Seventh Heaven: Stop along St. Paul’s West Seventh Street for food and fun (2024)

West Seventh Street in St. Paul has long been a bustling thoroughfare.

And recently, the stretch of road in the West Seventhneighborhood, starting near theXcel Energy Center to just past Interstate 35E, hasbeen undergoing a renaissance.In addition to classics,new locally owned restaurants and breweriesseem to be popping up every time you turn around.

West Seventh Street is also home to unique fashion, home and gift stores. Here, we highlight some placesto shop, eat and drink along West Seventh Street.

SHOP APPAREL, HOME AND GIFTS

Close to Xcel Energy Center, you’ll findMaharaja’s offers an eclectic mix of gifts, including rock T-shirts, sports memorabilia, posters, masks, tiaras and jewelry.Also nearby, for almost 40 years, the two-storyWescott Station Antiqueshas filled seven rooms witha fun assortment of furniture and sports and othermemorabilia. The spot is especially sought out for itsimpressive selection of stained glass windows. Otherstandouts here include Red Wing pottery, cookie jarcollectibles, Minnesota Twins bobbleheads, vintageads and posters.

Seventh Heaven: Stop along St. Paul’s West Seventh Street for food and fun (1)

Dilly Dallyrelocated its downtown Hudson, Wis., gift shop toWest Seventh in St. Paul. The shop was slated to open in May in the vacated John’s Antique space. Like the Hudson location, the store will carryfavorites it’s known for, including clothing and giftsfor women, men and children. The store also willbring some love from Hudson, with a selection fromKnoke’s chocolates.

With more than 5,000 squarefeet,SophieJoe’s Emporiumis a hub for vintage andcontemporary fashion, home pieces and collectibles.More than 45 dealers contribute to the eclecticarray of merchandise. At last glance, qualityfinds included designer handbags such as KateSpade and Coach as well as pretty cup and saucercollectibles. On the same block, the sizableSociety ofSt. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, anarm of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of theArchdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, housesa large mix of gently used clothing, kitchenwareand cooking aids, toys as well as school and seniorequipment/medical supplies. The spot isalso a draw for its daily food giveaways with donationsfrom local grocery stores and bakeries.

A few blocks down,J.W. Hulmehas beenhandcrafting quality leather goods sourcedfrom small craft tanneries for more than a century.The headquarters houses a small retailarea in front, where you can shop leather goodssuch as wallets, handbags and luggage. Stylesrange from classic to contemporary.

Seventh Heaven: Stop along St. Paul’s West Seventh Street for food and fun (2)

Art lovers won’t want to miss shopping atArtistaBottega, where attention to detail startsright when you walk up to the regal doors atthe entrance. Once inside, you’ll find a haven offine art and artifacts for the home, garden andbeyond. The well-curated, design-savvy assortmentincludes knit copper and aluminum jewelry,colorful rugs and wall art. You might evenspot the resident cat hanging about.

SHOP SPECIALTY

In addition to shopping apparel, home and gifts, West Seventh also features several specialty shops. Beyond plants and flowers, you’ll findJandrich Floralcarries accessories for assembling arrangements and gift baskets such as stuffed animals, cards, and vases in a range of sizes, shapes and colors. Event planners andparty throwers won’t want to miss browsing theboutique rental companyRudy’s Event Rentals. The selection is one of a kind, from the handcrafted farm tables to vintage furniture pieces. Stunning serving ware, bar sets and decor are also offered here.

Down the street,West Seventh Pharmacyhas a selection of gifts, such as Willow Tree figurines, picture frames, jewelry and candles. Next, EYES All Overis a place to shop for frames andglasses.

Music lovers — there’s something for you, too. West Seventh is home toMusic Go Round, which buys, sells and trades new and used music equipment that has gone through its full-service repair shop. Then there’sSt. Paul Guitar Repair, offering a place to get your instruments repaired as well as a retail area to shop stringed instruments. The selection includes a unique assortment of handmade acoustic and electric guitars.

EAT AND DRINK

West Seventh has long been a hub for quality eats. And the scene keeps getting more interesting as new dining and drinking establishments continue to pop up.

If it’s the classics you’re going for, West Seventh has plenty in the form of family-run supper clubs, steak places and more. Treat yourself to steak at the timelessMancini’s Char House or supper club fare atBennett’s Chop and Railhouse.Classic Italian atDeGidio’sis also always a treat, as is heading to theDowntowner WoodfireGrillfor steak, chops and fish.

Seventh Heaven: Stop along St. Paul’s West Seventh Street for food and fun (3)

Cossetta Alimentarihouses several options forboth fancy and casual fare. The building is not only home to the newer Louis Ristorante &Bar for upscale, sit-down Italian, but the long-standingSt. Paul institution Cossetta Eatery &Pizzeria, the cafeteria-style spot that has beenfeeding generations of families with its variedmenu of everything from pizzas to pastas. Alsohoused in the building is the Pasticceria dessertcafe for pastries or gelato along with the marketwith a deli and grocery store for picking outartisanal foods. Another classic farther west isDay by Day Cafe, which draws crowds for its reliablebreakfast and lunch fare.

For a restaurant with a bar and pub feel, Shamrocks Irish Nookis famous for its juicy lucysthat use the restaurant’s proprietary Anguschuck. Speaking of Irish nooks,Patrick McGovern’slong has been a destination for drinks and food. Among the many menu items the spot is known for is the roast turkey. Our favorite is an open-face sandwich that comes piled high withturkey and served with mashed potatoes, stuffingand gravy.

MORE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Looking for more places to pre- or post-game near the Xcel Energy Center? Another Irish bar and restaurant,The Liffeyis a place to grab a pint and dine on a menu of pub classics fromfish and chips to burgers.Burger Moe’sis anotherplace for a quick drink before an event atthe X or for a full dinner that includes more than20 burger varieties. Not too far away,Tom Reid’sHockey City Puboffers a range of burgers, ribsand walleye.Grand Seven Saloon offering burgers, sandwiches and pizza, is another option. Eagle Street Grilleon the corner ofKellogg Boulevard and West Seventh is anotherpopular place to grab a beer, burger and otherbites before the game or concert.Also nearby,Zamboni’s Pizza Pub is a place to grab not only pizzas, but pastas, burgers and sandwiches.

Farther down West Seventh, several spots that double as restaurants and bars await.Joe and Stan’sis a regular haunt for its casual vibeand menu that includes broasted chicken, specialtypizzas and tasty burgers.Keenan’s Barispopular not only for its “everybody knows yourname” feel, but for serving one of the best coney dogs in the Twin Cities. The burgers are just aspopular.

Hot dog lovers also should considerChris and Rob’s Chicago Taste Authority, dishing up notonly Chicago-style dogs on its sizable menu, but also sandwiches, burgers and pizza.J.R. Macs is another neighborhood hangout and offerssalads, sandwiches, burgers and daily specials.At the casualGordy’s Hot City Pizza & Subs,pizza, calzones and hoagies make up the menu.Skarda’s Baron the corner of West Seventh andArmstrong is a place to kick back and have adrink and a Heggie’s pizza.

On the other side of I-35E, more restaurantoptions await. Head to7th Street Socialforelevated fare of shared plates, salads, sandwichesand burgers. For classic diner fare, there’sMickey’s Diner. And for barbecue, tryFamousDave’s.

West Seventh is also a destination for ethniceats. Head toTavial Grillfor authentic Mexican,Golden Chow Meinfor Chinese orSupatra’sThaifor Thai.

EAT NEW ST. PAUL

West Seventh has added an impressive list of new eateries to the neighborhood in the past two years. Near the Xcel,New Bohemia Wurst+BierHausspecializes in brats — from traditionalto off-the-beaten path varieties — and local craft beer. Next door, the campground-themedSeventh Street Truck Parkaims to bringthe great American road trip indoors with afood truck court offeringtacos, pizza, chicken and ribs and more. Kool-Aid co*cktails are even on the menu. Look closer,and you’ll find the nearbyBoomshack Marketisnot only a spot for shopping groceries, but it alsofeatures a menu of made-to-order foods such asburritos, soups, salads and paninis.

Parlour recently opened an east metro outpost. Parlour St. Paulis restaurant, bar and lounge that serves a range of fare, from casual bar to fancy dinner food.

Seventh Heaven: Stop along St. Paul’s West Seventh Street for food and fun (4)

Farther down West Seventh,Pajaritooffers craft co*cktails and Mexican fare in a contemporarysetting. The bike delivery serviceBrakeBreadnow has a bricks-and-mortar storefrontfor its baked goods operation. Head there for some delicious bread, pastries and cookies, aswell as locally sourced java.

COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS, OH MY

The area is not lacking in locationsfor coffee and pastries,either.Claddagh Coffeeis javaat the top of its game. In additionto specialty coffees, house-madebaked goods, soups, salads andpaninis are also offered.MojoMonkey Donutshas gained a cultfollowing for its always-fresh,top-quality doughnuts and otherpastries. Also on West Seventh,Fresh Groundsis another optionfor a cup of joe, pastries and otherbites.

TheDrink Well Houseofferspure glacial water from theMount Simon-Hinckley aquifer,the deepest bedrock aquifer ofeast-central Minnesota. The watercan be purchased at the HistoricWell House from vendingmachines at $1 a gallon.

The West Seventh neighborhoodis also flowing with placesthat specialize in brewskis. Formore than 20 years,Vine ParkBrewing Co.has been offeringone of the rare places whereyou can brew your own beer.The grounds include a brewery— growlers to take homeincluded — as well as providesequipment for brewing your own beer or making your own wine.

Bad Weather Brewingbrews areas unpredictable and constantlychanging as the weather here,which makes it part of the fun.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

We would be remiss if we didn’tmention a few of our favorites offWest Seventh Street but still inthe West Seventh neighborhood.

Forepaugh’sis a classic institutionfor its pretty, well-composedplates and for the charmingVictorian mansion it is housedin.Mucci’s Italianis anotherfavorite for its classic Italian farein a quaint, neighborhood setting. During the warm weathermonths, the seasonalRed RiverKitchen at City Housefeaturesa riverside food truck restaurantwith plenty of indoor and alfresco dining. Enjoy uninhibitedviews of the Mississippi River,Harriet Island and paddle boatsthat take you back in time. Thechef-driven menu and draft-onlybeverage program is also a draw.

The iconic Minnesota beerbrandSummit Brewing Co.featuresa beer hall, patio and giftshop to pass the time away. Justoff West Seventh and sharingan alleyway with Bad WeatherBrewing,Waldmann Brewery &Wursteryrecently opened andis serving up house-made brewsand brats. If it’s a cup of coffeeyou’re craving, Cafe Astoria onGrand Avenue just off West Seventhis serving up some fun concoctions.The matcha latte is notto be missed. The food menu featurescrepes and smoothie bowls.

COMING SOON

The boom in the West Seventhneighborhood shows no signs ofslowing down, with more projectsin the works. Some wereslated to open soon, but had notyet rolled out at the time of publication:

Keg & Casefood hall (tenants that include In Bloom, Sweet Science Ice Cream, a cheese shop, Five Watt coffee shop, Clutch Brewing),928 W. Seventh St.
Firehouse Wine Bar,1 South Leech St.
Unnamed brewery in HistoricFire Station #10,754 Randolph Ave.