Norway House

If you need a good Christmas Spirit jolt, this is a good one for you. There's always lots of cool things to see at Norway House, but this time of the year they go out of their way to bring out the best. See all the entries to their annual gingerbread house contest (open to the public!) and take part in a very important seasonal fund raiser and membership drive for this non-profit. Historical yet whimsical, come see what all the fuss is about in this beautiful place in uptown Minneapolis!

Was here for a meeting, and wow, what an incredible space. Staff were friendly and welcoming, the gift shop is fun, and there was so much happening, the space really felt alive. I did not eat at the nice little eatery there, but would like to go back to try it!

This is a beautiful contemporary building with a gorgeous silver pinecone statue in the front! The architecture and interior design are striking. I went for their gingerbread house tour, which featured the talents of many local gingerbread house crafters, young and old. The Norway house features a kaffebar, art displays, and a gift store. I highly recommend the lefse-wrapped hot dog with crunchy onions and mustard!

I give credit to my mom who is always finding unique spots to visit for our family. We went to the Norway House for the 2022 Gingerbread Wonderland and it was cozy, creative and crafty! There is an abundance of gingerbread houses crafted from local families and artists. Many of the designs have Minnesota connections such as Dairy Queen, Carbone's Pizza, and a variety of shops from Grand Avenue in Saint Paul. There is a little train that runs on the tracks occasionally as you view the art which brought such holiday flair. Every staff member from the front desk check in to the gift and coffee shop were patient, kind and provided great hospitality. Inside the Norway House you will find both a gift shop and coffee house. From the gift shop, I purchased notecards by local Minnesota illustrator, Kirsten Servig, along with a 2023 Nordic calendar. From the cafe, we purchased cardamom mochas and an Americano with caramel. The entire experience was meaningful and adorable. I look forward to returning to the cultural center in the future!

I really enjoyed my visit to Norway House, which seems to be the Norwegian Center in Minneapolis. I have never been to any other Norwegian Center in the US so maybe this is the main one. I highly, highly recommend the Kaffebar, which is easy to find as soon as you get in. I really enjoyed their Nordic waffles. I chose the one with smoked salmon. They were so good! These waffles are not like Belgian waffles. They're very thin and have a pretty shape like a flower. I also had a type of potato bread with cardamom sugar and sprinkles. Maybe they're called lefse? I could have spent more time here but they were having a meeting and I was politely asked to rush out. There's a library and you can find many books in their language. When I was there, they were having an exhibit by a local photographer. The exhibit was excellent, about roles women were expected to play on the 50s. I went before the pandemic. I think they have limited hours now.

Norway house is so fun!!! I went there today for their gingerbread bread tour and it was great. The place was all decked out and the line was long. For $5 entrance fee it was well worth it. There are over 80 houses all done by various bakers and individuals. The houses were beautiful and some were of real houses, breweries, and more. They have a little gift shop and cafe for cookies, waffles and more. There are plans to expand the house and add an addition which is really cool. I think it will be great as the space they currently have is pretty small. I'm looking forward to seeing what they have for spring and summer.

We were driving to the American-Swedish Institute, saw this place and decided to stop by - it was like a little Scandinavia tour for us! The house looks very Nordic inside and outside and we ended up visiting their gingerbread homes exhibit with some famous sights presented in it. Very beautiful and detailed. They also have a cafeteria with Norwegian waffles and hot drinks - perfect way to get some rest after visiting the exhibit. Lastly, there is a plenty of free parking right next to the building. Norway house is definitely worth a visit whether with family, as a couple, or alone. I'd say plan 30 mins - 1 hr. There's also a small museum store worth exploring.

What a fantastic place to enjoy some family time together viewing their Gingerbread Wonderland Nov-21-2017-Jan-7-2018.

Truly my favorite place to be between November 15 and January 6. During the Gingerbread Wonderland celebrations. 2018-19 season featured 120 Gingerbread structures built by groups and individuals. From kits to castles, nativity scenes to Basilicas, tree houses to Palaces and everything in between.For $5 for an adult and kids 5 and under free - it is a bargain. As a volunteer we get paid in smiles. So we get paid a lot. Closed Monday and holidays. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10-4, Sunday 11-3.