Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown at Depot
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Classic Building, Modern Hotel
- December 11, 2025
- Rated 4 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
New building adjoins renovated Milwaukee Road railroad depot. Depot has been restored to house beautiful banquet room and ice rink. Building decorated in historic motif, like a classic tourist hotel of the 20's. Rooms and staff excellent. Connected to indoor water park. Location is steps from major downtown locations, although not currently connected directly to skyway, we walked from the light rail stop.
Editor Pick The Depot
- November 14, 2025
- Rated 5 of 5 by
callen60 from Ozarks, Missouri
This Renaissance Hotel uses the former Milwaukee Road train station as the foundation of a hotel complex serving the riverfront area. The station filled the block bounded by Washington, South 2nd Street, 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue, two blocks off the Mississippi, between the traditional ‘downtown’ and the former milling district, now revived by the Guthrie’s relocation to its industrial blue home on 2nd Street.
The entrance is off 3rd Avenue, with the registration desk just inside the door. Large B&W photos of the station’s details, apparently before its restoration, establish the railroad memorabilia theme that runs throughout the hotel. White plaster statues of 1940’s era rail passengers dot the first floor: soldiers kissing their sweethearts hello (or possibly good-bye), businessmen waiting for trains, couples holding their suitcases. Posters from the 100+ year history of the Milwaukee Road line the hallways, and an impressive 1950 wall-sized map of the American rail system received lengthy study from more than one guest.
The lobby is quite small. The bar is just past the lobby on the left, and its seating area around a large, glassed-in gas fireplace ends up serving as the first-floor seating area, which didn’t seem to bother the staff. The train shed extends down along Washington, whose front half is beautifully reconfigured as a ballroom. During our first evening, Herb Brooks’ Foundation was raising money for youth hockey behind the high wall of windows that run along Washington, leading to occasional sightings of Bobby Hull and my childhood idol Gordie Howe.
Five floors of rooms extend parallel to Washington Street. It’s a fair walk from the elevator to the most distant rooms, but they’re worth the walk. Small photos of old Milwaukee Road stations in Minnesota dot the walls, supplemented by a mild arts and crafts theme. Rooms have two queens or a king with a sofa bed, and the latter felt particularly spacious. Mission-style wooden desks teed out from the wall, with a built-in electronics panel that allows you to connect your camera, music player or video to the large LCD TV atop the dresser.
The exceedingly comfortable beds were topped with a featherbed. The rooms had the best light control I’ve ever seen, with Venetian blinds over the 5’ x 4’ window, which were then covered by a dark faux-leather shade that scrolls down from the top.
Several good restaurants are within walking distance, but it’s a 20-minute walk to Nicollet Mall and the shopping district. One of my kids and I made that trip to replace forgotten swimsuits and enjoy the neat indoor waterpark. This kid magnet extends the train theme, with a three-story slide and a large, colorful, train that erupts in water every 15 minutes or so. Our special weekend rate included four passes that were good each day of our stay, plus four tickets to the Mill City Museum down the street (otherwise $8 each). At $119/night that would have been a great deal anywhere, but especially here. From journal Gotta Eat, Gotta Sleep: Lodging & Dining in Minneapolis
Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown at Depot
The staff at this Courtyard by Marriott were exceptionally friendly and helpful. They were always on call to give us tips and directions for nearby destinations (we traveled sans car), and they turned a blind eye as we crammed 6 people into one hotel room for 5 days. This hotel also has a small "water park" intended for small children, but we found it to be quite a fun way to cool down after long, hot days of shopping and traipsing around downtown. The hotel also has a grocery store in the lobby open 24 hours!
From journal Nightlife in Minneapolis
Courtyard MLPS
- May 19, 2025
- Rated 4 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
We enjoyed our stay. It was centrally located so our family could find join us more so tan if we stayed at the airport