Burger Paradox

Such an amazing vibe! The decor was so cool and unique. Drinks were sooo yummy! If you stay in…read moreOliver inn they allow you to bring drinks to your room :) our server was personable and kind. Made our experience really special. Absolutley recommend.

There was nearby parking and it was the weekend so it was free which is nice. The entrance was…read morestraight forward and immediately the decor and lighting had a fun ambiance. Seating originally was full house but luckily after a lap around, we were able to find a seat. Service was timely given the packed crowd and the staff was very accommodating and kind. They never made us feel rushed and was kind to give us some information about the history of the building. There was apparently another bar on the upper floor but when we visited it wasn't open. The drink list had a lot of options so it was easy to find a few options to try. There was even artwork (many were Duluth focused) from what I'm assuming is from local artists that were for sale which I thought was a nice touch!

Other sitting area

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Full House

Alto Pino

4.2(13 reviews)

1.9 mi

Perfect small plates sharing experience for a night out with friends. The service was…read morefantastic--our server was knowledgeable about the menu and helpful with explaining portion sizes for sharing. This is an upscale tapas menu, expect small plates and a surprising mix of delightful, seasonal flavors. We enjoyed the trio of dips, our favorite was the muhammara--roasted pepper and walnut with citrus and pomegranate seeds. We added on an extra pita to soak up every bite. Next was the dolma, a delicious combo of flavors and twist on the traditional. The kale salad was perfectly dressed and grilled peach added just the right sweet contrast. The Lake Trout with couscous was outstanding but my favorite part of the plate was the chermoula--a tangy, herby olive oil concoction that I must replicate. The chef came by to talk to us and answer our questions. We each enjoyed a signature cocktail, I highly recommend the Limonada 75, an Italian take on the French 75 with limoncello. We wrapped up our experience sharing the Olive Oil Cake with a rhubarb compote and generous dollop of fresh whipped cream. We will absolutely be back, we have to try the halloumi, which was unavailable, and the pasta at the table next to us looked tasty. There was also plenty of variety for a vegetarian/pescatarian to choose from. Alto Pino is expensive, but worth it. A dinner shared between three people including sharing 4 small plates, dessert, drink, and 20%+ tip came out to about $70 each. You are also paying for the experience of tasting something new and unlike anything else offered in Duluth. Reservations were easy to make online, you should make yours today! PS I'd love to see their twist on traditional Spanish tapas like patatas bravas or pan con tomate on the menu!

The vibe is weird. The food is tiny. The prices are high for the amount of food they give you. Go…read moreto Saratoga instead!

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Smooches

5.0(1 review)

10 out of 10 amazing experience This was the best tiki bar…read morethat I have ever experienced in a residential neighborhood

From the owner: Smooches is your favorite bar, in your favorite neighborhood…read more SMOOCHES

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Zeitgeist Restaurant & Bar

Wheelchair accessible

This is a super cool place that features a restaurant, a theater, and a gallery. I love the all…read morearound support for the arts. We ate dinner here and our server was CJ. CJ was warm, welcoming, and so hardworking. We had great service from him! I ordered a Dark and Stormy cocktail. It was good, just stronger than I expected. My husband and I both had their greens salad with different dressings. All the ingredients were fresh and delicious. My husband also had their huli huli chicken sandwich which he said was amongst his top favorite chicken sandwiches he's ever eaten. Portions were generous here too. We had a great server but every staff person we interacted with was also wonderful. It's a great place with an awesome vibe, and I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone, especially lovers of the arts.

Cute place with a cool vibe. Great menu choices, especially the BLT, very fresh, crisp bacon and…read moregreat flavor. Weekend brunch available. Highly recommend you stop by.

Tempura Cauliflower

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Duluth Coffee Company

4.5(29 reviews)

2.0 mi

Duluth Coffee Company was a great call for brunch today. Our server was Brandon, who also manages…read morethe place. He stopped by our table, apologized for the wait, and sat down and explained the concept behind the restaurant. It was really cool that he took that time to let us know about the locally sourced ingredients! The ambiance is casual but elegant. Like the details of the decor are absolutely stunning. Now let's talk about the food: the menu has some really creative options even for vegetarians, which I feel I've been hard-pressed to find in Duluth. I had their cashew queso bowl, which includes seasoned black beans, potato, onion, green pepper, roasted garlic salsa, pickled onion and microgreens all on top of the cashew queso. My husband had the breakfast burrito which is a flour tortilla filled with sausage, egg, seasoned potatoes, mild cheddar cheese and roasted garlic salsa. The food is so delicious and the portions are generous. Oh, I also had their chocolate pistachio latte, and my husband had the drip coffee. They have VERY good coffee here. If there are any places you just can't miss when visiting Duluth, I'd put Duluth Coffee Company at the top of the list.

All locally sourced food. I ordered mischief items, eggs, beacons and potatoes. My friend ordered…read moresandwiches. I decided to go there because of the breakfast fried rice but they changed the menu every summer/season. Coffee is really good. I wished they have fried rice for breakfast items. Good service and friendly. Small and intimate space. Connect to the coffee shop next door

Duluth Coffee Company

Breakfast Sandwich & Eggs Benedict

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Duluth Coffee Co Kitchen

The Ripple Bar

3.7(6 reviews)

Our experience was disappointing to say the least. we stopped in after dinner looking for some fun…read moredrinks; I ordered a ramble in rose and my husband got a Jack Straw. mine was okay; not great, but fine. his was absolutely terrible! we choked down most of it but it was really gross. the bar tender seemed very new and like he didn't know what he was doing, so maybe that explains the bad drinks? service was also incredibly slow.

We stayed in The Suites at Waterfront Plaza and noticed Hoops Brewery across the hall. But as I'm…read moretrying to take it easy on the gluten, I was very pleasantly surprised to find a little cocktail bar within the brewery! It's a small intimate space, and actually what drew me in was the live music. There was a female performer who was so incredible that I bought her CD even though I don't have a CD player... Anywho, I ordered a cocktail and then bellied up to the little wooden bar. The owner served my drink and she was so wonderful and gave us some local recommendations. The Viola Lee Aviarion featured locally distilled Vikre Spruce Gin and was pleasantly balanced. We loved all of the assorted vintage glassware too. We will def pass through here again when we're in the area for craft cocktails and convo with locals.

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Aces On First

3.8(15 reviews)

ACES on FIRST is AWESOME. This is literally the BEST place in Downtown Duluth, I think. The staff…read moreis so friendly, they alway ask how your day is going and over the years I consider them to be my BEST friends. Honestly, they've been there so much for me in the past (when no one else was there, they were) that any one of them could ask me to help them move a heavy ass hot tub, and I would in a heartbeat. The owner, Cade, is THE shit. Just look for the tall guy with the sweet hair and badass button up shirt and you'll know him when you see him. Best part is because he's so cool, all the people he hires to work for him are cool, thus the people that frequent there are cool, so by going there YOU are COOL by association. It's like one big cool club and everyone's invited. The amount of romances and babies that have resulted from ACES ON FIRST is probably what keeps the population of Duluth above the 2.1 children-per-woman needed to prevent a society's extinction. Do yourself a favor and pop in Aces. I know that when I die and I enter the white light, on the other side I'm going to emerge into Aces. Heaven IS a place on Earth...and it's called ACES. BTW Thank you Aces for directly hooking me up with he woman I'm in love with right now.

The bartenders are amazing. Great service. The DJ was a total jerk. So rude to us that we left…read more Nobody was on the dance floor and he refused requests. Totally condescending to my daughter's requests. Should be replaced Immediately.

Craft cocktails, Great people, and your favorite tunes just inside.

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Harbor 360

2.6(42 reviews)

1.4 mi

Visited the Harbor 360 with our kids, who were very excited about a rotating restaurant! The view…read moreis wonderful and we enjoyed checking out the local scenery. The food was good, however, the service was very slow. There was only one server for the entire restaurant. We felt awful for him, as there is no way one person could handle that many tables and bar guests. He was very kind, but the management team needs to support their staff. Our order took so long and many patrons were walking out during our visit.

Didn't love it. The…read morewaiter was great, and so was the view! I came in super hungry with my partner, and felt the food was pretty bland. I grabbed a fish sandwich, and chicken wild rice soup. The soup had a glue-like texture, and almost no flavor. The sandwich was meh, not a lot going on there. I'd recommend this spot for the views, but not for the bites. There's plenty of other options when exploring Duluth, sorry!

Common area /restroom area

Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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$15 bottomless mimosas!

Hoops Brewing

4.2(91 reviews)

Self-guided US Hop Passport TourStop (I lost count) for MN, which is already a claimed state in the…read moreAmazing Brewery Race 2025 We stopped in on our HD Lake Superior Circle Tour for a break - it's cool, rainy, windy & foggy - good time for a brew! $8 / 2 after the Passport bogo I had the #99 Wood Smoked Hefe Hubs had #88 Stout - between both of our ratings for both brews, they came it a 4 average. Staff were nice enough & informative, including filling us in on their favorites & recommendations for other stops along our planned route. Which reminds me, time to move to the next stop

My family rented space here as it was walking distance to the dock following a boat ride as hoops…read morecould accommodate a large group. The beer I tried was solid. The service on the other hand was not great. A few family members asked for wine and they were met with a rude response from the female bartender "You know you reserved space at a brewery" and how "brewery's serve beer". My family members quickly shared they understood and she sarcastically went on and on about it as they tried to downplay everything and quickly leave the situation. This spot met our needs but was disappointed with the rude service.

Inside

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PIckwick Restaurant & Pub

3.8(265 reviews)

2.3 mi

Free parking in their lot and a wonderful view of Lake Superior. Our server Zoe did a great job…read moretoo. We both had the Superior Street Dip. It was too well done for my taste but at least it wasn't dry. I added mushrooms and cheddar to mine and that helped. The fries were good but the onion rings were excellent. They make their onion rings with big, meaty pieces of onion and battered just right. It was a very frigid, blustery day in Duluth so I ordered hot chocolate and that was excellent too. Whipped cream and a swirl of chocolate on top. Very casual restaurant.

Ohhh my gosh for LOUD! The majority of it was coming from the unbelievably loud crashing of the…read moredishes from the opened door of the kitchen. The staff was 100% oblivious of it or could just have cared less. To top it off the acoustics are nonexistent so noise is just terrible. Do t plan on eating in peace. I had an EXTREMELY salty congdon bleau chicken sandwich - fries were absolutely phenomenal though. Bring earplugs- you'll need them. Otherwise, it's a beautiful restaurant in a great location. I hate to say it, but we won't be going here again.

Restaurant

Ribeye with the Gouda mashed potatoes.

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Jeff C.

Elite 24

196

2 years ago

Excited to finally try Burger Paradox after hearing rave reviews from several friends, my wife and I ventured out to experience what all the hype was about. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! My wife opted for the Paul B'Onion, a mouthwatering combination that featured all-beef patties, American cheese, Top The Tater, crunchy potato chips, and pickled red onions, all nestled in a pretzel bun. She paired it with the Beef-fat Fries, which are fresh-cut, double-fried in beef fat, and lightly tossed in sea salt. These fries were served with a selection of six incredible sauces, adding an extra layer of flavor to an already fantastic meal. I chose the Mission Impossible, which showcased a Vegan Impossible patty topped with shredded lettuce, fresh tomato, sun-dried tomato aioli, and pickled red onions, all on a perfectly grilled brioche bun. The choice of sides was equally impressive, making it a tough decision. Coming from California, we were admittedly not expecting much from burgers in Duluth, especially after having sampled some of the best across the country. However, Burger Paradox has earned a spot in our top 15 burger experiences! What truly sets Burger Paradox apart are the essential elements that make an outstanding burger. The fries were exceptional--freshly cut and cooked in clean oil, ensuring a delightful crunch. The bun was far from the ordinary store-bought varieties, providing a gourmet touch. The produce was fresh and vibrant, with crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and flavorful onions. The meat was equally impressive, boasting freshness and flavor that left a lasting impression. The establishment itself was impeccably clean, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Our waiter took the time to explain all six sauces, each of which exceeded our expectations and complemented our meals perfectly. Burger Paradox is undoubtedly the best burger spot in the Northland. If you're a burger enthusiast, this is a must-visit destination! We can't wait to return and explore more of their delicious offerings. read more

Jeffrey L.

4 months ago

My wonderful woman and I had lunch here over Memorial Day weekend, we had the blueberry wings and I had a smash burger called "Nonna Smash" and both were absolutely delicious. I loved the beautiful art designed outside the restaurant. Our server was on point the entire time, refilling our drinks and ensuring everything was to our satisfaction. This was our first trip to Duluth together, being from the Twin Cities; Burger Paradox was definitely one of the tastiest places we've been to and we loved it so much we've decided we need to come back. read more

A Goat O.

11 months ago

To K and M and the rest of the BP crew! You guys absolutely killed it. The food was dope. The shake was even better. The atmosphere was pleasant. The service was prompt and consistent. This place is a grand fuggin slam in my book. If you don't eat here, youre a silly goober! read more

Dannielle H.

2 years ago

I had the Fire Ant burger. It's was absolutely delicious. The restaurant is super clean and fun. The service the bartender gave was top notch. I highly recommended Burger Paradox! read more

Talyor L.

2 years ago

Fking insane sooo good best food i've literally ever eaten in my entire life. omggggggggf

Krista I.

3 years ago

Great service and food flavors as expected from this family of restaurants-delicious!

Burger Paradox - burgers - Updated October 2026

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