Rafael’s guidebook
Favorite Restaurants/Bars
Great family owned and operated restaurant serving authentic Thai dishes. Dishes can be served to your spice level liking. Cheap options for both lunch and dinner.
Thai Garden
432 University Ave WGreat family owned and operated restaurant serving authentic Thai dishes. Dishes can be served to your spice level liking. Cheap options for both lunch and dinner.
Small neighborhood pub serving up burgers and other pub fair. Small tap list with good craft beer selections.
30 locals recommend
Blue Door Pub St. Paul
1811 Selby AveSmall neighborhood pub serving up burgers and other pub fair. Small tap list with good craft beer selections.
Best craft beer bar in St. Paul with over 90 taps. One of the best beer flight deals in the city (5, 4 oz pours for $15). Large selection of Bourbon, Whiskey, and Scotch. Meals can be a little pricey. Nice outdoor patio when the weather is good.
47 locals recommend
The Happy Gnome
498 Selby AveBest craft beer bar in St. Paul with over 90 taps. One of the best beer flight deals in the city (5, 4 oz pours for $15). Large selection of Bourbon, Whiskey, and Scotch. Meals can be a little pricey. Nice outdoor patio when the weather is good.
Upscale BBQ/Soul Food best known for their fried chicken. Try the Tennessee Hot or Poultergeist for those that like it spicy.
104 locals recommend
Revival
4537 Nicollet AveUpscale BBQ/Soul Food best known for their fried chicken. Try the Tennessee Hot or Poultergeist for those that like it spicy.
This small bar/restaurant gives a taste of Minnesota's Iron Range. Known for pasties and Porketta. The Cuban Porketta is the best!
Iron Ranger
1085 Grand AveThis small bar/restaurant gives a taste of Minnesota's Iron Range. Known for pasties and Porketta. The Cuban Porketta is the best!
Small family owned restaurant serving Vietnamese staples. Great local spot for Pho.
10 locals recommend
Trieu Chau Restaurant
500 University Avenue WestSmall family owned restaurant serving Vietnamese staples. Great local spot for Pho.
Small local restaurant serving "pork free" ramen. Get there early or expect to wait in line for a seat.
9 locals recommend
Tori Ramen
603 7th Street WestSmall local restaurant serving "pork free" ramen. Get there early or expect to wait in line for a seat.
A local Vegan restaurant that is not short on flavor. Food that anyone will enjoy.
28 locals recommend
J. Selby's
169 Victoria StA local Vegan restaurant that is not short on flavor. Food that anyone will enjoy.
Go for the "Parlour Burger" as it is easily one of the best burger's in the city. Nice curated drink menu with bartenders waiting to make something to your liking.
13 locals recommend
Parlour St. Paul
267 7th St WGo for the "Parlour Burger" as it is easily one of the best burger's in the city. Nice curated drink menu with bartenders waiting to make something to your liking.
Small family owned Mexican restaurant. While you certainly can get tacos, try some of their other dishes that you won't normally see on menus.
6 locals recommend
Homi Restaurant
864 University Avenue WestSmall family owned Mexican restaurant. While you certainly can get tacos, try some of their other dishes that you won't normally see on menus.
Amazing Ethiopian food. Do know that it is traditional to eat with your hands. This is a great restaurant for both vegetarians and meat eaters.
15 locals recommend
Fasika Restaurant
510 Snelling Ave NAmazing Ethiopian food. Do know that it is traditional to eat with your hands. This is a great restaurant for both vegetarians and meat eaters.
One of the best local spots for breakfast. Get there early or expect to wait in line.
18 locals recommend
Neighborhood Cafe
1570 Selby AveOne of the best local spots for breakfast. Get there early or expect to wait in line.
Local bar/grill that has great evening and late night happy hour. On a nice day head to the outdoor patio in the back.
16 locals recommend
Sweeney's Saloon
96 Dale St NLocal bar/grill that has great evening and late night happy hour. On a nice day head to the outdoor patio in the back.
Known for their pizza they also have good sandwiches and dishes. Perfect for all eaters (meat, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free).
99 locals recommend
Pizza Luce
2200 E Franklin AveKnown for their pizza they also have good sandwiches and dishes. Perfect for all eaters (meat, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free).
Best Breweries
Great local brewery with lots of space and board games. IPA lovers will enjoy their hazy IPA's but they always have something available for everyone. While you are there check out Can Can Wonderland for fun new take on miniature golf or Flannel Jax's for axe throwing.
21 locals recommend
BlackStack Brewing
755 Prior Ave NGreat local brewery with lots of space and board games. IPA lovers will enjoy their hazy IPA's but they always have something available for everyone. While you are there check out Can Can Wonderland for fun new take on miniature golf or Flannel Jax's for axe throwing.
Arguably one of the best brewery's in Minnesota. As a smaller brewer you are only able to get their beer in house. Known for their hazy IPA's and fruited sours.
10 locals recommend
Barrel Theory Beer Company
248 7th St EArguably one of the best brewery's in Minnesota. As a smaller brewer you are only able to get their beer in house. Known for their hazy IPA's and fruited sours.
Minnesota's first co-op owned breweries is known for their sours and German style brews.
60 locals recommend
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
2506 Central Ave NEMinnesota's first co-op owned breweries is known for their sours and German style brews.
Northeast Minneapolis is at the heart of the craft beer scene and Dangerous Man sits right at the center. The lively tap room is the only place you will be able to snag any of their beers. They always have a lot of options available to try. If they are on tap, order a half Chocolate Milk stout and half Peanut Butter Porter.
115 locals recommend
Dangerous Man Brewing Company
1300 NE 2nd StNortheast Minneapolis is at the heart of the craft beer scene and Dangerous Man sits right at the center. The lively tap room is the only place you will be able to snag any of their beers. They always have a lot of options available to try. If they are on tap, order a half Chocolate Milk stout and half Peanut Butter Porter.
Wild Minds is the place to go to try all things sour and funky. They are known for their wild fermentation and experimentation.
18 locals recommend
Wild Mind Artisan Ales
6031 Pillsbury AveWild Minds is the place to go to try all things sour and funky. They are known for their wild fermentation and experimentation.
While Surly may no longer hold the crown for best brewery, they certainly have the largest. Known as a "destination" brewery this is a great place to grab dinner and drinks. Their large outdoor patio is great during the warmer months.
189 locals recommend
Surly Brewing Co.
520 Malcolm Avenue SoutheastWhile Surly may no longer hold the crown for best brewery, they certainly have the largest. Known as a "destination" brewery this is a great place to grab dinner and drinks. Their large outdoor patio is great during the warmer months.
This is great brewery to go before events at the Xcel Energy Center.
40 locals recommend
Bad Weather Brewing Company
414 7th St WThis is great brewery to go before events at the Xcel Energy Center.