MOXY Minneapolis Uptown

Our five-day stay was a disaster, both in service and money matters. The room was so cramped that two people with luggage could barely move around. We called the front desk several times asking for housekeeping, but the room was never cleaned during our stay. Then came the billing problems. On top of our original Airbnb payment, they charged a “deposit” that was nearly the full room price. After checkout, another charge appeared for roughly 75% of the room cost. A week later, neither charge had been reversed. When I called about it, staff were dismissive. They said they “couldn’t hear me” even though the connection was clear, then kept me on hold for nearly an hour and hung up. With the tiny room, no basic cleaning, and what felt like predatory billing, it was a nightmare. I strongly advise against staying here. Save your money and go elsewhere.

The bathroom is nice and the place is clean, but the internet and TV are painfully slow. The beds are hard as rocks, and there’s barely any furniture or even a mini fridge. Spare me the “fun hotel” pitch. I don’t care about a communal fridge or a lousy drink token; I want decent internet and a comfortable room. They can keep the hammock. Skip this unless you’re a teenager.

We felt welcome right away, especially downstairs in the lobby. The atmosphere was really inclusive, and the workers always seemed happy. At check-in, we got two drink coins. My wife enjoyed the Japanese whisky she loves, which she doesn’t find at many places, and I was glad to have several non-alcoholic beer and mocktail options. We arrived Sunday night during karaoke at the bar, where you check in, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. We went back for a drink and appetizer the next afternoon, and the people were so nice. The room had a fun music theme, with a guitar I tried to play, though I couldn’t remember any songs. It was cozy, and the stylish wall pegs were useful for saving space. We loved the rainfall shower head. There was also a built-in white noise machine. I’m used to street noise, and there wasn’t much, but I can see the machine helping if you’re sensitive to it. Everything we needed was a 5-15 minute Uber ride away, and cars were always nearby, so we didn’t wait long. The pillows were flatter feather ones, but they had foam pillows if you asked for an extra. It was lovely visiting a new city and feeling at ease so quickly. My wife and I may come back to see Minneapolis in summer.

Maggie, the Bar manager, and Thomas, the Hotel Manager, are the reason the Moxy Uptown has become my regular stop in MSP. I travel constantly and work in cities around the world, but this is the only place I stay when I’m here. For nine months I’ve been coming every week for business. They make sure I can get to my room quickly, have my materials ready before I arrive, and keep tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics and base materials safe. They’ve also connected me with local events and things happening in the community. Every visit starts with a warm welcome, and I can’t say enough good things about the hotel or those two managers.