The West End — A Walkable Neighborhood in St. Louis Park

The West End is a lively center for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment in St. Louis Park. Its central setting near I-394 and Hwy 100 places it only minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Tree-lined sidewalks make the neighborhood especially walkable, leading visitors toward sunny patios, inviting boutiques, and engaging public artwork.

Shopping with Variety

Two shopping centers anchor the area: The Shops at West End and Park Place Plaza. Options range from major retailers such as Costco to Lost in the Forrest, which offers the largest selection of houseplants in the metro.

Twin Cities Film Fest

Each October, filmmakers and movie enthusiasts gather in the West End for the Twin Cities Film Fest, a 10-day independent-film event. Marcus West End Cinema screens over 120 short and feature-length films, spanning documentaries, dramas, and other genres. Visitors may even encounter a celebrity while exploring the neighborhood.

Public Art

Public art appears throughout the West End. Full Circle is a spherical sculpture made from aluminum, glass, and wood. Four wooden benches encircle it, each engraved with resident reflections about the four seasons.

Bee Way features two concrete columns decorated with honeycomb patterns and topped by aluminum forms depicting bees moving through the air. A butterfly bench adds a playful place to sit.

Inside the Marcus West End Cinema atrium, visitors can find the Aurora Organ. This interactive artwork has six LED-lit columns whose colors shift whenever someone touches one of six glass sensors.

Places to Stay

The neighborhood is bordered by tall apartment buildings, offices, and meeting venues. Hotels within the West End include the DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis-Park Place, the AC Hotel by Marriott Minneapolis West End, and the Homewood Suites by Hilton.

The SpringHill Suites by Marriott Minneapolis West and the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Minneapolis are a little farther away but remain accessible on foot.

Dining and Entertainment

• Boketto Steakhouse — A refined steakhouse experience combining classic steakhouse traditions with Japanese elegance and Mediterranean character.
• Bun Bun Café and Poké — A bubble tea and poké destination dedicated to serving the best fruity tea in the U.S. Boba fans can choose from a broad range of teas.
• Chi-Chi’s — A Mexican restaurant featuring traditional fare alongside an exceptional tequila and mezcal selection.
• CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar — A contemporary restaurant serving colorful American dishes, fresh sushi, an extensive wine list, inventive cocktails and mocktails, and several sake options.
• Dover Restaurant & Bar — A relaxed restaurant inside the DoubleTree by Hilton, with savory, polished food, local craft beer, and televised sports.
• Hope Breakfast Bar — An all-day breakfast restaurant serving sweet and savory dishes, coffee, cocktails, and more. Proceeds also support people in need throughout the community.
• JC’s Subs — A sandwich shop with specialty subs, build-your-own options, salads, and soups made in-house.
• The Local — A classic Irish pub with authentic décor, comfortable snugs, flavorful food, and plenty of Guinness and Jameson.
• Punch Bowl Social — A lively destination combining food, craft cocktails and drinks, bowling, arcade games, karaoke, and event space.
• Raku Sushi & Lounge — A stylish Japanese fusion restaurant centered on traditional Japanese cuisine influenced by French, Italian, and other Asian flavors, with a full sake bar.
• Sota Shop MN — Minnesota’s original “Dirty Pop” shop, offering custom ice-cold pops made with pebble ice, fruit, cream, and flavorful Torani syrups.
• Taste of India — Scratch-made Indian food prepared with an artistic mix of exotic ingredients, including tandoori chicken, seekh kabobs, flavorful curry, and many vegetarian dishes.
• Yangtze Chinese — A casual restaurant serving Hunan, Szechaun, Mandarin, and Cantonese classics, along with weekend dim sum.
• Yard House — A sports bar with over 100 made-from-scratch dishes and more than 100 taps featuring American craft and imported beers.

For faster meals, visitors can choose from Arby’s, Bruegger’s Bagels, Caribou Coffee, Five Guys, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Jimmy John’s, Leeann Chin, Panera Bread, Punch Pizza, and Roti Modern Mediterranean.

The West End also contains Marcus West End Cinema, a 16-screen theater presenting the latest studio releases. Its upstairs bar and restaurant serves food and drinks before, after, and even during screenings.

Every October, the West End Cinema hosts the Twin Cities Film Fest, an 10-day celebration of Minnesota filmmakers and independent movies. The event screens over 120 short and feature-length films, including documentaries and dramas, filling the West End with movie magic.

Art Galleries

• Canvas Convergence — A 3d experiential gallery with interactive 3D illusion murals that change with the seasons. Its classroom hosts creative sessions such as painting, drawing, mandalas, movie makeup 101, writing, stained glass, mindfulness, and more. A gift shop offers art and related items suited to gift giving.
• Drew Beson Art — An art studio where Drew creates large abstract paintings defined by vivid colors and energetic movement. His work appears in gallery exhibitions and private collections around the world.
• Crayon Kelly Experience — A colorful, inventive setting where art and entrepreneurship come together. Beyond exhibiting artwork, it serves as a center for creativity, education, community involvement, financial literacy, and business acumen. It is also home to Time Stamp Art.
• Stephanie Dillon Art — Artwork that explores creativity and impermanence, from expansive canvas paintings to smaller framed works.

Shopping

• Kiddywampus — An interactive toy store and birthday-party destination featuring distinctive toys, books, and accessories, along with weekly classes and special events.
• Lost in the Forrest — A houseplant shop with common and rare plants, plant-themed gifts, and supplies for creating an indoor jungle at home.
• Lakeshore Learning — A source for educational toys and classroom materials.
• Rubi Jubi — Minnesota’s go-to prom dress boutique, with a curated assortment of designer prom and special occasion dresses.

Additional shopping choices include Costco, Home Depot, PetSmart, Office Depot, Liquor Boy Wine & Spirits, and Mattress Firm.

Personal Care

• Glamour Nails & Spa — A full-service nail salon providing manicures, pedicures, paraffin wax treatments, acrylic sets, fills, and other enhancements. Services are also available for children, and the spa offers an inviting setting for parties with friends.
• Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa — A friendly, comfortable spa with affordable massage and facial treatments. Its signature Hot Stone Massage is designed to ease away stress.
• HOTWORX — A distinctive gym with virtually guided exercise programs that let users experience the benefits of infrared heat absorption while completing a 30-minute Isometric workout or 15-minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session.
• Love, A + B — A full service hair salon focused on color and extensions.
• Roosters Men’s Grooming Center — A genuine barbershop experience in a contemporary, straightforward setting and a grooming destination for gentlemen of every age.
• Sola Salon Studios — A premier salon suite destination occupied by a wide range of beauty professionals and personal care providers.

Other personal-care and fitness options include OrangeTheory Fitness, Great Clips, GNC Live Well, and Twin City Nails.