48 Hours in Sioux Falls: An Aesthetic Travel Guide
CH Patisserie, Sioux Falls, SD. Photo: CH Patisserie
Sioux Falls isn't going to rival major cities for sheer volume of beautiful spaces, but it has a handful of standout locations worth seeking out if you find yourself in South Dakota. The Steel District development along the Big Sioux River brought new riverfront restaurants and hotels to downtown, while century-old buildings like the former Sioux Falls National Bank have been converted into boutique hotels that preserve their original grandeur. A few locally-owned bars and coffee shops round out the options, creating enough design-forward spots to fill a weekend if you're selective about where you go. This guide covers the locations that prioritize atmosphere and aesthetics in a city where those qualities aren't always the default.
Coffee & Breakfast
The Source | Coffee Roastery + Taproom
This dual-purpose space operates as both a specialty coffee roaster and taproom, featuring a 16-tap wall of craft beer alongside small-batch roasted coffee served throughout the day. The downtown location on Phillips Avenue combines exposed elements with a neighborhood gathering atmosphere designed for lingering. The Source transitions seamlessly from morning espresso sessions to evening beer tastings, making it equally suited for laptop work or late-night drinks.
Café Breadico
Situated inside the Bancorp Building in the Steel District, Café Breadico features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Big Sioux River, creating a light-flooded space anchored by brutalist design elements. The interior highlights concrete pillars with leather and metal accents, terrazzo-toned Vitrolite glass walls, and banquette seating with outlets for remote work. The cafe occupies what was designed as an intentional architectural space, with patio seating extending the experience to the riverfront.
Photo: Café Breadico
CH Patisserie
This downtown French patisserie occupies a historic building with white walls, exposed brick, marble countertops, sleek wooden tables, and burgundy velvet booths that channel Parisian cafe culture. The space maintains the building's original architectural charm while adding modern touches through elegant trim and focused lighting. CH Patisserie feels polished without being precious, designed to make French pastries and espresso feel accessible.
Photo: CH Patisserie
Eat
The Treasury | Hotel on Phillips
Accessed through a 16-ton bank vault door in the lobby of Hotel On Phillips, The Treasury occupies the original 1918 Sioux Falls National Bank building with tall columns, a grand chandelier, and preserved terrazzo flooring. The space blends historic architectural details with a modern cocktail lounge atmosphere, creating a setting that feels transportive without relying on theme. The Treasury functions as both a dining space and a bar, offering an experience that justifies dressing up for a night downtown.
Photo: The Treasury
Dahlia Kitchen + Bar
Photo: Dahlia Kitchen + Bar
This contemporary Mexican restaurant sits in the Steel District development, featuring dark moody interiors adorned with wood and brick contrasted by vibrant dahlia flower murals throughout the space. Hand-crafted wooden light fixtures provide dim, romantic lighting, while the design balances industrial grit with polished glitz. The restaurant includes indoor seating and a patio along the Big Sioux River, channeling bold Mexican design aesthetics within Sioux Falls' emerging downtown district.
Parker's Bistro
Photo: Parker's Bistro
Located in the Ballard Block, one of only six remaining Sioux quartzite buildings in downtown Sioux Falls, Parker's Bistro has operated since 2009 in a structure built in 1902. The intimate 100-seat restaurant features the building's original historic elements, creating a setting that honors early 20th-century craftsmanship. Parker's has expanded to include Myrtle's Fur Vault & Bar next door, offering additional seating and a full patio with downtown views.
Drink
Myrtle's
Photo: Myrtle's
Housed in the historic 1934 Frye Furs building next to Parker's Bistro, Myrtle's Fur Vault & Bar features exposed brick walls, wooden ceiling beams, plush custom velvet banquettes, and a dark green granite bartop with a leather finish. The space maintains its original fur vault in the basement, now converted into a speakeasy-style private dining room accessible by reservation. Myrtle's blends vintage 1930s design elements with candlelit moody ambiance, creating an atmosphere rooted in Sioux Falls history while functioning as a contemporary cocktail lounge.
Carpenter Bar
This intimate cocktail bar on Phillips Avenue features reclaimed marble from the building's basement used for the bar and tables, leather seating, and distinctive lighting throughout the space. The design incorporates blue walls with bronze and gold accents, creating a refined atmosphere without feeling overly formal. Carpenter Bar operates with a speakeasy sensibility, prioritizing craft cocktails and conversation in a setting designed for evening gatherings.
Photo: Carpenter Bar
The Hello Hi
The Hello Hi channels tropical, tiki, and nautical aesthetics into a year-round escape on Phillips Avenue, featuring colorful decor, mid-century modern furniture, tiki statues, bamboo accents, and vintage finds sourced locally. The space includes multiple seating nooks, wicker decorations, palm trees, and vibrant lamps that create distinct atmospheres throughout the bar. With over 50 rums lining the shelves and Pizza Cheeks operating in the back, The Hello Hi functions as a self-contained Midwest getaway designed to transport visitors out of South Dakota entirely.
Photo: The Hello Hi
Stay
Hotel On Phillips
This 1918 Sioux Falls National Bank building was transformed into a 90-room boutique hotel in 2018, preserving the grand lobby with its high fluted columns, original chandeliers, dentil tray ceilings with rosettes and Greek Key design, and the 16-ton bank vault door with 24 bolts. Guest rooms feature 15 distinct designs across three categories, each with contemporary interiors, pillow-top mattresses, walk-in showers, wet bars, and views of either downtown Phillips Avenue or the Big Sioux River. The hotel occupies what was once the tallest building in South Dakota, maintaining its historic grandeur while functioning as a modern upscale hotel.
Photo: Hotel On Phillips
The Highpoint Hotel
Located within the Sanford Orthopedic Hospital campus, this 56-room boutique hotel sits at one of Sioux Falls' highest elevations, offering skyline views from a wellness-focused retreat. The interiors feature warm finishes, plush bedding, sophisticated design elements, and calming color palettes intended to create sanctuary-like spaces. The fourth-floor lobby includes a fireplace, bar and lounge area, and large windows with sweeping city views, blending hospitality with a healthcare-adjacent atmosphere designed for comfort and rest.
Photo: The Highpoint Hotel
Canopy by Hilton
This hotel anchors the Steel District development along the Big Sioux River, featuring industrial and natural design elements that reference the site's history as the former Sioux Steel factory. Interior design by Box Interior Design incorporates metalwork alongside abstract local art, with in-room details like yellow barrel drum nightstands representing Sioux Steel's signature color and barn doors produced at a nearby Sioux Steel plant. All rooms include balconies with views of either the river or downtown, creating a locally inspired boutique experience that opened in late 2024.
Photo: Canopy by Hilton
Sioux Falls works well as a regional weekend getaway, particularly for travelers from Omaha, Minneapolis, or other nearby Midwest cities looking for a low-key trip centered around Falls Park and the downtown riverfront. The compact downtown makes it easy to cover these locations in 48 hours without feeling rushed, and the mix of historic hotels, newer Steel District openings, and locally-owned bars creates enough variety for a weekend. Whether you're planning a girls' trip, passing through on a road trip, or want somewhere design-focused between outdoor activities at Falls Park and the surrounding trails, these are the spots worth prioritizing.
All locations featured here are Opulist picks and can also be found when using the "Restaurant," "Bar," "Coffee Shop," or "Hotel" Feature filters while searching for your going out experience in Sioux Falls.
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