Best Spots in Downtown Duluth to See, Eat, Drink, and Explore
We’ve been going up to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a decade now, and Duluth has really become one of my favorite spots over the years. Here are four of my favorite Duluth neighborhoods, places to eat, drink, and explore.
CANAL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
Canal Park is a great waterfront area in Duluth and is home to the early-1900s Aerial Lift Bridge. The bridge raises for ships entering from Lake Superior, and it’s fun to walk on the pier out to the lighthouse and watch them come in. The Lakewalk promenade passes a sculpture garden, and there are many eateries, art galleries, and shops to enjoy.
Vikre Distillery
An award-winning organic woman-owned distillery and cocktail room is one of our favorite Duluth spots. Pronounced “veekruh,” Vikre has a fun vintage vibe, a friendly and helpful staff, and a fabulous patio. They transformed the back patio into the “Winter Wunderbar” with firepits, heated benches, and hot drinks in the winter! They are dog-friendly and have snack items like charcuterie.
You can book private tasting events by reservation for up to 8 people for $39 a person here.
In the photo above, we got the F&F Flight, a flight of their three canned cocktails that you can buy to-go in a four-pack. The Frenchie is my favorite, made with gin, sparkling rosé, elderflower liqueur, and lemon oleo. Next up is Aphrodite’s Kiss, a magnificent and beautiful drink! Made with their Boreal Cedar Gin, hibiscus rose syrup, aquafaba, lime juice, and dried rose blossom. And last but not least, their classic Old Fashioned made with their Temperance River Rye Whiskey. We also got one of their to-go cocktail kits, the Blueberry Basil Fizz kit with the Juniper Gin. It was divine!
The DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace
This former warehouse and manufacturing site was transformed in 1985 into the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace, a space for various restaurants, small businesses, shops, etc.
Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar - is one of my favorite restaurants in Duluth! Everything they make is delicious, and while it seems like a small thing, they have this incredible homemade peanut butter to put on their toast at brunch that I just can’t get enough of!
Amazing Grace Cafe + Grocery - a beautiful little cafe, mini grocery store, bakery, and excellent breakfast spot!
Northern Waters Smokehaus - the spot for smoked fish and meats, housemade spreads, and delicious gourmet sandwiches! They recently renovated and now have a cute ordering window outside. It’s a popular spot, so there is usually a line. You can call a day or two ahead and order a charcuterie board to pick up on your way up the shore to your destination.
Blue Heron Trading Company - gourmet kitchen tools, specialty foods, culinary classes, and more
NaturaLight Candles - is one of my favorite Duluth shops! During our first stay at Wild Pines Cabin on the shore, they had lots of NaturaLight Candles, and we loved the Coconut Woods scent. We stock up every time we’re in Duluth.
And so much more in the Marketplace!
Flagship - a clothing store that features designs made by local artists. The apparel here is so cute, and you can get a fun Minnesota or North Shore sweatshirt or hat here with a well-made design.
Duluth Pack is one of our favorite outdoor stores to grab any apparel for camping or cabin trips up North. They also make high-quality packs and bags right in Duluth that are highly sought after for their durability and longevity.
LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
Lincoln Park, also known as the Craft District, is the neighborhood west of downtown that was formerly very industrial. Now, many old warehouse buildings have been transformed into new restaurants, apartments, breweries, and more. For example, the Enger Lofts building was built in the 1800s and was space for multiple furniture and mattress companies. It was recently remodeled into hotel and apartment artist lofts, with a marketplace, coffeeshop, and other small businesses on the street level floor.
Favorite Spots in the Lincoln Park Craft District
190 Coffee & Tea - Such a fun new spot in the Enger Lofts building. They have great lattes, and I really love their Tumeric Latte (with tumeric, ginger syrup, black pepper, and oat milk). I added a shot of espresso for a caffeine boost. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and I Iove when coffee shops have multiple spaces - a bar for solo remote workers, tables for people to chat at, and a couch area for larger groups.
Goat Hill Marketplace - a spot for kitchen items, baking tools, fresh fruits and veggies, snacks, to-go deli items, etc. They also have a delicious selection of sauces and charcuterie items. It is also located in the Enger Lofts building.
Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace - A partner project of the Duluth Folk School, this cafe is a cozy spot, with great coffee, delicious quiches, scones, burrito bowls, breakfast sandwiches, craft beer, and more.
Flora North - This darling floral and gift shop is a great spot to grab fun gifts like candles, cards, mini succulents, and more. While they specialize in floral arrangements, you can also grab house plants like fiddle leaf trees. Their staff is so willing to help you with your plant questions, and they make great recommendations based on where you plan to put your plant and the type of light it gets during the day.
Love Creamery - has rotating dairy and vegan ice cream flavors, and in addition to this Lincoln Park location, they also have a spot in Canal Park. I recommend ordering an ice cream flight so you can share six of their flavors. Or you can grab a to-go pint to enjoy later. If you have a celebration, order their ice cream pies/ cakes!
Frost River - next to the Creamery, you’ll find this local outdoor store that features stunning wax-canvas bags and packs. They are such great quality, the kind of bag you can pass on to your kids one day because it will last! We also admired beautifully handcrafted paddles.
Hungry Hippie Tacos - I adore their location farther up the North Shore in Grand Marais, so I’m thrilled they have opened a second location in Duluth! Their menu is so good! Known for their fry-bread tacos, which are fresh hot Frybread filled with your choice of meat, cheddar, romaine + taco fixens! These are quite large, one was enough for me to be full! They have these unique Nashville Hot cheese curds with chipotle sour cream that we shared and thought were good as well!
OMC Smokehouse - a staple spot with great bbq where everything other than the bread is made in-house! The staff is always top-notch here (shoutout Cori, our waitress on our most recent visit)! Mitch got the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich (which has quite a flavorful heat to it!) and the mac and cheese side. I got the Caribbean Jerk Chicken special with a pineapple chutney that I will be craving until our next return visit. Pro Tip - upgrade your side to their perfect beef fat fries and dip in their incredible homemade sauces. They have an outdoor space with fire pits and plants that it fun to enjoy.
Back Alley Surf - is a surf, coffee, apparel, and more shop with a fun staff and friendly environment. (Yes, you can surf on Lake Superior!). You don’t have to surf to enjoy this place.
Breweries in Lincoln Park
Bent Paddle Brewing Co. is a fun spot with a comfortable atmosphere, a covered patio, and a large yard outside. They have fun things going on just about every day of the month: live music, trivia nights, bingo, food trucks, and more! Check out their events calendar here.
Duluth Cider - In the 2021 Star Tribune “Minnesota’s Best” Reader’s Choice Awards, more than 525,000 votes were cast all around the state, and Duluth Cider was voted Best Cidery in Minnesota! They had a cranberry cider during the holidays that I especially enjoyed.
Wild State Cider - located in another beautiful Lincoln Park warehouse building restoration, Wild State Cider is a family-friendly cidery created by two best friends. They have bingo, trivia, and wood-fired pizza nights on their event calendar. They also have the incredible Camp Creemee inside, which serves a Vermont-style creamy soft serve. Get the salted maple, or in the Fall, their pumpkin!
Ursa Minor Brewery - I love Ursa Minor’s patio (they’ve added a roof since the below photos). And while their beer is great, and they have delicious kombucha on tap, I especially love their wood-fired pizzas and pretzels! If you are craving something sweet, their dessert pizzas are divine!
EAST HILLSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD
East Hillside is a chill neighborhood known for the lakefront Leif Erikson Park, which is home to the Duluth Rose Garden and stunning lake views. The Rose Garden is stunning, and the floral fragrances are divine. Besides the lakefront, the neighborhood is mostly residential and has many historic buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, several of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. There are two hospitals here, St. Luke’s and St. Mary’s, so there is also a large medical community here.
Strolling down the lakefront reminds me of feeling like I’m in a little European town. I recommend stopping at the PortLand Malt Shoppe and grabbing ice cream, a sundae, float, or malt and enjoying it as you take the stairs at 716 E Superior Street to the Downtown Lakewalk.
Fitger’s - a 19th-century brewery now used as a complex with a hotel, brewhouse, shops, eateries, and more. The ivy covering the brick exteriors, along with the vintage awnings and signs make for an extra charming location. The Boat Club is located on the lower level and is a wonderful restaurant for fish, steaks, and homemade pasta while enjoying views of Lake Superior.
The Pickwick Restaurant & Pub - this establishment is over 100 years old, and the decor brings you back in time. For dinner, they have large portions and are known for steaks and prime rib. I have an obsession with their gouda cheese mashed potatoes! Pickwick also has great lunches, and our favorite menu items are the reuben, and the “superior street dip” aka a French dip.
Va Bene - Italian restaurant with spaces both indoors and outdoors. The smaller tables have the best views of Lake Superior, so it is a perfect date night spot. Va Bene is well known, and always packed, so definitely call ahead for a reservation. They have an extensive menu for their homemade pasta, and we’ve never had a bad meal here. Lots of delicious cocktails and martinis on the menu too, and lovers of espresso martinis will find Va Bene’s to be especially delicious. I will note that service here has been fabulous sometimes, while other visits not as much. Don’t skip on dessert! YUM!
DOWNTOWN DULUTH
Downtown is really easy to get to from Interstate 35, and a large chunk of downtown is within walking distance of Canal Park. There are several blocks of beautiful old properties in this area that were built between 1872 and 1929. These 85 plus properties have been designated the Duluth Commercial Historic District, which is a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s lovely to explore and admire all of the old architecture. Since Duluth can get quite cold in the winter (we’re talking sometimes -20 degrees or more below freezing), there is a fabulous network of skywalks connecting most buildings so that you actually don’t have to go outside much.
The Pharm Juice Bar & Kitchen - family-run business that features plant-based foods like cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, sandwiches, wraps, toasts, and more depending on what their specials are. They have such a fun bohemian vibe mixed into this industrial-style space.
The Rathskeller - fun basement bar with a speakeasy vibe! They have everything from jazz nights to drag bingo here. I love that you can order sushi from Wasabi on your phone, then take the elevator up when it’s ready and bring your sushi into Rathskeller!
Pizza Lucé - One of our go-to spots for pizza in Duluth. They have gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options, so there is something for everyone here. Their menu also has sandwiches, apps, salads, and desserts.
Stop by the childhood home of Bob Dylan - while it is not a museum, and you can’t go inside, if you are a Bob Dylan fan it is fun to stop by and take a photo here. The address is 519 N 3rd Ave E, Duluth, MN 55805.
Places I have not been to yet downtown but want to check out on a future visit:
Blacklist Brewing Co - a brewery with ax-throwing lanes
Zeitgeist Restaurant & Bar - I’ve heard great things about the food and cocktails here. It’s located in the Zeitgeist Arts building, which is a great creative community space as it has a movie theater, performance theater, and art gallery in the building as well.
Duluth Coffee Company Cafe & Roastery - just about every coffee shop on the North Shore features Duluth Coffee Company, so I’ve had their coffee, but need to get to their location!
The biggest thing on my Duluth to-do list - The North Shore Scenic Railroad!
Two Harbors excursions are on weekends in the Summer/Fall, and tickets always go quick! You ride the train to Two Harbors, MN on this day trip. You get to stop in town for lunch, touring, and then head back to Duluth on the train in the late afternoon. How magical it will be to sit in a dome train car enjoying all of the incredible views!
While not located in the four neighborhoods I listed above, I highly recommend hitting up Amity Coffee on your way out of Duluth when you head up the North Shore. I love all the records they play, the cozy decor, fun staff, and great lattes!
Duluth is a gem, and I can’t wait til our next trip up. Have you been before? Let me know if there are any spots I need to add to my Duluth to-do list for next time! Click below for my custom google map of fav Duluth spots.
If you’re looking for another great Minnesota town to explore, I recommend Stillwater!
