Dining and Shopping
Diversity from Haute Cuisine to Home Cookin’
Diversity is the word for Saint Paul’s restaurant scene and the good news is that there’s something here to suit every taste and every budget. The return of NHL hockey to Saint Paul has brought in many new restaurants.
The city’s ethnic heritage makes its restaurant lineup read like the United Nations. The West Side offers authentic Mexican cuisine. Greek and Italian cuisines are popular on Grand Avenue. And the city’s newest residents, Southeast Asians, serve up authentic fare in the Capitol area near University Avenue.
Lowertown’s Union Depot served as the center of America’s railroad system built by James J. Hill. Today, visit the Depot for dining in an historic setting. Your group can enjoy roaming this district, stopping in at one of Lowertown's cafes, relax and have lunch in the shade, or walk through Mears Park to enjoy its creek and urban forest. Stroll down to Lower Landing to watch boats steam by on the Mississippi River.
Many locals favor spicy ribs, broiled steaks or pasta specialties. But walleye pike – Minnesota’s state fish – is included on most menus.
Not surprisingly, some of Saint Paul’s finest restaurants are in restored mansions or historic buildings.
When the temperature soars in July and August, Saint Paulites prefer to dine outdoors under fringed umbrellas.
The Saint Paul/East Metro area offers some of the Twin Cities finest dining and shopping experiences. Major malls and quaint urban retail districts are plentiful. Restaurants, cafes, neighborhood specialty restaurants and coffee shops are intertwined with retail shops for every taste.
Saint Paul’s unique shopping districts include Grand and Selby avenues (south of Interstate 94) which feature one-of-a-kind boutiques — many in renovated Victorian houses. Great Harvest Bread Co., EQ Life, Gold’N Treasures, Restoration Hardware, the Bibelot Shop, and Patagonia are among the shops there that offer a variety of unique and specialty items. And an added bonus — there is no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota! Lively restaurants and coffeehouses like Dixie’s, Fabulous Ferns, Moscow on the Hill, Tavern-on-Grand and the Green Mill feature delicious regional favorites.
Whether you desire gourmet delicacies, familiar favorites or the assortment of fine cuisines offered by the many ethnic populations that have come to the area, you can find something to suit your tastes in the Saint Paul/East Metro area. Downtown Saint Paul features Chico Chica Mexican Restaurant, the trendy Fhimas bar and restaurant, Matty B’s Supper Club, Pazzaluna, Lowertown’s LoTo restaurant and the new Margaux Limitee to name a few.
For major shopping experiences, the region offers an array of malls, including the famed Mall of America, the largest regional mall in the area, and Rosedale Center in Roseville.
Area Malls | |
Burnsville Center Har Mar Mall Mall of America | Maplewood Mall Rosedale Center Woodbury Lakes |
Visitor Information Resources | |
Hospitality Minnesota Minnesota Office of Tourism Roseville Visitors Association | Saint Paul After Hours Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention Saintpaulchamber.com, the Chamber’s website, provides information about the area’s fine restaurants and shops. Explore Minnesota and the Minnesota Restaurant Association also produce restaurant guides that may be requested by contacting the Minnesota Office of Tourism at 1.800.657.3700. |
Shopping
Saint Paul’s one-of-a-kind shopping is second to none! From the historic streets of Grand and Selby Avenues to the world famous Mall of America, the Saint Paul area has a wide variety of unique shopping to experience. High fashion complexes and popular new outlet centers contrast to enchanting 19th Century warehouses and great antique shopping. Most neighborhoods also offer shopping centers or malls. As an added bonus, there’s no sales tax on clothing or shoes in Minnesota.
Close to the heart of downtown Saint Paul, Grand Avenue offers visitors a rare assortment of shops and restaurants. This Victorian-style strolling street is lined with turn-of-the-century residences and storefronts. Throngs of shoppers, resembling a parade line, search out bookstores, specialty shops, coffee shops and ethnic restaurants.
North America’s longest publicly owned skyway system having 4.7 miles of glass-enclosed, climate-controlled pedestrian thoroughfares, has turned Saint Paul into a second-story city, where retail businesses laugh at the weather forecaster.
Downtown Saint Paul is full of shopping gems. The Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota History Center and Minnesota Children’s Museum each house distinctive gift shops. Wabasha and St. Peter streets are dotted with specialty shops from Marshall Field’s department store to Bockstruck Jewelers, a 100-year-old family business.
For a small-town atmosphere, shoppers will love Stillwater. Located 20 minutes east of Saint Paul, this
St. Croix River town is loaded with antique and specialty shops, several riverfront restaurants and even a local winery.
Each year with the first rays of spring sunshine, anxious shoppers converge on the Saint Paul Farmers’ Market in Lowertown to choose from row upon row of vegetables and flowering plants. There’s a festive spirit
at the market and there’s always time for a homemade donut or muffin dispensed from vendor carts.
Mall of America
Perhaps our most famous attraction is the incredible Mall of America. The largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States is just a short 15-minute drive from downtown Saint Paul. Don’t have a car available? Metro Transit express buses depart every half hour for the Mall.
Anchored by Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Sears, it also includes more than 520 other stores.
The Mall is so large that if it was on one level, it would cover 35 city blocks! In its 4.2 million square feet, it also features more than 60 restaurants and nightclubs and a 14-movie screen complex.
Mall of America also features Camp Snoopy, the largest enclosed amusement park in the world with 29 rides and attractions. Underwater Adventures, a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium with 8,000 fish, reptiles and amphibians, brings you face-to-face with real sharks and stingrays. NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway is an indoor entertainment complex featuring realistic stock car simulators.
For a “power shopping,” entertainment or dining experience, Mall of America is the greatest!
Keys Cafe & Bakery 651-222-4083 500 Robert Street North
St Paul, MN 55101 Breakfast & Lunch Average $7
A Rebours Bistro 651-665-0656 410 St. Peter Street St. Paul, MN 55101
French Contemporary Everything is high quality here
Average Entree: $18-28
Amandas 651-222-3883 332 Minnesota St, St Paul, MN 55101
Deli Sandwiches
Average Entree: $4.50
Aromas Pizza 651 2939040, 350 Saint Peter St Inside The Lowry Building
Pizza, Sandwiches, Pasta, Ice cream, Breads and Pizza Dough made from scratch daily!
Average Entree: $7
Babani's Kurdish Restaurant 651-602-9964 544 Saint Peter Street
Middle Eastern
Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar 651-228-9274 308 Prince Street
sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza, exhibits and events that celebrate the local arts community
Cecil's Delicatessen & Bakery 651-698-0334, 651 Cleveland Avenue South
Jewish Foods, Delivery
Christos Greek Restaurant Union Depot 651-224-6000214 E 4th St.
Average Entree: $12.00
D. Brian's Deli & Catering 651-223-7979, 444 Cedar St
Boxed Lunches, Fruit and Vegie Trays
Average Entree: $5
Downtowner Woodfire Grill 651-228-9500,
253 West 7th Street American with a Persian touch
Specializing in fire-roasted meats
Average Entree: $20-30
Dunn Bros 651-767-0567 367 Wabasha
Fresh Roasted Coffee, Sandwiches, pastries and snacks
Forepaugh's 651-224-5606, 276 S Exchange Street
Enjoy continental cuisine in a Historic Victorian Manor served to perfection at reasonable prices.
Average Entree: $17 - 29
Jay’s Café 651-641-1446, 791 Raymond Ave
Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner Wednesday-Saturday, Tuesday Lunch only; Sunday Brunch.
Average Entree: $under 10
Katsu Sushi 651-310-0111, 465 Wabasha Street North
Average Entree: $21-30
Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House, 651-602-9000, 380 Saint Peter Street
Average Entrée: $20-30
Margaux 651-407-6438, 486 N. Robert St
French & American cuisine Average Entree: $10-24.00
Matty B's 651-291-0404, 354 North Wabasha Street
Supper Club - Fine Dining, Steaks & Chops, Seafood
Average Entree: $Under 30
Mickey's Diner 651-222-5633,1950 W 7th St
World Famous Greasy Spoon, Cheap Eats, Open 24hrs!
Minnesota Music Café 651-776-4699 499 Payne Av
St Paul, MN 55101 Live music every night
Mr. B's Bar-B-Que 952-334-0488 at Northwest Center 55 E. Fifth St
Average Entree: $7
Pazzaluna Urban Trattoria & Bar 651-223-7000, 360 Saint Peter Street
Italian Fine Dining
Average Entrée: $15-$25
River Room Restaurant 651-292-5026, 411 Cedar Street
Located in Downtown Marshall Field's
Lunch only Average Entrée: $10
Sakura Restaurant & Sushi 651-224-0185, 350 Saint Peter Street
Award-winning sushi
Serlin's Café 651-776-9003 1124 Payne Avenue
Solo Restaurant & Nightclub, 651-111-1111, 111 E Kellogg Blvd
Latin / American restaurant & nightclub
Steaks, Seafood, Burgers & Fried Chicken. Latin & hip-hop sound
Soul Shine Café 651-293-4403, 271 W. 7th St.
St Paul Grill, 651-224-7455, 350 Market St
Fine Dining, Steaks & Chops
St. Paul Classic Cookie Company 651-227-4840 Skyway/Fifth Street Center
56 E. 6th St.Cookies and Muffins baked daily.
Average Entree: $1.25
Steep and Brew Coffee Shop 651 221-9859, 101 E 5th St
Trattoria da Vinci 651-222-4050, 400 Sibley St
Italian food Average Entree: $10-20
Wild Tymes Bar & Grill 651-224-8181,33 West 7th Place
Average Entrée: $9.00
Woolley's Restaurant 651-224-5111, 175 East 10th Street Embassy Suites Hotel