Downtown

Close to 9,000 people live in downtown St. Paul in new and renovated apartments and condominiums, as well as in artist lofts. Many of the types of individuals include students and artists, but also many retirees looking for a quiet, beautiful place to conveniently live in certain months. (Other times of the year, retirees will often relocate to vacations spots or cottages.)

Downtown St. Paul offers up many delicious restaurant hot spots, and bars. Some of the city’s best restaurants include Pazzaluna, a fast-paced, upscale Italian restaurant, Kincaid’s, a traditional fish, chop, and steakhouse, and Mickey’s Diner, a classic Art Deco diner car restaurant that was opened pre-WWII and, in 1983, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. And, of course, St. Paul would be nothing without honoring its Irish roots with numerous Irish pubs and restaurants. These include Patrick McGovern's, The Liffey, and many more!

An absolute must in St. Paul is Cosetta’s on West 7th street, just kitty corner from the Xcel Energy Center. Cosetta’s is an Italian market as well as a pizzeria. The pizzeria includes homemade pizzas as well as pastas, salads and fresh bread. If you live near Cosetta’s you’re golden to indulge in hearty meals for nearly every night of the week! (Cosetta’s is closed on Mondays.)

Take a slight step back in the past at Mancini’s Char House, a traditional Italian restaurant located west down 7th street, just on the outskirts of downtown. With a swanky, old school atmosphere, Mancini's offers up hearty entrees and intoxicating cocktails—think Old Fashioneds and serious martinis. Stay late for live music and dancing in Mancini’s Lounge & Bar.

If you're looking for fresh local food, then you'd better check out the Black Dog Cafe.  This quaint delight is located across the street from the St. Paul farmers' market.  There is contrivance in this place whatsoever.  The counter staff is friendly, but not over-eager; the food, albeit a little pricey for the artist type, perhaps, is simple and tasty.  You can build your own thin crust pizza or choose from a modest variety of fresh green salads.  The cafe boasts of a genuine 'artist loft' atmosphere--one you might find in Northeast Minneapolis; however, here you will be spared the pretense and gobs of people.  Like saint paul, the Black Dog is in touch--they are located around the corner from Springboard for the Arts--yet laid back.  You don't feel the need to get someplace else as quickly as you might in Minneapolis.

To soothe a morning hangover, or just to have a darn good breakfast, the Day-by-Day Café serves up straightforward, tasty homemade breakfasts all day as well as burgers, veggie options, and salads. Super inviting, this café is adorably eclectic and has a funky outdoor patio in the back for summer time lazing.

Rental facilities in downtown St. Paul vary and can range from $625-$2,000 for anything from a studio to a three bedroom apartment. If you are a working artist or a student of art, downtown St. Paul has some beautiful artists’ lofts that are extremely spacious and very affordable. An extensive application process and proof of artist work and income is a requirement in living in such spaces. One such unique space is the Tilsner Artists’ Cooperative. Not only is this a space for affordable living, but also it’s a whole community of artists supporting one another’s work and aiding in each other’s success.

Downtown St. Paul does offer other lofts for rent and sale, such as the lofts in the historic Union Depot Station.

Living in downtown St. Paul will be more affordable than most any other major metropolitan downtown, however it will also be much different that any other major city. St. Paul is very quiet and tends to go to be early—11:00 pm is late for this city. However, that said, with such a quiet atmosphere there is a calm to the city and a fierce, yet unspoken, adoration and respect from its residents. The city is very clean, historic, and beautiful and its resident are very proud.

The Metro Transit has numerous buses and the light rail that service downtown St. Paul. Specific routes and schedules can be accessed at www.metrotransit.org.

Parking in the neighborhood will cost you money as all ramps, garages, and street parking has a fee for parking.

Visit the neighborhood! Walk around, get a feel for the community on your own, then walk around looking for posted "for Rent" signs! If you can't do that then definitley keep reading this site!

A few apartments will allow dogs and most all apartments will allow cats. The Twin Cities overall is pet-friendly community and offers many dog parks throughout the metropolitan area. The following website offers up information on where to find those parks: www.dogfriendly.com.

Live theater and music are hot downtown and includes something for every taste and every pocketbook. The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Minnesota Opera, the Schubert Club, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra, and, for the obvious reasons, hosts many entertaining events throughout the year. Another respected theatrical establishment, with quality productions for the whole family, is the Park Square Theatre in the historic Hamm Building. Adjacent to this theatre and accessible through the charming pedestrian-only alley—complete with restaurants and coffee shops—is the production Flanagan’s Wake, a show for lovers of improvisation.

Other theater companies include the Fitzgerald Theater, home to Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion,” the Great American History Theatre, The Loading Dock Theater, and the Stepping Stone Theatre. There is also St. Paul’s Convention RiverCentre that hosts many special events.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is also a huge event of the city with events throughout St. Paul, including downtown. The carnival is attended by close to 400,000 visitors annually; it showcases ice sculpting, winter food, activities, and an ice palace.

Speaking of ice, St. Paul is also home to the NHL Hockey team The Minnesota Wild with games being held at the Xcel Energy Center. Be sure to grab some mostacolli and pizza at Cosetta’s before the game!

Lowertown, below east 5th street, offers up many artists’ space and new renovated lofts. Over on west 7th, near Chestnut and Exchange streets are older historic brick buildings with rental units. For hi-rises and condominiums be aware of such streets names as Wabasha and Cedar.

For the freshest produce, meats, and cheeses, residents go to the year-round St. Paul Farmers' Market held at 290 E 5th Street—a 150-year tradition.

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