Rand Tower Hotel Minneapolis Review: A Great Downtown Minneapolis Getaway

When planning a weekend getaway, I often find myself looking at Marriott Bonvoy properties. During a recent Labor Day weekend trip to Minneapolis, my wife and I had the opportunity to stay at the Rand Tower Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. After spending two nights at the property, I came away impressed by its location, comfortable accommodations, and unique historic character.

If you’re looking for a downtown Minneapolis hotel that provides easy access to public transportation, excellent dining options, and a comfortable place to relax after a day of exploring the city, Rand Tower Hotel is worth considering.

Disclosure: Rand Tower Hotel provided my wife and me with a complimentary two-night stay for purposes of this review. As always, all opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Excellent Downtown Minneapolis Location

One of the biggest advantages of staying at Rand Tower Hotel is its location.

The hotel sits in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, making it incredibly easy to explore both the city and attractions throughout the Twin Cities area. During our visit, we arrived via the Blue Line light rail from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Because the hotel is located near both the Blue and Green Line routes, getting around without a car was surprisingly simple.

Visitors attending a Minnesota Vikings game or concert at U.S. Bank Stadium can easily utilize the light rail. The same is true for anyone wanting to visit the Mall of America (Nickelodeon Universe), Target Field, the University of Minnesota, or many other destinations throughout the metro area.

Even better, the hotel has convenient access to Minneapolis’ famous Skyway system. If you’ve never visited Minneapolis before, the Skyway allows you to walk between numerous downtown buildings without ever stepping outside. This became especially convenient when we wanted to explore the city while avoiding the weather.

Honestly, unless your itinerary takes you well outside the metropolitan area, you may not need a rental car during your stay. Between public transportation, rideshare services, walkability, and the Skyway system, getting around is remarkably easy.

Dining Options Within Walking Distance

Another thing we appreciated was the number of dining options located near the hotel.

For breakfast, we enjoyed a meal at The Hen House Eatery, a popular downtown Minneapolis restaurant that draws both locals and visitors. The portions were generous and provided a great start to our days of exploring the city.

One evening, we stopped by Luce Pizza for dinner. Its downtown location made it an easy walk from the hotel, and it offered a nice casual option after a busy day around Minneapolis.

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On one of the mornings, I also made the short walk to Mother Dough Bakery. The fresh pastries and baked goods made the trip worthwhile and provided another excellent breakfast option within walking distance of the hotel. The food scene in Minneapolis does NOT disappoint.

While we didn’t dine at the hotel’s restaurants, guests have several on-site choices available as well. The ground-floor Rufus Bar creates a lively atmosphere, and the hotel also offers two additional dining venues on the upper floors. As a welcome amenity, we received a fruit tray delivered to our room, and the fruit was fresh and delicious. So room service is always an option, too. It’s great for a night in.

Comfortable and Spacious Guest Room

Our king room turned out to be one of the highlights of the stay.

We were assigned a corner room, which immediately made the space feel larger and more open. Multiple windows allowed plenty of natural light into the room throughout the day, creating a bright and welcoming environment.

The room also included several amenities that help make a hotel stay more comfortable, including a mini refrigerator and coffee maker.

The bed deserves special recognition.

My wife commented that it was probably the most comfortable hotel bed she had slept in for years. That’s high praise considering how often we travel. After long days spent exploring Minneapolis, having a comfortable mattress made a noticeable difference.

We also appreciated the television setup, which made it easy to unwind and enjoy a movie before going to sleep each evening.

A Well-Designed Bathroom

The bathroom was equally impressive.

The shower was spacious and provided plenty of room without feeling cramped. Our phonebooth-sized shower at home leaves a lot to be desired. My wife particularly appreciated the large amount of counter space available while getting ready each morning.

Those little details often get overlooked in hotel reviews, but they’re the types of features that can significantly improve the overall guest experience during a multi-night stay.

Fitness Center Amenities

Travelers who like to maintain their workout routines while away from home will find plenty to appreciate at Rand Tower Hotel.

The fitness center was larger than I expected and included multiple workout options. Whether you’re looking for a quick cardio session, a longer run, or a more complete workout, the facility provides enough equipment to meet most travelers’ needs.

The hotel does not have a swimming pool. While that may be a consideration for some travelers, it wasn’t something we missed during our stay.

Historic Charm and Unique Character

One aspect of the hotel that stood out to me was its overall atmosphere.

Rather than feeling like a standard chain hotel, Rand Tower embraces the history of the building. Throughout the property, you’ll notice design elements that reflect a vintage aviation theme and the building’s historic roots. The artwork, décor, and architectural details helped create a unique personality that set the hotel apart from many other downtown properties.

One feature that caught my attention was the vintage mail chute located near the elevators. I have no idea whether it’s still functional, but it was fun to see and added to the property’s old-world charm.

Those touches helped make the hotel feel memorable rather than simply being another place to sleep.

What About Parking?

Because we arrived using the Blue Line light rail from the airport, we did not use the hotel’s parking facilities.

If you’re driving into Minneapolis, I would recommend checking the hotel’s current parking options and rates before your arrival, as downtown parking arrangements and pricing can change periodically.

That said, one of the strongest arguments for staying at Rand Tower Hotel is that many visitors can comfortably enjoy their trip without ever needing a vehicle. Between the nearby light rail stations, rideshare services, the Skyway system, and numerous restaurants within walking distance, leaving the car at home may actually make the trip easier.

Final Thoughts on Rand Tower Hotel Minneapolis

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Rand Tower Hotel.

The combination of an excellent downtown location, easy access to public transportation, comfortable accommodations, walkable dining options, and a unique historic atmosphere made it an ideal choice for our romantic weekend getaway.

Whether you’re visiting Minneapolis for a Vikings game, a concert, a weekend escape, or simply exploring the Twin Cities, Rand Tower Hotel provides a comfortable and convenient home base.

Would I stay here again?

Absolutely. As someone who frequently chooses Marriott Bonvoy properties when traveling, Rand Tower Hotel delivered the comfort, convenience, and character that I look for in a hotel stay.

Review Disclosure: Rand Tower Hotel provided my wife and me with a complimentary two-night stay in exchange for consideration of a review. The opinions, observations, and conclusions expressed in this article are entirely my own and were not influenced by the complimentary stay.

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