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    The Spot Bar

    4.0 (27 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Open 2:00 pm - 11:30 PM

    The Spot Bar Photos

    THE SPOT BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    the menu of the restaurant
    Steve T.

    Well. Well. Well. Hello Review #400 and hello! The Spot Bar. This place is like an old sweater. For example the bar pizza. Here you get Giovanni's (no Heggie's here) so that is a plus as they offer some different flavors. You also have pinball, darts, and TouchTunes. I dig the TouchTunes app as I can load up music and many places around town also use TouchTunes and I can just let it rip from wherever I'm at straight from my phone. In general, this is just a good old place to enjoy a drink. The Spot has even has better prices then the dive institution I'm in walking distance of, Ted's Rec. For example, if I get my special of Hamm's and a bump of blackberry brandy (on the rocks), the Spot saves me a whole quarter, which goes towards my pinball. But let's not forget the meat raffle. The Spot as a meat raffle and in this state, that is something you need to find when you search. Plus the area has many additional establishments close by if you want to get something a little more substantial for food. #meatraffle

    a glass of beer on a table
    Elizabeth W.

    What's not to love? Oldest bar around. Good beer. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and a rotating cast of neighborhood regulars. best dive bar in the Twin Cities, hands down.

    "Been There, Seen It, Done It!" twice now!
    RunAway B.

    St. Paul, Minnesota --- "The Spot Bar" was a pARTy Gods' find ... a GREAT neighborhood bar - customers walk here, bike here & even bus here ... originally a "Hamm's" beer bar in the late 1800's & still has "Hamm's" beer on tap ... bartender "Kevin" was super & the customers were really "neighborly" ... my newest "Run-A-Way Bill" FAVORITE sticker winner bar with "Coon Trap" status - this bar drew me in & now I am trapped forever! "Run-A-Way Bill" was here! 07.22.19

    Bob A.

    The Spot Bar is as friendly as it is vintage! I was killing time here while waiting for a table at nearby Mucci's, Neighborhood bars are not usually my thing since I don't drink, but this is still a cozy place to hang out! And since Mucci's is awesome and I'll be going back there a lot and there is often a long wait there, I suspect I'll come hang out at The Spot Bar again. Note that there is a ten dollar minimum to use a credit card.

    Darts in the back
    Gabby L.

    Are you looking for somewhere cool, dark, and quiet in St. Paul to get a $3 Hamm's or Grain Belt where you can just play darts with your friends in peace? Or, maybe you have an hour and half to kill before your table opens up at Mucci's. Either way, The Spot should work for you. It definitely seems to be a throwback to simpler times, full of history and local charm. As others have mentioned, it is indeed what you'd probably expect from the outside-- small, divey, old-timey. The bartender seemed to know all of the patrons who were there, but was still pleasant to my group of young, Minneapolitan friends. It took us a few minutes to realize what was different about this bar-- there was no music playing. But there was a juke box, so I suppose we could have changed that. Also, they have pull tabs, "analog" darts, and a tiny library.

    Kevin M.

    A great neighborhood dive. A couple friends of mine live four blocks away, and whenever it's late and we're out of beer, this is where we hike. Said friends are on first name terms with the owner, and recently had an outdoor lawn-game / piñata themed graduation barbecue here. All that said, the divey nature of the place does carry over into the bathrooms, the seating is limited, and the parking in the neighborhood can suck. But if you're near Randolph and West 7th, and you need a place to get your night-cap on, this is THE place to go. A bare barroom with a couple booths and sweet pitcher deals. No nonsense, no pretense, and after a couple rounds, no sense.

    Snacks.

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    29 days ago

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    1 year ago

    Cozy bar with inexpensive drinks and snacks! Nice neighborhood vibe and friendly service!

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    5 years ago

    You get what you think. Cheeky bartenders and stiff drinks. Always a good time coming here!

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    5 years ago

    This is the best bar I've been in. Kind and interesting workers and good clientele with cheap and strong drinks. Steel tip darts too!

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    14 years ago

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    Ask the Community - The Spot Bar

    Review Highlights - The Spot Bar

    Paul to get a $3 Hamm's or Grain Belt where you can just play darts with your friends in peace?

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    Nickel Sports Bar - Bar entrance

    Nickel Sports Bar

    4.5(2 reviews)
    2.5 miMidway

    What an interesting local bar in Minneapolis! Our group wandered into this bar shortly after…read moreattending a wedding at the Church of St. Agnes right around the corner. Once we walked into the bar we could tell immediately this was a local dive bar for the surrounding area. To paint a picture most of the people who were at the bar at 3pm on a Sunday were an older crowd (50+), one lady was wearing a shirt which was dress-length with a cat plastered on the front, and in the corner, to my delight, there were various arcade games which cost $1 to play. I'd definitely recommend this bar if you're looking to escape the surrounding summer heat after a wedding and get $3 beers. The bar offers cheap beers on tap and arcade games in the corner which you can entertain yourself with. There's a jukebox which also doubles as a free photo booth (we may or may not have taken multiple free photos). Since we were a wedding party of men in suits and women in cocktail dresses we definitely got a lot of side eye from the local crowd (also probably due to our poor decisions to play a few Nickelback songs on the jukebox) but since we were in a large group we had a blast!

    New owners! Fabulous people and a great new vibe, from the new owner. Big change..it appears that…read morethe new management actually likes to have... customers! We are looking forward to maybe an expansion and events in their super party room. Cheap drinks, and they have a sign for bingo. If their upgrading the bar turns out as absolutely spectacular as the upstairs apt remodel (you can see it on a real estate site) it will be great for the neighborhood.

    Photos
    Nickel Sports Bar - Interesting bar decor (this one was my favorite)

    Interesting bar decor (this one was my favorite)

    Nickel Sports Bar
    Nickel Sports Bar - Interesting decor

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    Interesting decor

    Casper's and Runyon's Nook - "#7 Burger" from the Stuffed Burgers menu

    Casper's and Runyon's Nook

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    1.0 miHighland
    $$

    Our first meal on our most recent trip to Minnesota: The Nook, promised by some as the best Juicy…read moreLucys in the Twin Cities. We walked in for a pretty late dinner, slightly past 8PM and this place was still crowded. Ten minute wait for a table, the concierge said, but there were free seats at the bar either downstairs or up. We decided to walk down to the bowling alley (a fully functioning, retro alley might I add), and order at the bar. Nook Curds ($13.75) - It's a big basket of battered and fried cheese curds. There's bacon mixed in the batter, giving that smoky and salty, meaty element, and then drizzled honey for some very complementary sweetness. The batter is lightly crisp and the cheese curds inside are completely softened, to the point of being gooey and stretchy. Definitely no squeak here, but these were so delicious that I didn't particularly care. (5/5) Juicy Nookie Burger ($15.95) - Now that's a burger. Huge patty, completely filled with a large pocket of hot, melty, gooey, stretchy American cheese that gushes out while biting through the patty. It's decadent and rich, and that patty - charred so well, giving a robustly smoky charred flavor along with a strong natural beefiness, a result of the patty only being cooked until medium pink. Somehow even with so much cheese stuffed inside, it doesn't leak out at all. It's a pretty simple burger, with just that patty, three pickle rounds on the side, and a bun. The bun is buttered and barely toasted, just enough to give a hint of toastiness and hold up to the massive patty. It cradles the beef like a baby and sucks up all the patty juices and cheese. The burger comes with fresh homemade fries, fried heavily until dark brown, making them similar in both look and taste to my secret craving for Better Made Rainbow Chips, which has a heavily caramelized almost slightly burnt flavor. And yet somehow they aren't over fried in terms of texture. The outside isn't super crisp like commercial battered fries, instead the clear homemade nature leaves some softer areas interspersed with the crunch. The insides, of course, are still perfectly fluffy, and there are little crumbs spread out all along the bottom for an extra crunch. These fries are the height of deliciousness. (5/5) Yes, I've been missing this kind of fatty, unctuous, filling, greasy, rich food after moving away from the Midwest to Seattle. You simply can't get this kind of food anywhere in the PNW. What a great start to our week long trip! Note: The Nook charges a 3% credit card fee that's disclosed on the menu Bathrooms - Larger ones on the bottom floor, probably more upstairs Food: [5/5] Service: [ ] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 5/5

    This had been on our bucket list for a while - glad we finally went!…read more It was PACKED on a Friday night, with quite a wait for a table, but we decided to go play score-your-own bowling on the ancient lanes downstairs while we waited. If you don't wanna wait, you can sit at the bar downstairs - or even put an order in at the bar and eat at the lanes. We ended up getting seated in the basement, which I highly recommend! The food was classic - great wings, great fries, great ranch, and awesome Jucy Lucy burgers. The ambiance here is top notch, especially in the basement. Very solid bar food, and though service is stretched a bit thin still a great experience. Bring cash for a soft serve cone after!!

    Photos
    Casper's and Runyon's Nook
    Casper's and Runyon's Nook - Bacon jam burger

    Bacon jam burger

    Casper's and Runyon's Nook

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    Turf Club - Cheese Curds

    Turf Club

    4.0(125 reviews)
    2.5 miMidway
    $$

    I finally made it to Turf Club!! Doors were # 7:00 glad i got there @ 6:30 to grab one of the last…read moreparking spots in the back lot. The door gal was friendly. The...Stamp(?) person inside the door was friendly too. I really like the digs and the layout. I did not check out downstairs. Music sounded great & its a pretty intimate setting. The back door dude was friendly when i asked if i could leave that way? He said i could, but i couldnt get back in. Then when i went to leave,he held the door as he said: making sure nobody is hanging out back here. I dont know when but definitely looking forward to my next Turf Club gig!

    It has been 8-years since I visited this venue. The Turf Club is an established staple to MN as…read moreit's part of First Avenue on the Saint Paul side. I was pumped when my upcoming wedding band Clean Plate Club (CPC) got to open here which is my reason for visiting. I'm not much of a concert girly so this was a big step for me. There is a tiny parking lot in the back, otherwise, a few blocks down in the residential streets there is complimentary parking - just ensure you follow the sign rules as it goes by odd and even sides based on the date. To lead with parking confusion is why I'm giving this venue 4 stars. Walking as a single woman for a night show by University is not something I would ever suggest unless you have a buddy with. For this venue, I would recommend the buddy system or Uber. The venue has a normal bouncer, ID check and tickets can be purchased in advance via the AXS app or onsite. Once inside, the venue is breathable and long. The stage sits at the opposite side of entry and there is a long bar on the side wall, a few tables in the back, and then standing room for most concerts. My friend and I ordered a drink from the bar and then weaseled our way to the front to support CPC. The sound, lighting and stage was the best! We had a great time. Looks like there is a basement here (I never visited it) and that food is served. Also can't speak for this but something to look into. Thanks, Turf Club!!

    Photos
    Turf Club - Runnner at the Turf (view from a table midway back)

    Runnner at the Turf (view from a table midway back)

    Turf Club
    Turf Club

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    Local Rumor - Well designed interior

    Local Rumor

    4.4(47 reviews)
    2.4 miMerriam Park

    I'd seen rave reviews about this place, so we decided to go here to celebrate a personal…read moreaccomplishment last weekend! It's a really cozy moody interior, with *no big lights* aka great low lighting and comfy seating options. When we went, there were just a few other parties there so pretty quiet. I liked that we had a whole corner to ourselves with a sectional couch of sorts and some chairs. They close at 10pm on a Friday night, which felt absurdly early for a cocktail bar. But, we were able to order and drink one drink during the ~45 minutes we had. They closed up shop promptly at 10pm. They had a classics and a "rumors" section of the menu. I didn't think the signature drinks were overly unique, with classics like Paper Plane making that menu side. I had a pomegranate mojito which was good! Consensus was that the cocktails were good not exceptional, especially for the $16-17 price point. We ordered churros for the table which were a table favorite! I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but we enjoyed our time and could see this being a good option if you lived in the neighborhood and don't mind the early close hours.

    The interior of this place is incredible, such a cute spot with moody lighting, intimate seating,…read moreand vibey music. It's a great place for drinks and appetizers. The drinks were good, and they also have a solid selection of beer on tap. The food portion are a bit small imo but I will say the Mac and cheese was pretty darn tasty!

    Photos
    Local Rumor - Elevated mocktail program

    Elevated mocktail program

    Local Rumor
    Local Rumor

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    The Spot Bar - divebars - Updated September 2026

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