Looking for a comprehensive St. Paul dining guide of the best restaurants in the area? If you’re in the mood for good food, there are plenty of options in downtown St. Paul. From hip Italian markets to contemporary wine bars to relaxed bar and grills – there’s something to satisfy every craving.
Apartments in St. Paul is here to help you find the perfect restaurant to keep hunger at bay. Here’s our guide on the best food in and around Downtown St. Paul – let’s get started!
Address: 410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102
This polished French bistro offers a seasonal menu, an oyster bar, long wine list and sidewalk seating. The classically timeless dining room at Meritage offers an ambiance regardless of mood. The terrace offers a place to enjoy fine dining on warm evenings, a wonderful place to enjoy some Moules Frites and a glass of rose.
Address: 850 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
For delicious burgers seafood and steaks, cooked over wood fires, head to this relaxed restaurant. Bonfire is a neighborhood hangout where friends and family can gather to share food with bold flavors prepared on wood fire grills. The restaurant also features twice-daily happy hours, perfect for after-work gatherings.
Address: 917 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
This popular French bistro in downtown St. Paul offers a warm vibe, traditional dishes, craft cocktails and patio seating. The Salut lunch and dinner menus feature the best french onion soup in town and a famous bouillabaisse.
Address: 777 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
This casual eatery showcases slow-cooked, Creole-style comfort food with vegetarian and gluten-free items. The popular menu at Brasa is built upon superior quality products and is well-designed for sharing and sampling.
Address: 799 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55104
This unique French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant prepares farm-to-fork meals and boasts a full bar with local brews. Ngon Bistro, located in Frogtown, prepares their food using only fresh local and sustainable ingredients with a full bar that focuses exclusively on Minnesota craft beers.
Address: 498 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
For more than ten years, this contemporary staple offers local, seasonal fare and a variety of draft microbrews, plus patio seating. The Happy Gnome offers 89 taps and delicious cuisine focused on fresh, seasonal selections.
Address: 393 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Providing a sophisticated twist on the classic neighborhood tavern, Red Cow celebrates finely crafted eats and drinks with a focus on gourmet burgers, craft beers, and fine wine. Their award-winning burgers are unlike any you’ll find elsewhere. If that isn’t enough to make you want to stop in, they rotate 36 craft beers regularly throughout the year.
Address: 261 5th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
Saint Dinette offers a wide-ranging menu featuring American fare with updated takes on classic dishes and cocktails. This restaurants offers tastes from places such as the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, through the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi, and to the jungle coast south of the border. Don’t pass up the chance to experience this creative fare (and an amazing burger) in a classic setting.
Address: 371 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
If you’re in search of traditional Russian fare, head to Moscow On The Hill. Offering a restaurant and vodka bar with patio seating and happy hour, this authentic restaurant offers food from nearly every part of Russia.
Address: 771 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116
Classic comfort dishes and cocktails are the draw at this bustling mainstay with an upbeat atmosphere. We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, morning, noon and night.
We complement our food with a small but unique wine list, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of local draft beers. The ‘Grill’ setting is hip, modern and comfortable, trendy and still affordable.
Address: 79 Western Ave N, St Paul, MN 55102
The Commodore is located in one of St. Paul’s most historically significant properties. Here, you’ll find American fare and libations in a classy, art deco–inspired space originally opened in the 1930s. The space is synonymous with silent era, literary legend, gangster lore and the glamorous jazz age. Now it’s open to a new generation of Saint Paul’s movers and shakers. The property has been meticulously restored, preserving its iconic status.
Address: 425 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
Another enduring eatery in St. Paul is DeGidio’s, open since 1933. DeGidio’s was a favorite watering hole for many of the most notorious mob figures during Saint Paul’s famous gangster era. This restaurant serves reasonably priced Italian classics and some American food, as well as a full bar in a casual space.
Address: 452 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Head to La Grolla if you’re in search of a cozy neighborhood Italian spot offering classic pasta or grilled dishes with a charming garden patio. Chef Antonio Tettamanzi opened La Grolla in 2003 with the vision of an inviting, upscale neighborhood restaurant where patrons feel embraced by the Italian cuisine, surroundings and staff.
Address: 605 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
This fantastic neighborhood sport offers superb Mexican fare and craft cocktails served in industrial-chic surrounds. Pajarito pushes the envelope on traditional Mexican dishes with modern touches and fresh, vibrant flavors.
Address: 360 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102
Whether you are looking for a romantic night out, or a fun night on the town, Pazzaluna offers a wide-ranging Italian menu plus a full range of wine options. This authentic Italian restaurant, set in a contemporary space with tall columns and colorful murals, is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
Address: 2239, 486 Robert St N, St Paul, MN 55101
Sawatdee Saint Paul was the first Sawatdee, opened in 1983. This long-standing local chain offers a wide range of Thai classics that made them famous and a full bar. Located in lowertown, it has been referred to as “the old Sawatdee” since it closed to make way for the new. With a new location on Robert Street in downtown Saint Paul, “the old Sawatdee” is now “the new Sawatdee,”
Address: 350 Market St, St Paul, MN 55102
Classic American eatery showcasing steaks, chops and seafood, plus an array of single-malt scotches. The St. Paul Grill, where iconic nostalgia and contemporary energy set the tone for a comfortably sophisticated dining experience.
Address: 276 Exchange St S, St Paul, MN 55102
Forepaugh’s offers upscale New American dishes and wine offered in an antique-filled Victorian mansion with patio dining. Enjoy award-winning cuisine in a historic and charming 19th-century setting. Whether it’s a romantic dinner on the rooftop terrace, a burger and beer in the bar area, a wedding reception on the third floor, happy hour on the patio or a business dinner in the wine cellar – Forepaugh’s has something for everyone.
Address: 5 W 7th Pl, St Paul, MN 55102
A fast, friendly, and affordable place for anything from coffee and tea, to lunch, dinner and dessert. Afro Deli is a social venture that attempts to weave together business with community and culture. All dishes are made fresh and prepared Halal.
Address: 380 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102
Kincaid’s is known as an upscale American chain, with a menu featuring steaks, seafood and cocktails, served in a sophisticated dining space. Since 1986, restaurant-goers have been enjoying lunch and dinner at Kincaid’s, perfect for a night out or any special occasion.
Address: 211 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
Cossetta is a hip venue in the heart of St. Paul, offering modern Italian cuisine, plus a rooftop “taverna” for drinks and antipasti. Additionally, the newly expanded Cossetta offers a true Italian marketplace experience. Grab a slice and find a seat right away in the 300-seat Eatery and Pizzeria, or head up to the third story with family and friends for pasta, secondi and dolce in Louis Ristorante and Bar.
Address: 400 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Fern’s offers a relaxed, neighborhood hangout with weekly food specials and late hours, plus shuffleboard and darts. This local spot is a great place to unwind, with good food and service during happy hour, game day or any other occasion.
Looking for more bars in the Twin Cities? Check out the best bars in Minneapolis!
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