Town guide · Steele County, MN

Explore Owatonna

My favorite places to eat, shop and play in my hometown, plus what's coming up and everything you need to know if you're new to town.

  • 27,000+ residents
  • 28 city parks
  • 175 miles of trails
  • ~45 min to Rochester & Mankato
  • ~1 hr to the Twin Cities

Shop local

Local shops worth a stop.

Featured shops and activities: shop local, support small, explore our community. Owatonna water tower in the background.
Local spotlight · Boutique

Barleyberry Boutique

Cute, cozy and hand-picked. Barleyberry is full of curated pieces that fit real life, and it's opening in its new home at 505 N Cedar Ave this fall.

Model in a pink striped cardigan outdoorsModel in a sage green sherpa jacket outdoorsModel in a blush polka dot cardigan outdoorsModel in a navy striped sweater outdoorsModel in a spotted grey knit sweater outdoorsModel in a chocolate tiered-sleeve top outdoors
Photos and logo courtesy of Barleyberry Boutique
Local spotlight · Local makers

The Retail Collective

A treasure trove of handmade goods from local makers, all under one roof at the Rose Street Center. My favorite stop for one-of-a-kind gifts, and you'll find something new every time you go.

WhereRose Street Center, 115 E Rose St
HoursThu & Fri 4–8 PM · Sat 9 AM–3 PM · Sun 11 AM–3 PM
Logo courtesy of The Retail Collective
The Craft Apothecary logo
Local spotlight · Craft supplies & makerspace

The Craft Apothecary & Owatonna Makerspace

A nonprofit shop that gives secondhand art and craft supplies a second life, also at the Rose Street Center. Bring the kids to a Sunday CrafterNoon, sign them up for Kids Art Club, or book a DIY birthday party. The Owatonna Makerspace, with shared tools and mentorship for bringing your ideas to life, is coming soon.

WhereRose Street Center, 115 E Rose St
HoursThu 3–8 PM · Fri 1–6 PM · Sat & Sun 11 AM–4 PM
Logos courtesy of The Craft Apothecary & Owatonna Makerspace

Coming up in Owatonna

See all Owatonna events

Eat and drink

My go-to spots, from morning coffee to date night.

Local spotlight · Breweries, bars & wine

Grapeful Wine Bar

Warm, relaxed and made for date night. Pick a glass from their lovely wine list and share a few small plates.

Where306 N Cedar Ave, Suite 2, downtown Owatonna
HoursWed & Thu 3–9 PM · Fri 3–10 PM · Sat 1–10 PM
The wine wall and back bar at Grapeful Wine BarA wine flight at Grapeful Wine BarGrapeful staff holding specialty pizzas
Photos and logo courtesy of Grapeful Wine Bar
Coffee & breakfast

OTB Cafe

My go-to for bagels and breakfast sandwiches. This family-owned spot is always buzzing with familiar faces, and the staff greets you like a regular, even on your first visit.

Map and directions
Coffee & breakfast

Central Park Coffee

Walking in feels like stepping into the cozy cafe from a romantic comedy. Order the waffles, then stay for a second cup of coffee, because it's even better.

Map and directions
Lunch & casual dinner

Train Station Bar and Grill

A great tap list, food that never disappoints and some of the fastest service in town. Perfect for a lunch break or a laid-back dinner.

Map and directions
Lunch & casual dinner

Chill-Aqui

Everything here is made from scratch, and you can taste it. The chilaquiles and huevos rancheros are my favorites, and don't leave without grabbing a fresh pastry.

Map and directions
Date night

Torey's Restaurant

My pick for a special night out. Think beautifully done steaks, creative specials, a fantastic martini and a bourbon and wine list worth exploring.

Map and directions
Date night

Mizuki Fusion

As a self-proclaimed sushi fanatic, I don't say this lightly: this is some of the best sushi I've ever had, anywhere.

Map and directions
Breweries, bars & wine

Mineral Springs Brewery

Great beer, even better people. There's something happening most nights, from live music to trivia, so it's an easy place to meet friends or make new ones.

Map and directions
Sweet treats

The S'Cream

Hands down the best ice cream in town, served by the sweetest staff. And yes, you have to try the giant ice cream cone. Open spring through fall.

Map and directions
Sweet treats

Costas Candies

The best chocolate and toffee I've ever had, and the homemade caramel is a must. Their gift boxes are my secret weapon for easy, crowd-pleasing presents.

Map and directions

Play and explore

Parks, trails and family fun around town.

Shady trees and a creek in an Owatonna park on a sunny day
Sparetime Entertainment logo
Local spotlight · Family fun

Sparetime Entertainment

Bowling, laser tag and an arcade, plus food that's genuinely good. Our answer to every rainy day and every 'I'm bored.'

Where333 18th St SE, Owatonna · 507-451-2524
Birthday partiesPackages built for 10: Bowling Blast ($219.99), Game's Galore ($259.99) or the Ultimate ($329.99), plus tax and gratuity. They handle setup and cleanup!
Weekly dealsSunday Night Games: unlimited bowling, arcade and laser tag for $20 a person · Wednesday & Thursday arcade specials, all day · Late Night Cosmic bowling Friday & Saturday after 8 PM
LeaguesSmashmores youth bowling (ages 3–18) on Tuesdays at 6 PM, and kids can start any time · Winter Rum Bucket league (18+) on Mondays starting Jan 11
For everyoneAdaptive Bowling Recreation, open to all ages and abilities
Sparetime birthday party packages: Bowling Blast, Game's Galore and UltimateSparetime bowling, laser tag and arcade pricingSparetime Wednesday and Thursday arcade specialsOwatonna Smashmores youth bowling league flyerAdaptive Bowling Recreation at Sparetime, open to all agesNew Year's Eve youth lock-in schedule at Sparetime2027 Winter Rum Bucket bowling league flyer
Flyers and logo courtesy of Sparetime Entertainment · tap a flyer to see it full size
Summer

River Springs Water Park

Our favorite way to beat the summer heat. It's an affordable, all-day adventure the whole family will love.

Map and directions
Winter

Four Seasons Centre

Indoor public skating, rain or shine (or snow). Open skate sessions run most weeks from fall through March, and the holiday-break sessions are perfect for burning off some energy. Just $5 to skate, plus $5 if you need rental skates. Watch for the evening Ice Jam skates, too.

Open skate scheduleMap and directions
Winter

Morehouse Park

For skating outdoors, head to the Warsinski ice rinks at Morehouse Park. The Warsinski Chalet doubles as a warming house, so you can thaw out between laps. It's open weekday afternoons and evenings, plus all day on weekends and school breaks, once the ice is ready.

Rink hours and infoMap and directions
Parks

Mineral Springs Park

Beautiful walking paths, a disc golf course and the Straight River winding right through it. It's as picture-perfect as it gets.

Map and directions
Trails

Kaplan's Woods Parkway

One of my favorite places for a peaceful walk. It's just one of many, too: Owatonna has more than 700 acres of parkland across 28 parks, plus 175 miles of trails.

Map and directions

Trusted local services

Local businesses I'd recommend to a friend.

These are personal recommendations. No business paid to be listed.

Thinking about moving to Owatonna?

With a busy historic downtown, 28 parks and something happening nearly every weekend, Owatonna is an easy place to call home. If you're thinking about buying a home here, my guide to buying a home in southern Minnesota walks through each step, plus first-time buyer resources like USDA loans, Minnesota Housing programs and new construction.

Read the homebuying guide

New to Owatonna?

A few things to set up in your first weeks in town.

Electric, water and gas

Owatonna Public Utilities provides electric, water and natural gas inside city limits. Sewer service comes from the City of Owatonna.

owatonnautilities.com

Trash and recycling

Haulers serving Owatonna include Skjeveland Enterprises, Stewart Sanitation and Waste Management.

Steele County Recycling Program

Get a library card

Available to Steele County residents at the Owatonna Public Library, 105 N Elm Ave. Bring a Minnesota driver's license with your current address, or a photo ID and a bill showing your address.

Library card info

Schools

Owatonna Public Schools (ISD 761) serves the city, with enrollment info on the district website.

isd761.org

Parks and recreation

Youth programs, adult sports, pools and facility rentals. Call 507-444-4321.

Parks & Recreation

Stay in the loop

Sign up for the city's Owatonna Update email for news, road work and announcements.

Owatonna Update eNews

Visit and shop local

The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism keeps a business directory and visitor info.

owatonna.org

Aubrey Meier smiling at an outdoor table downtown

Picks by Aubrey

Every place on this page is one I genuinely love. Have a favorite I'm missing? Email me at hello@explorewithaubrey.com and I'll check it out.

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