What to Do at Lake Nokomis This Summer (Start With Coffee)

Most Minneapolis summer guides are written by people who drove through the neighborhood once. This one isn't.

We're at 50th & 28th Ave, two blocks from the water, every single day. We see the swimmers coming off the beach at 8am, the cyclists rolling in mid-loop, the kayakers who need something cold to hold on the way back to the car. We know what this neighborhood does in summer — and we know exactly where you should start your morning before any of it.

Here's the real Lake Nokomis summer guide. From people who actually live it.

Hit the Beach Early — Before the Rest of Minneapolis Figures It Out

Lake Nokomis has two swimming beaches, and the locals know the secret: go before 9am. The water is glassy, the parking is easy, and you'll have the whole sandbar to yourself. By noon it's a different story.

The move is to stop into NBC first. The Lakeside Banana Latte — honey, banana flavor shot, cinnamon, your choice of milk — is exactly the right thing to be holding on a slow walk to the water. Warm, a little sweet, completely unhurried. It sets the tone for the kind of morning this neighborhood was built for.

Bike the Full Loop — Then Reward Yourself

The paved trail around Lake Nokomis is 2.7 miles, flat, and genuinely one of the best urban bike paths in the Twin Cities. It connects to the Chain of Lakes trail system, so if you're feeling ambitious you can keep going all the way to Calhoun or Harriet. Most people do a loop or two and call it a perfect morning.

Either way, you're going to want to stop. The Blue Water Buzz — white lotus juice, sparkling water, blue raspberry — is our cyclists' drink. Bold enough to feel like a reward, refreshing enough to actually cool you down. Grab one to go and finish your loop right.

Get on the Water — Seriously, Don't Skip This

Lake Nokomis has kayak and canoe rentals available seasonally, and if you've never paddled out from the dock on a calm Tuesday morning, you're missing one of the best things this city offers for free (or close to it). Early weekday mornings are the sweet spot — the lake is quiet, the light is low, and the downtown skyline sits on the horizon like it was put there for you specifically.

Bring something in a to-go cup. The Nokomis Nectar — lemonade and sparkling water with a guava flavor shot — is made for this. Light, tropical, easy to sip while you're drifting. It tastes like summer smells.

Don't Sleep on the Farmers Market

The Lake Nokomis Farmers Market runs seasonally on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings just steps from the lake. Local produce, honey, cut flowers, baked goods, small-batch everything. It's one of those neighborhood institutions that reminds you why you chose to live on this side of the city.

Our suggestion: coffee first, market second. Come into NBC before the market opens, get your bearings, then walk over. The Lake Breeze Fizz — white lotus juice, sparkling water, raspberry and lime — travels well and pairs surprisingly well with a fresh pastry from whatever baker shows up that week.

Take the Long Way Home at Sunset

Here's the thing about Lake Nokomis that the other lakes can't touch: the west side of the trail at golden hour. When the sun drops behind the treeline and hits the water, the whole path turns warm and slow and a little cinematic. People walk slower. Conversations get better. Nobody is in a hurry.

If you're heading out for an evening walk, stop in before you go. We're open late enough to send you off right. The Lake Breeze Fizz again — or the Limited Time Lemonade, which is here now and won't be forever. Something cold, something light, something worth carrying to the lake.

Your Home Base at 50th & 28th Ave

Summer at Lake Nokomis is one of the genuinely great things about living in Minneapolis. The beach, the trail, the market, the water, the golden hour — it's all right here, and it's all walkable, and most of it is free. All it needs is a good drink and a reason to slow down.

That's what we're here for.

Come find us before your swim, after your ride, on your way to the water, or just because. The Summer Days menu is here through August — Lakeside Banana Latte, Lake Breeze Fizz, Nokomis Nectar, Blue Water Buzz — and the Limited Time Lemonade is available now.