Dinkytown

The University of Minnesota's century-old student quarter, where Bob Dylan played coffeehouses and Al's Breakfast has been slinging pancakes at 14 stools since 1950. A friend sends you here for exactly that breakfast and a wander. Caveat: much of old Dinkytown has been replaced by student-apartment towers, so temper the nostalgia.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Dinkytown by transit?

Take the Green Line to East Bank station and walk about 10 minutes north, or ride the new E Line BRT (opened December 2025), which runs right through on its way between downtown and the U. Either way it's a flat $2 fare.

How long is the wait at Al's Breakfast?

Weekend waits of 30-60 minutes are normal; weekday mid-mornings are your best shot at walking in. The line moves faster than it looks because turnover at the counter is quick.

Where should I eat in Dinkytown besides Al's?

The strip along 14th Avenue and 4th Street has affordable Asian spots, pizza, and coffee shops that turn over with student tastes. Nothing else is destination-level, honestly — Al's is the reason you come.

Is there anything left of old Dinkytown?

Some — Al's, the Varsity Theater (now a concert venue), and a few storefront blocks. But a wave of student-housing towers in the 2010s replaced a lot of the old fabric, which locals still grumble about.

What's the Bob Dylan connection in Dinkytown?

Dylan lived and played here around 1959-60 while briefly a U of M student, performing at the Ten O'Clock Scholar coffeehouse. The coffeehouse is long gone, but the neighborhood leans into the history with murals and markers.

Is Dinkytown just for college students?

It skews young, no question — cheap eats, boba, late-night pizza. But Al's draws all ages, and it's a pleasant add-on to a campus or riverfront visit. Summers are noticeably calmer when students are gone.

Is Al's Breakfast still open and what are its hours?

Very much open — Monday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's 14 stools, cash or check only (no cards), and the house rule is you wait along the wall until a stool frees up. Get the blueberry pancakes.

Can I combine Dinkytown with other sights?

Easily — it's a short walk to the U of M's East Bank campus and the Weisman Art Museum (free, in that shiny Frank Gehry building), and the Green Line connects you onward to downtown or St. Paul.

Nearby in Ask Minneapolis

• Al's BreakfastRestaurant0.02 km · 0 min walk
• Weisman Art MuseumMuseum0.82 km · 10 min walk
• Father Hennepin Bluffs ParkPark1.33 km · 17 min walk
• Stone Arch BridgeLandmark1.34 km · 17 min walk
• Dangerous Man BrewingBar1.4 km · 18 min walk