The best and top-rated local clubs in Saint Paul

TL;DR:

Saint Paul is music-first with select dance nights.
Lowertown and Midway anchor the scene.
Black Hart runs drag, disco, and DJ parties.
Amsterdam Bar & Hall and Turf Club book nightly shows.
Myth Live in Maplewood hosts big concerts and 18+ parties.

Saint Paul is not a row of mega-clubs. It is a music city with steady dance nights, drag shows, and full calendars at mid-size venues. If you want a room that feels local, this guide lines up reliable spots, what they do best, and how to plan your night for October 13, 2025.

How Saint Paul nights are laid out

Two areas lead. Downtown and Lowertown hold concert halls and event bars. Midway and University Avenue host long-running club rooms and LGBTQ+ nights. For big, national tours or 18+ parties, head ten minutes east to Maplewood.

Tourism and venue pages show that Saint Paul venues lean live music, with ticketed events most nights and late service after shows. Check venue calendars the same day for accurate hours.

Dance-forward and queer-friendly

Black Hart of Saint Paul (Midway)

Vibe: LGBTQ+ soccer bar by day, drag, burlesque, karaoke, and DJ parties by night.
Why it’s top rated: The weekly calendar posts dance parties like Jumpsuit! funk and disco, plus themed nights and shows Friday and Saturday. Covers are modest, music starts around 9 p.m. Most events are 21+.

Details: 1415 University Ave W. Check the online calendar for theme nights and karaoke.

Local tip: Arrive before 10 p.m. on show nights for easier entry and a spot near the dance floor.

Concert venues that flip to party mode

Amsterdam Bar & Hall (Downtown/Lowertown edge)

Vibe: Bar up front, venue in back. Mix of touring artists, themed dance parties, and late service after shows.
Why it’s top rated: Near-daily events and frequent dance-party bookings, like TV and decade nights. It is positioned by operators and editors as Saint Paul’s premier, flexible music venue.

Details: 6 W. 6th St. Hours shift by event. Tickets often required during shows, then the bar reopens after the music

Local tip: Pre-buy tickets for themed parties. They sell out, especially on weekends.

Turf Club (Midway)

Vibe: Classic 350-cap room with a basement lounge for jazz and afterglow hangs.
Why it’s top rated: Decades of bookings, now operated by the First Avenue team. Nightly shows, with genre variety and a friendly crowd. Great for danceable rock, funk, and DJ-adjacent events.

Details: 1601 University Ave W. Most shows start 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., ages vary by bill.

Local tip: Check for Clown Lounge events downstairs if you like jazz or a quieter reset between sets.

Big-room energy near Saint Paul

Myth Live (Maplewood, 10 minutes east)

Vibe: Large concert hall with national tours, 18+ and all-ages events, plus big dance and hip hop nights.
Why it’s top rated: The calendar lists major fall 2025 shows and party nights, with VIP options and occasional 18+ events, which is rare in the metro. The venue FAQ explains ticketing and box office hours.

Details: 3090 Southlawn Dr., Maplewood. Event times vary. Expect security screening and ticketed entry.

Local tip: If you want a true “club-sized arena” feel around Saint Paul, this is it. Rideshare in, plan a pickup point after the show.

Blues, R&B, and dance-friendly live rooms

Minnesota Music Cafe (Dayton’s Bluff)

Vibe: Supper-club feel with a dance floor. Bookings include R&B, funk, and legacy acts.
Why it’s top rated: The venue posts active weekly calendars into fall 2025, with popular local bands and room to dance. Capacity sits in the mid hundreds.

Details: 499 Payne Ave. Cover varies by show, music often starts earlier than downtown.

Wilebski’s Blues Saloon (North End)

Vibe: Big dance floor, Tuesday blues jam, Friday blues shows.
Why it’s top rated: A long-running favorite for dancers, with a widely promoted open jam and themed shows, including Halloween events in 2025.

Details: 1638 Rice St. Tuesday jam runs 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., often no cover. Fridays start earlier than most venues.

Quick picks by vibe

Vibe	Top pick	Area	Typical hours	Cover
Queer dance, drag shows	Black Hart	Midway	9 p.m. start, Fri–Sat	$5–$10
Theme parties, near-daily events	Amsterdam Bar & Hall	Downtown	Doors by show	Ticketed
Classic concert club, jazz lounge	Turf Club	Midway	Shows 8–9 p.m.	Ticketed
Big tours, 18+ parties	Myth Live	Maplewood	Varies, evenings	Ticketed
Blues, R&B with dance floor	Minnesota Music Cafe	Dayton’s Bluff	Early evenings	Cover varies
Blues jam and dancers	Wilebski’s Blues Saloon	North End	Tue jam 7–11 p.m.	Often free on Tue

Sources for hours and policies are linked at the end. Always check the calendar before you go.

Planning your Saint Paul night

1) Decide on “shows first” or “dance first.”
Saint Paul often runs ticketed concerts early, then informal dancing later. Amsterdam and Turf Club follow that pattern.

2) If you want a guaranteed dance party, target a posted DJ night.
Black Hart publishes disco, house, and karaoke schedules with clear start times and covers.

3) For the biggest production, pick Myth Live.
Check the lineup for 18+ events and hip hop headliners. Read the FAQ for box office hours and entry details.

4) Prefer live bands and a friendly dance floor?
Hit Minnesota Music Cafe for funk and R&B or Wilebski’s for blues jam and Friday shows.

5) Use Lowertown as a base.
Walkable food and bars, plus quick rides to Midway venues along University Avenue. Tourism pages highlight Lowertown’s concentration of arts and events.

Sample itineraries

Lowertown into dance
Early dinner near CHS Field. Ticketed show at Amsterdam. If the party continues, swing to Black Hart for a posted disco night.

Midway music crawl
Doors at Turf Club, then a late visit to Black Hart for karaoke or a DJ. If it is blues night, pivot to Wilebski’s to catch the jam.

Arena-sized energy
Lock tickets for Myth Live. Expect large crowds and production, then rideshare back downtown for a nightcap.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming nightly club hours. Many rooms run event by event. Check the specific calendar.
Showing up late on themed nights. Black Hart dance parties fill fast after 10 p.m.
Forgetting suburbs count. The east metro’s biggest “club night” feelings are often at Myth Live.

Why it matters

Visitors often default to Minneapolis for clubs. Saint Paul offers a different rhythm, with real rooms, real calendars, and friendly crowds. If you match your night to a posted event, you will find packed dance floors, strong shows, and easy late service.