Saint Paul Nightlife

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The ridiculous name conjures up images of flaxen-haired waitresses schelpping pancakes to bad polka music but not so. If the Muddy Pig is beer heaven, this is Nirvana: 70 beers on tap, and 350 in bottles. All of this hoppy splendor is housed in a beautifully restored former firehouse with an upscale, ambitious (and pricey) menu besides. Fortunately for those of us who can't swing the dinner prices, there is a pub menu with sandwiches and pizza starting at about $10. No? Ok, just come for the beer. Don't know which one to have? Try one of the flights - you can pick six, 5-oz sample sizes from a predetermined list.

We come for the beer AND the patio. In the warmer months, it's a nice place to hang out. There's a large fireplace to warm it up on chilly evenings, the outdoor bar has almost as many taps as the indoor (although you can order any beer you want), and knowledgeable staff can help you choose.

Not convinced? The Gnome was listed in the May, 2008 issue of All About Beer magazine as one of "125 Places to Have a Beer Before You Die." It's also just 2 blocks east of the Muddy Pig (see previous tip) - which is only two blocks from Sweeney's (see previous tip). With a very short cab ride from downtown hotels and back, the three of them make for one dandy pub crawl! I love St. Paul...

Check the website for hours, directions, menu and lots of good pictures.

Dress Code: Anything (clean) goes on the patio or main floor pub. If eating in the dining room upstairs (Firehouse Room) I might tidy up a bit more.

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I hear that you can eat here but with as many quality beers as The Pig carries, food is strictly optional. I count 48 on the tap list and 63 in bottles. Not to mention a mind-blowing stock of scotches, bourbons and whiskeys. Oh yes, this is a very serious pub and not for sissies - they don't even have a Happy Hour. No matter, we were here for Hop Fest last winter ($8 flights of 3, 5-oz hoppy brews from a menu of 48) and the place was mobbed. Standing room only. Check the website for any current events and a full list of the goods. Good bar staff that's knowledgeable about the brews, and the usual pub-like decor. Great place.

Sun-Thu 11:30am-1am | Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am

There's a very small outdoor patio mainly for smoking. If it's outdoors you want, Sweeney's (see previous tip) is only 2 blocks away (south) on the same street ( (N. Dale.)

Dress Code: Shirt, shoes, whatever.

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Yet another terrific patio for pubbing and grubbing. There is a raging debate out there about whether McGovern's is, or is not, an Irish pub but when the beer's cold and you're under the sun (or the stars) who really cares? Located in the historic Smith Building - a nice bit of Victorian Romanesque architecture built in 1888 by a former mayor of St Paul - it has a large main floor bar/restaurant, upstairs sports bar and a large patio and outdoor bar. Visiting in the winter? The interior is pub-like and comfortable with the requisite TVs for catching the game. Decent food, good selection of beers and just a fun place to hang out for awhile. One warning: it's packed to insanity before concerts or sporting events events at the nearby Xcel Center.

Artists' Quarter is THE place for jazz in downtown St Paul. Owned and operated by local musicians and situated in a club-like basement room right next to Great Waters Brewing, acts range from local to national and covers are usually lower ($5 - $10) than at the Dakota in Minneapolis. It doesn't have a kitchen but you can have food delivered from Great Waters or Wild Thymes pizza - the bar has menus for both and you can call in your order from the club.

Open 7:00 PM - 1:00 AM Mon - Sat, and sometimes Sundays. Tuesdays are strictly for ages 21 and over - other nights are 18 and over (but 21 for alcohol). Reservations really only needed for national acts.

Dress Code: No dress code. Attire is all over the board.

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This is one of my favorite outdoor spots for a pint! Sweeney's has a terrific outdoor patio that snuggles up to their vintage brick building - out of the wind and nicely enclosed so you don't look at a parking lot or busy street. There's an outdoor bar that's open during busier periods, heaters and a fireplace for taking the chill off cool spring and fall days. The patio is multi-tiered, strung with twinkle lights and shaded by trees.

Inside, there's a basic bar (with a fireplace, and TV's for sports enthusiasts) on one side, and a slightly more upscale wine bar on the other. The menu is standard pub-grub - appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, soups, etc. - and there's 16 or brews on tap with at least half of them being "craft" varieties. Daily happy hour specials 4-6 and 9-closing. Oh, and they have a nice rental space upstairs for special events. Check out the website - they have better pix that I have here.

Dress Code: Come as you are.

I was introduced to this lovely Irish pub at my last visit to Saint Paul. The crowd is a happy one and the band playing was alright - I didn't pay much attention to it, I'm afraid. Conversation and Kilkenny's kept me busy ;-)

Fellow VT Don Guan (a.k.a Guantanamera) joined us that night and graced us with his presence :-)

There is live music at the weekends - you can take a look at their schedule on the website if you are interested.

Liffey's also has a wide range of tasty appetizers if you are craving for some food.

Dress Code: No, no. There is none I think - An Irish pub with a dress code? Does such a thing exist?

Dance Club, serving the GLBT community.

We like this club because of its location - an easy walk across the street from where we live.

This is a large venue The building was formerly a warehouse.
- Coatcheck
- Cruise bar with food service (burgers)
- Dance floor and stage
- Tables & stools (wait staff provides bar service)
- Pool tables & darts

Dress Code: Casual

Comfortable, casual, and intimate. On the weeknight I was there, a mixed gay (70%) and lesbian (30%) crown. Small dance floor, djs, occasional drag shows. The kind of place where ""people know your name." (I like this kind of place much better than those "corporate" kind of gay bars that try to cater to everyone and have all the charm of the Mall of America.)

Dress Code: casual - come as you are - not a place to show off your conspicuous consumption