Award-Winning Minnesota Restaurant Opens Outdoor Walk-Up Bar for the Summer

Plenty of Minnesota restaurants have won awards over the years. For some reason, it feels like even more restaurants in our state have been winning awards in the past few years. Or maybe I'm taking more notice.

Either way, we've got some incredible dining options throughout our state!

ALSO READ: The Minneapolis 'Cat Tour' That Originally Started as a Joke

Owamni - Indigenous Restaurant in Minneapolis, MN

One of the restaurants that has been recognized around the US is Owamni in Minneapolis. Their menu features Indigenous dishes, and they "prioritize purchasing from Indigenous food producers locally and nationally."

They also don't serve colonial ingredients. Those would be ingredients like wheat flour, cane sugar, and dairy.

"We are proud to present a decolonized dining experience."

In 2022, Owamni won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. Later that year or in 2023, my husband and I went for my birthday! It was so good!

However, they are ALWAYS booked. Or at least they were back then. I would imagine it's still difficult to get in without a reservation. But there's something cool that Owamni opens up just for the summertime that will make it a bit easier for you to try their food.

Get our free mobile app

Owamni Opens Outdoor Walk-Up Wakpa Bar for the Summer

They have a walk-up outdoor spot where you can order food and drinks and then hang out on the patio right on the Mississippi River.

It's called the Wakpa Bar (wakpa is Dakota for river), and they are now open for the season!

They first opened the Wakpa Bar last summer, so I'm glad they brought it back. I would imagine it was quite popular.

They serve some of their food and also beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drink options. They're open Thursdays 4 PM until sunset and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 2-8 PM.