Parlour St. Paul stands as a grand, elevated evolution of one of the Twin Cities’ most universally acclaimed culinary institutions. Expanding across the Mississippi River in April 2018 under the vision of Jester Concepts, this West 7th neighborhood fixture captured the dark, intimate magic of its original Minneapolis basement counterpart and reimagined it inside a spacious, multi-zoned urban sanctuary. Positioned just blocks from the Xcel Energy Center, Parlour St. Paul acts as both a sophisticated cocktail haven and a high-energy community anchor. It is a location where neighborhood regulars, destination diners, and passionate hockey crowds colliding before Minnesota Wild games all find a common home, tied together by a shared devotion to pristine hospitality, legendary burgers, and impeccably balanced mixology.
The spatial layout of Parlour St. Paul is cleverly segmented into four distinct architectural experiences, avoiding the monolithic feel of many large modern restaurants. Stepping through the doors reveals an intentional marriage of warm, historic Saint Paul brickwork with polished, upscale diner aesthetics. The Minnesota Room offers a welcoming first impression with deep, plush booths and elevated community high-tops perfect for casual group assemblies. Deeper inside, the space transitions seamlessly into an energetic Diner zone featuring a classic interactive counter that overlooks the roaring open kitchen. This flows directly into a moody Central Lounge anchored by velvet-upholstered seating and low, romantic lighting, before finally culminating in an expansive, dark-timbered Cocktail Bar designed to replicate the signature clandestine ambiance that put the original brand on the map.
Culinarily, the restaurant operates as a self-described “Finer Diner,” utilizing a high-caliber kitchen line that honors classic comfort food while sharpening every element with upscale technique. The undisputed crown jewel of the entire operation is the iconic Parlour Burger. Frequently ranked by critics as the single best burger in the state of Minnesota, its brilliance lies in a masterful, minimalist architecture: a proprietary grind of ground chuck, ribeye, and brisket formed into two beautifully seared patties, layered with melted white American cheese, and cradled inside a rich, pillowy egg bun. By design, the burger contains zero pickles, lettuce, or secret sauces, letting the immaculate quality of the beef take full center stage. This legendary staple is supported by a robust list of refined diner classics, including crisp, thin-cut fries served with a decadent Swiss aioli, dill-brined fried chicken sandwiches, savory beef stroganoff, and kung pao roasted Brussels sprouts.
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The daytime menu structures expand the brand’s versatility with structured lunch blocks from Wednesday to Friday and an energetic weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Mid-day diners can tuck into massive American breakfast plates stacked with eggs, thick country bacon, and crisp hashbrowns, or indulge in avocado rye toast brightened with fresh Fresno chiles and honey. The kitchen is highly mindful of modern dietary flexibility, seamlessly accommodating requests with high-quality gluten-free buns and vegetarian substitutions like crispy falafel plates.
Parlour Bar
The liquid assets at Parlour St. Paul are just as legendary as its kitchen output. The bar program is globally respected for its immaculate attention to detail, featuring hand-carved ice programs and custom-built flavor profiles. Their house Old Fashioned stands as a benchmark for the Twin Cities craft drink scene, built on a smooth, carefully measured bourbon foundation. For more adventurous palates, a rotating menu features creative botanical infusions, house-spiced cordials, and seasonal craft creations alongside decadent, boozy milkshakes that perfectly lean into the diner motif. Offering an incredible range of non-alcoholic mocktails and low-proof options alongside a premium tap line, Parlour St. Paul beautifully bridges the gap between historical tavern grit and world-class culinary luxury.
