West Seventh, St. Paul, MN

Saint Paul's West Seventh neighborhood (not to be confused with the West Side, which is on across the river) follows one of the oldest roads in the state - Minnesota Highway 5, also known as Fort Road, also known as West 7th Street - as it leads, eventually, to Fort Snelling, one of the oldest military outposts in the state. Today, the West Seventh neighborhood is diverse, and continues to be one of the mainstays of the European immigrant populations in the city. Bordered on the West and South by Highway 35E, on the east by the river, and on the north by downtown Saint Paul, West Seventh is home to a wide variety of independently owned restaurants and shops. Some of the finest restaurants in the Saint Paul are in the West Seventh neighborhood, including Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria, the Mayday Café and Mancini's Char House and Lounge, one of the last remaining old-school Italian supper clubs in the Twin Cities (gold lame and chain jewelry encouraged). The neighborhood is also known for its antique shops, many of which are owned and run by local historians, who specialize in a particular area of Minnesota or Saint Paul history: each of them a self-declared "expert" who will definitely wrangle you into lively conversation and a Minnesota history lesson if you extend the invitation. You can also find some lovely older Saint Paul homes here, although the area definitely has less desirable pockets as well. Overall, this narrow strip of Saint Paul at the base of the Mississippi River bluffs is rich with historical charm and character, but falls victim to some of the downfalls of the neglect that comes with age.