If you’re looking for one of Minneapolis’s most buzzworthy, fastest evolving neighborhoods, look no further than the North Loop, which is sometimes referred to as the Warehouse District. Chockablock with turn-of-the-century brick buildings, this is where you’ll find the city’s newest and chicest shops, an evolving selection of restaurants and bars, and one very prominent new hotel. We recently checked out the Hewing Hotel, and here’s what we saw...
What’s Hot
After opening in November, 2016, just about everything about this property is hot. It’s designed as an up-to-the-minute take on Minneapolis’s identity — that of an outdoorsy, close-to-nature, hand-made culture with Native American and Scandinavian roots. You’ll find those themes everywhere in the hotel, from the lodge-like lobby with its fireplace and snuggly blankets, to accents like woodworking tools and antlers. You won’t be able to ignore the swarms of locals who descend upon the hotel’s lobby bar, and Tullibee, its restaurant, in the evening.
Best Feature
The Hewing Hotel’s public spaces are a dream for those who like to keep things strictly social. Long wooden tables in the lobby accommodate large parties, or smaller groups, so mingling is more-or-less mandatory. The space hums throughout the day as digital nomads settle in with laptops and guests mill around.
The Rooms
In the rooms, leather, white cotton, and wood dominate the look, and you’ll find decorative surprises everywhere. (There was a framed ax in our bathroom.) We love that the hotel has skipped cumbersome hotel mainstays — like traditional armoires — in favor of open clothing racks that let you see, and easily grab, all of your stuff. Keep an eye out for details like woodsy wallpaper, leather pulls on the drawers, and the occasional lumberjack plaid.
The Food
The hotel’s restaurant, Tullibee, gives Nordic cuisine an American twist. At any given time, you may find some of the following on the menu: veal tartare with sunchoke; halibut with parsnip and mace; and charred cabbage with black garlic, turnip, and bread crumbs.
Who Will Love It
If you need to stay in the center of what’s new, thoughtfully designed, and frequented by a youthful clientele, the Hewing is where to go.
Who Might Not
If you need traditional decor or the machine-like consistency of a major brand, you might find the Hewing a little too outside-the-lines for your tastes.
Nearby
The best of the North Loop is just a few steps from the hotel. Shop for stylish menswear, gifts, and Warby Parker specs at Askov Finlayson. Cross the street to The Foundry, a home goods store that carries everything from natural beeswax candles, to ceramics from local designers, to hard-to-find Japanese towels. And if you can snag a reservation -- try calling a month in advance -- Spoon and Stable serves sophisticated seasonal fare and is among the finalists in the Best New Restaurant in the United States category in this year's James Beard Awards.
Deals and Offers
We love that this slick new hotel doesn’t come at an outlandish price, especially if you’re willing to travel off-season. We found winter dates -- when Minneapolis temperatures can fall well below zero -- for as little as $140 per night. Prices start at $200 per night in spring and summer, and be sure to check the Hewing Hotel’s booking page for discounts and packages.
Connect
Getting There
The Hewing Hotel is an easy 25-minute drive from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The airport is serviced by every major U.S. airline -- JetBlue is coming soon! -- and is a Delta Airlines hub.