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Hands of a bartender straining a drink into a delicate coupe glass on a curved stone bar.
Meritage’s crescent bar.
Meritage

11 Essential St. Paul Bars

Basement bocce ball and champagne cocktails in the capital city

by Justine Jones
View as Map
Meritage’s crescent bar.
| Meritage
by Justine Jones

As far as cozy neighborhood bars go, St. Paul has an embarrassment of riches — but look a little closer, and the scene is even more varied than you might think. Sports bars neighbor Parisian oyster bars; hip cocktail spots are balanced by ’70s-style lounges serving Grasshoppers and steak. Here are 11 essential St. Paul bars to explore.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The Dubliner Pub

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The Dubliner has been around in the University Midway neighborhood since 1983. Its kitchen, which one served Irish classics like Guinness-battered fish and chips and a Guinness-braised beef stew, is currently closed until further notice. But the Dubliner is known for its wide selection of pints on taps and top-shelf whiskeys — and it’s a go-to spot for Irish music, culture, and dancing. Live music plays five nights a week: Catch local acts like the Twin Cities Céilí Band, Charlie Parr, and Alex Rossi.

2162 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55114
(651) 646-5551
(651) 646-5551

Estelle

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Estelle’s narrow slip of a cocktail bar feels more like a scene from the East Village than St. Paul, serving yuzu-infused sangria, bruléed orange mezcal, and Spanish G&Ts. Make it a nightcap to Estelle’s breezy menu of Spanish and Portuguese dishes like patatas bravas, shrimp al ajillo, and pasteis de nata, which you can enjoy at the bar or next-door in the dining room.

1806 St Clair Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 330-9648
(651) 330-9648
A black and white photo of a brick exterior storefront with a sign that reads “Estelle” in cursive and large windows that show through to a dining room.
Estelle, on St. Clair Avenue.
Estelle

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Black Hart of Saint Paul

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Black Hart is a beloved LGBTQ soccer bar stationed just a thousand feet from Allianz Field. It’s a great post-game spot: All the cocktails clock in at $9 or under, and the Heggies and mini corn dogs come out hot. Outside of game days, Black Hart also hosts fantastic drag and burlesque shows. Snap a picture of the Megan Rapinoe mural outside.

1415 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
(651) 528-8028
(651) 528-8028
Megan Rapino wearing a black hat, grey jacket, and purple sweatshirt, smiling with her arms spread wide in front of a mural of her painted onto a brick building.
Megan Rapinoe at Black Hart.
Black Hart of Saint Paul

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Half Time Rec

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Half Time Rec might be St. Paul’s most iconic dive. There’s bocce ball in the basement, a reliable crowd of Vikings and Twins fans upstairs, and patty melts hot off the flat top. St. Patrick’s day is a scene here. Come for happy hour and pull tabs.

1013 Front Ave, St Paul, MN 55103
(651) 488-8245
(651) 488-8245

The Nook

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The Nook made its name serving one of the Twin Cities’ best Juicy Lucys, a.k.a. the Juicy Nookie. Matt’s Bar has its ride-or-die crowd — but so does this place. The Nook is a Twin Cities gem in terms of ambiance, too: The small downstairs bar is papered in dollar bills, and there’s a bowling alley with arcade games. Keep an eye out for the nightly food specials and $3 happy hour beers.

492 Hamline Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116
(651) 698-4347
(651) 698-4347

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Sweeney's Saloon

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Sweeney’s, a beloved neighborhood bar, has one of St. Paul’s best craft beer lists. A handful of local perennials (Surly Furious, Liftbridge’s Farmgirl, etc.) are complemented by a rotating list of brews and ciders, for variety’s sake. The happy hour (every day from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) is killer, and in the summer, Sweeney’s opens its huge, multi-story patio — though it’s hard to imagine a cozier evening than traipsing through the snow for a basket of plump chicken wings and an IPA.

96 Dale St N, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-9157
(651) 221-9157
A picnic table set with a basket of wings, tacos, a pita wrap, and two beers.
Wings and beer at Sweeney’s.
Sweeney’s Saloon

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Mancini’s Char House

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Mancini’s is a slice of St. Paul history that lives on, still serving great Old Fashioneds and relish trays. Elvis would be at home at the 70s Vegas-esque bar, chasing his sirloin dinner with a Grasshopper. Mancini’s has a great tradition of live music and dancing too, so keep an eye on the calendar.

531 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-7345
(651) 224-7345
A black and white photo of people at a bar; there are live musicians holding instruments, a person standing near them, and other seated in the background.
Mancini’s, a St. Paul treasure.
Mancini’s Char House

Parlour St. Paul

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Parlour serves one of the Cities’ most popular burgers, made with a smashed ribeye, chuck, and brisket blend on an egg bun. They’re best paired with a Parlour Old Fashioned — or maybe a beer and a bump of Evan Williams. The cocktail list here leans into rye whiskey, bourbon, and Scotch, though there’s a considerable mocktail menu as well. Come just for bar snacks (think togarashi popcorn and artichoke dip) or full entrees like duck meatloaf and tagliatelle.

267 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 207-4433
(651) 207-4433
A curved bar with grey stools, orb lights hanging above it, a brick wall to the right, and people behind the bar in the distance.
Parlour’s burger is a must.
Parlour St. Paul

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Meritage

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Meritage, tucked into an elegant, glass-paned storefront in downtown St. Paul, might offer the most Parisian bar experience in the Cities. The crescent bar, typically staffed by a gentleman in a black vest and tie, serves champagne infused with an absinthe-soaked sugar cube, Provençals with elderflower, and a selection of French wines — not to mention oysters and other seafood from the raw bar. There are few better places to splurge.

410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 222-5670
(651) 222-5670
An assortment of oysters and other seafood on ice in a glass casing on a bar, with a plant cascading over the glass.
Don’t overlook Meritage’s raw bar.
Meritage

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Amsterdam Bar & Hall

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Amsterdam is one of St. Paul’s best live music venues — it regularly books local and national acts, plus DJed dance nights. The beer list is decidedly Belgian, though plenty of local craft brews are offered, too, and the menu features dishes like brisket shawarma burgers, thick-cut fries smothered in gravy, and fried chicken drummies. Stop by for half-off drinks during happy hour, Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

6 West 6th Street, Wabasha St N, St Paul, MN 55102

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Brunson's Pub

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Brunson’s is a stellar neighborhood bar in St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Named for Benjamin Brunson, a land surveyor who built what’s believed to be the oldest standing brick house in St. Paul near Payne Avenue, the pub is owned Thomas and Molly LaFleche, who met working in the local industry. Chef Torrance Beavers adapts the menus seasonally, but it’s a great stop for quality bar food — think loaded fries, wedge salads, hefty braised beef sandwiches, and burgers. (The No Payne No Gain burger, stacked with pulled bacon, blue cheese, and blackberry Vidalia jam, is a solid bet.) Brunson’s patio is a hidden gem in the warmer months, too.

956 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130
(651) 447-2483
(651) 447-2483
A white brick building storefront with a large black and yellow sign that reads “Brunson’s Pub” and a blue sky behind it.
Brunson’s, on Payne Avenue.
Brunson’s Pub

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The Dubliner Pub

2162 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55114

The Dubliner has been around in the University Midway neighborhood since 1983. Its kitchen, which one served Irish classics like Guinness-battered fish and chips and a Guinness-braised beef stew, is currently closed until further notice. But the Dubliner is known for its wide selection of pints on taps and top-shelf whiskeys — and it’s a go-to spot for Irish music, culture, and dancing. Live music plays five nights a week: Catch local acts like the Twin Cities Céilí Band, Charlie Parr, and Alex Rossi.

2162 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55114
(651) 646-5551
(651) 646-5551

Estelle

1806 St Clair Ave, St Paul, MN 55105

Estelle’s narrow slip of a cocktail bar feels more like a scene from the East Village than St. Paul, serving yuzu-infused sangria, bruléed orange mezcal, and Spanish G&Ts. Make it a nightcap to Estelle’s breezy menu of Spanish and Portuguese dishes like patatas bravas, shrimp al ajillo, and pasteis de nata, which you can enjoy at the bar or next-door in the dining room.

1806 St Clair Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 330-9648
(651) 330-9648
A black and white photo of a brick exterior storefront with a sign that reads “Estelle” in cursive and large windows that show through to a dining room.
Estelle, on St. Clair Avenue.
Estelle

Black Hart of Saint Paul

1415 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104

Black Hart is a beloved LGBTQ soccer bar stationed just a thousand feet from Allianz Field. It’s a great post-game spot: All the cocktails clock in at $9 or under, and the Heggies and mini corn dogs come out hot. Outside of game days, Black Hart also hosts fantastic drag and burlesque shows. Snap a picture of the Megan Rapinoe mural outside.

1415 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
(651) 528-8028
(651) 528-8028
Megan Rapino wearing a black hat, grey jacket, and purple sweatshirt, smiling with her arms spread wide in front of a mural of her painted onto a brick building.
Megan Rapinoe at Black Hart.
Black Hart of Saint Paul

Half Time Rec

1013 Front Ave, St Paul, MN 55103

Half Time Rec might be St. Paul’s most iconic dive. There’s bocce ball in the basement, a reliable crowd of Vikings and Twins fans upstairs, and patty melts hot off the flat top. St. Patrick’s day is a scene here. Come for happy hour and pull tabs.

1013 Front Ave, St Paul, MN 55103
(651) 488-8245
(651) 488-8245

The Nook

492 Hamline Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116

The Nook made its name serving one of the Twin Cities’ best Juicy Lucys, a.k.a. the Juicy Nookie. Matt’s Bar has its ride-or-die crowd — but so does this place. The Nook is a Twin Cities gem in terms of ambiance, too: The small downstairs bar is papered in dollar bills, and there’s a bowling alley with arcade games. Keep an eye out for the nightly food specials and $3 happy hour beers.

492 Hamline Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116
(651) 698-4347
(651) 698-4347

Sweeney's Saloon

96 Dale St N, St Paul, MN 55102

Sweeney’s, a beloved neighborhood bar, has one of St. Paul’s best craft beer lists. A handful of local perennials (Surly Furious, Liftbridge’s Farmgirl, etc.) are complemented by a rotating list of brews and ciders, for variety’s sake. The happy hour (every day from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) is killer, and in the summer, Sweeney’s opens its huge, multi-story patio — though it’s hard to imagine a cozier evening than traipsing through the snow for a basket of plump chicken wings and an IPA.

96 Dale St N, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-9157
(651) 221-9157
A picnic table set with a basket of wings, tacos, a pita wrap, and two beers.
Wings and beer at Sweeney’s.
Sweeney’s Saloon

Mancini’s Char House

531 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

Mancini’s is a slice of St. Paul history that lives on, still serving great Old Fashioneds and relish trays. Elvis would be at home at the 70s Vegas-esque bar, chasing his sirloin dinner with a Grasshopper. Mancini’s has a great tradition of live music and dancing too, so keep an eye on the calendar.

531 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-7345
(651) 224-7345
A black and white photo of people at a bar; there are live musicians holding instruments, a person standing near them, and other seated in the background.
Mancini’s, a St. Paul treasure.
Mancini’s Char House

Parlour St. Paul

267 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

Parlour serves one of the Cities’ most popular burgers, made with a smashed ribeye, chuck, and brisket blend on an egg bun. They’re best paired with a Parlour Old Fashioned — or maybe a beer and a bump of Evan Williams. The cocktail list here leans into rye whiskey, bourbon, and Scotch, though there’s a considerable mocktail menu as well. Come just for bar snacks (think togarashi popcorn and artichoke dip) or full entrees like duck meatloaf and tagliatelle.

267 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 207-4433
(651) 207-4433
A curved bar with grey stools, orb lights hanging above it, a brick wall to the right, and people behind the bar in the distance.
Parlour’s burger is a must.
Parlour St. Paul

Meritage

410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102

Meritage, tucked into an elegant, glass-paned storefront in downtown St. Paul, might offer the most Parisian bar experience in the Cities. The crescent bar, typically staffed by a gentleman in a black vest and tie, serves champagne infused with an absinthe-soaked sugar cube, Provençals with elderflower, and a selection of French wines — not to mention oysters and other seafood from the raw bar. There are few better places to splurge.

410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 222-5670
(651) 222-5670
An assortment of oysters and other seafood on ice in a glass casing on a bar, with a plant cascading over the glass.
Don’t overlook Meritage’s raw bar.
Meritage

Amsterdam Bar & Hall

6 West 6th Street, Wabasha St N, St Paul, MN 55102

Amsterdam is one of St. Paul’s best live music venues — it regularly books local and national acts, plus DJed dance nights. The beer list is decidedly Belgian, though plenty of local craft brews are offered, too, and the menu features dishes like brisket shawarma burgers, thick-cut fries smothered in gravy, and fried chicken drummies. Stop by for half-off drinks during happy hour, Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

6 West 6th Street, Wabasha St N, St Paul, MN 55102

Brunson's Pub

956 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130

Brunson’s is a stellar neighborhood bar in St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Named for Benjamin Brunson, a land surveyor who built what’s believed to be the oldest standing brick house in St. Paul near Payne Avenue, the pub is owned Thomas and Molly LaFleche, who met working in the local industry. Chef Torrance Beavers adapts the menus seasonally, but it’s a great stop for quality bar food — think loaded fries, wedge salads, hefty braised beef sandwiches, and burgers. (The No Payne No Gain burger, stacked with pulled bacon, blue cheese, and blackberry Vidalia jam, is a solid bet.) Brunson’s patio is a hidden gem in the warmer months, too.

956 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130
(651) 447-2483
(651) 447-2483
A white brick building storefront with a large black and yellow sign that reads “Brunson’s Pub” and a blue sky behind it.
Brunson’s, on Payne Avenue.
Brunson’s Pub

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