Cathedral Hill and Grand Avenue hold St. Paul's most walkable stretch of everyday rooms: a 1948 char house, a sports bar by the Xcel, and a Grand Avenue corridor that runs from rotisserie chicken to vegan loaded fries. None of it needs Minneapolis for comparison. This is what St. Paul eats on a Tuesday and a Saturday both.
531 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512247345
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Steak has anchored this West Seventh room since 1948, and the record still holds: a well-charred steak, a simple salad, green beans done plainly and well. The interior reads like the neighborhood's own time capsule, sports on the televisions, service that moves with the confidence of a room that has done this for decades. A St. Paul standard, not a novelty.
What to ordersteak, salad, green beans
№ 02
Red Cow St. Paul
St. Paul $$
393 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102 · +16517890545
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The burger and fries are the draw, but the bar seats are where this Grand Avenue room earns its keep: bartenders working craft cocktails in view, a menu built for a fast, satisfying dinner rather than an occasion. Consistent across its several Twin Cities locations, this one holds its own on Grand Avenue with attentive service and no pretense.
What to orderburger, fries, craft cocktail
№ 03
Moscow on the Hill
St. Paul $$
371 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512911236
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Beef stroganoff, tender and rich, is the order to make here, alongside pelmeni and borscht that keep the room's Russian identity plain and unbothered by trend. Cathedral Hill gets a warm, family-run feel from a staff that greets regulars and newcomers the same way. Service is quick, the comfort food lands, and the room never overreaches.
What to orderBeef Stroganoff, Pelmeni, Borscht
№ 04
J. Selby's
St. Paul $$
169 N Victoria St, St Paul, MN 55104 · +16512223263
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Loaded fries and a brunch burrito carry this all-vegan St. Paul kitchen, built for tables where dietary needs differ but everyone wants to order off the same menu. The food reads as flavorful rather than a substitute for something else, and the room's community fund gesture fits its unfussy, welcoming register. A rare all-vegan menu done as a full restaurant, not a niche.
What to orderloaded fries, brunch burrito, vegan burger
№ 05
Burger Moe's
St. Paul $$
242 W 7th St, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512223100
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The Jack Daniel's burger is the name to know here, backed by a beer list deep enough to hold its own before an Xcel Energy Center game. Service moves fast on event nights, the room runs loud and friendly, and the vibe leans college bar more than gastropub. St. Paul's pre-game burger stop, plain and reliable.
What to orderJack Daniel's burger, classic burger, beer selection
№ 06
Cafe Astoria
St. Paul $$
180 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16515081654
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A pumpkin spice latte and a chocolate croissant are the order that keeps this West Seventh counter busy between appointments, the espresso handled with more care than the quick-stop format suggests. It fills fast and the parking on this stretch of West Seventh takes some patience, but the coffee program justifies the stop.
What to orderpumpkin spice latte, chocolate croissant, espresso
№ 07
Patrick McGovern's Pub
St. Paul $$
225 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512245821
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Buffalo wings, hot turkey, and a turkey Reuben make the case for this St. Paul pub as a straightforward, patio-friendly stop rather than a destination meal. Pull tabs and a relaxed Sunday night crowd round out the room's character, and the servers get named for their attentiveness more than the kitchen does. The patio is the real draw in warm months.
What to orderbuffalo wings, hot turkey, turkey Reuben
№ 08
Brasa Premium Rotisserie- St. Paul
St. Paul $$
777 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16512241302
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Yuca fries are the dish regulars name first, the rotisserie chicken and collard greens the reason this Grand Avenue location has held a five-year run as a takeout and dine-in staple. The return to full table service after a QR-code stretch improved the room's welcome considerably. One of several Twin Cities locations, but this Grand Avenue room earns its own loyalty.
What to orderyuca fries, rotisserie chicken, collard greens
Frequently asked
What is the best restaurant near me in Cathedral Hill and Grand Avenue?
It depends on what a diner wants. Mancini's Char House on West Seventh is the choice for a steak dinner with decades behind it, Brasa on Grand Avenue for rotisserie chicken and yuca fries, and Moscow on the Hill for stroganoff in Cathedral Hill proper. Each listing here carries its own Insider Score, built from the review record, and no restaurant pays to appear on this list.
Is Cathedral Hill part of Minneapolis or St. Paul?
Cathedral Hill and Grand Avenue are both St. Paul neighborhoods, distinct from Minneapolis across the river. Every restaurant on this list operates in St. Paul, not Minneapolis, and is labeled by its actual city.
Which restaurants on this list are good for groups?
Red Cow St. Paul, Burger Moe's, and J. Selby's all handle groups well, whether the table wants cocktails and a burger, a pre-game beer run, or a mix of vegan and non-vegan eaters at the same table. The Insider Score for each reflects the review record, not any payment for placement.
Do any of these St. Paul restaurants have a Michelin star?
No. Minnesota has never had a Michelin star, and Michelin's newly announced coverage applies to Minneapolis city limits only, with first selections not arriving until 2027. St. Paul restaurants, including everything on this list, are excluded from Michelin coverage entirely.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Marit Solheim
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Marit Solheim is the Food Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born and raised in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis, she spent six years on the line in downtown kitchens before she started writing. She covers the institutions and the chef tier in both downtowns and holds the desk to one standard: know which city you are standing in.
