Best Sports Bars In St Paul Mn
St. Paul doesn’t do sports bars like a chain restaurant does mozzarella sticks—all flash, no stretch; you know that friend who says they’re “just coming for one beer” and then...
St. Paul doesn’t do sports bars like a chain restaurant does mozzarella sticks—all flash, no stretch; you know that friend who says they’re “just coming for one beer” and then stays until the Zamboni driver clocks out. That’s St. Paul. The city’s best sports bars feel like somebody’s basement, if that basement had a tap list and a deep fryer.
Here’s a lineup that’ll get you from puck drop to last call without making you feel like you need a secret handshake. Wear your team’s colors, but keep your hot takes warm. And maybe skip the valet expectations.
Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub
If you bleed Wild green or just like yelling “shooter!” with unearned confidence, Tom Reid’s is your church. It’s a hockey museum that happens to serve beer. You’ll see jerseys older than your mortgage and fans who can name every line combo since 2000.
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The burgers are solid, the beer is cold, and the vibe is loud in the best way. Get there before puck drop or you’ll be watching from the doorway like a jealous ex. It’s a St. Paul rite of passage.
Alary’s Bar
Alary’s is the kind of downtown institution where the ceiling has seen more bras than a Victoria’s Secret inventory count. It’s unapologetically old-school. Packers fans, cops, regulars, and tourists all somehow end up here.
Don’t come expecting craft cocktails with smoked rosemary. Come for cold beer, hearty bar food, and a bartender who calls you “bud” whether you like it or not. If you’re easily offended by a little chaos, maybe order takeout; otherwise, grab a stool and settle in.
The Bulldog Lowertown
The Bulldog in Lowertown is where craft beer nerds and sports fans call a temporary truce. TVs are everywhere, but the tap list is the real MVP. You can watch the Vikings blow a fourth-quarter lead while sipping a local IPA, which is basically Minnesota therapy.
The patio is a summer gem, and in winter it’s a cozy bunker with tots and a hockey game. Bonus: you’re near Mears Park, so you can pretend you’ll walk it off. You won’t.
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Shamrock’s
Shamrock’s on West 7th feels like a neighborhood pub that got bigger and kept the good attitude. It’s a go-to before Wild games because it’s close enough to the Xcel without being a human traffic jam. Burgers, wings, and a patio built for arguing about the Twins’ bullpen.
On game days, it gets loud. That’s not a flaw; it’s the point. Bring your appetite and your patience, especially on a Saturday night.
The Nook
The Nook is tiny, beloved, and famous for the Juicy Nookie. It’s not a giant sports palace; it’s a corner bar where the game is on and the burgers are legendary. You might wait for a table and sit elbow-to-elbow with a stranger.
You’ll probably leave planning your next visit. If you need 47 screens and a valet, this isn’t it. If you like charm with your touchdowns, come here and thank me later.
O’Gara’s Bar and Grill
O’Gara’s has been a St. Paul staple since the days when “streaming” meant a creek. It’s Irish pub meets sports bar meets community living room. Big games, live music, and a patio that fills up the second the sun shows its face.
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It’s the kind of place where you run into your old gym teacher and your current mechanic in the same hour. That’s not a coincidence; that’s St. Paul. Grab a Guinness and act like you planned it.
The Dubliner Pub
The Dubliner is a soccer fan’s living room. If you want to chant, sip a pint, and feel like you’re in a European pub without the airfare, this is it. It’s small, so big matches fill up fast.
Arrive early or be prepared to watch through a window like a sad puppy. The Irish music nights are a nice palate cleanser after a brutal loss. Just don’t call it a “sports bar” too loudly; it’s a pub with a game on, and that’s better.
The Bottom Line
St. Paul sports bars aren’t trying to be TikTok famous. They’re trying to pour a beer, cook a burger, and let you yell at the ref in peace. Check the schedule before you go, because Wild games, Vikings Sundays, and Twins games can turn a quiet Tuesday into a packed house.
Bring cash for some spots, patience for all, and an opinion about the Vikings’ offensive line. You’ll fit right in. And if you stay for “just one more,” well, that’s how you know you found the right place.
