If you have booked a Minneapolis Trolley Tour, you already know the story starts at the mansion. The trolley leaves from the Pillsbury Club, the Charles S. Pillsbury Mansion at 100 East 22nd Street. What many guests do not realize is that the evening does not begin when the trolley pulls away. It begins about an hour earlier, inside one of the city’s great Gilded Age houses. Here is how to make that hour count.

When does the Pillsbury Club open before a tour?

According to the Club’s hours page, guests of Minneapolis Trolley Tours will find the Pillsbury Club open one hour before their scheduled tour. The Club is private and open to guests with a reservation, and admission is limited to ticketed guests, so check your reservation for the exact arrival time for your experience.

The dimly lit speakeasy-style bar room at the Pillsbury Club, with oak panelling, a coffered ceiling, a chandelier and a wall of amber stained glass.

What can you eat and drink while you wait?

The dining page lists a short, Minnesota-flavored menu. At the time of writing it includes Great Northern Cheese Curds ($16), State Fair Pretzel Bites ($17), Lake Street Nachos ($17) and the Pillsbury Club Smashburger ($22). Drinks include Grain Belt Premium and Surly Furious IPA at $10 each, and wines by the glass at $11. Prices can change, so check the page before you go, and remember that outside food and drinks are not permitted inside.

Handcrafted seasonal cocktails on the bar at the Pillsbury Club in Minneapolis, a mansion stop before guests board a trolley tour.

For a fuller rundown, see our earlier post on what you can eat and drink at the Club.

Is there a quiet room for a group?

Yes. The Emerald Suite is a private second-floor VIP lounge that seats up to ten, with rich finishes, comfortable lounge seating and an intimate club atmosphere. The club rooms page describes it as a place to gather before or after mansion tours, and it can be booked from that page. It is a good pick for a birthday, a small team outing or a bachelorette group that wants a base before boarding.

Where do you park?

Per the Club’s policies, guest parking is available on public streets and in a designated lot across the street. Follow all posted restrictions. Arriving a little early also gives you time to park without hurrying.

What house rules should you know?

No smoking anywhere on the property, indoors or out, and no vaping indoors.
Please ask before photographing employees, guides, performers or other guests.
Professional photography or filming needs prior written authorization.
The Club reserves the right to refuse admission to guests who break the policies.

The full list is on the club policies page.

Which trolley tour departs from the Club?

Several do. Minneapolis Trolley Tours runs the Candlelight Ghost Tour, the Murder Mystery Tour, the Narrated Scenic Tour and the True Crime Tour, all listed on our experiences and tours page. If the house itself catches your eye while you wait, the History Journal tells its story, including a recent post on the coat of arms carved on its oldest fireplace.

A vintage white Minneapolis Trolley waiting at dusk outside the lit arched entrance of the Charles S. Pillsbury Mansion, with the stone gate piers alongside.

Ready to make an evening of it? Reserve your visit to the Pillsbury Club, arrive early, and let the trolley be the second act.

Keep reading: Why Are There Painted Figures Labeled America, Europa and Africa in the Pillsbury Mansion’s Windows?