was beautiful. Very quiet n almost boutique like. Beautiful views. Giving a 4 because of a few small issues but nothing that would prevent us from coming back.

Great location, walkable for exercise, friendly staff. Close to campus.

Staff were fantastic

Nicollet Island Inn offers a charming and quaint experience, steeped in nostalgia with its vintage furniture and classic style. The staff were consistently friendly and responsive, ensuring a pleasant stay. The inn is impressively clean, which was a standout feature. However, I found the continental breakfast quite underwhelming—just coffee, a few muffins, and a couple of apples, leaving much to be desired.

For remote workers, this may not be the ideal spot, as the internet speed was painfully slow and unreliable. Additionally, the on-site restaurant was closed on both Monday and Tuesday during my stay, which was disappointing. While it has its charm, there are definitely areas for improvement.