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    The White Squirrel Bar

    4.4 (33 reviews)
    Open • 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The White Squirrel Bar Photos

    THE WHITE SQUIRREL BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The White Squirrel Bar

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    Christmas decor
    Rikkita K.

    Cute bar! Feels like a fun, slightly elevated dive bar. Definitely a local place, lots of friend groups and people hanging out in the booths/ at the bar, I went on a Monday during the holidays and they had live music, a comedy show, and a lively crowd until I left around midnight. Fun cocktail options, and a good beer selection as well. The bartenders were great, it was busy but they were helpful and quick to get drinks, water etc. The bartender was also willing to keep my drinks behind the bar when I used the restroom (I was alone and unwilling to leave my drink unattended) which was extremely nice. Check this place out if you're looking for a fun, bright dive bar vibe!

    Billy Dankert, Jon Rodine and Matt Caflischl & Band.  Legendary night!
    Steve T.

    Such an intimate bar that offers free music and an everchanging cocktail menu. A great outdoor patio, that is also pooches friendly as long as they are on a leash. And hey! If you're feeling adventurous, they have $4 mystery shots. Tip your bartender, there is only one, and they are hustling.

    Back patio
    Raymond S.

    Went here again after going a few years ago. Lot has changed. They have a backyard patio/ stage for music and food trucks. The drinks are really good. Had the gold rush. One of my favs!!

    April 2025
    Tiffany W.

    Exceptional dive bar! Fun cocktails, beers and THC drinks. We went to watch a live gig from the Clean Plate Club who were an outstanding jazz funk band with a brass section. For my drink, I opted for the "Dreamkiller" which had aged rum, velvet falernum, mezcal, coco lopez, pineapple, orange, lime and nutmeg. Perfection! Do note: the interior is tiny so get ready to get comfortable especially if you are seeing a live show. Also no food is served here just drinks. There are bar seats and a couple of booths for comfort if you arrive early enough. Enjoy!

    The eponymous white squirrel.
    Scott P.

    Solid neighborhood bar in the West 7th neighborhood of St. Paul. I'm from out of town, but my sister lives a few blocks away and tells me the bar is named after an albino squirrel named Kevin that lives in the neighborhood. Sounds legit. Or she's just messing with her little brother. Who's to say? We came with a small group on a Sunday night and sat at the booth by the window. I asked the bartender what local beers they had and he said everything on tap was local, and let me try a beer made right up the road. I love a local bar that supports local breweries. It was incredibly pleasant sitting in the booth in the small space. The other side of the bar has a small stage for live music and I can imagine it would be even better watching a live show here. Cozy atmosphere, super friendly bartender, great drinks, space for live music... bars don't get much better than this.

    Kevin :)
    Grace Q.

    THE WHITE SQUIRREL BAR: A HAIKU Funky tunes, fun pals. Distilled dive bar on the rocks, Kevin's hideaway *THC/CBD friendly

    Yummy painkiller drink.
    Jill T.

    Cozy and friendly staff. The bartender was able to make a drink that wasn't on the menu for us. Live music sometimes. I'd come back.

    Booths are comfortable and fairly private.
    Amber D.

    White Squirrel is a cozy space with a really cool aesthetic. There are typically live bands on weekends, which is a ton of fun. The booths are set up so that you can typically still have a conversation, even when a band is playing on stage. They have a wide selection of drinks; the cocktails are really tasty, they have a bunch of THC seltzers to choose from, and plenty of beers on tap. Last time we were there, I had a THC seltzer and didn't want to mix, so I tried their N/A cocktail. It was refreshing and not too sweet, kind of like a medicine ball tea or a hot toddy (obviously without the whiskey flavor). The bartenders have always been helpful and kind, even when the bar is packed. Overall, this place is one of my favorites.

    one of two side entrances
    Nikki B.

    Stopped in Saturday afternoon to catch a live gig. What a cute and cozy venue! There was bar seating, a few booths, some small tables then there was more seating closer to the stage! Bartender Chris was absolutely delightful ....and confirmed my initial notion when I saw him!! The White Squirel is one of three bars the owner has, another one is Amsterdam... where I had met Chris in July! There are two bathrooms, right across from the bar, between the two side doors. I think the bar did a great job w acoustics! Two little kids walked out covering their ears but adults didn't mind. White Squirrel has such a comfy neighborhood bar feeling and I quite enjoyed the couple that found a little room to dance!It got a little busier as the bands played but not uncomfortably crowded. There is a small parking lot so if it's busy you're looking at street parking, which is ample. Thanks White Squirrel for a wonderful afternoon of live music while I met up w old friends and chatted up your friendly bartender... certainly planning to make you a regular stop.

    a painting of a white cat

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    4 months ago

    A neat old-time vibe with good bartenders and some great music. I would call the place "unexpected."

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    7 months ago

    Dive bar but they actually had u pique and well made cocktails. I enjoyed it !! Also appreciated all the booths inside.

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    8 months ago

    Great little dive bar with live music. Good beer, great bartender, good cocktails and of course good live music.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Really fun cozy spot to hear loud music! Kind bartenders with free pour mixed drinks.

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    2 years ago

    Cozy and cool vibe. Great alcoholic and non choices. Elevated stage is great to see the entertainment. (The em's ROCK the place!!)

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    Ask the Community - The White Squirrel Bar

    Review Highlights - The White Squirrel Bar

    “They have plenty of THC and even a CBD-only option (winning!), along with some non-altering choices that include switchel(!).”

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Local Rumor - Well designed interior

    Local Rumor

    4.4(47 reviews)
    2.8 mi•Merriam 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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    Bar Cart Lounge And Restaurant - Bar

    Bar Cart Lounge And Restaurant

    4.2(92 reviews)
    2.1 mi•Mac-Groveland

    My daughter and I were excited to finally try this restaurant in my new neighborhood after walking…read moreby it countless times. Since we didn't have a reservation, we arrived early and were pleasantly surprised to be seated right away. From the moment we walked in, we loved everything about the place. The décor is beautiful, the ambiance is warm and inviting, and the staff was fantastic. The menu offers so many great options, and the cocktails were even better than expected. Our server, Rosie, provided excellent recommendations, and we genuinely loved everything we ordered. They also offer a great happy hour until 6 PM, which is a nice bonus. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I highly recommend giving it a try. One small note: We didn't realize a 20% gratuity had already been added to our bill. That's partially on us for not catching it on the credit card slip, (we tipped in cash) but I do think it would be helpful if servers mentioned it when presenting the check. I typically prefer to tip in cash, so on our $62 tab, we ended up leaving a $34 tip. Even with that little surprise, we'll absolutely be back. The food, drinks, service, and atmosphere were all worth another visit!

    We were in the area and finished with work sooner than planned. My daughter asked for oysters and I…read morefound this restaurant, plus they have oysters on their happy hour menu! Located in the area by the private colleges, they have a small parking lot on the right. Inside of the restaurant is colorful and dimly lit. I see the restaurant is known for craft cocktails and was excited to try. We sat in the front room since we didn't have reservations, I would recommend for party of 4 people or more.

    Photos
    Bar Cart Lounge And Restaurant - Vinegar sauces for the oysters

    Vinegar sauces for the oysters

    Bar Cart Lounge And Restaurant - Mocktail

    Mocktail

    Bar Cart Lounge And Restaurant

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    Moscow On The Hill - Nouveau Russian

    Moscow On The Hill

    4.3(719 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Cathedral Hill
    •$$

    A gem of a find in St. Paul! I'm guessing this is popular among locals too. I have no Russian food…read morewhere I live, so was immediately intrigued and wanted to try. Such a cute, cozy and divey place. The bar is adorable. You can definitely tell this is family owned. Our server was fantastic and very obviously Russian. We tried all the food--from the garden salad with the sunflower vinaigrette to pickled vegetables, borscht and the homemade dumplings. I'm not typically a huge cabbage person, but the borscht was really good. And the homemade dumplings--you won't be displeased. Ask for the chili vinegar to kick them up a notch. Everything was so good, fresh, and priced well. The drinks---way too many fun options with house infused vodkas to choose from. It was too early for a vodka flight, but I'm sure that's a fun adventure. Next time. I ordered a martini that had chocolate and pepper infused vodkas (Red October)---so strong unique and flavorful. I believe I also did the Alexander Palmer. I could have tried almost every drink on the menu. I cannot wait to come back when in MN.

    Not that this place needs another five-star review, but from the second we walked in, we were…read moregreeted and joked with like family. We decided to come here for our anniversary lunch and made a reservation in advance. We started with an appetizer and some borscht. I make a mean borscht myself using veggies from my garden, but I figured a little outside inspiration could only help improve my recipe. I also ordered the Ivan the Terrible Martini, which has sambuca in it. Truly such a unique, delicious, and STRONG drink. Our entrées were perfectly portioned. I had the Siberian pelmeni, which I still think about to this day. Pairing those little dumplings with sour cream and vinegar has my mouth watering just writing this. After one more martini, we called it and headed out to enjoy the rest of our anniversary. We found street parking and walked a little ways to get there. Such a friendly, warm environment with delicious food that manages to feel both hearty and elevated.

    Photos
    Moscow On The Hill - Nice ambiance

    Nice ambiance

    Moscow On The Hill - Borscht

    Borscht

    Moscow On The Hill - Maryusya Gold cocktail

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    Maryusya Gold cocktail

    Estelle - Good For Yah cocktail + beet salad

    Estelle

    4.7(264 reviews)
    2.5 mi•Mac-Groveland
    •$$$

    Great little local spot in Saint Paul…read more There's a lot to like about Estelle so I'll try to keep it to what stands out: 1. The menu is wonderful, and the food comforting. The peri peri chicken was surprisingly spicy. I like spicy foods and it was teetering on a bit too hot for me, but I enjoyed the flavors and the dishes as a whole that we sampled. 2. The cocktails are divine. I had two old fashioneds and they were amongst some of the best I've had. 3. The service is impeccable. Friendly, well paced, and professional. 4. The ambiance is really comfortable. I liked that we weren't rushed, and had a really well paced meal in a nice environment. Overall I'd love to return someday. If you go be sure to make a reservation!

    Visited 7/15/26. Okay first the good parts- food was all great as per usual. A few of us came on…read morerestaurant week and got to choose a starter, a main, and a dessert based on this (only choice was to order off restaurant week menu which is very understandable). We were seated right away based on our reservation and our waitress was a gem for bearing the heat of the patio with us. I got the grilled asparagus, the piri piri chicken, and the ginger cake. Piri piri chicken has a bit of a kick to it but it pairs perfectly with the rice and I really enjoyed it. For me, the $55 three course meal was worth the value since I got a few of the pricier items, but for the other two members of my party, the prices were listed on the restaurant week menu and the items they chose when added up totaled as less than $55. They still were charged $55, which did feel a bit odd and we all agreed we would prefer just coming for a normal dinner instead of during restaurant week in the future. Better balance of food that way also. I didn't necessarily need all three full courses and would've been more content sharing apps and desserts. Regardless though-they never miss on the flavors at Estelle!

    Photos
    Estelle - Our view from seating

    Our view from seating

    Estelle - SHRIMP AL AJILLO

    SHRIMP AL AJILLO

    Estelle - It's Good For Yah cocktail

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    It's Good For Yah cocktail

    Altera - Dessert menu

    Altera

    4.4(52 reviews)
    3.0 mi•Highland

    I had been really wanting to go to Altera and was excited to go! I liked the ambiance but will say…read morethere was room for improvement for attention to cleanliness - menu, water glass, chair were not clean. We ordered: POK POK CHICKEN WINGS 5/5 BURRATA 1/5 CACIO E PEPE Pizza 2/5 DAN DAN NOODLE 4.5/5 (not terribly warm) CLAUDEL 5/5 Wine list was good!

    This place has potential, the ambiance was there and the server Josh was great, but the food itself…read morejust didn't match the prices. Came here for a date night, I got the Broiled Miso Salmon and one glass of wine and my partner got the Steak Frites and a coke. Our bill was $95! Ouch. The bad: If it were really really good I would be willing to pay for it, but I felt that the flavors in my dish, in salmon, carrot ginger sauce, and cauliflower, were whispering at best. I think the cauliflower could have used a sauce or been crispier, it just seemed boring and soggy. The steak and fries also came out cold :( my partner really knows his steaks and was not impressed, it was over cooked for medium rare and it had clearly been sitting too long. Not worth the $38! The good: The space itself is decorated really well, it's pretty dark but the theme comes together really nicely. I personally enjoyed the indie/pop music they had playing and it wasn't too loud. I really enjoyed the Chardonnay ($16) and they had a decent selection of wine but only a handful were by the glass. You can get glasses of by the bottle wines if you commit to getting at least two glasses though which is good to know. For me, the service really saved this review, our server was so nice and friendly, attentive but not overbearing. I would maybe grab a drink and an appetizer here sometime but will definitely hold out on dinner again until their prices chill or the food gets better. ‍ TLDR: Too expensive for the food quality

    Photos
    Altera
    Altera - Pok Pok Chicken Wings

    Pok Pok Chicken Wings

    Altera - Altera Cheeseburger and "Chips"

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    Altera Cheeseburger and "Chips"

    The White Squirrel Bar - musicvenues - Updated October 2026

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