Best St. Paul Bars
As the smaller of the Twin Cities, Saint Paul sometimes get rapped for not having as active a nightlife as its sibling to the west. But longtime residents know that there are bars, and then there are the best St. Paul bars where they can scope the singles scene, catch a Vikings or Twins game, or just kick back with good friends and good beer. Here's an unscientific ranking of the best St. Paul Bars.
St. Paul Grill
St. Paul Grill is the place to go when you're looking to impress a business client or new romantic partner, and are prepared to drop the necessary coin to do so. Think high-toned nightlife, wood and leather, ties loosened but jackets still on. St. Paul Grill is famous for its expansive list of fine spirits, especially rare Scotches, Irish whiskeys and imported gins, vodkas and more. There's an unexpectedly hearty menu, including their most famous sandwich, The Grill Charlie's -- tenderloin beef with caramelized onions and béarnaise sauce.
Dubliner Pub
On the flip side of the Grill is Dubliner Pub, regularly ranked as one of the city's best "dive" bars for its healthy selection of beers and liquor. It is a great place for cheap drinks but the Dubliner Pub is better known as a terrific small venue for live music, especially of the Irish variety. The dance floor is rarely empty, and shot glasses don't stay full for long. The floor is dirty and the chairs are old and worn, but there's no better place in Saint Paul for pounding Guinness with your mates.
Heartland Restaurant
Heartland Restaurant is one of the city's dining destinations, but the wine bar has a reputation all its own as one of the best-stocked in the Midwest. The lounge is located in a large atrium adjacent to the restaurant, featuring a wide range of wine, spirits and microbrews. Following the locally grown theme of the restaurant, most mixers and garnishes are made in-house from ingredients supplied by local farmers.
Alary’s Bar
As sports bars go, Alary's Bar is consistently voted as one of the top spots in Saint Paul, whether your game is football, baseball, hockey or basketball, pro or college. Interestingly enough, Alary's is one of the few places one can go in Minnesota and openly root for the Chicago Bears, since founder "Big Al" Baisi played for the Bears before World War II. Founded in 1949, in recent years Alary's has become the hangout of choice for off-duty police officers, firefighters, attorneys and city and state workers. The bar is decorated with police and fire memorabilia and, of course, Chicago Bears mementos.
Posted on May 3, 2011 by Christopher Lloyd
