The Most Scrumptious Dive Bars in Saint Paul

Half Time Rec

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (93) • $$

"Met a friend and some friends that are regulars last month. What a great neighborhood bar! I didn't ask if it was new or I just never noticed but besides street parking they have a small parking lot across the street! Our bartender was very attentive and friendly... kept stopping back as I couldn't decide if I was going to drink or not? The patrons are just a bunch of chill folks hanging out...definitely my atmosphere. Not like you would think... a dim lit bar... we had full lights beaming during our visit. I like that they have some regulars photos stapled along the bar....as a dear friend who passed several years ago.... I always look for his photos. Thanks Half Time Rec for being such a relaxing and inviting place to catch up w friends, cheers!"

Cedar Creek Inn

★★★★☆ 4.2 (6)

"The Cedar Creek Inn is the original dive bar out in the Wisconsin countryside. They just totally remodeled the inside and it really is nice. All new wood walls and ceilings, vaulted ceilings, new speaker system, new floors, new bathrooms, but surprisingly the same cheap price on drinks. Service is what you'd expect from small town Wisconsin, friendly and attentive. Lots of regulars here. Two tap beers and a mixed drink for under $9 is ridiculously cheap. Yet the drink was strong and the mugs were pulled from the freezer so they are nice and frosty. We've had breakfast here quite a few times and it was rather good. Definitely not the best in town, but home cooked, hot off the griddle, big portions, and cheap. They have real good late night frozen pizzas that hit the spot after a few pitchers of beer. A lot of the food has that Wisconsin theme of meat, meat, cheese, meat, and brats. This place would normally be a 2-3 star joint, but the recent efforts on remodeling really turn it up a few notches. The bartender says they will be remodeling the exterior also. In the nice months, they have a porch and deck to sit out and have your meal and drinks while listening to the creek bubble on by. Picnic tables out on the back lawn by the creek too. Some nights they start a bonfire. Just a cool small town America bar that serves cheap drinks, pretty good food, and has a cool Wisconsin atmosphere. Oh yeah, and 1919 Root Beer on tap served in a frosty mug makes me really, really happy."

J's Restaurant & Bar Down Under

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (11)

"Went to J's Down Under..the bar under the restaurant. Having read the review about the "dive bar", it was exactly as expected. The bloody marys were great and the breakfast pretty good. Loved the local vibe."

Spring Street Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.7 (118) • $

"Amazing wings and dips. The blue cheese, ranch and seasoned sour creams were the best I've had. Atmosphere is relaxing and diverse. All around excellent experience."

Old Clover Inn

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (9) • $

"The Old Clover Inn is a great pub / classic dive bar. Great atmosphere friendly people... They've got full tabs perfect bar food size like popcorn They even have an old school coffee maker if you just want to come in here and get a classic coffee and Bailey's.... Some nights I have karaoke and if you really want to get your Groupon there's room to dance We stopped in during vadna's heights days and or greeted at the door it's eclectic mix of people and feels extremely welcoming You can watch the game play pull tabs grab a quick bite to eat and have an amazing mixed drink or a classic Bud and just people watch. This place is always the perfect stop on your way to somewhere or on your way home at the end of the night."

Ryders Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.3 (13)

"The customer service from these guys are always fantastic! All the service always do a great job helping us. The outside patio keeps getting nicer. Dont pick the table by the door of the patio, people will smoke right next to you while your eating your dinner which is gross and totally rude when you brought your kids and parents. Their food their is great and keeps getting BETTER!! Compliments to the chefs, they keep upping their game on food. We loooove good food and will keep coming back for that. Seriously one of the best in the pine city area. Bummer was a couple times they were out of our favorites. If I could make a request, I just wish some of the guests would keep it a bit classier by smoking by the parking lot and not cursing as much and keeping it PG-13 so we can make Riders a more comfortable place to hang with family and friends. I really like this spot but don't want to worry about bring my kids/family/friends here. Keep it coming with the yummy food and matching it with the local ciders (be sure to try it, we really love that!)."

Crystal Tavern

★★★★★ 4.5 (4)

"This bar is just what we were hoping it'd be: a small dive in a small town. CASH ONLY and there's NO ATM.When the three of us went, we were the only ones there... which we loved, but we hope they get more business. It was so cozy it felt like being at a friend's house, especially with the wood paneling and gingham curtains. There was a jukebox, pool table, a TV, bar of course, some slot-like machines/games, and snacks. The bartender was friendly and chill and amused with our terrible pool game that we made up the rules for. The drinks were cheap and the options in the jukebox were diverse and silly. You could spin the "Necessity Wheel" for $1 to win stuff like toilet paper, detergent or two free drinks! There were a lot of photos of family and friends on display which I thought was precious."

Gordie's Place

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (9) • $

"Friendly service and fun atmosphere!This is a great little neighborhood bar with pull tabs, a deck, a good jukebox, popcorn and a kinda new door. What else do you need?Remember when someone ran into the place years ago? Well, a few people got hurt, but the place got spiffed up afterwards.It's been a late night stop for us and our friends quite a few times. And in fact, a good stop on a dive bar/bachelorette tour.Check it out, you can always catch an Uber home and leave your car in the lot overnight if you have one too many."

Vegas Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.5 (108) • $

"What a blast! Karaoke is so much fun here! When you pull up there is a round about that you can be dropped off at or off the street. The bouncer checks your ID at the door. He seems cool as hell. So was the bartender. She was awesome. I placed my song in and was able to sing maybe an hour later. The singers here are incredible and it was such a fun vibe! Worth checking out if you are in the area. Pretty crowded but not standing room only. You can get in. We went on a Saturday night."

Terminal Bar

★★★★☆ 3.5 (30) • $$

"I came here half dozen times for Comedy night, which is open mike for stand up amateurs. While the comedy ain't great, I highly recommend checking it out just for the experience.It's a dive bar, so I can't really complain about the selection of beer, but they did usually have at least one or two decent craft beers on tap.It's a casual place with good people, and a horrible bathroom."

Nauti Hawg Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (30) • $

"It had been 4 years since I visited this place. Food is great, people are friendly, service was outstanding by Joe the bartender and the prices are so reasonably set for a great luncheon as well as drinks were cheaper than most places we go. If you are ever on the mighty Mississippi near Treasure Island Casino and lock and dam number 3, this is a great stopping area for a good lunch and American Menu. I hope the prices stay the same. The only item I couldn't figure out was the Bavarian Pretzel was $10 and that seemed high but the rest of the menu was reasonable and delicious!! Good burgers and fries. Thanks Joe for taking care of us and the bar too. I would have given it 5 stars but the place needs some TLC clean up and the restrooms were let's just say need improvements. Otherwise a great bar and grill to hang out on the river."

Clover Leaf Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (18) • $

"Stopped in for a quick beverage and got quick service. Looks like they serve some food. I didn't eat.Will visit again as this is a convenient location. Just a little bit of parking out front and possibly some in back."

Casper's and Runyon's Nook

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"This is a solid, classic American bar with friendly service. The cheese curds were a definite highlight--crispy and delicious! I personally would've preferred a lighter touch on the batter, but overall, they were great. Pairing a burger and a beer here in such a laid-back atmosphere feels just right. You can't go wrong with this spot. Worth a visit if you are in the area."

Bina’s

★★★★☆ 4.2 (30)

"Well, obsessed would be an understatement. The bartender on Wednesday afternoon was an absolute delight. Food. Drinks. Vibes. All so good. Next time I am in town, I will be back."

Matt's Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"I loved this place. Albeit, they're so busy that the cook is constantly grilling and frying, but everything was fresh and tasted great. The fries were yummy *I got a half order and it filled up the basket so, I wonder how many fries a full order is! I loved the dive bar feel and was lucky to be able to snag a spot at the bar top. Heads up- everyone must wait in the singular line, whether you're taking out or dining in. It's worth the wait. The restaurant is cash only so, be prepared. If you didn't bring cash, there's an atm on property. DO NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE JUCY LUCY- you will regret it lol."

Driftwood Char Bar

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (64) • $

"I'm a little puzzled by the wide range of reviews for this place. I've been here a few times and a good friend of mine lives a block away and comes here regularly. It's a bar with a decent selection of bar food and a stage where there is usually a local band or comedy show going on. For that last reason, there is generally a cover charge (it was five bucks this last time), so bear that in mind. The sound quality for music has been surprisingly good in my experience. The food is fine; this last time I got some grilled shimp that was really good. That's probably the most unique thing on the menu; they also have a selection of burgers and sandwiches with enough variety that there should be something of interest to most. They have a pool table in a back room where it's a little quieter while bands are playing. I'll definitely be happy to come back here, and I think if you're in the market for a locally-owned (and apparently woman-of-color owned) bar to hang out in in this neighborhood, you should give them a shot."

Turf Club

★★★★☆ 4 (120) • $$

"I love Turf Club. This is a classic music venue with great service. I have been there a few times now and have never had a bad experience. The stage is elevated a bit so even if you're in the back, you can see the performance. This place isn't huge, so you get a very intimate setting. Great options at the bar for drinks and they have food, even though I haven't tried anything yet. Looks good though! I could not believe the service we got the last time we were there. We had a table and our server was so on top of everything. Never had to wait long for a drink refill. He was so nice and funny. Really added to the whole experience!I always keep an eye out for events at Turf Club because I'll take any excuse to visit here!"

Maxx Bar and Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (57) • $$

"I'm surprised I've never given a review of Maxx's before since I've been come here multiple times over the past 15 years. Started with following a popular (now-retired) country band. Occasionally a bingo night with the work ladies and the famous tent parties.For the most part, I've always enjoyed my experiences here. The times I have not is due to large crowds (because of those popular bands or tent parties) where you can't easily walk from one end to the other for the bathroom, a drink, to the dancefloor. Just too crowded that you bump somebody and get a drink spilled on you. Some people might like that atmosphere but not me. Bingo nights are better. And I've learned to come early to get a good seat. Always be kind to your wait staff. They're busy and try their best.Now on to today's visit. It's COVID 19 time and I'm still uncomfortable dining inside or on patios. I'd rather continue supporting local and just do pickup. They aren't doing delivery or curbside. Must go inside to pickup and pay...masks required to enter. From time of calling in order to picking up was 20 mins. Food was warm (not hot) by the time I got home ( ~8 min drive) but that's to be expected. I ordered the Cowboy Burger (tomato,lettuce,onion,pickle), Cajun Fries with Seasoned Sour cream. Forgot to include the bourbon bbq sauce but it was still tasty. Cajun fries were spicy enough. SSC was eh. Almost tasted too sweet. It looked too uniform in red color. SSC should be speckled.Sis got the (crispy) Buffalo Chicken Wrap with Ranch, Waffle Fries and SSC. She loves to order BCWs. Wrap was the right amount of spicy for her, which for others might be too mild. By the time we got around to eating it, chicken was soggy, no longer crispy. She's had better wraps but was still happy she ordered it. So many good things on the menu: salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pasta, pizza... it was hard to choose. Must remember they deserve breakfasts too!"

Dick's Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (79) • $

"Great bar food and drinks! Staff was friendly and service was quick. Super casual, so a great place to stop after the beach."

Beaudreau's Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6) • $

"Great deals, great atmosphere. East St. Cloud classic."

CC Club

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (183) • $

"Last minute change of plans had us stopping here for a night cap before heading home. It's a huge dive bar with a huge selection of drinks. I opted for a white claw and for seltzers they had 3 different brands with multiple flavors per brand. Wow! They also have food...we had already eaten so we didn't check out the menu. We lucked out with a round table by the front and had great service from our waitress. It's a popular place with the locals. It was definitely the place to be at midnight."

The Spot Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (22) • $

"Frills? Nope. Friendly barkeep? Yup. Good Old Fashioned? Well, it was okay. I had an hour to kill before needing to pick up a kid, so I thought I would nurse an old fashioned at The Spot and read a book at the bar for an hour. Its not big - room for the bar, a few tables, a dartboard. But it has all the ingredients for a neighborhood dive bar in spades. I would happily go back for the welcoming atmosphere and the reasonably priced cocktails. A better than average tap selection by the look of things too. Check it out!"

Tooties On Lowry

★★★★☆ 4.2 (104) • $$

"A neighborhood institution. Good burgers and wings. Fun dive bar vibe but family friendly. Friendly service. Glad to have it in the neighborhood."

Inn Kahoots

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (37) • $

"Decent dive bar in the west metro. Not a great selection of beers on tap but what they do have is a good variety. They also have plenty of good cans and bottles.The bar is pretty big. There are pool tables and video games. They sell pull tabs here too. If you want food, they have at least 15 kinds of Heggies pizza. The staff here is friendly. Overall, this is a good place to stop for a cold one."

Moose Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (113) • $$

"The food here is absolutely amazing. Soups are made in house from scratch. They have a server on until 2 AM every single night so if you're sitting down at a booth or table, the server is there for you. they always have a dj downstairs on weekends. Every single night they have karaoke. It's a great place to have dinner and hang out with your friends and everyone is welcome."

Ted's Recreation

★★★★★ 4.7 (18) • $

"Oh such a lovely place in its stark simplicity. A small bar with a pool table and darts, it prentends not to be anything more than it is. Honest and completely transparent. Bring cash, because it's a simple pay as you order."

Otter Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.6 (100) • $

"The Otter Saloon is that trashy dive bar that has some odd unexplainable pull. They keep the door wide open on hot days, so cigarette smoke comes right in, the male bartender is constantly in a terrible mood, and the karaoke singers screech so much that your ears want to fall off...and yet, people keep wanting to come back anyway. I'm one of those people.There must be something about the eclectic crowd that lures me in. The Otter Saloon has prime time "people watching" since every kind of person comes here to sing their hearts out and they take it very seriously too.They have a huge book of karaoke songs, so whether you're looking for the newest hits or oldies, there will be something to tickle your fancy. Even if you're not the type of person to get up and sing, the audience here is very lively. The male bartender is a cranky fella, but the female bartender makes the best vodka lemonades (there's always only 1 bartender behind the counter when I'm there).Come for the cheap drinks and stay for the show...karaoke every night is a fun way to spend your time, no matter what night of the week it is!"

N E Yacht Club

★★★★☆ 4.2 (26) • $

"This is your usual dive bar. Small, outdated, and beer posters on the walls. We came here to check out the pool table. It was a Thursday night around nine and there weren't too many people there so the table was open. I hate when you go into bars and get stared at like you don't belong there, but I didn't get this vibe in here. The bartender was very nice and the drinks cheap. There's a nice patio in back and a parking lot. We didn't try the food but heard it was good. So next time!"

Jimmy's Bar & Lounge

★★★★★ 4.5 (38) • $

"Jimmy's is a solid NE dive bar. This wood paneled oasis has the beef sticks around. Meat raffles, beef & cheese sticks, and $3.50 drinks? Truly a dive bar staple."

Knight Cap Bar & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (47) • $

"Always friendly. Have never eaten here. Good drinks and prices. Love that they usually have diet sprite. Cash only. They have pulltabs"

Frenchman's Pub-Richfield

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (74) • $

"Stopped at this restaurant for a quick lunch. I really enjoyed the small town atmosphere in the big city. Great people and quick service. I really enjoyed the Frenchmen's Pub sandwich. It is worth the extra $2.50 to get the french fries."

Mt's On 8th

★★★★☆ 3.9 (29) • $

"This place is close to my sister's house. We drove over. We got the worst server ever. I asked about the fried pickles, and she said they were spears and came with nacho cheese. I said ok, but want ranch instead. Bread sticks arrive at our table. Umm, not what I ordered. She thought I asked about bread sticks. She took them away and off. I ordered a Sasquach Burger with brisket, cheese on it, and seasoned fries. I received potato chips. Luckily, I wasn't charged for fries. The pop refill was free and refilled. The burger was good, but I had diahrea all night. The burgers are hand pattied and not frozen. I had 1 of my sisters Buffalo wings, which was good. The food took awhile to arrive, wondering if order was entered late also."

Palmer's Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (66) • $

"Friggin love Palmer's. This is always a solid stop at any point in your night out. It fits the bill of being "divey" by being cash only and full of character and colorful grit.Before COVID (and pregnancy), we'd come here often for some cheap rails or taps, live music, and/or enjoying the patio. I love the location in West Bank. This flat-iron historic building was built in 1906 and is one of Minneapolis' longest running bars. It's also a black-owned business and does a lot to support the community. Since it's not fully running at full capacity, I look forward to coming back sometime in the future. In the meantime, I have The Big Color Book of Grumpy's And Palmer's to keep me busy and nostalgic."

American Legion Post 47

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (44) • $$

"Met a group of classmates here for a lovely lunch. It was a beautiful day in Hastings. I ordered the strawberry salad with chicken and my husband ordered the bacon cheeseburger with chips. Both was good. We sat outside on their patio. Couldn't ask for a nicer day."

Jakes Jim Town Bar & Grill

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"We frequent here because it's that good! Literally anything on their menu (but especially their specials)! The staff are always friendly and fast. They also have a fun drawing you get put into on Fridays just for buying drinks! Overall a fun place to grab a bite to eat and have a drink or 2!"