Yes, and it sits on a bluff above Loring Park, a few minutes from the skyscrapers. 300 Clifton, the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion, is surrounded by English gardens, and the property describes itself as home to five distinct gardens. If your idea of a city getaway involves a patio, a fountain view and somewhere green to sip your coffee, this is the address to book.
What are the gardens at 300 Clifton like?
Guests arrive by turning off quiet Clifton Avenue, coming down the drive and parking on the brick lot behind the gardens. From there, the check-in sign hangs above the door to the original stables. Before you ever see a guest room, you have walked through the grounds.
The gardens are not a backdrop for photos only. They are part of how the house works: the weddings and buyouts page describes ceremonies in the gardens and receptions in the historic interior, and the main drawing room looks out over the English gardens. A small painted Victorian garden house glows with string lights on winter nights, too.
Which rooms have a garden view?
Two rooms are worth asking about by name. The Crystal Mansion Room (king bed, private en-suite, in the main mansion, from $219 a night) has views of the mansion’s rose garden. The Blacksmith’s Forge Room in the Carriage House (queen bed, private en-suite, from $189) has its own private enchanted garden patio, which makes it the pick if you want to step outside without leaving your room.
The other rooms range from the Georgian Room, with a fireplace sitting area, to the Hayloft and Coachman’s rooms in the Carriage House. Rates shown are “from” prices on the home page, so check live dates before you plan around them.
Is the garden only a summer thing?
No. The garden hot tub is a four-season feature, and guests soak under string lights in the trees above the hidden garden in Loring Park’s neighborhood even when it snows. We wrote up how that works in Is There a Hotel With a Private Hot Tub in Minneapolis?, and the details live on the hot tub page. If you are weighing a proposal, the garden setting for a proposal is covered there as well.
Where can you keep walking after the gardens?
The house is a block from Loring Park, which Minneapolis Park and Recreation lists with a Garden of the Seasons and a dog park. Past the park, the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is open daily from 6 am to midnight, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art offers free general admission to its permanent collection (open Tuesday through Sunday, late on Thursdays, closed Mondays).
That makes a tidy garden-themed weekend: breakfast on the grounds, a walk through Loring Park, sculpture in the afternoon, and a soak at night.
Planning around your travel dates
If you are building a getaway around a concert or game downtown, the gardens are a calm place to land afterward. Staying with us also pairs naturally with the Minneapolis Trolley Tours departing from the Pillsbury Club, and travelers needing a longer, month-to-month stay can look at Oakland’s on 9th downtown.
Ready to pick a room with a garden view? See current packages or book direct at 300clifton.com.