Vegan Dining in Powderhorn Minneapolis: Reverie, May Day Cafe & More

Vegan Dining in Powderhorn: A South Minneapolis Neighborhood Worth Knowing

Powderhorn is one of Minneapolis's most distinctive neighborhoods -- a dense, walkable square mile centered on a 68-acre park with a lake, a bandshell, and decades of community history. The May Day parade, organized by the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre every spring since 1975, is one of the most joyful and genuinely weird traditions in the city: giant puppets, neighborhood marching bands, and a community procession that ends at the park in celebration of spring. It is the kind of neighborhood that takes its community seriously.

For vegans, Powderhorn has emerged as a legitimate dining destination anchored by Reverie Cafe + Bar at 1517 E 35th St -- one of the few 100% vegan restaurants in Minneapolis with a full bar. Reverie is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 AM, closing at 9:00 PM daily. Alongside Reverie, two neighborhood stalwarts round out the options: Modern Times Cafe on Chicago Ave and May Day Cafe on Bloomington Ave, both within a short walk or bike ride.

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Reverie Cafe + Bar -- The Flagship Vegan Restaurant

1517 E 35th St | (612) 987-7080 | Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am-9pm | $$

Reverie Cafe + Bar is the kind of restaurant that shifts what you expect from vegan food. It is fully vegan -- every single item on the food and drink menu is 100% plant-based, no exceptions -- and it operates with the confidence of a place that is not asking anyone for credit. The mural walls, the 20 taps, the cocktail program, and a scratch kitchen that takes the food seriously: this is a neighborhood bar and restaurant that happens to have no animal products anywhere on the menu.

The space sits on a quiet stretch of East 35th Street in the heart of Powderhorn, and it draws the full cross-section of the neighborhood: families on weekend mornings, regulars on weeknight dinner, and the kind of date-night crowd that appreciates a place with real drinks and real food.

Brunch (Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9:30 AM): The weekend brunch at Reverie is one of the best fully vegan brunches in Minneapolis. The kitchen turns out savory plates, sandwiches, and a cocktail menu that runs from classics to seasonal specials. Brunch runs through the early afternoon, so you can arrive at a relaxed hour without racing to beat a cutoff.

Dinner and the full menu: The scratch kitchen produces lemongrass tofu tacos, Korean BBQ mock-duck tacos, and a Cuban sandwich built around pulled jackfruit that holds up as a genuine lunch or dinner anchor. The Rev Burger -- a tempeh patty with tomato jam, smoked onions, and kimchi aioli -- is the kind of burger that works on its own terms. Mac and cheese with shiitake bacon is the comfort food centerpiece.

Desserts: Dark chocolate beignets and cashew cheesecake. Order both.

The bar: Twenty craft beers on tap plus a complete cocktail menu, all vegan. The cocktail program gets proper attention and rotates seasonally. Mocktails are available for those who prefer.

Reverie is listed in the vegan brunch guide for Minneapolis and the vegan date night guide. It consistently ranks among the most recommended fully vegan restaurants in the city.

Best for: Fully vegan brunch, vegan cocktails, date night, anyone who wants a real bar experience with zero animal products.

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Modern Times Cafe -- Worker-Owned, Community-Rooted

3200 Chicago Ave S | (612) 886-3882 | Mon, Wed-Sun 9am-3pm (closed Tuesday) | $

Modern Times Cafe has been a Powderhorn fixture for years, occupying a block on Chicago Avenue with a self-description that captures the vibe accurately: "for punks and their parents." The cafe is worker-owned, operated with a DIY ethos, and decorated with the kind of rotating community bulletin boards and local art that reflect the neighborhood it serves. The crowd spans students, regulars, remote workers, and anyone who finds their way to a $-priced breakfast in the middle of the day.

The menu is vegetarian with strong vegan options. The kitchen works with organic, locally sourced ingredients, and most items can be made vegan with a straightforward swap -- tofu or tempeh in place of eggs or dairy. The veggie bowl is the flexible anchor: build it with whatever is on the steam table that day, add tofu or tempeh, and you have a filling meal for under $10. Breakfast burritos and pancakes are daily staples; ask for the vegan preparation and the staff will walk you through what changes.

Fair trade coffee is a consistent highlight. Modern Times takes sourcing seriously, and the cup reflects it. This is a good cafe for a long morning with a laptop -- the WiFi works, the tables are not precious, and no one is rushing you out.

In January 2026, Modern Times temporarily rebranded as "Post Modern Times Cafe" and shifted to a pay-what-you-can model in solidarity with immigration advocacy efforts. The space has returned to its standard operation but the community spirit that prompted that moment is woven into how the place runs day to day.

Note: Modern Times is closed on Tuesdays.

Best for: Budget vegan and vegetarian breakfast, remote work, Powderhorn neighborhood regulars, morning coffee.

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May Day Cafe -- Cash-Only Neighborhood Brunch Institution

3440 Bloomington Ave S | (612) 729-5627 | Daily 7am-1:30pm | $

May Day Cafe is named for the parade that defines the neighborhood, and it has been a community gathering point for years. The space is colorful and small, with local art on the walls and a community bulletin board that reflects the life of Powderhorn: events, services, mutual aid, the texture of a neighborhood that takes care of itself. It opens at 7am every day of the week and closes at 1:30pm, which means it operates entirely as a breakfast and brunch spot.

For vegans, May Day Cafe is a reliable stop. The all-day breakfast menu includes tofu scrambles, vegan pancakes, and tempeh hash. The tofu scramble is well-seasoned and available every day -- a proper anchor for a morning meal, not an afterthought. Vegan pancakes are fluffy and consistent. The tempeh hash is one of the better preparations of tempeh in the neighborhood, hearty and satisfying in a way that holds through a long morning.

Lunch brings soups, salads, and sandwiches with plant-based protein options. Fair trade coffee rounds out the menu.

One important operational note: May Day Cafe is cash-only. There is no card reader. Bring bills -- the ATM options in the immediate block are limited, so plan ahead if you are coming specifically for brunch. Prices are genuinely modest, so a full breakfast with coffee should run well under $15.

Best for: Weekend brunch under $15, vegan breakfast staples, neighborhood institution experience, cash-paying early risers.

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Getting There and When to Visit

Powderhorn is one of the more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods in South Minneapolis. The neighborhood sits between the Midtown Greenway (a dedicated bike highway that runs east-west across the city) and Lake Street, with easy connections in all directions.

By bus, Metro Transit Route 23 runs along Lake Street and connects Powderhorn to the rest of South Minneapolis. Route 5 on Nicollet Ave provides a north-south connection toward downtown. Both are straightforward options for getting into and out of the neighborhood without a car.

The ideal visit for vegan diners is a weekend morning brunch crawl. Start at May Day Cafe when it opens at 7am for coffee and a tofu scramble, then walk or bike over to Reverie Cafe + Bar when it opens at 9:30am for a second round: a proper brunch with cocktails or mocktails and a dessert. Reverie's dinner service on the same day rounds out the evening if you want to stay in the neighborhood.

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For more South Minneapolis vegan dining, see the Seward vegan guide and the Lyn-Lake vegan guide.