Radisson RED Minneapolis: Downtown's HOTTEST Hotel? (You NEED to See This!)
Radisson RED Minneapolis: Downtown's HOTTEST Hotel? (Yeah, You NEED to See This…Maybe.) - A Messy, Honest Review
Alright, folks, buckle up. Because this isn't your grandma's sterile hotel review. We're diving headfirst into the funky, the fabulous, and possibly the frustrating, world of the Radisson RED Minneapolis. They claim to be the HOTTEST hotel in town. Let's see if that's true or just some slick marketing BS.
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First Impressions (and a Little Panic)
So, I rolled up to the Radisson RED. The outside screamed "hip," with its bold colors and sleek lines. Okay, cool. I'm in. It was a Friday, and I had to admit, my heart did a little flutter. The idea of a weekend getaway, all the way from the boring routine felt exciting.
Accessibility & Navigating the Maze
Now, I'm not using a wheelchair, but this hotel has a vibe. And with a vibe, comes an expectation of a certain audience. I was worried about the accessibility, honestly given my bad experiences in the past. I will say there were accessible rooms offered, and an elevator to get around, and the public spaces seemed pretty good. No major struggles getting around, but I didn't specifically need to test EVERYTHING, so I can't give a thorough accessibility report. They have to make sure the elevators and common areas are wheelchair accessible because of the government and what not, right? I did see some "facilities for disabled guests" listed, so hopefully, they do their due diligence.
Wi-Fi Woes (and Wins!)
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms. YES! This is a HUGE win. Especially for a digital nomad like myself. I need to keep my work flowing. The internet was fast and reliable. So, points for that, Red. Even the public areas had good Wi-Fi. My previous hotel reviews had the Wi-Fi going down which made me so frustrated and not be able to start my work!
Rooms and Revelations
The room. Ah, the room. It's modern, it's stylish, it's…a little dark? Seriously, those blackout curtains are serious. Like, "I could sleep through a tornado" serious. The bed was comfy, the linens were crisp, and the view (I was on a higher floor) was actually fantastic. The "in-room safe box" was a nice touch. The "desk" (a small, stylish thing) was usable, but I preferred the sofa for working. (Laptop workspace, check!) The "complimentary water" was a nice touch. And even though I had read that the rooms were not exactly meant for people to stay in it. The room was a haven. I loved it.
Also, the "additional toilet" was a HUGE plus, especially with a partner. The temperature was perfect.
The Bathroom – A Tale of Two Showers
The bathroom situation was…interesting. Separate shower/bathtub? Check. But the shower…it was one of those rain showers. You know, the ones designed to make you feel like you're showering in a rainforest. I actually liked that. But I can see how some people might find it…intense. The toiletries were pretty good.
Dining & Drinking – Food, Glorious Food (and the Occasional Hiccup)
- Restaurants: The hotel has a few options. The main restaurant was modern. The food was good, not mind-blowing, but definitely satisfying. The Asian breakfast was a fun change of pace, I will admit.
- Bar: Ah, the bar. This is where the RED really shines. The vibe is electric, the cocktails are creative, and the bartenders are actually fun. Plus, the "Happy hour" was a total win. This made the hotel a thousand times better.
- Poolside Bar: There's supposed to be a poolside bar. But, there was no pool.
- The "Coffee shop" served great coffee. Perfect.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Where's the Chill?
- Fitness center: The "Fitness center" was well-equipped, but seriously, who goes to the gym on vacation?
- Spa/sauna: There wasn't an actual spa, but I swear I saw something listed, the "Spa/sauna" was also not available, because you know… COVID. Ahh…
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: No pool. Big bummer. Especially when they are trying to be the "hottest" hotel.
- Things to do: I didn't explore much outside the hotel, but downtown Minneapolis has tons of stuff to do.
Cleanliness & Safety – Germaphobe Approved (Mostly)
They're doing their best with the whole post-COVID thing. "Anti-viral cleaning products," "hand sanitizer" everywhere, "rooms sanitized between stays." I felt pretty safe. "Staff trained in safety protocol," etc. They even had "Cashless payment service." Seriously, I barely touched a thing.
Services & Conveniences – Little Things That Matter
- Concierge: The concierge was helpful and knowledgeable.
- Doorman: Always a nice touch.
- Laundry service: A lifesaver!
- Daily housekeeping: My room was spotless every day.
- Car park [free of charge]: The "Car park [free of charge]" was convenient, especially for a city hotel.
- Air conditioning in public area: YES!
- Air conditioning: YES!
For the Kids – Family Fun?
Honestly, I don't know. I didn't see a lot of kids. There were "Babysitting service" and "Kids meal" but the vibe is more geared towards the young and hip.
The Emotional Rollercoaster (aka My Thoughts)
Okay, here's the REAL deal: the Radisson RED is not for everyone. It's a statement hotel, a place to be seen. If you're looking for a quiet, traditional hotel experience, run far, far away.
But if you're looking for something different, something with a pulse, something that's…fun? Then you might love it. The staff are genuinely friendly. The hotel certainly tries to be cool.
My ONE Big, Annoying, Complaint
The lack of a pool, especially when they're trying to brand themselves as the hottest place to stay. I just thought the lack of a heated pool was a big bummer.
Would I recommend it?
I'm still not entirely sure. The Radisson RED Minneapolis has its flaws. But it also has a certain…je ne sais quoi. I would give it a hesitant, "yes, but be prepared." It's got a fantastic location. It's well-cared for. And it's just, well, interesting.
Final Verdict: 7.5 out of 10 (with a potential for a higher score if they ever get a pool!)
KLCC's Hidden Gem: Unbelievable Luxury Suites You NEED to See!Alright, here’s the chaotic, rambling, and utterly human itinerary for a stay at the Radisson RED Minneapolis Downtown. Buckle up, buttercup, because it's gonna be a ride.
Radisson RED Minneapolis - The "Oh God, Did I Pack Enough Socks?" Edition
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and a Really Good Burger.
1:00 PM - Arrival. Minneapolis. God, I love a good airport. The smell of stale coffee and the buzz of stressed travellers. Always a good vibe. Found the hotel shuttle, which was surprisingly on time. Minor victory! Now, checking in… Fingers crossed the room isn't haunted. I'm a total wimp when it comes to ghosts.
- Quirky Observation: The lobby is…loud. Like, aggressively cool-loud. Art everywhere, music thumping, and people actually smiling. Am I in the right place? My normal state is "slightly grumpy," so this is unsettling.
1:30 PM - Room check! Okay, decent view (I think), cozy bed, and… YES! Coffee maker. Thank God. Initial relief, swiftly followed by the existential dread of unpacking. Where did I even put my toothbrush?
- Anecdote: Almost dropped my phone in the toilet. True story. Close call. Just another reminder of my inherent clumsiness. (Thanks, Mom!)
2:30 PM - Settling in. Finally managed to unpack, sort of. A mountain of clothes remains in the suitcase. I'll deal with it… later.
3:00 PM - Let the Hunger Games begin. Time to find food. The RED has a cool vibe restaurant called "OUI Bar + KTCHN." Okay, I guess. I'm hungry.
3:30 PM - OUI Bar + KTCHN - And I’m starving. Burgers. That's the word. I ordered the "RED Burger." And it was… actually fantastic. Juicy, perfectly cooked, and that sauce…wow. I forgot to even take a picture because I inhaled it. Pure bliss.
- Emotional Reaction: For a solid fifteen minutes, the burger was the only important thing in my life. It was a religious experience. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but it was good. REALLY GOOD.
5:00 PM - Drinks at the OUI Bar. "Creative cocktails" they call them. Okay… I'm more of a beer kind of person, but I figured, "When in Rome, blah blah." Ordered something with tequila and, I think, jalapeno. My tolerance for spicy things is… low.
5:30 PM - Oh boy. That cocktail was… intense. Sweating, eyes watering, general feeling of regret. Note to self: Stick to beer next time. This is what I would call… a "learning experience."
6:30 PM - Netflix and (almost) chill. Collapsed on the bed and battled with the TV remote for far too long. Finally found something decent. Just trying to relax. The cocktail is wearing off… or maybe it's just the sheer exhaustion of travel and life in general.
8:00 PM - Dinner (sort of). Belly felt okay, but I wasn't really ready for full meal. Settled for chips and salsa from the bar to tide me over. It's a slow burn, being alone in a hotel room. Maybe I should have brought a book. Or, you know, talked to someone. Ah, well.
Day 2: Art, Awkwardness, and a Sudden Craving for… Ice Cream?
- 8:00 AM - Coffee. Sweet, sweet coffee. And, you know, the morning news.
- Opinionated Language: The news is depressing. Always. Turn it off.
- 9:00 AM - Walk to the Walker Art Center. I love art, or at least I think I do. I always feel slightly inadequate in art museums, like I'm supposed to "get" something that I don't. But I also love a good "interpretive" sign.
- 9:45 AM - The Walker…okay, I GET IT. Modern art is… well, interesting. Some of it was beautiful. Some of it made me scratch my head. And some of it made me wonder if I'd accidentally wandered into an elementary school art class.
- Anecdote: I spent a solid twenty minutes staring at a black rectangle. Then, a kid, maybe six years old, came up to me and said, "It's about the void." I just smiled and nodded. I think the kid was right.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch near the Walker Art Center. Some little cafe. Got a sandwich that was good, but nothing to write home about. Mostly, I was stressed about the fact that I had a crumb on my face the whole time.
- 1:30 PM - Returned to the hotel. Feeling the weird, post-art-museum melancholy. The kind where you question all of your life choices.
- 2:00 PM - Awkward encounter in the elevator. Sharing a tiny space with two overly-friendly, extremely chatty people. Mastered the art of the blank stare. Made a hasty exit when the doors opened.
- Emotional Reaction: Social interactions are, like, my least favorite thing. I'd rather wrestle a bear.
- 3:00 PM - Sudden, overwhelming ice cream craving. Like, a need to eat ice cream. Googled "best ice cream near me." Went to a place called "Izzy's Ice Cream."
- 3:30 PM - Izzy’s… holy mother of ice cream. I ordered a cone with… (I can’t even remember all the flavors I got) I think one was called "Midnight Berry." Amazing. Just… amazing. This is why I travel. For the ice cream.
- Doubling Down on a Single Experience: Seriously, that ice cream. The creamy texture, the perfect balance of flavors, the pure, unadulterated joy of licking a dripping cone on a sunny afternoon… It was perfection. I would travel to Minneapolis just for Izzy's. No joke. I'd move there.
- 5:00 PM - Back at the hotel. The ice cream coma sets in. Just going to vegetate for a bit. Maybe I'll finally tackle that suitcase mountain.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner? Hmm… maybe room service? Or just more chips and salsa. This is the beauty (and the curse) of being alone… I don’t have to share my chips with anyone.
- 8:00 PM - More TV. More quiet. More… everything that I wanted, but also, maybe, a little bit, didn’t want.
Day 3: Departure and the lingering taste of Midnight Berry…
- 8:00 AM - Coffee. Sad face. Time to check out.
- 9:00 AM - Check-out. Quick and easy. Always appreciate that.
- 9:30 AM - One last walk around the hotel. Took a moment to soak in the coolness of the place. Really liked the vibe, despite my social awkwardness.
- 10:00 AM - Airport shuttle. The inevitable return to reality.
- 11:00 AM - Waiting at the airport. Thinking about the Red Burger, the Black Rectangle, and more importantly… the ice cream.
- Stream of Consciousness: I should have gotten two cones. No one would have judged me. Maybe I should just order… no, I can’t. Plane. Pack. Damn. Next time, Minneapolis, next time… You’ll have the ice cream waiting.
And that, my friends, is the unvarnished truth about my trip to the Radisson RED Minneapolis. It was a mix of good food, awkward encounters, and the sheer, glorious, sometimes overwhelming experience of… being human. And if any of you are there, get two scoops for me!!
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Radisson RED Minneapolis: Downtown's Hottest Hotel? (You NEED to See This!) - Yeah, But... Let's Talk Real Life.
Okay, okay, the "hottest" tag? That's a bold claim. Let's dissect this Radisson RED experience, shall we? Because trust me, it's more "rollercoaster" than "smooth cruise." Here's the lowdown, straight from someone who stayed there… and probably over-thought it.
Is it REALLY as "hip" as it looks in the photos? The art, the vibes… is it all just Instagram bait?
Look, the lobby *is* impressive. Seriously. It's like a curated explosion of color and stuff. The art? Cool. I mean, I stared at a few pieces I didn't *entirely* get for a good five minutes, pretending I was an art critic. The Instagram bait? Absolutely. You're practically *required* to take a picture by the giant RED sign. I did. Don't judge me.
But beyond the immediate flash? It depends. Are you *actually* cool? Because some of the hipness felt a *little* forced, like everyone was trying too hard to be effortlessly cool. I felt like I was in the wrong outfit, even in my comfies. Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I'm just not "vibe-y" enough. (Sob.)
What about the rooms? Comfy? Actually functional? The whole "stylish but practical" thing?
Okay, rooms. Here's where it gets… interesting. They *are* stylish. The decor is on point. That much is true. But function? Let's just say the "stylishness" occasionally triumphed over practicality. My room was a bit of a maze. The lighting controls took me a good ten minutes to decipher. And the bathroom? Don't even get me started on the sliding door that offered about as much privacy as a goldfish bowl. It was, shall we say, cozy with my roommate in there.
And the bed... okay, the bed *was* heavenly. Honestly, best sleep I've had in months. So, yeah, mixed bag. Style wins, comfort also happens, sometimes.
The Bar/Restaurant: "OUIBar + KTCHN" – Worth the hype? I heard mixed things.
OUIBar + KTCHN... Ah, the heart of the matter. Here's the thing. Atmosphere? On fleek. Seriously cool, vibrant, buzzing. Food? Hit or miss. I had this *one* dish… I won't say what for privacy. But it was underwhelming . My wife, however, absolutely LOVED her dish, so, again, YMMV. The drinks were strong, the servers were generally friendly (though, admittedly, service was a little slow when it was busy. I mean, really slow. Like, "I'm contemplating ordering a pizza to my room" slow.) I'd go back for a drink and the *scene*, but I'd approach the food with a cautious optimism. Don’t expect perfection! That’s the biggest lesson.
Parking Situation? Downtown Minneapolis, am I right?
Oh, the parking. Brace yourself. Yes, it's downtown. Yes, it's a pain in the butt. The hotel offers valet parking, which is… convenient, but not cheap. You *can* find spots nearby, but be prepared to walk a bit and potentially circle the block more than once. I'm usually not one for valet, but I caved because it was freezing rain. It adds up, though. Factor it into your budget. I secretly wish they had a self-park option, even if it were a bit further away. Money saved!
Speaking of location, is it actually convenient for exploring Minneapolis?
Yes! Okay, on this one, YES. It’s a great location. You’re close to a lot of stuff – restaurants, entertainment, some cool shops. I walked to a Twins game (well, I *tried* to, until the torrential downpour hit… but it was *walkable* at one point!). It’s easy to get around. Public transportation is handy. So, thumbs up on the location. That’s a major win for the RED.
The Staff: Friendly? Helpful? Or just putting on a show?
Mixed bag, again. Some staff members were genuinely fantastic – super friendly, helpful, and eager to assist. Others… seemed a little… distant. I got the impression some were playing a role, and it wasn’t always convincing. It wasn't bad, but some of the friendliness felt performative, you know?
The front desk staff was generally efficient. No major complaints. But there wasn't a *personal connection*. Again, perfectly fine, it's just not... magical.
So, is it worth the hype? Would you go back?
Okay, here's the honest truth. It depends. If you're seeking the ultimate downtown experience and are looking to check out something new and “trendy”, and you don’t mind potentially paying for that experience, then yes, it’s worth checking out. The location is great, the bed was amazing, and the bar scene is fun.
But… if you're looking for pure, unadulterated comfort and flawless service? Maybe look elsewhere. I could have spent the same amount for something that, while less "hip," would have offered a more consistently perfect experience. Still, though, I'm intrigued, and the draw of its location is strong. Now, if I could get a guaranteed parking spot and a less-awkward bathroom experience.
