Nicollet Island

*This review is strictly about the hotel stay as I did not dine here.* I enjoyed my stay at this quaint little hotel! It's a historic stone building that has part boutique hotel energy, part bed & breakfast energy. I really like the unique nature of it, with a memorable aesthetic and a friendly staff, as opposed to a generic key card dime a dozen hotel. It was a bit unique in that the restaurant was closed when I was here, so I had to ring the doorbell each time to be let in. All part of the quirky charm, and aided by the fact that the staff was friendly. My room was comfortable; the WiFi worked well for a few video calls, and the bed was super comfortable (especially the sheets). The temp was finnicky; quite cold even though I had it set to warm, but I didn't raise an issue with it and the blankets were more than enough. They also offer some coffee, yogurt, muffins, and apples each morning on every floor. Careful on the shower here! I flipped it from bathtub to shower and didn't realize it's like a volume knob on a radio. I turned it up to high and was flailing around like Kramer when he buys a black market high pressure shower head. It was seriously close to my power washer at home, but once I dialed it down it was more normal. Also really like the proximity here; went for early morning jogs on the Heritage Trail, walked to coffee and to work spots, and took a Lime bike down to the Twins game down Hennepin. Quite scenic and calm around here, too. Thanks for the stay, Nicollet Island Inn!

Surprised my guy with an overnight stay at the inn, drinks in the bar and dinner at the restaurant for his birthday. It was a great time at the quaint, historic in. Delicious pre dinner drinks in the bar and our dinner was impeccable. My seared seabass over roasted garlic parmesan risotto has me salivating just thinking about it. It was also nice that to celebrate his birthday they brought him a slice of cheesecake with a birthday candle as well as 2 glasses of champagne to celebrate. Definitely a great place to go for a special occasion, would like to go back in Spring or Summer to enjoy the rest of the island,

I stayed here for three days in the twin city's to be a tourist in the best corner room over looking the Mississippi River and it was a nice hotel. The room and view was great but on my last day I came back from breakfast 2 plus hours before check out to find my room invaded by the cleaning staff before I even checked out which I explained to them but they wouldn't leave my room at all so I went to the front desk and the brunette brushed me off also with my complaints like on def ears so I just checked out and left before I was even ready to leave because I felt liked I was being kicked out. Check out is a noon but I was pretty much kicked out at 9:25 am with out anyone giving a care or listening to me.

My husband and I and our two adult children came last night to celebrate my 59th birthday. I love good dinning, BUT.. I really LOVE chandeliers... that's why I chose to dine at the Nicollet Island Inn for my birthday. I was so thrilled when the hostess walked to what I thought was the most beautiful table in the house= thank you. Thomas B. our server was just perfect and knows the joint. Lovely dinner and expect to pay just over $115 per person with dinner, wine and desert. Great night. Thank you.

Looking for an Irish Coffee and an old school atmosphere. Nicolette island Inn. First proper Irish Coffee in Minnesota I have found. That's all I need to say. Oh yeah I do, ask Brad to hook you up with one!

Nicollet Island is a gem in Minneapolis. Somehow if you can afford a house in this island, it's kind of like a little getaway from the city. The island host a high school and a nice walking path connecting to Boom Island Park. Just across from St. Anthony Main is the Nicollet Island Inn, I've never eaten there but the food looks amazing.

I was there yesterday and wow everything was impeccable Lilly the server was awesome the food and drinks were amazing and everyone was so friendly

Chapter 110 Today's gastronomic journey plants us squarely in the Nicollet Island Inn, an enchanting melange of a pastoral French cottage and a down-home Midwest supper club, murmuring stories of yesteryears over your brunch toast. The first act was a grilled shrimp cocktail, a starlet twirling under the spotlights of my taste buds. Delicious! It was followed by the 'Fork and Knife Biscuits and Gravy,' with a name as lofty as a palace, yet the gravy fell short of royal standards. It was sweet and heavy, like a teddy bear on a sugar rush wrapped in a quilt. Cute, but a bit off to me. Then, the 'Steak and Lobster Eggs Benedict' made a grand entrance, as majestic as a queen making her entrance at the royal ball. Accompanying it was the 'Corned Beef Hash,' the trusty knight protecting the Eggs Benedict's queen. we'll-cooked and delicious. Did I mention the view? A dining room window that frames the northern bank of the Mississippi made a still life painting seem like child's play. Captivating. Now, for an unexpected plot twist: the Bloody Mary. But not just any Bloody Mary, mind you. This was a mixologist's dream, a cocktail shaken up with fresh yellow tomatoes, resulting in a lighter, fresher drink. And the clincher? The choice of pepper-infused vodka. It was like a summer blockbuster with an unexpected twist. Invigorating. And so, we raise our glasses to the Nicollet Island Inn, where brunch comes with a side of history The gravy might need a revision, but the dishes, service, and views can steal the show. And don't forget that thrilling Bloody Mary. The end.

Amazing food and ambiance. Excellent service. Great spot for an anniversary or other special occasion.

Very delicious food served here! The pork chop was so juicy and paired nicely with the chutney, mashed potatoes, and artichokes. The lobster ravioli had so much flavor, and the bread was perfect for soaking up the last remaining sauce. Trust me... you don't want to leave anything behind. The service was good (our server Julia made great recommendations) and I definitely see myself coming back again!

Was my first time visiting, our food came very quick, the waiter was very kind and funny as well, great staff! Great experience! I'll definitely be back again!

We come to NII often as we live in the neighborhood. This Madi special is choose your meat (ham, bacon, sausage), eggs your way, cheddar cheese and hash browns on a brioche bun. Don't know how long they are going to have it, worth the trip in.

Absolutely beautiful setting in a historic building. Almost a visit to the past where service and food are elegant. The Caesar salad, Sea bass and Breaded walleye were delicious. The chocolate mousse is also good. Attentive wait staff. Great for a celebration.

I just landed in Minneapolis for a weekend on August 3. I decided to take early evening run on the riverfront. I'm unfamiliar with the city, and didn't know there were no water fountains. I saw the Inn, and thought I'd check out the menu and ask to refill my water bottle in a sink. The host was very friendly, and said to go to the bar and they'd fill my bottle. The middle-aged bald-ish bartender there looked at me with nothing less than contempt when I told him the host said he'd fill the bottle. He seemed disgusted handling my water bottle and could not have rolled his eyes back further. So that was my first interaction with someone in The Twin Cities. If you want to be treated as less than, go to this bar.

Thanks to the hotel desk staff, the restaurant and bar and the chef the few times I have either stayed or had lunch at the Nicollet Island Inn. The computer printer on the 3rd floor for docs was helpful and the ability to have the front desk shred some additional docs was also much Appreciated. ChristOpher

The restaurant and hotel are gorgeous and the food is very good, but expensive. I had a mushroom gnocchi, that was amazing, but I don't think it is offered anymore. But I would go back just for that! My husband said the steak was excellent and we shared a wedge salad. The house-made ranch was so good.

This is a very nice place to go for thanksgiving and mother's day, or just for a night on the town you find a horse and buggy ride usually. you can enjoy a cruse on the river front . The food is excellent. not a complaint in the house. Everything is so professional and classic. This is a place where you will always be satisfied and pleased with the overall experience of dinning, The hotel is always booked full. If you want to stay here, you must book about 6 months in advance. I'm sure anyone who is here will really like it. worth the time. i hope everyone can visit the Nicollet Island inn and restaurant, Just a very fun affordable little place. very nice quiet and peaceful evening where everything is always great no matter day of the week it might be accept Mondays when they are closed for a dine in experience. If it were open on Mondays it would also be a great dine in experience. That is how sure i am about the Nicollet Island inn.

My wife and I went for an anniversary dinner. Thoroughly enjoyed a cocktail and some crispy chicken wings that were recommended by the bartender. He also recommended we have the lamb chops and the sea bass for dinner. I followed his recommendation and ordered the lamb, which was done perfectly. The flavor was fantastic and I was literally gnawing the bone by the end of my meal. The potato purée was velvety and delicious. My wife opted for the walleye, which was a little disappointing. It was dry and overly breaded. She was sorry that she didn't follow the bartender's recommendation. As a nice plus, the waiter brought us a couple glasses of champagne to finish our meal. We don't know how they knew it was our anniversary, as we didn't tell them when we set up the reservation, but it was a very nice surprise. Loved the ambiance and service.

A favorite. Elegant atmosphere and excellent service. Table and booths are far enough away for a bit of privacy. I only wish they would expand their menu a bit more although their braised wagyu tagliatelle and chocolate mousse are consistently delicious.

I got married at Nicollet Island Pavilion over Memorial Day weekend (2019), and since the pavilion does not have a bridal room, we rented the Bridal Ready Suite at Nicollet Island Inn. You are not allowed to bring outside food or drink into the bridal room, so we had lunch catered with unlimited nonalcoholic beverages and a round of mimosas. While we were happy with the room itself (minus the fact that you have to be out by 5pm the day of the rental), we did not have great service with beverages (only once did someone come and ask if we needed anything and there were not glasses or water readily apparent in the room) and our food was about an hour late, which meant that I did not have time to eat on my wedding day due to the tight schedule. I did give this feedback to my contact at the Inn afterwards and they credited me back for some of the food and beverage. Overall, it is a nice room to get ready in, but I was expecting better service on the day of the rental.

My wife and I stopped by the Nicollet Island Inn bar later on a Friday afternoon and had the best burger and fries I've had in town. The burger was so big, and fries so plentiful (make sure to upgrade to the sweet potato fries), that we shared the meal and both walked away full. Plus, they have a great bar with a wide selection of bourbons. Bartender, Brad, and proprietor, Cory, are generous in sharing their knowledge of the bourbon world, if you're into that. It was a delightful experience with great food and drink, a lovely setting, and friendly service.

My wife and I took a mini-vacation to Minneapolis and chose this hotel for it's location and it's charm. The view of the river and bridge was very nice. Tiny, outdated TV. No hairdryer in the bathroom. There was also a constant loud hum coming from the bathroom wall, almost like the hum of the bathroom ceiling fan, but it wasn't on. The inside of the hotel was very quiet but we were awakened at 4AM by some sort of argument outside, with yelling and screaming (I realize the hotel can't control that). The two staff members I interacted with were friendly and helpful. The restaurant only serves breakfast on the weekends so we tried to walk somewhere to eat but many of the restaurants listed online were closed or out of business. All in all, it wasn't a terrible stay but I would not go back as the location walking proximity to restaurants was not ideal.

Even though my family have only eaten here twice, the food and service have been great both times! Attentive service without being intrusive or pushy. Though the brunch menu is kind of limited, the food is really good. Plus the view of the river isn't bad either (I imagine it's much better outside of winter). Highly recommended!

New Years Eve Dinner The first thing that you experience is the warmth and ambience of the establishment. That, pairs with the warm greetings and staff that is very attentive to every detail. Drinks were quickly delivered And the deviled eggs are fabulous. Next we had salads and soup. The root vegetable was truly delicious. The wedge salads are plentiful, crisp And fresh. The dressing was wonderful. Great start. The dinners at our table were ok. The lobster pot pie was mildly received by the table. It could used more seasoning and thicker gravy. The rigatoni was good. Desserts were very good. The apple pastry was exceptional. The other drinks and desserts were good. We would definetly go back. My perfect meal? The deviled eggs, a wedge salad and root vegetable soup with the apple pastry, martini Nd ending with coffee. We will be back!

Best outdoor patio ambiance in Minneapolis, great food & friendly staff - perfect for a casual night out, or a special occasion!

Make reservations and get dressed for this place. It is located in an absolutely beautiful view of the river and nearby nature. My last visit was fall and the tree colors were breathtaking. It is more expensive however the service is topnotch. Great place to celebrate a special occasion or have a fancy date night. Check out the menu online along with their rotating specials. They have a parking lot on site. Note: this place is not for small children, the crowed is mostly older.

We decided to come to the restaurant for their Valentine's Day meal. Bit pricey at $100 per person but I thought it was worth it! The ambience at the Nicollet Island Inn is wonderful. The staff were attentive. The food was flavorful and delicious. It was a lovely night. The restaurant was easy to find and parking is right next to it. It was raining, but they have a nice awning that you can wait under for your ride to come! The views of the island are nice even in winter.

This place is a hidden gem! The building itself is stunning as well as the inside - you walk in and feel like you're taking a step back in time, in a good way! The bar area is quaint and the dining area is beautiful. Now, the food - seriously I don't know where to start - so, so good! We started with a cheese plate, shared a starter salad (wedge with blue cheese) and had scallops (me) walleye (hubs), special was sea bass (friends had). Just plain stupid good - it's a fancy place with fancy food but it's so worth it - from the ambience, the food, and the staff - this is must visit - if I could've stayed overnight, I would've!!!

We've been to the Nicollet Island Inn many times over the years, especially to Nic's Bar, for HH and dinner. The cocktails are amazing, the food delicious, parking abundant, the views and ambiance both a little formal and laid back at once. A hidden gem in downtown Minneapolis.

Lovely decor with a lovely view off the river as the sunlight streams in through the main windows of the main dining area. My party of 6 all opted for the 3 course Sunday dinner meal. The food was just A-Ok. The first course was french onion soup which had a very very distinct liquor (brandy) flavor and could have used a bit more cheese in my opinion or a bland salad. I had the oven roasted chicken as an entree which was cooked nicely. I would have preferred the skin a little more crispy. The berry sauce was very over powering and I'm not sure if I needed that much. The dessert was a chocolate mousse or a strawberry panacotta that came with a delicious short bread cookie. Overall a pleasing meal. Our server was extremely nice and attentive. The wait time however was a bit long as the meal took around 1.5 hours to be fully served. My family loves to talk so it was all good. great parking lot, sales tax is insane 13% in downtown Minneapolis - the highest in the country, so beware

In the heart of Minneapolis is a classic in dining. Nicollet Island Inn offers a great menu and fantastic service. We started with a cheese plate followed by Root Soup. We had Walley and Pork Chops. Both were perfect and delicious. Love the linen tablecloths, chandeliers, and wood paneling throughout. Bar area was also an unexpected surprise. Great place to have dinner in the heart of Minneapolis with free parking! Highly recommend.

The restaurant is a beautiful venue especially at Christmas time, but the food is just ok. We hadn't dined here in about 10 years, basically because of an underwhelming experience when they used to have a Lobster Week special event. I thought it was time to try it again as a precursor to attending the Nutcracker. It's a nice option because of free parking, beautiful interior, and great views. The food isn't bad; it's just not up to what you'd expect relative to the look of the place. Cocktails were very good and reasonably priced. We started with a pair of Lobster Cakes that were pretty standard shredded lobster and not enough to clearly taste like lobster. My wife remarked that it could have been any kind of seafood, but it was nicely seasoned and tasted good with spicy mayo underneath. Like many places now, they charge $5 for bread, which is grilled and seasoned (not described on the menu). My wife had the Scallops with an Asian glaze for her entrée and liked them a lot. Three scallops perfectly cooked on a slaw base. I ordered the Lobster Bisque Pot Pie and asked for the larger version (6 oz. of lobster vs. 4 oz.). It looked wonderful with a large square of nicely browned puff pastry covering the ramekin and it smelled great. Seasoning could have been a bit more lively but the creamy broth was tasty. The problem was that 10 spoonful's in I still hadn't encountered any lobster. I know 6 oz. isn't a lot, but I still expected to find shreds of lobster meat mixed throughout. I finally found one chunk of lobster meat, but I'm pretty sure it couldn't have weighed 6 oz. The server seemed genuinely concerned that I wasn't thrilled and the manager came shortly to see what could be done. Because we were headed to the theater, I didn't want to start a new entrée order and didn't want anything heavy, so we agreed that reducing the price to the smaller portion made sense. We didn't opt for dessert.

Unfortunately this place doesn't deserve a five star rating from me anymore. The Valentine's Day fixed menu has gone downhill and they still charge $70/person. The French onion soup resembled a bowl of brown slop and was the opposite of romantic. It was impossible to divide the big glob of cheese and each scoop was long sopping wet onions that dangled over the spoon. The nuts on the salad tasted stale and old. I had to spend time trying to fish them out. The steak was delicious and so was the oyster but they only gave us one oyster per person. My boyfriend said his oyster was the size of a quarter and paltry. We were dressed to the nines but treated like kids since they seated us in a room by the bar away from the dining room. We should've requested a different table but figured we'd stick it out. The dessert was lack luster since the nuts made it disgusting and it tasted like the same chocolate mouse I can get anywhere. The server only checked on us once so we didn't really feel like he cared much. How hard is it to provide top notch service with a fixed menu?! Overall this place is a rip off for Valentine's Day and there are many better options in the cities if you are splurging on a special occasion.

What an absolutely beautiful place this is. It is beyond awesome in it's carefully curated vintage appeal. Every detail in my room was perfectly decorated down to the old-fashioned seashell toilet paper holder. I loved it! It ain't cheap to spend the night here--around $200, if you're lucky-- but what a treat to delight in this historic property. I visited right before Memorial Day and you could feel springtime romance in the air: a big bridal bachelorette party was having a celebration and happy couples were partying next door at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. Lilac trees were blossoming everywhere. This reminded me what a wonderful place the Nicollet Island Inn would be to have a wedding. There is a fabulous restaurant on site but it is pricey. I chose to eat in the bar area which is very cozy. Even there, I ended up spending $30 on a tiny salad, soup & small glass of house wine. No deals or any kind of specials for hotel patrons. Because of the expensive food & drink here, I did deduct 1 YELP STAR. But the hotel, itself, is outstanding. There are lots of young people working at the front desk. They are invariably nice, friendly and eager to please. Despite a few glitches such as the courtesy morning coffee carafes being empty 2 mornings in a row and the "business" alcove computer not having ANY internet access at all, these are just minor annoyances. I just adored the Nicollete Island Inn. If you enjoy a pretty, refined hotel that SCREAMS romance amid the gorgeous parkland of Nicollete Island, then this is just the place for you!

Nicollet Island Inn dining: great experience for lunch. Cheff salad with chicken and shrimp and for me, a ruben with a side salad were great. The shrimp were cooked perfectly: a littl snap and nice toasting from grill or broiler. Salad with ruben was right amount, nice mix of greens and dressing. Good portions, nicely presented and very tasty. Side dressing and aeole added to the food. Wine selection was interesting. Tried wine I hadn't heard of before and it went well with my lunch. The view includes lots of windows, crystl chandelliers and with table cloths. Free parking is a plus. Staff were very helpful and friendly. 5-stars for Lilliana, our server. Will definitely return.

For as long as I can remember, this hotel and restaurant, plopped on an island in the Mississippi river in downtown Minneapolis, remains a romantic getaway and venue. We came for dinner to celebrate an anniversary. The setting, the interior, the views, and the history of the place-- while it can't be eaten-- can be savored and enjoyed. Which is exactly what we did. Thatt the food is good, but not great, did not spoil the evening. The Nicollet Island Inn is just a great place to spend an evening, if not a weekend. A visit should be on your to-do list.

My husband and I stayed here on our wedding night. The hotel was very accommodating and let us check in really late. The staff has always been so friendly whenever I called to ask questions. The Hitching Company (horse & carriage service) pulls right up to the hotel and you can take rides. My husband and I took a ride from our wedding venue to the hotel and it was very magical. We only got to stay for one night but I would like to go back and have a staycation for the weekend to really enjoy the hotel.

This is my second time to the this place. Heard about the lobster week dinner on Facebook and thought I would check it out. Nothing to disappoint. The menu was great. Although, the lobster mousse could have some crackers or bread to accompany as a spread otherwise it gets to be too rich to eat by itself. Our server was attentive and took our suggestion about having crackers or bread with the lobster mousse well. She's knowledgeable and was understanding of us being frazzle and gave us champagne on the house for our belated anniversary date night. Each course of the meal was fantastic and what surprise me was the dessert: chocolate ganache cake. It was fluffy, light and rich in flavor and not too sweet that it was a perfect end to a wonderful evening out. Everything was good even with a sighting of a mouse running around in the dining area. The restaurant was not full when we were there and service was on point not like other restaurants where it took forever to get our drink or food. We recommend you place to our friend and they have made a reservation for their first anniversary celebration.

This is a beautiful place and definitely somewhere for a special occasion. We enjoyed a nice dinner there. We had an appetizer of the lobster brushetta which was very good. There were only 3 of them so we had to split the last one, but still very tasty. Hubby went with the bouillabaisse, which he felt needed more seasoning. I went with the Chicken Gnocchi which was very good and I enjoyed it. Nice and tender but firm at the same time. It had a nice flavor to it. If we return to the area I would definitely go again.

Love this Bar. Love the Bartender who worked Thursday, Dec 19. I have had many an Irish Coffee's and this was one of the three best Irish Coffee's I've ever had. The other two were in Ireland and Scotland. The bartender takes great care and has great passion that (a) his customers are happy and that (b) his drinks are perfect. And I'm sorry I didn't get his name. There were seven of us and he helped us find a place to sit in a crowded (yet quiet and talk-able) bar. He explained all the wines, drinks and food to us. The drinks were exceptional. The food was perfect. The room was warm and welcoming.

We had a lovely anniversary dinner here last night. The dining room is elegant, our food was delicious and beautifully plated, and our waiter was awesome. This is definitely a fine dining establishment and the prices reflect that but it is a great place for a special night out. My husband and I stayed in the inn on our wedding night two years ago so we hope that the Nicollet Island Inn is around for many anniversaries to come! In future we'll come back and hit up the bar -it's a beautiful old bar and the bartender was really funny and friendly.

Great service from the staff. Everything came out so pretty. Fine dining. Do not allow the staff to pack your to go food. I ordered honey lemon chicken dinner. Once it came out i was full. I had them pack up my food to go and i went to have linch the next day. My chicken. (No risotto, no potatoes) no sides where packed. Very pissed off about that. But Shawn my waiter was great, good attitude, on point with everything my party asked for and about.

It used to be a place we went to a lot more often for a happy hour get together and while I understand everything that's going on after the Covid pandemic as far as businesses go, it's disheartening to see that Nicollet Island Inn has not brought back happy hour appetizers or at the very least, a limited happy hour food menu. Places on Main Street are offering simple appetizers at happy hour pricing because that's what most of us are just looking for. We aren't looking for high end product but simple bar food. They used to have happy hour pricing on a cone of fries, their fantastic hamburger, wedge salad, and flatbread pizza. Now they don't offer anything as far as happy hour food pricing goes so we will go to an establishment that's within walking distance for food and drink for happy hour during the work week. The Inn is offering happy hour pricing on beer and wine selections but that really isn't enough when you have a group of people that are looking for food to go along with our drink. We really want to come back to the Inn for happy hour because we used to be there at least three or four times a week for happy hour but all of us are trying to get the most of our money that we are spending and so without happy hour food to accompany the drinking, we have to go someplace else for happy hour. Regular hours are great but they need to do something for happy hour

Live the style and service The street view is good too A romantic and beautiful place for dates:)

Great place and atmosphere for dinner. However, the seafood linguini had 1 shrimp and 1 scallop for a fairly high price on the menu. I'd recommend something else.

We were looking for something light, not an entire meal, so we were seated in the bar area. I ordered mussels, which came in a savory sauce with bacon bits, very good. A generous serving, too. My wife had a crab cake, which she said was good and a bit too spicy for her taste. Service was excellent. Our waiter joined in our conversation and joked with people at our table. This is a beautiful place well worth a visit. A bit "spendy," as some Minnesotans say, but we enjoyed it quite a bit.

I was a bit wary of staying at the Nicollet, as an old friend had told me that she got a big wart on her foot (not her toe) from the bathroom floor of this hotel a few years ago. She had this wart for several years, until finally getting rid of it with a combination of apple cider vinegar and duct tape. Anyway, the hotel was much better than my dishonest friend made it out to be. She claimed there was a 90% chance her wart came from this hotel--I asked her, but what about the other 10%? She had no adequate answer. All I can say is that my stay was divine, and I can no longer trust this wart-laiden friend.

This place is a fine gem in Minneapolis. Gorgeous and historic, it's like going back to simpler, nicer days----but with A+ food and A+ service. I've been there many times over the years and its always amazing. Family owned for over a decade. I couldn't recommend this wonderful place more highly.

Thanks, Nicollet Island, for giving my family a place to reflect. Growing up in Minneapolis, I dined at this mainstay more than a few times, my main recollection: they almost -- almost -- matched the quality of my mother's walleye. But that's not really fair, because nobody compares to mom's cooking and moreover, she wasn't, like, a walleye ninja or anything, she just breaded the filets and cooked 'em in butter. But anyway, Nicollet Island cooks up very fresh walleye, as verified again recently, during a very memorable visit. My entire family was gathering for a memorial, actually, and to honor the deceased, we arranged a private room at one of her favorite eateries, Nicollet Island. Staff did an excellent job secluding us away from the diners, keeping doors closed, rarely interrupting, which allowed us to tell some great stories, cry and laugh a little. It's a lovely restaurant, highly recommended, and the views verge on Naria-esque.