Loon Cafe St. Paul

Loons Cafe St. Paul offers a spacious sports bar atmosphere with classic americana food combined with some elevated, award-winning dishes. The dining area is large with plenty of TV’s to catch the game, and large windows for looking out at St. Paul’s historic downtown. The Grape Ape Cocktail was sweet and light, with a little more of a lemony taste than its name would suggest. It also wasn’t too strong, leaving plenty of wherewithal to enjoy the rest of the meal. The Chilli Sampler was the highlight, however. I was able to try the chicken chili ala Ski Dad, pinto diablo chili, and Minnesota wild rice soup. The chicken chili ala Ski Dad and pinto diablo chili both had a rich creaminess with the chicken chili had a barbeque robustness that pinto diablo substituted with tangy heat. The wild rice soup meanwhile was savory and a nice palette cleanser between the two. Together with the toast they were extremely filling. We also tried the Mr. Pete’s Burger, which tastewise reminded me of a much better big mac. Loons Cafe St. Paul is great for those looking for a lifted sports bar vibe and for whom grabbing a delicious meal is as or more important the game itself.

When in St Paul and you're downtown, the Loon Cafe does an amazing job with food and friendly service in the Historic Hamms building.

Great vibe. Chili was extremely rich. It’s good but I actually prefer more savory, more tomatoie. Of the Chili the ground Beef one was the best. The steak and chicken gave the chili a dryness I didn’t love. Best thing was the ribs, 5/5 very smoky, flavorful and fatty. Everything else was okay.

We ate dinner here on a Wednesday in July 2025. It was raining so the patio was closed. They have a very Minnesota menu that works beautifully! We started with drinks, she got a Jameson Orange Mule and I got an Old Fashioned. Both were prepared just right. For our meal she got the Walleye tacos and I got the Chili Sampler. The sampler is 3 selections (about 1 cup each) that you pick from their List. I selected the Pecos (hot), Pinto Diablo, and wild rice soup. All 3 were amazing but I loved the Pecos chili. It is made with diced beef and had a great flavor. The pinto Diablo has ground beef and great flavor but is slightly sweet. It was sweeter than I like but it did not stop me from eating it! The wild rice soup was amazing. I have had MN wild rice soup at other restaurants and it is usually cream based but the Loon soup was clear broth and so refreshing, my wife and I really liked it. The Walleye tacos were served with salsa and mango habanero sauce. The chips were homemade and were baked so not oily or over salty. The noice level was low and so it was easy to talk. The server was speedy and friendly. The entire dining experience was most enjoyable. We look forward to eating here again!

The ambience inside is above average, but I was disappointed with the food quality. My wife thought her meal was fine, but I went with chicken strips and fries instead of my usual burger or steak. Normally at a new place I’d order something more substantial, but I wasn’t in the mood, and I find you can often gauge a restaurant’s quality by whether they use hand-breaded chicken or frozen products. There’s a diner near us that makes an excellent chicken sandwich because they hand-bread and beer-batter their chicken. This was clearly the frozen kind. Chewy and not good at all. Drink options were more limited than expected. They poured one glass of Eagle Rare, then ran out, and only had maybe 10 bourbons total. Overall, an average experience. I’d be willing to try again.

I have stopped into the loon several times. It's in a fantastic location next to several bars and restaurants. It's next to several venues such as the Palace Theater and kjs hideaway. You can easily catch a show and then stop here or go here before a show. There are a few parking ramps and lots I'm the area that are within walking distance. In the wintertime, the surroundings are lit and decorated in lights bringing that holiday spirit to brighten the mood. As you walk in the front door you are greeted and you see a large bar with ample seating. When there are events in the area this place gets very busy but on nonevent days, it can be slow. The Friday night was very slow but enjoyable. The bartender was very kind and curious and assisted me right away. The wine-by-the-glass selection is very good and their beer selection is fantastic. I ordered my usual order the Buffalo chicken wrap and it was fantastic. The server who brought it out was very friendly as well. The few times I have been to this location I have had fabulous service and that is the number one reason to return. There are lots of tables of all sizes so they can accommodate parties of all sizes. The place is very clean and well-kept for its size and besides the beer and wine, they do have a very good selection of other great items.

Decently cute cafe in a nice part of town! Our waitress was friendly, and the service was fast. Despite the menu being somewhat small and limited, we both found something we liked. The chili was full of flavor, and while I normally don’t go for chicken sandwiches, I really enjoyed the Eight Ball Deluxe. The chicken was perfectly tender and moist!

That Ruben was terrible I traveled from NC to Mn this man constantly bragged about this sandwich I have no idea who was in the kitchen Friday night 2/20 and made the to go order #38 at 4:47 pm but that pastrami was old and hard and terrible. The meat was stale and tough as leather

Party of 3 stopping in before the Wild game on a Saturday. Water was provided right away beverages shortly after and we love the spinach dip to start. Restaurant was busy the closer we got to 530. The service never wavered. Really enjoyed my Rachel.

Stopped at The Loon Cafe for lunch with some coworkers. I had the Turkey Club and it was okay, nothing special but still good. A few people at our table had the chicken wild rice soup which was a huge hit! The menu had a variety of options and they had great beer selection on tap. Service was great, we were seated right away and our waitress was friendly and attentive. Plenty of seating and a great amount of tables for larger group which we appreciated.

While exploring the area after stopping at Wabasha falls we decided to stop for a quick mid day snack and drink. The Loon Cafe came with high recommendations. The inside of the restaurant is very nice and open around the bar and has a ton of natural light. We were seated immediately upon entering and service was exceptional. We ordered two drinks and the chili sampler. The chili here is an absolute must try! My absolute favorite was the chicken chili a la ski dad. It's definitely a healthier and leaner chili option. We also ordered the pecos river red which was yummy in the medium spice level with extremely tender sirloin steak. The pinto diablo chili was not spicy at all and it was alright. We both preferred the other two. Thankful my boyfriend noticed mushrooms in the diablo chili as I'm deathly allergic and we could've had a real issue. The passionfruit aperol spritz was different and delicious. The loonjuice cider was also delicious and an easy light drink option. I definitely recommend the loon cafe as the menu has plenty of options and the service was great. It is all paid street parking or parking garages in this part of town as well.

We had lunch here because we were close and we were hungry. Overall, it's pretty good. I started with the wild rice soup. They begin with making their stock base then make the soup with lots of wild rice, veggies & chicken. Nice! Then I had the walleye sandwich, grilled. Jalapeño tartar sauce and brioche bun. It's a really good sandwich! It was served with cole slaw? just shaved red cabbage, and fruit cup. Just ok. Staff was fast & friendly. A great place to meet and chat!

The food was good. What I like is how late they are open and how nice the waitress was. The lights are dim and there was game on when we went. We were immediately seated and got our food quickly since we were able to order immediately. I wouldn't get the ice cream cake I got again just because it was freezer burnt. Everything else hit the spot!

Stopped in after seeing Pink in concert. We were headed to Applebees for some late night snacks, but we passed here and find out they served until 11:30ish and we were already in the area. It's hard to find late night snacks ever since the pandemic, so we were pleasantly surprised. They had a variety to choose between. We ordered the beef nachos and cheese curds. The nachos were a generous portion and were excellent. The curds were frozen and not fresh, but still hit the spot for us. I ordered a side of buffalo sauce - they have excellent buffalo sauce. Server was friendly and attentive. Couldn't ask for a better experience at that time of night. I will keep this place in mind the next time I'm at Xcel.

I have stopped into the loon several times. It's in a fantastic location next to several bars and restaurants. It's next to several venues such as the Palace Theater and kjs hideaway. You can easily catch a show and then stop here or go here before a show. There are a few parking ramps and lots I'm the area that are within walking distance. In the wintertime, the surroundings are lit and decorated in lights bringing that holiday spirit to brighten the mood. As you walk in the front door you are greeted and you see a large bar with ample seating. When there are events in the area this place gets very busy but on nonevent days, it can be slow. The Friday night was very slow but enjoyable. The bartender was very kind and curious and assisted me right away. The wine-by-the-glass selection is very good and their beer selection is fantastic. I ordered my usual order the Buffalo chicken wrap and it was fantastic. The server who brought it out was very friendly as well. The few times I have been to this location I have had fabulous service and that is the number one reason to return. There are lots of tables of all sizes so they can accommodate parties of all sizes. The place is very clean and well-kept for its size and besides the beer and wine, they do have a very good selection of other great items.

Spent an evening in St. Paul with a coworker a couple of weeks ago. Had to find a place for dinner, and we settled on The Loon. Found parking nearby in a ramp and is an easy walk to The Fitzgerald Theater. It was a weekday, so it wasn't too busy. We got sat in booth in the bar area. We didn't have to wait long between getting sat, entrees ordered, and then delivered. Sally ordered a grilled walleye sandwich, and I ordered the Eight Ball chicken sandwich. Both were delicious. The Loon is in a building filled with great architecture, both interior and exterior. I'd definitely visit again.

We came here for a cocktail, and we were not disappointed. A couple other possibly more upscale places don't open 'til 4, but the Loon Cafe was hustling at 3-ish. We saw a lot of Wild fans here so I assume it is good for a bite and a beer before the game. I enjoyed a Smokey Bandit because I love mezcal but they had a lot of interesting cocktail and beer options on the menu. We sat at the bar and had a great view of the whole place and the street THROUGH the bar. Nice design. Bartender served us; she was unremarkable which some folks might appreciate when seated at the bar minding their own bee's wax. We also liked the spinach queso appetizer but eat with care! It's a bit drippy. House-made tortilla chips were spectacular.

Had an early dinner here before a concert at the Xcel. Good spot, the patio was great and servers were very nice and attentive. Food was just ok.

LOVED THIS PLACE!! Truly, an excellent fish sandwich...like, out of this world. And the Hamms beer was amazingly cold!! The bartender was super friendly and solid. And the atmosphere was exactly what I needed after a long day of travel. I look forward to returning the next time I'm in St. Paul!

Great spot to grab a few drinks and a bite before a show at the Palace Theater! Home of the original grape ape and it was delicious! Service was fast and friendly and we had a window seat with some great people watching.

I love The Loon. Always such a fun spot to go to when meeting up with friends. Great cocktails and the food is bomb for bar food. I don't know what kind of witchery goes on in the kitchen with their French fries but omggggg they are crispy and perfect. I dream about them. I don't know why, but the chicken tenders here so good. With honey mustard and bbq. So good. I never order or eat chicken tenders anywhere... but for some reason I always have to get them here. The chili- so good. Get it.

A group of three of us stopped in for lunch. The server took the order incorrectly and brought the wrong order for one of us. She asked if the person was okay with just keeping it and my fellow diner graciously said yes. When the bill was presented there was an upcharge for the item that was wrong which seemed kind of a bizarre way to do business. The food was just okay, portion size was fine but the sandwiches were subpar. It was busy and I would go back to try it again but would select different menu items for sure.

This place would be better without the server Angela. We all have bad days, this wasn't the case here. The restaurant wasn't busy. She was so rude because we asked to put in an app order before we all ordered drinks. When she wouldn't let us order 2 apps because she thought we should order drinks first, we said we were trying to catch a show next door and wanted to get our food order in. She got more rude and re-iterated that she wanted to take our drink orders first. It seemed to make her more angry when she asked for our drink order and everyone said "water" which we already had, so she then asked what our food order was - which we then repeated the same 2 apps. I was too scared to order soup or anything else. When she dropped off our apps, our kids were extra polite saying "thank you" and she didn't say anything. I waitressed for years and can't imagine treating customers how she treated us. We went to the Pillbox after our show, which WAS busy. The waitress there let us order our food and drinks at the same time - and she was friendly! I waitressed for years and can't imagine treating customers the way we were treated at the Loon.

Delicious food! Their Walleye sandwich is amazing, and their Hamms is always ice cold.

Great food, better service. Crowd picked up after noon but still thoroughly enjoyed the quick service and atmosphere.

The food is incredible and the team members working there are fantastic. The chili trio is the best I've ever had. The buffalo wings were to die for! It's always a great place to go. When everything else is shut down, you can count of them to be open and have fresh hot food, great cold beer on tap, and great people. Thank you Loon! You guys rock!

Great place. Had a chilli and a Reuben. All tasty. Attentive staff, good wine list. Super value!

Great drinks. Amazing service. Atmosphere is very welcoming. However my salad I didn't really fancy. It wasn't up to my standards. It tasted like a Big Mac in a salad. Which may be some of your preference. Just wasn't mine. Loved the fries and and my drink tho. I would definitely return.

Where to start. I was welcomed by friendly staff right as I walked through the door. The environment was very relaxing and the service was awesome. Our server kept our drinks full and the food came out fast and hits. You can tell they take pride in everything they do here. I will return again for sure.

I was there when The Loon first opened. Nice burger place. Then they added the patio, and moved the fence. I drive a mobility scooter, and there is no way that I can get into the front door with the fence where it is, blocking the door. I sent them a note pointing out the impossibilty of entry. The response was that I should call ahead and have someone meet me at one of the other entrances of the building so they could let me in and guide me to the restaurant. How does "No!" sound to you. If I cannot come in the front door, I do not feel welcome.

How happy am I that the Loon has a roost in Saint Paul? VERY happy! Everything I love about the Mpls Warehouse District location is represented in this location. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable with just a pinch of sass, the food is HUGE and well-prepared and the space lends itself to people-watching. Or memorabilia gazing. I met a friend there on a perfect late-summer lunch date and enjoyed sitting in a shady spot outside. Our server Kristi was very efficient and attentive, which added a lot of value to our outing. The menu has so many options, none of which mattered once I spied the Reuben. Oh, yes, I had my fix in sight! The bread was perfectly toasted without causing gum scrape, the fillings were plentiful and the fries stayed crispy until I could eat no more. In hindsight, I should have boxed half of the sandwich because I was in a food coma the rest of the day. I just couldn't stop eating! I love having my favorite food spot at work and at home!!

There were German cockroaches around the bar. Absolutely horrific and unsanitary. Contacted the health department. I was served a sandwich on a plate with crusted food still on it

Visiting town last Friday for a wedding. Found this restaurant. Everything was excellent. The way we were greeted, the menu, the knowledge of the staff. The food was simply outstanding, and the employees seemed genuinely thrilled that we complemented them. I loved this restaurant.

Great spot to grab a bite before going to a show on weekends in St Paul. Get the chili! Very comforting and stick to your ribs.

Always great service. The food is good, be sure to try some chili. The noise level can be a bit high on busy nights but still a great place for a bite before a Wild game or an Ordway show or concert.

Stopped in there before a concert, nice spot. The food and drinks were decent, the staff was hit and miss, but for the most part friendly.

Great chili and nachos and a fun atmosphere for a pre-concert meal. The drinks were great too.

I didn't want a big lunch, and a cup of Loon Cafe chili was delicious and totally hit the spot!

Food: We ordered several items off the menu and not one of us were disappointed. It's standard American pub food. Drinks: we didn't get to try any of the drinks but they seemed to have a good variety. Pros: quick service over the lunch hour Cons: No wow factor. Sometimes that's what you want though... a simple bar with a simple food menu. Experience: great service and good food!

We had a wonderful dinner here on our recent trip to Saint Paul. The server was patient and fabulous at describing the dishes, and we loved our chili and our gourmet salad. This is a great find for a casual dinner of comfort food and, if we lived in Saint Paul, we would be regulars!

Convenient location. Happy hour is lacking and the food doesn't meet the expectations the prices set. Soo many better options in St Paul. If it lasts a year, I'll come back and give it another try. Maybe I just hit them on a bad/bland night. Back again (continued from a second visit ) and at least they are consistent. Still a disappointment. The dry-rub wings were good, tho. Order the wings.

Great service. Good food. Excellent selection for drinks. An amazing patio. Top it off that they're supporting local artists to help the city host live music for free, how can you possibly go wrong? We've already been here multiple times. Hope to be back while we can still enjoy COVID safer dining and entertainment outside.

As a first timer, Service is on point and quick. I ordered the Reuben. What I can say about the dinner is I am super impressed. When I go places the Reuben is my go to when I don't know the menu. It was hands down one of the Top five Reubens if eaten ever. I highly recommend this place.I will be taking my lunches from work here now perty regularly. Cheers, Big John

A few times in your life you will stumble into a bar that exceeds any expectation you may have had going in. The Loon Cafe was that experience for me. I'm so grateful for the introduction to the spectacular Grape Ape. Highly recommend!! Tim the bartender is a national treasure.

I stumbled here after a concert. I got the chili flight and 2 of the 3 chili's were amazing! I don't remember which was which but worth a try!

As a first timer, Service is on point and quick. I ordered the Reuben. What I can say about the dinner is I am super impressed. When I go places the Reuben is my go to when I don't know the menu. It was hands down one of the Top five Reubens if eaten ever. I highly recommend this place.I will be taking my lunches from work here now perty regularly. Cheers, John

We sat at the bar on a busy St Paul night. Poured a perfect Guinness (poured 6 perfect Guinness... ). Thanks, Patrick!

First time and last time probably, we were here on a Friday afternoon, sat outside where there weren't many tables full in her section. Our waitress was In a sour mood and honestly just acting annoyed at us for being there. The menu had quite a few options and the place looked more upscale so you expect good things. To start the water tasted like sewage and both the sodas were flat and watery btw we got 2 different kinds of pop. We got a split plate for the blfgt which was a bacon lettuce green fried tomato and bacon. The French fries were the best part of the meal and even those were insanely salty like hurt my tounge salty. The blt was okay, so much Mayo it was pouring out and the bacon was so thick and tough it kinda ruined it. I was underwhelmed at the fried green tomato had like no flavor. If you go get different things then we did cuz it was not great.

Great patio! Excellent service! Delicious chili! One of my favorite spots in downtown.

Had a great experience here. will continue to return, great environment, staff, food and drinks. if you're in st. paul, check it out!

Nachos were underwhelming, and bartender was not overly welcoming. Beer was good so I guess that is all that really matters though.

Great ambiance, a tasteful, modern day replica of the original location. Food and service were spectacular.

Went here with family after Disney on Ice. Right away we were greeted warmly by the staff! Our server was just lovely! Food and drinks were great! The chicken salad I ordered I had made into a wrap which was suggested by our server. My only criticism is that when I bit into it, the only thing I could taste was peas, literally I couldn't taste the chicken or anything else it was just PEAS GALORE! I had my sister try it to make sure I wasn't nuts, she said the same thing. Instead I got a bowl of their chili. It was really good. I noticed later they also put peas in their chili. It wasn't overpowering I just thought it was funny. Overall, great service, staff, and food, just maybe not the chicken salad.

I've been at the St. Paul Loon twice now, both times after Park Square plays which makes it a relatively late night experience. On the first visit we sat outside, which was very nice. The service was good and the Beyond Burger outstanding (I highly recommend Beyond Burgers. They're better than beef). On the second visit we sat inside. The service was again excellent, but my fish and chips wow not. I don't know if it was on purpose or a mistake, but there was an extreme amount of pepper in the fish batter. I've never had extremely spicy black pepper deep fried fish before, but I won't order it again. Others enjoyed their food. The big issue was NOISE. Inside, the music level inhibited conversation and we left early. I'm sure we'll check back again, there are few options after a Park Square play, but if the noise level is as high, we'll find another place.

I've been here twice and ordered the BLT both times. The space is nice, they have tables and a large bar, ya know.. like a restaurant. The first visit my BLT was amazing and the service was not. Envision perfectly cooked bacon that laid intact, with delightfully paired bites of guacamole and tomato. My friend who ordered the salad, then drooled over my BLT and I gracefully shared. My second visit the BLT was not as tasty and the service was exceptional. The bacon was crispy and falling out of the bread in pieces. They forgot my guacamole. It resulted in a less than impressive BLT that I could have made at home. The waiter intently shared the specials with us, and despite his passionate pitch for the chili, we still opted for BLT's. He was attentive and ensured I had an extra napkin to ditch the gum I was nervously and (clearly obnoxiously) chewing. I probably owe that guy for helping me be less of a doofus date. Hope dude left a nice tip. I was there on a date, they could have served me worms and I may not have noticed. The Loon Cafe is a nice spot and likely has great menu options, but if you go with a great date none of it matters anyways.

VJ, the wife, the bro, and mi padre hit up The Loon Cafe before the Wild home opener. I really liked the bar and how the seating was setup being my first time there. Only negatives were the wait time on our food took long which was expected with the new restaurant and the heater was clinically hot behind us at our table. I ordered the Eight Ball Deluxe with fries which was diabolically awesome. Hit VJ's tastebuds like Clooney hit your tv screens in the 90's.

My wife and I came here for the first time tonight (visiting from out of town) and had Hailley as our server...she was very helpful and friendly. I had the chicken sandwich and my wife had nachos. Both were very good, but hats off to the nachos!!! So very good and the Texas chili with it was perfect!!! Great location and atmosphere...really enjoyed coming tonight!!!