Restaurant in Minneapolis, United States
Linden Hills bistro that earns a special trip.
Tilia is a dependable special-occasion pick in Minneapolis's Linden Hills neighbourhood, with a wine program that outpaces most restaurants at its price level. Better suited to intimate dinners and date nights than large groups. Book a week ahead for weekends; easier to secure than downtown marquee names.
Tilia is a strong choice for a special occasion dinner in southwest Minneapolis. Situated in the Linden Hills neighbourhood at 2726 W 43rd St, it has earned a loyal following as one of the city's better neighbourhood restaurants — the kind of place that punches above its zip code in both food quality and wine program depth. If you want a celebration dinner that feels considered rather than corporate, this is a more personal pick than a downtown hotel restaurant.
Tilia operates as a neighbourhood bistro with serious ambitions. The wine list is the detail that separates it from comparable spots in Minneapolis: it reads as a working document rather than a checkbox exercise, with selections that reflect genuine curatorial interest. For a date or anniversary dinner, that matters — the difference between a wine list that excites and one that defaults to grocery-store labels is the difference between a meal that stays with you and one that doesn't. Tilia falls in the former category, which makes it a better special-occasion call than many restaurants with more prominent profiles.
The room is intimate enough to feel appropriate for celebration dining without being so small that every table hears every conversation. For Minneapolis diners who want the quality ceiling of somewhere like Spoon & Stable but in a quieter, less produced setting, Tilia is worth serious consideration. It is less ambitious than Owamni in terms of conceptual edge, but more consistent as a date-night venue. Compared to 112 Eatery, it is similarly approachable in tone but skews toward a quieter, more residential feel.
For solo diners and couples, the bar is a practical option , Linden Hills is a walkable, low-key neighbourhood, and Tilia fits that energy. Groups of four or more should call ahead; the room size and reservation demand mean walk-in flexibility is limited at peak times. Booking is generally easier here than at downtown marquee names, but weekend reservations warrant advance planning , aim for at least a week out, two for Friday and Saturday evenings.
If you are building a Minneapolis dining itinerary and want context on where Tilia sits in the broader scene, see our full Minneapolis restaurants guide. For bar recommendations nearby, our Minneapolis bars guide covers the leading options by neighbourhood.
If you are deciding between Tilia and other Minneapolis options, Hai Hai is the better call for creative cuisine with a James Beard-nominated pedigree. For a larger-scale splurge, Spoon & Stable offers more production value. Tilia sits between those two in terms of ambition and price , neighbourhood quality at a reasonable spend, with a wine program that justifies the trip on its own.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Tilia | — | |
| Kincaid’s | — | |
| 112 Eatery | — | |
| Brasa Rotisserie | — | |
| Lobby Bar at the Peninsula | — | |
| Punch Neapolitan Pizza | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, Tilia is a practical pick for a special occasion dinner in southwest Minneapolis. The Linden Hills setting at 2726 W 43rd St gives it a neighbourhood feel without sacrificing ambition, and the wine list is a genuine differentiator. If you want a louder, more celebratory room, 112 Eatery downtown will suit the energy better.
Tilia works for small groups of two to four, but larger parties should call ahead given it operates as a compact neighbourhood bistro. For groups of six or more in Minneapolis, Brasa Rotisserie offers more flexible seating and a format built for sharing.
Book at least one to two weeks out for a weekend table, especially if you have a specific date in mind. Tilia is a neighbourhood spot, not a blockbuster reservation, but popular Friday and Saturday sittings fill faster than most locals expect.
Tilia reads as a casual-but-considered neighbourhood bistro, so clean, relaxed clothes fit the room without looking out of place. Overdressing is unnecessary; underdressing is fine. Think dinner-with-friends rather than dress-code formality.
Hai Hai is the stronger call if creative cuisine and a James Beard-nominated track record matter to you. 112 Eatery suits late-night or downtown diners. Punch Neapolitan Pizza is the move if you want something lighter and lower-commitment in a similar neighbourhood price tier.
Bar seating at Tilia is available and a good option if you are going solo or on short notice. It is one of the better ways to get into the restaurant without a reservation on a busy night.
Yes. The bar is the right seat for solo diners at Tilia — approachable format, no awkward table-for-one dynamic, and a wine list worth exploring on your own. It is a more comfortable solo experience than most Minneapolis restaurants at this level.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
