Graduate Minneapolis

Guests will pick up on the schoolhouse theme as soon as they enter the Graduate Minneapolis Inside the beautiful brick building, a wall of globes serves as a backdrop to the front desk, while deeper into the lobby a wall of bookshelves holds a number of titles guests can peruse while seated on a brown leather couch wrapped around a fireplace. It’s not uncommon to see students from the university studying in the spacious seating area with huge windows and handsome couches. Reclaimed wood and metal are used throughout the hotel including in the on-site restaurant, Beacon Public House, where tin-pressed ceilings and Watson filament lightbulbs create a cozy vibe. 

The Graduate Minneapolis is located in the East Bank neighborhood of the University of Minnesota campus (so named for its location on the east bank of the Mississippi River). It’s just across the street from Washington Avenue, a street lined with restaurants and bars, and a two-minute walk to the nearest Light Rail Station, which gives access to the downtown area in under 20 minutes. The University of Minnesota Medical Center is nearby, as is the TCF Bank Stadium. Target Center, home of the Timberwolves, is within a 15-minute drive. The airport is about a half-hour away via public transportation, or a 20-minute drive. 

Rooms at the hotel are chic and feature hip, stylish decor that includes blue and white argyle wallpaper and gray carpeting, black-and-white vintage photos, leather chairs, and trendy, wire-caged lights that add charm to the spaces. Bathrooms are equally attractive with blue walls and white subway-tile shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads. Amenities include work desks, 57-inch TVs, iPod docks, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Suites have separate living spaces with sleeper sofas. In addition to room service, guests can order books from a “book butler.” 

Beacon Public House, the hotel's restaurant and lounge, specializes in farm-to-table fare, and the menu includes everything from burgers and steaks to spicy tuna tacos and smoked pork nachos. There’s also an attractive patio where guests can dine outside. The stylish space is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus brunch is available on the weekends. There’s also a mini-market selling sodas and gifts. The property has a fitness center with cardio and weight machines as well as hand weights. Ten meeting rooms and two outdoor patios are available for private events, and the hotel can host conferences with up to 500 guests. Self- and valet-parking are available for a fee.