The Yummiest Music Venues in Saint Paul

Jersey's Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (80) • $$

"Food is always good, service is great and prices are fair. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming"

The Pickled Loon

★★★★☆ 4.2 (143) • $$

"What can I say?! I make it a point to stop at The Pickled Loon every time I am in St Cloud. Not only my favorite restaurant in the area but arguably my favorite in MN. When dive bar meets finer dining. You wouldn't expect much upon arrival of the list low lit rail bar with a few dining tables but when you get the menu and start seeing dishes go by you know you have stumbled upon greatness. After many visits I have tackled most of the menu. In this review I will highlight my last visit. I started with a chicken fajita soup that came on a small bed of rice in the cup. The chicken was perfectly cooked and just fell apart in my mouth. The rice with a nice tough giving it some added texture. Next I had their Shrimp Burger with "Hand pattied shrimp burger topped with: house made cilantro slaw, avocado, lettuce, and roasted garlic aioli. Served on a pretzel bun." While I was skeptical at first I remember that this place has never disappointed and went with it! GOOD FREAKIN CALL! This "burger" was amazing. The shrimp patty was like a delicate crab (or shrimp) cake and the cilantro slaw added a fantastic crunch and acidity balancing the sweetness from the shrimp as well as giving it a little crunch. Throw in avocado and a pretzel bun and you've died and gone to food heaven. Also pictured in this review is the Tennessee Hot Chicken Sandwich. This sandwich had a nice creamy chipotle slaw giving it an excellent smoky flavor along with their Baka white BBQ sauce all on an egg bun. While the slaw and the BBQ sauce gave it a flavorful bite this sandwich wasn't "Tennessee Hot" but I appreciate their spin on it and would recommend to anyone seeking a good chicken sandwich. Don't forget that this place is a BAR. They offer up a small but carefully selected menu of craft tap beers that pair perfect with the food. They also infuse vodkas with a variety of things to make excellent cocktails. I've been told the Bloody Mary is amazing and will be back to try it. I have had the smoked old fashioned with Makers Mark and peanut butter which is amazing. The smoke really brings out the peanut butter and gives the drink a smooth finish. I have also had the Pickle Martini. Yes, PICKLE MARTINI, made with house infused pickle vodka and garnish with, you guessed it, a pickle! I have also had the Pad Thai, Chicken Egg Rolls, Roasted Turkey Poutine, and Looney Mac & Cheese on previous visits. All incredible. It really doesn't get much better than this folks! Whether it's an app, a meal, or just some cocktails or a beer, The Pickled Loon is where it's at!"

7th St. Entry

★★★★☆ 3.7 (37) • $$

"I love the 7th St. Entry! I have so many great stories about this place! 1. I have got the chance to play here a couple of times and it's so awesome playing in such a legendary place where the sweat of the Replacements is still felt on the stage as well as the thousands of other bands who have played here!2. I saw Of Montreal here in 2004, and got to see Kevin Barnes naked in the downstairs green room, wanted to say good bye to him.. OOPs caught him changing!3. When I was 19 I had a fake ID and I tried to get into a show here, and they took away my fake ID and threatened to call the cops on me when I kept saying, "give me back my ID" oops! 4. When I was in High School, I once told my parents I was driving to Sioux Falls SD, from my home town in NorthWest Iowa and I really drove to Minneapolis to see Creeper Lagoon and Archers of Loaf at 7st. for an early all ages show, It was amazing and I still got home before curfew! This venue is small and intimate, yet has one of the best sound systems in the city, and it's legendary! I love this place with all my heart even though they took away my fake ID when I was 19!"

Parley Lake Winery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (31) • $$

"The best part of the draw is the bucolic nature. Probably pretty representative of Minnesota, so a good place to bring an out of towner. The wine is decent, with decent variety. It's a bit of a drive from twin cities, so maybe stop at the arboretum on your way there, make a day of it."

201 Tavern Beer Garden & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3 (55) • $

"Great service by Savannah! The food was pretty good and we enjoyed the bingo as well!"

Cabaret Webb Lake

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (19) • $

"My dad used to come up here in the 70's with his parents, and he continued the tradition with me when I was a kid in the 1990's. It wasn't until 2011 that I returned to Webb Lake for a 4 night vacation that I returned to the Cabaret and was actually able to enjoy an adult beverage or two.So onto my review. The Cabaret is a nice bar in Webb Lake. Prices are really decent, food is good, and staff is friendly. They recently re-opened on St. Patrick's Day Weekend 2014 under new ownership and an extensive refurb on the interior and exterior of the building. While keeping the same layout, look, bar, etc, they cleaned everything up and re-stained all the wood. Looks beautiful.The Cabaret is a must stop if you're in the Webb Lake area."

Roxy’s Cabaret

★★★★★ 4.5 (37)

"If you are looking for a good fun place to celebrate a benchmark with friends, I would recommend this place. If you are a single traveler and you like to watch drag queen shows, RUN OVER HERE. I came by myself and was a little nervous. I sat at the bar and had a great view. Having been to many drag queen shows in my lifetime outside MN, I noticed:* The ambiance is full of fun and festivity.* Staff works hard for their money* Food from the diner is very good - as a hungry vegetarian, I was in heaven with the veggie skillet. * Place is packed with people and groups from all sizes* First drag queen show I have ever attended where the show consist around giving $1 tips - you can get your dollars changed there. I like it and would recommend knowing that one will spend at least $60 - entrance plus one entree with food tip. It would be more if you get drinks and the recommended stack of $1 tips. I spent over $100 and I bet this is the norm."

Macaluso's Roadhouse

★★★☆☆ 3 (48) • $$

"Man, you guys are dicks. I've never seen so many reviews bitching about the service. I've been here quite a few times. Yep, the gals waiting tables aren't the most attentive. But let's remember one thing...It's called a Roadhouse. Chill out, get off your ass, and go to the bartender for your extremely cheap and tasty cold beer. There are comically bad DJs playing some sort of twangy country music. Gals with quite a few poorly thought out tattoos dance a little too loosely with their choice of man for the night. Some hoots and hollers can be heard. Conversations are bandied about dealing with a hard days work on the site. A big ass dog keeps circling my table waiting for me to drop a square of pizza on the floor. True story. It's all part of the experience, kids. It's a Roadhouse. Goddamn lucky Patrick Swayze and a beautifully mustachioed Sam Elliot don't bust out and kick your ass. The pizza. Solid. Sure, I've had better but I've also had a whole hell of a lot worse. I'd classify it as a thicker thin crust pizza. Square cut. Toppings are fairly generous as is the amount of cheese. I think it's a tasty pizza. They say that the 18 inch feeds 4-5 people. Ok, that's a bit ludicrous. 2 to 3 is probably more accurate, and 2 for the full sized folks such as myself. I would say the pricing is a tick high also but it's more than made up for with the cheap price of beer and drinks. Especially during happy hour "Double up for a Buck". Would you like another pitcher for a dollar? Does a cheap hooker sweat in church? Umm, yes to both. Just relax and have good time. Don't concern yourself with the little honey that's supposed to be waiting tables. She's sure as hell not concerned about your fat, bald ass. Beer. Pizza. And one hell of a show to watch. Sounds like a fun night to me."

Gluek's Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (245) • $$

"Gluek's is a classic spot downtown for live music and a good drink. The service was friendly. We didn't get food, so I can't comment on that. The vibes were flowin' with the great cover band!"

Foxhole Brewhouse

★★★★★ 4.5 (22) • $$

"Foxhole is the best gem of the Willmar! If you are visiting town do not leave without stopping by. If you're a local and haven't tried- welcome to your favorite hang out. I love the business model of providing an excellent product but also providing a platform for other local eateries to amplify their business at the same time. Order out. Enjoy the best beer and time with friends. Family friendly too! Best combo: Double J beer + Azteca nachos"

Orpheum Theatre

★★★★☆ 3.7 (148) • $$

"The Orpheum really is great. My family likes theater, and we really like musical theater. We've been season ticket holders, which is nice because you can usually exchange tickets when you find out your teenager is double booked. We've been rush buyers. Rush tickets are sometimes student/educator only. Sometimes anyone. No announced until last minute, but you can see how mnayunsold seats there are and if there's a lot that guess what? RUSH! I've purchased single show tickets online which is kinda a pain with all the different pre-sale codes. And I've driven downtown to avoid paying online fees. (Note bien you might need to go to the State box office)I have sat in row 2 for Moulin Rouge (HIGHLY recommend) and I've seen Moulin Rouge from the balcony -- also amazing!There are definitely some seats that have bad leg room, but most of them are ok considering this is a historic theater. The worst leg room seats I've ever had were in row 2 of the balcony in section 8. Like so bad I didn't enjoy a really good show. Sad. The upper sections of the balcony are not great for leg room either, but honestly I dont mind as long as the show is captivating. You can look at the seating map and see there are a few rows on the main floor that have more leg room. Also the partial view seats really depend on what's on stage. We've sat in partial view and have not missed a thing for some shows!If you need to go to the bathroom during intermission, consider hoofing it upstairs."

The Cedar Cultural Center

★★★★☆ 3.9 (53) • $$

"My sister and I saw Brent Cobb here after beer hopping on the green line earlier. We were the first ones in and were next to the stage all night. I drank some beers and chai tea. They served the chai tea in regular breakable coffee mugs. Probably had lots of mugs to wash at the end of the night. They could have used more staff or volunteers as the beer lines were long. The place seemed like an alright venue for a concert."

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."

Minnesota Music Café

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (33) • $

"I still have not figured out how one area can have so many amazing live music venues but the Twin Cities and live music go hand-in-hand. That said, if you like live music as I do), this place needs to be on your list to check out. Back in June, I attended a Prince tribute performance (Nothing Compares 2P) here and neither the venue nor the music disappointed. The layout is great; starting with an elevated staged and just below that is a dance floor and beyond that area is seating (tables/chairs). There are great views of the stage from mostly anywhere in the space and most importantly, the sound system was on point. Because of demand, for this performance, the dance floor was converted to seating and while understandable, other than in your seat, it made dancing virtually nonexistent. So much so that if someone stood up to dance at their table, the staff working the event would quickly swoop in ask them to be seated so as not to block the view of the people behind them. While relatively large, there is a single bar which was well-stocked and staffed when I was there. I am not sure if it the norm, but on the night I was there they had a $20 minimum for credit card use. Also, the only water they were serving was bottled (no cups of water) so be mindful of that. While this was my first visit to the Minnesota Music Café, it won't be the last. I will gladly return here for future performances."

Lucky's 13 Pub

★★★★☆ 3.5 (221) • $$

"Came on a Monday night and there was a decent crowd. They had lots of TVs showing MNF. Turns out they offer discounts on burger's every Monday, so I got the juicy lulu (they're version of the juicy lucy). The burger was a decent size and oozing with melty cheese. My only complaint is that the burger was cooked more well done than medium, but that didn't stop me fro devouring it. Love that they give unlimited popcorn at your table. Definitely worth checking out this spot if you're in the area."

Whitey's Old Town Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.6 (119) • $$

"This was a stop while in town because old town saloon was in the name. The place is charming with a nice old bar,lots of dark wood, piano, fireplace and exposed brick. The bartender didn't watch the very well even though it was a week day afternoon and the place wasn't full at all because my empty glass sat empty longer than it should have. They have food which I don't try because I was going to the deli down the street."

Ziggy’s

★★★★☆ 4 (23)

"Fish fry Friday is great. 4 tasty, tiny filets. You order as much as you want. They weren't sure they had malt vinegar, but someone found one. Not my style thin fries, Basil liked them and ate them all. A good tarter sauce. I started with a wild rice soup perfect on a rainy day. A delicious ginger ale. Great service from Kailee. It starts at 5 and they have a piano man front and center. I can't wait to go back for the burgers."

Amsterdam Bar & Hall

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (199) • $$

"My first time here for a concert and I had such a great time. Definitely a great place to host an intimate concert. Nice and open bar area with reasonable pricing. They do serve food too but I didn't get a chance to try out their menu."

Granada Theater

★★★★☆ 3.9 (20)

"I attended my first event in this venue in December and I would love to come back. It was lovely. The event was the Fever Candlelight Holiday Jazz concert. The entire theatre is lit only by candlelight. The theatre has a starry ceiling to add to the atmosphere. The music was festive. The lead singer had a beautiful voice and the musicians were very talented. My only wish is that they would have played longer than about an hour. We had a VIP table which meant we were seated in the back of the theatre in a tiered viewing area. So we were farthest from the stage but had our own space, were elevated from the stage, and a had place to put our cocktails. In front of us were rows of chairs and I'm not sure if there was a slant to the floor so the back row could see. They only had one bartender working and a long line so, so thankfully, another joined to help. Loved the concert and venue. Looking for another option to attend an event at the Granada Theatre."

Harbor Restaurant, Bar & Marina

★★★☆☆ 3 (48) • $$

"Casual, biker bar vibe here down by the riverside. Not at all intimidating atmosphere during our visit. They are still recovering from the Covid closure, so we stayed outside and enjoyed the view of the river & downtown across the river. We had good service, both indoors at the bar and later at the outdoor bar. Didn't have any of the food offerings but would consider the nachos for next time."

Ginkgo Coffeehouse

★★★★☆ 3.6 (75) • $

"So thankful a few real coffee houses exist. Love the vibe with all the mismatched thrift and no frills. Takes me back to the 90s. And it obviously affects costs because prices were super reasonable for both food and coffee ( unlike some other nearby hygge/pretentious shops). Staff was nice but had trouble with a larger order."

Green Room

★★★★★ 4.7 (12)

"I went to a special event at the Green Room recently. The Current had a micro show for the band Sports Team out of the UK. What a great venue! So glad they reopened this space with a stage and great views. I'm rather short so I went up to the balcony and had a great vantage point to see the stage. Plus they have a bomb patio up there too. What a great space with the doors open on a great spring day and listening to live music!They have bars on both floors which is super convenient.I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for other live music at this fun venue in the heart of uptown."

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."

Fine Line

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (97) • $$

"I would certainly go to this venue again. Like its parent, First Ave, it has an excellent sound system. A very cool bartender let me sample a cider when i wasn't sure about ordering it, and it was a winner. I did not notice any kind of food service, but lots of good places are nearby if you are hungry after the show. I was there for Temples, they totally rocked. While I think they deserve a bigger venue, it turned out to be just right for the crowd and they came out for an impromptu meet & greet afterwards."

The Dog House Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (48) • $$

"This place always has a great atmosphere and the owners know everyone, so very similar to Cheers. They have a huge parking lot to handle many people and there is a lot of space inside the restaurant/bar area. With the recent renovation, they bar are seems larger and less dark. The food is really good and they have a variety of burgers and sandwiches. Their wings are always have a ton of flavor. They have many dartboards, pull tabs and live music/entertainment along with a lot of tvs to watch sports, etc. There is also a great patio to sit at in the back."

331 Club

★★★★☆ 3.7 (106) • $

"331 Club hosts live music several times a week with no cover (ever!), so I find myself stumbling in here on many a night. Most likely, actually stumbling. The place is a little divey, but kinda hip. It's a bit of a small narrow venue, but I appreciate the intimacy. There's still room to stand by the stage, sit in a booth, or belly up to the bar. There's a fenced patio area off the back too, with a few picnic tables that people mostly just smoke at. They of course have happy hour specials (Monday-Saturdays noon-6pm) and tacos (made by the Sheridan room, I believe). Among shows, they also host the Drinking Spelling Bee, Trivia nights, tap takeovers, and other sorts of live entertainment. I hope to take a shot at the Drinking Spelling Bee soon and either make a total ass of myself and take home gold... whichever comes first!"

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!"

Pantages Theatre

★★★★☆ 3.9 (37) • $$

"We went to the Phil Rosenthal, Somebody Feed Phil, show tonight. We had great seats. I've never been in this theatre. It is a beautiful theatre. Very similar decor as the Orpheum. We had a really nice night at the show."

Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater

★★★★☆ 3.6 (8) • $$

"I love coming here on a hot summer night. The concert lineup always offers a great variety of musical flavors. There is not a bad seat in the house. I personally wouldn't spend the extra cash for a VIP seat, when they seem cramped and are the farthest from the stage. Get there early to have some food and drinks. I recommend not stopping at the first stand you see, but go further towards the venue and get food from that stand, the nachos are killer!The only negative is the drive from the cities is a stretch. Bring a cushion for your bootay!"

River House Kitchen & Drinks

★★★★☆ 4 (30)

"I have yet to have a bad visit to River House! Servers are awesome and attentive. Food is amazing and the prices are decent. The ambiance is what draw me back."

The Armory

★★★★☆ 4 (82) • $$

"The Armory is an impressive venue with a fantastic layout that makes it easy to navigate, even during sold-out shows. The organization of the space ensures great views of the stage from almost anywhere, and the sound quality is top-notch. The staff is friendly and professional, adding to the overall positive experience. There is ample private bottle service rooms both on the balconies and floor 2. Floor 3 is strictly for seating and VIP as per the event I attended. I definitely preferred being on the balcony for the first night of our event as it was clean , private bathrooms, however there is no seating but you can sit on the countertop as long as one foot remained on the ground. The second night we were in GA on the main floor as it wasn't too crowded however people were a lot more rude and messier even in the bathrooms. I had two drinks knocked over onto me and the girl looked at me like I did it to myself. I guess it pays to spend more on the expensive seats to avoid a certain type of concert goer. However, the lack of general seating is a downside. Unless you're willing to splurge on a private bottle service booth starting at $1,400 or upgrade to the lounge for $115 per night (which includes two free drinks and first-come, first-serve seating), you're left standing for the entire event. While these options cater to those looking for a more VIP experience, it would be nice to have some affordable seating alternatives for general admission ticket holders.Overall, it's a great venue, but a bit more flexibility with seating options would make it even better.They even have their own indoor parking which is a huge plus you can reserve ahead of time. They also have a full menu of food which is a great touch for a concert venue and it's not crappy generic fast food either."

Dakota

★★★★☆ 3.8 (291) • $$$

"Loved this venue!!!! Great music, awesome food options and really delicious cocktails. I had the fried chicken sandwich with the fries!! I loved the fries they had a great seasoning on them! The band was energetic and soulful and Louis Cato was amazing!! This was my first time ever at the Dakota and I can't wait to go back!!! For drinks I had the isle of golden dreams and it perfectly fits the description with smoky pineapple rum and lime and cinnamon!! I like the coasters you can flip over to get service and was able to pay when we needed to leave! Great experience!!!"

Uptown Theater

★★★★☆ 3.5 (4)

"I reserved upper floor seats at the Uptown Theater in late October 2024 for a Saturday night show by the Drive by Truckers (performing their Southern Rock Opera tour). Overall, the sound quality was clear (but also super-loud). It was awesome having upper level reserved seats (a bit pricey at $85 each, but worth it to get an unobstructed view of the stage while seated). On the plus side, check-in with the Wallet app for your online ticket was easy. Also, the facilities were pretty clean. The only minus is they do not really serve food or snacks. The cocktail beverage seemed a bit overpriced ($15 + tax) for what you got. Would recommend getting dinner and drinks before you enter the Uptown Theater and just enjoy the show."

Columbia Heights VFW Post 230

★★★★☆ 4.4 (11) • $

"Having lived in the area for a few years, my husband found this place recently and was immediately impressed by their staff/customer service, tasty bar food, and the ambiance of just a relaxed, laid back presence. I met him there and quickly agreed! The prices of the bar food cannot be beat and they have meat raffles as well as many other events. The staff were so kind and explained how the VFW works and how they support military personnel and veterans. I will say the entry was confusing as you had to buzz in and wait to enter, then sign but I can understand with it being a VFW, they want to track who comes in and what percent is military personnel/veterans. Would recommend visiting and grabbing a meal and a beer, tasty and affordable! And the staff are always welcoming and happy to chat!"

Coffee Hag

★★★★★ 4.5 (121) • $

"Excellent coffee, food and service!Just passing through for the day and was very pleased with this find. Cappuccino was as good as any I've had and the breakfast burrito was delicious. Fresh and flavorful. Service was fast and friendly. Can't ask for more"