Top 7 Places to Kiss in Downtown Minneapolis

Looking for the perfect place to enjoy a smooch with a special someone in your life? You can relieve a little of the pre-kiss anxiety, and perhaps wipe it away altogether, by discovering these tried-and-true romantic places. Whether you prefer a lovely overlook, a quiet secluded nook, or a bustling corner, downtown Minneapolis has a spot or two for everyone. Read through the ideas, try out the ones that suit your fancy, and perhaps discover a few new kissing corners of your own!

1. The Stone Arch Bridge – It may be cliche as a romantic place to go with your beloved, but its popularity is with good reason! The Stone Arch Bridge on the north end of downtown spans the Mississippi River, offering spectacular views of Saint Anthony Falls, the Minneapolis skyline and the lights of downtown. For the perfect kiss at the Stone Arch Bridge, take a walk just at dusk down the wooden stairs on the north end of the bridge. The arches of the bridge lit by the setting sun create the perfect mood for romance.

2. James & Mary Laurie Booksellers – At 921 Nicollet Avenue, admist the bustling Nicollet Mall, is one of the most delightful hidden treasures of the city. You’ll recognize the place by the shelves of half-price books on wheeling carts outside the bookshop. The towering shelves of rare and used books give the feel of an old bookstore on a quiet street in Oxford, England. Transport yourself and your special someone into one of the basement nooks, settle into a conveniently placed chair and look at travel picture books together – in such a secluded, dreamy place, a kiss may easily follow!

3. Hennepin County Government Center – Here’s a kiss for the adventurers. Try the Government Center at 300 South 6th St. While being on your best behavior, enter the lower level and mount the escalator to the second floor, holding hands. The criss-cross patterned windows that climb up many stories are fun to look at, but what will really add spice to the kiss will be the high-drama feeling of being surrounded by security personnel, metal detectors and hidden video cameras. Nothing like an adrenalin rush to make a kiss memorable.

4. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – If you’re up for an exhilarating out-of-doors kiss, try the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden on a sunny summer afternoon. This beautiful nook of nature and art is located just off Lyndale, across from the Walker Art Center and Guthrie Theatre. You may enjoy walking hand-in-hand to experience the eleven acres of greenery and sculpture. Sneak a kiss in the arched shadow of the famed sculpture “Spoonbridge and Cherry.” Of course, this special kiss would require wading into the middle of a small lake…but isn’t the special moment worth a little extra effort?

5. Under the Dale Chihuly Glass Sculpture at the Target Headquarters – Here’s another perfect romantic spot for art-loving lovers. Just inside the Target Headquarters at 1000 Nicollet Avenue is a fascinating glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly, one of the most renowned glass sculptors in the world. The towering sculpture is a mass of interwoven glass fronds and bulbs in hot colors of yellow, orange and red – the amazing color and light will add exotic spice to any kiss.

6. Brit’s Pub – Just a block north of Dale Chihuly’s Glass Sculpture on Nicollet Avenue is this gem of a place – it’s a pub, it’s a British eating establishment, it’s a bowling green on the roof! From the dark, comfortable inside to the fresh air on the roof, Brit’s Pub is a lovely little place to escape. If you want to set an old-fashioned mood (and if you have a bit of cash to spare), try the high tea for $16.95 – the full gamut from 2:00 to 3:30 in the afternoon. Surely a polite peck would not be out of place in the midst of such finery!

7. Saint Olaf Catholic Church – At 215 South 8th Street, you’ll come upon a haven in the midst of the city. If you walk by at 7 a.m., noon, or 5:15 p.m., you can lean against the front door of the church and hear the calming sounds of the recitation of the mass. If you are by yourself, stop for a moment of silence and thought. If your dear happens to be with you, share a reverent kiss and enjoy the solemnity of the moment.

These are just a few ideas to get your brain spinning…Whatever you do, don’t let the hustle and bustle of busy Minneapolis trick you into thinking there’s no spot for special romantic moments. Let these ideas be starters for you and your lover to scope out your own special places in the midst of the city and to create your own memories in the middle of the architecture, art, culture and life of the city. As you meander the streets in search of the perfect spot for a kiss, don’t just follow the ideas given here- follow your heart!