Overview
Mankato (pronounced man-KAY-toh) is a city in Minnesota, USA, that exudes a college presence with several centers of higher learning, including Minnesota State University.
11 places to eat · 11 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 9°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Minneapolis)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 62 mi away (major hub). Directions
- RST Rochester International Airport, Rochester — 77 mi away. Directions
Land to Air Express or Landline ground transport from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). While Mankato Regional Airport is the second busiest in the state by take-offs and landings, it hasn't had any scheduled commercial flights for several decades.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
A somewhat colorful community, it was home to Sinclair Lewis and the literary characters Betsy and Tacy, and such public figures as Ron Johnson and Mike Lindell, though his pillow store is no longer there.
It was also the site of a darker event, the execution of 38 individuals in 1862 following the Dakota uprising, even in the midst of the Civil War. President Lincoln reduced the number of executions which had been far higher, trying to find a balance.
Get in
By bus
Land to Air Express or Landline ground transport from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). While Mankato Regional Airport is the second busiest in the state by take-offs and landings, it hasn't had any scheduled commercial flights for several decades.
By car
While Mankato is not served by an interstate, it is connected by two US Highways. US 169 runs north and south along the west bank of the Minnesota River, while US 14 runs east and west on the north side of the city. The Twin Cities metro area is about a 1-and-a-half-hour drive along 169, making a day trip relatively easy.
Get around
Due to the large student population, Mankato is host to a relatively robust bus network known as the Mankato Transit System. Routes are concentrated mainly between downtown, the Highland Park and Minnesota State University campus area, and the River Hills Mall commercial area, but due to the limited size of the city, extend to most destinations that aren't purely residential. A live bus tracker can be found on the city website.
Route 5 extends into neighboring North Mankato.
Cash fare is $1.50, with passes and tokens available for purchase at the government center. However, university students ride for free with their MavCards, and as a result drivers rarely ask for a fare or check tickets.
See
- Betsy Tacy Society, 332 Center St. If you were a fan of the Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, you will probably take a shine to this museum about the stories that were set in Mankato. However it's only open Saturdays from 1-3PM. +1 507-345-9777.
Do
- Attend the Wacipi Pow wow in September at Land of Memories Park, 100 Amos Owen Ln. You can also camp and canoe here along the Minnesota River in season.
- Hike or cross country ski/snowshoe through hardwoods and watersheds at Red Jacket Valley Park, 19950 State Hwy 66. Daily 8AM-10PM.
- Ski, sled, or mountain bike at Mount Kato Ski Area, 20461 State Hwy 66. +1 507-625-3363
Parks
- Minneopa State Park, 54497 Gadwall Rd. A state park featuring a waterfall and trails and bison herd in the Minnesota River Valley. Features a windmill, nature center, and campground too. +1 507-386-3910
- Riverfront Park, 309 West Rock Street. A large, modern park close to downtown that is host to many annual events, including RibFest, Mankato's Pride celebration, and 4th of July fireworks. Parking is available onsite, as well as restrooms, picnic shelter, playground, public art, and an outdoor amphitheater.
- Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave. Mankato's largest city park, located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers. Features 2 playgrounds, baseball fields, a sledding hill, flower gardens, a small zoo (summer only), and paved walking trails. Every year between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, Sibley park is host to the popular Kiwanis Holiday Lights show.
- Tourtellotte Park, 310 E Mabel St. A large park on the north end of the city, this park is home to a large public pool, Tourtellotte Pool, and is also home to a baseball diamond, two tennis courts, and a large field of well-maintained grass and large, old trees, perfect for a picnic.
- Rasmussen Woods, 555 Stoltzman Rd. This large nature preserve features 150 acres of natural meadows, wetlands and woods. With parking by the Stoltzman Road entrance, park goers choose two paths to journey down.
- The north trail, beginning past the picnic shelter, keeps to the base of the hills in the forest leading to a pond and gazebo, passing through a shallow marsh. This trail provides excellent bird watching.
- The south trail begins to the west of the parking, near the mouth of a stream, and winds its way up through the bluffs and woods. While changing more in elevation, this trail is more secluded and scenic, with notable sights including a large meadow with a huge sumac growth, sandstone and limestone bluffs, and a boardwalk trail through the swampier parts of the marsh. The end of this trail will leave you close to a trestle pedestrian and bike bridge across the ravine, formerly a rail bridge, that is part of the Red Jacket Trail system leading north to Riverfront Drive and south to Red Jacket Valley
- Bray Park and Campground, Madison Lake. This lakeside park is 102 acres and includes a sandy beach, boat launch, cable suspension footbridge over a ravine, paved walking trails, 2 playgrounds, picnic shelters, dump station. 32 electric sites, 20 tent sites, showers, flush toilets.
- Daly Park and Campground
- Rapidan Dam Park, Rapidan. 20 primitive wooded sites near the river.
Learn
Buy
Eat
Eat Yu's Chinese Cuisine
Although the decor is not high class, Yu's serves decent Chinese food. Offers a lunch buffet. $5-9 a plate.
- El Mazatlan, on Madison Avenue. Good Mexican food. Dos Equis on tap.
Eat Pub 500
A great place to take the parents visiting their college student, this is one of the better restaurants in Mankato. Quality burgers and sandwiches with mediocre bowls also available. Good drinks, but closes earlier than other bars on the street.
Eat Pagliai's
Excellent dine-in or carry-out pizza.
Eat Tandem Bagels
Good bagels, great specialty cream cheeses. One of the few good breakfast spots in Mankato.
- Happy Chef Restaurant, 51646 US-169. You can get your greasy spoon fix here with hash browns and omelets in the morning or country fried steak for lunch. Also featuring cinnamon roll pancakes. Don't forget to say hi to the Happy Chef statue in the parking lot on the way out. Daily 6AM-2PM. +1 507-388-2953
Eat Boulder Tap House (Boulder Tap, B-Tap)
Sports bar with good food. Most of the wall space is covered by TVs tuned to sports channels, but sound is usually provided by music videos playing on some TVs. Not too loud. Happy Hour is M-F 3-6PM, and daily 9-11PM (dine in only): Half off most appetizers (not wings) and $1 tap beer.
Eat Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar
The only upscale eatery in Mankato. Another great spot to take visiting parents or for a birthday dinner, this more expensive restaurant does have good food and drinks, but with high prices to match.
Eat The 507
A small but nice bar featuring sports screens in the front and a delightful patio in the back. Good sliders, and excellent daily special and happy hour deals.
Eat Mom & Pop's
A charming small ice cream shop on riverfront drive. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Eat Weggy's On Campus
Despite the name, it's in a strip mall next to campus, though you would be forgiven for thinking the whole thing is owned by MSU. The food is not great, but the location is hard to beat. Open for breakfast and drinks.
Eat India Palace
One of the best restaurants in Mankato. Suitable for large groups or individual takeout, India Palace serves fantastic Indian food at reasonable prices.
Eat 1000 Degree Pizza
High quality pizza with customization.
Drink
The comparatively high rate of college students in Mankato has naturally led to many places to drink publicly, mostly around Front Street in downtown. More importantly, the competition between the bars has led to a delightful weekend tradition: 2 for 1 weekends. During the school year, most of the bars more popular with the college crowd offer two drinks for the price of one for beer and rails.
South Front Street
Drink Blue Bricks
With a kitchen open until midnight and more seating than most, this bar will have a chill vibe on even the loudest weekend nights. Outdoor seating in the summer and decent food all year round.
Drink Rounders Sports Bar & Grill
A quintessential college bar. Loud music on the weekends, though a stark lack of dancing or real dance floor. This place will always be crowded so get there early if you want a booth or want to claim a pool table that is coin operated and works 35% of the time. Participates in 2 for 1's.
Drink Underground Bar & Grill
At the east end of Front Street, right next to the mall doors. Down a long, steep stairway, you'll find another quintessential college experience. A bar that feels as if it's in the basement of a house party. Participates in 2 for 1's.
Drink The 507
A small but nice bar featuring sports screens in the front and a delightful patio in the back.
North Riverfront Drive
Drink Oleander's Saloon
One of the oldest bars in Mankato but certainly not the most popular. Patronized by more mature Mankato residents, not necessarily a college bar.
Drink Wine Cafe
Another location with more seating and a more chill vibe, this wine bar offers flights, glasses, and bottles of good wine for reasonable prices. Great place to start or end a night.
Coffee
Drink Fillin' Station Coffeehouse
One of the best coffee shops in Mankato. Staffed usually by locals and students, this coffee house offers great drinks, a limited but quality food menu, and lots of seating. A quieter spot to work on a laptop or read a book than the Coffee Hag, but still a center of community for the city. Local art is displayed and sold inside.
Drink Coffee Hag
A fantastic coffee shop that acts as one of the cultural anchors of Mankato. With pride flags frequently inside and out, the Coffee Hag welcomes students and community members with a warm atmosphere and good coffee. Frequent local music acts perform here and local art is displayed inside. A walk up to-go window is located on the north side of the building.
Drink River Rock Coffee and Tea
A coffee shop offering seasonal drinks and limited seating. Not the vibe for staying for hours, but a good coffee shop, nonetheless.
Sleep
- Motel 6 Mankato, 1731 Premier Dr. One of those new generation Motel 6s that almost looks like it could be a clean room at a semiconductor facility, it is so minimalist. +1 507-345-6666
- AmericInn by Wyndham Mankato Event Center, 240 Stadium Rd. Indoor pool, breakfast. +1 507-345-8011
Nearby
Flandrau State Park
Park · 25 mi away
New Ulm
City / town · 16 listings · 25 mi away
Truman
City / town · 5 listings · 32 mi away
St. James
City / town · 8 listings · 34 mi away
Blue Earth
City / town · 3 listings · 37 mi away
Faribault
City / town · 6 listings · 37 mi away
Owatonna
City / town · 3 listings · 39 mi away
Fairmont
City / town · 45 listings · 42 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.