Where to Find Edina’s Hidden Gems This Summer

There are so many, in fact, that it’s easy to overlook all the hidden gems hiding in plain sight. Here are some of our favorites, broken down by interest or area.

Gavin Kaysen’s most approachable mainstay applies the chef’s award-winning pedigree to a refined cafe format rooted in Lyon’s traditions. (The name is a nod to Place Bellecour in France.) Whether you show up early for a fresh, noticeably flaky croissant or swing by at noon for a holy trinity hit of ham, salted butter and gruyère (a.k.a. jambon beurre sandwich), Bellecour is a Francophile’s waking dream.

The tagline at this cozy bistro says it all: “Life is too short not to drink well.” A recent wine list backed that bravado up with a festive but not too flashy sparkling rosé from Maison Foucher, a textured Champalou Vouvray Chenin Blanc and a light-bodied Nebbiolo from Sirolo. The food menu goes beyond standard wine bar fare, too, with sweet-and-spicy nuts tossed in savory herbs, well-curated cheese boards and full-fledged entrées like perfectly cooked salmon in a piccata sauce with roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables and crisp baby carrots.

The Turkish family (Suayip and Seher Kaplan and their sons Umut and Cosku) behind this beautiful store bottles their own single-estate olive oil and specializes in elegant towels, wraps and throws that wouldn’t look out of place in a bustling Istanbul bazaar. Shop the bath collection for your spa-hopping best friend, then treat yourself to pomegranate paste, small-batch soap, or kitchen towels that’ll make even the most everyday rituals feel refined.

Michelle LeBlanc’s growing in-house label emphasizes clean lines and elevated modern essentialsthat feel tailor-made for a night out on the town or a weekend Up North. No wonder why more than 70 wholesale partners now stock MILLE’s“comfortable yet covetable” clothing — the best of which can be found right in Edina.

Families looking for thoughtful, modern children’s clothing will find plenty to love at Janie and Jack, where crisp button-ups, tailored pants, standout dresses and playful swimsuits make kids’ style feel polished without being precious.

Reformation brings sustainability-minded style to Southdale, pairing vintage-inspired silhouettes with a low-waste approach. Stop in for dresses, sharp denim and special-occasion pieces designed to last well beyond a single season. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if you’re still wearing them five years from now.

You can practically smell the fresh leather the second you step inside Tecovas. Its Southdale Center shop is stocked with handcrafted boots and easy-wearing apparel that make rodeo-style boots feel right at home with city slickers and anyone ready to add a little Western edge to summer. Hey, it worked for Beyoncé and Post Malone!

Looking for an easy way to experience Minnehaha Creek from Edina? Arden Park is the perfect spot to spark an afternoon of paddling, tubing or fishing along the 22-mile waterway, which flows from Lake Minnetonka to Minnehaha Falls. Between its benches, picnic spots, playground and shaded creek views, the restored creekside park is one of Edina’s best summer resets.

Arneson Acres is a pristine city park that feels more like a private garden you stumbled into. Former tree nursery owners Morton and Katherine Arneson donated the 13-plus acre property to the city in the late ’70s, and its lush landscapes, gazebo, fountain and quiet walking paths still maintain that meticulous charm. Today, it’s one of Edina’s most transportive pieces of living local history, doubling as the home of the Edina Historical Society, Edina Museum and City of Edina greenhouse.

Edina’s French bakery scene doesn’t begin and end at Bellecour. Patisserie Margo brings neighborhood pastry-shop charm to a Valley View Road strip mall, complete with custom cakes, breakfast pastries, breads, tarts, coffee and lunch options.

The patio at Tavern23 is the kind of rare pick that keeps even the biggest group outings happy. Its wide-ranging menu covers sushi rolls, wood-fired pizzas, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches and bold happy-hour bites, but the real summer move is the outdoor seating, where fresh air, room to relax, and an easygoing buzz make lingering feel like the point. Come for a casual drink, a weekend brunch or a full dinner where everyone can order exactly what they’re craving.