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An earthenware bowl filled with fried/charred brussels sprouts garnished with sliced, red chilis, chopped herbs, black sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts
The brussels sprouts at Just/Us in Lowertown
Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

Where to Eat and Drink in St. Paul's Lowertown Neighborhood

A cool neighborhood filled with fantastic food options

by Joy Summers Updated
View as Map
The brussels sprouts at Just/Us in Lowertown
| Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities
by Joy Summers Updated

St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood has grown from a quiet, rough-around-the-edges collection of historic buildings into a thriving, vibrant part of the city packed with restaurants and sights to take in. From CHS Field, home to the St. Paul Saints, to the locally grown-only Farmers Market, to art galleries, and more. It’s a beautiful part of the cities and a fantastic spot to grab a bite after checking out the St. Paul Winter Carnival.

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Handsome Hog

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Handsome Hog serves Southern-ish, bold cuisine like whole roasted hog jowl plus positively crave-worth spicy chicken on waffles from local celebrity chef Justin Sutherland. The cocktail menu boasts plenty of bourbon.

225 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 651-6516
(651) 651-6516
A tall, glass-backed bar wall with seats in front of it Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

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The Buttered Tin

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Cupcake and hashbrown fans have lined up every weekend since The Buttered Tin first opened in 2013. Breakfast is served all day plus there's a bakery counter filled with confections from owner and baker Alicia Hinze.

237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 224-2300
(651) 224-2300
Katie Cannon

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Barrio Tequila Bar

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The kicky restaurant, across the street from Mears Park, serves Mexican cuisine and margaritas with top shelf tequila.

235 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 222-3250
(651) 222-3250
Facebook

Barrel Theory Beer Company

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This super cool tap room is an ideal place to kick back with one a Shredder McGavin or a What the Fluff. It’s serious beer with not-too-serious names.

248 7th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 600-3422
(651) 600-3422

Dark Horse Bar & Eatery

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An ambitious menu spanning the globe is served at barroom prices. The funky urban space, complete with on-trend rustic industrial touches like exposed metal ductwork and gleaming chandeliers is welcoming to urbanites and families, lunch meetings and happy hour gatherings.

250 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 313-7960
(651) 313-7960

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The Bulldog Lowertown

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An ideal stop for locally brewed beers by the flight. Dig into a burger basket with a side of some of the best fries in Lowertown. The menu features all kinds of bar food classics - with a cheffy twist like poblano pepper spiked artichoke dip.

237 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 221-0750
(651) 221-0750
Trip Advisor

Ox Cart Arcade & Rooftop

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An adult-friendly arcade featuring all kinds of games from Mario to pinball, air hockey to Jurassic Park. Stop in for fun, cocktails, and State Fair-type snacks.

255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 528-6171
(651) 528-6171

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Saint Dinette

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The dreamy cheeseburger and bologna sandwich have earned legendary status, but it's chef Adam Eaton's evolving, seasonal menu that has us returning time and again. The cocktails are top notch and service, is convivial, kind and attentive. This place is essential St. Paul dining.

261 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 800-1415
(651) 800-1415
Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

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Big River Pizza

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After cultivating a following with a mobile woodfire oven, Big River settled into a space across the street from St. Paul’s Farmers Market. Specializing in what they call “Minne-politan” pizza these are baked Neapolitan style, then topped with locally sourced ingredients.

280 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 683-2186
(651) 683-2186

Birch's Lowertown Tap Room & Barrel House Piano Bar Lounge

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Another local brewery, this place also serves food, and there’s a subterranean bar. It’s a fun spot to grab a cocktail and get a little music exposure.

289 E 5th St E Suite, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 432-4677
(651) 432-4677

True Stone Coffee Roasters (Cafe)

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This cafe recently shifted from being The Salty Tart to being operated by the coffee roasters (who have overseen the fantastic beverages inside here all along.) There are still all kinds of baked treats and an elegant coffeehouse vibe for offsite working.

289 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101, United States
The Salty Tart cafe interior, from behind a giant curtain, there’s a pastry case in the background Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

just/us eatery and events

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A newly open, counter-service restaurant is serving an eclectic array of gorgeous dishes from truly noteworthy brussels sprouts to burgers to seasoned, ribs shellacked in sticky, spicy goods. Stop by for a coffee drink, actual cocktail drink, and watch the stage and schedule for live performances. There’s even a community meeting space in back. This team is ready to serve the neighborhood in all kinds of ways.

275 4th St E #102, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 424-1080
(651) 424-1080

Octo Fish Bar

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James Beard Award winning chef Tim McKee's seafood restaurant is the single best place in town to order up a seafood tower. McKee has partnered with local seafood importer The Fish Guys to make hard-to-find seafood into accessible dishes. From casual dinner or pre-event drinks to weekend brunch pop-ups, this is place to see and be seen.

289 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 202-3415
(651) 202-3415
A seafood tower
All the pretty things at Octo Fishbar
TJ Turner/Eater Twin Cities

Black Dog Cafe

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Black Dog’s eclectic vibe wholly suits the neighborhood and its historic space. It’s a dinner restaurant, casual lunch spot, art gallery, and music venue.

308 E Prince St, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 228-9274
(651) 228-9274

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Handsome Hog

225 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

Handsome Hog serves Southern-ish, bold cuisine like whole roasted hog jowl plus positively crave-worth spicy chicken on waffles from local celebrity chef Justin Sutherland. The cocktail menu boasts plenty of bourbon.

225 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 651-6516
(651) 651-6516
A tall, glass-backed bar wall with seats in front of it Katie Cannon/Eater Twin Cities

The Buttered Tin

237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

Cupcake and hashbrown fans have lined up every weekend since The Buttered Tin first opened in 2013. Breakfast is served all day plus there's a bakery counter filled with confections from owner and baker Alicia Hinze.

237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 224-2300
(651) 224-2300
Katie Cannon

Barrio Tequila Bar

235 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

The kicky restaurant, across the street from Mears Park, serves Mexican cuisine and margaritas with top shelf tequila.

235 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 222-3250
(651) 222-3250
Facebook

Barrel Theory Beer Company

248 7th St E, St Paul, MN 55101

This super cool tap room is an ideal place to kick back with one a Shredder McGavin or a What the Fluff. It’s serious beer with not-too-serious names.

248 7th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 600-3422
(651) 600-3422

Dark Horse Bar & Eatery

250 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

An ambitious menu spanning the globe is served at barroom prices. The funky urban space, complete with on-trend rustic industrial touches like exposed metal ductwork and gleaming chandeliers is welcoming to urbanites and families, lunch meetings and happy hour gatherings.

250 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 313-7960
(651) 313-7960

The Bulldog Lowertown

237 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

An ideal stop for locally brewed beers by the flight. Dig into a burger basket with a side of some of the best fries in Lowertown. The menu features all kinds of bar food classics - with a cheffy twist like poblano pepper spiked artichoke dip.

237 6th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 221-0750
(651) 221-0750
Trip Advisor

Ox Cart Arcade & Rooftop

255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101

An adult-friendly arcade featuring all kinds of games from Mario to pinball, air hockey to Jurassic Park. Stop in for fun, cocktails, and State Fair-type snacks.

255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 528-6171
(651) 528-6171

Saint Dinette

261 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

The dreamy cheeseburger and bologna sandwich have earned legendary status, but it's chef Adam Eaton's evolving, seasonal menu that has us returning time and again. The cocktails are top notch and service, is convivial, kind and attentive. This place is essential St. Paul dining.

261 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 800-1415
(651) 800-1415
Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

Big River Pizza

280 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

After cultivating a following with a mobile woodfire oven, Big River settled into a space across the street from St. Paul’s Farmers Market. Specializing in what they call “Minne-politan” pizza these are baked Neapolitan style, then topped with locally sourced ingredients.

280 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 683-2186
(651) 683-2186

Birch's Lowertown Tap Room & Barrel House Piano Bar Lounge

289 E 5th St E Suite, St Paul, MN 55101

Another local brewery, this place also serves food, and there’s a subterranean bar. It’s a fun spot to grab a cocktail and get a little music exposure.

289 E 5th St E Suite, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 432-4677
(651) 432-4677

True Stone Coffee Roasters (Cafe)

289 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101, United States

This cafe recently shifted from being The Salty Tart to being operated by the coffee roasters (who have overseen the fantastic beverages inside here all along.) There are still all kinds of baked treats and an elegant coffeehouse vibe for offsite working.

289 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101, United States
The Salty Tart cafe interior, from behind a giant curtain, there’s a pastry case in the background Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

just/us eatery and events

275 4th St E #102, St Paul, MN 55101

A newly open, counter-service restaurant is serving an eclectic array of gorgeous dishes from truly noteworthy brussels sprouts to burgers to seasoned, ribs shellacked in sticky, spicy goods. Stop by for a coffee drink, actual cocktail drink, and watch the stage and schedule for live performances. There’s even a community meeting space in back. This team is ready to serve the neighborhood in all kinds of ways.

275 4th St E #102, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 424-1080
(651) 424-1080

Octo Fish Bar

289 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

James Beard Award winning chef Tim McKee's seafood restaurant is the single best place in town to order up a seafood tower. McKee has partnered with local seafood importer The Fish Guys to make hard-to-find seafood into accessible dishes. From casual dinner or pre-event drinks to weekend brunch pop-ups, this is place to see and be seen.

289 5th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 202-3415
(651) 202-3415
A seafood tower
All the pretty things at Octo Fishbar
TJ Turner/Eater Twin Cities

Black Dog Cafe

308 E Prince St, St Paul, MN 55101

Black Dog’s eclectic vibe wholly suits the neighborhood and its historic space. It’s a dinner restaurant, casual lunch spot, art gallery, and music venue.

308 E Prince St, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 228-9274
(651) 228-9274

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