Cedar-Riverside

The West Bank's immigrant crossroads — home to the largest Somali community in the US, Riverside Plaza's colorful towers, and world-music mainstay the Cedar Cultural Center. Come for East African food and live music, not boutiques. Honest note: legendary dive Palmer's Bar closed in September 2025, and the strip has real vacancies.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What is the Cedar Cultural Center?

A beloved all-ages nonprofit music venue in a former movie theater, known for global, folk, and roots acts you won't hear anywhere else in town. Check thecedar.org for the calendar; many shows are cheap and some are free.

What are the Riverside Plaza towers?

The 1970s modernist high-rises with the colored panels — you've seen them in the Mary Tyler Moore Show opening. They're private housing, home to thousands of mostly East African residents, so admire from outside; they're the neighborhood's skyline.

Is Cedar-Riverside safe to visit?

During the day and around events it's fine and full of everyday life — students, families, commuters. Like anywhere near a transit hub, keep normal city awareness at night, especially around the LRT stations.

Is Cedar-Riverside worth visiting as a tourist?

Yes, if you want the real city: pair a meal at a Somali restaurant with a show at the Cedar and you'll have a night no chain-hotel concierge would think to suggest. Skip it if you're after shopping or nightlife-district polish.

What should I eat in Cedar-Riverside?

East African food is the move: Afro Deli's chicken fantastic sandwich is a local rite of passage, and there are Somali restaurants and cafes throughout the neighborhood. Most meals run well under $20.

How do I get to Cedar-Riverside without a car?

It's one of the best-connected neighborhoods in the city — the Blue Line's Cedar-Riverside station and the Green Line's West Bank station both serve it, and either is a $2 ride from downtown or the airport (Blue Line direct).

What is Cedar-Riverside known for?

It's the heart of Somali and East African life in Minneapolis, anchored by the Riverside Plaza towers you can spot from the highway. It's also a historic music neighborhood — the Cedar Cultural Center still books roughly 150 global and folk shows a year.

Is Palmer's Bar still open?

No — Palmer's closed for good on September 14, 2025, after 119 years, and the building was sold to a neighboring mosque planning a community center. It's a real loss; don't trust older guides that still list it.

Nearby in Ask Minneapolis

• Weisman Art MuseumMuseum0.93 km · 12 min walk
• Guthrie TheaterAttraction1.26 km · 16 min walk
• Riverside ParkPark1.27 km · 16 min walk
• Mill DistrictNeighborhood1.36 km · 17 min walk
• Mill City MuseumMuseum1.38 km · 17 min walk