Cathedral Hill Food Tour
Enjoy our elevated food tour in St Paul’s vibrant heritage neighborhood.
Dominating the skyline, the majestic Cathedral of Saint Paul stands proudly as gateway to the city’s most scenic and historic neighborhood. Here the Victorian era’s movers and shakers, immigrants and servants, and priests and industrialists created a slice of St Paul which defined the Golden Age and showcased the city’s affluence. Stroll past stately mansions on Summit Avenue and learn how residents such as James J Hill, F Scott Fitzgerald, and Cass Gilbert created the city’s colorful past. Dine at some of the area’s most historic, luxurious, delicious, and tantalizing locations along the way. At tour’s end you’d feel right at home in the Golden Age of the Hill.
Tour Information
Dates
- Public Tour: 2pm-5pm Fridays (Apr - Oct) & 2:30pm-5:30pm Saturdays (May - Oct)
- Private Tour: Select your own day and time! Contact us for availability and booking.
Price
- Public Tour: $89 per person
- Private Tour: Varies depending on number of guests
Location
- Begins at The Gnome Craft Pub (498 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102), ends at Moscow on the Hill (371 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102)
Tastings
- Swedish Meatball with caramelized onion gravy w/dill and rye breadcrumbs and pickled mustard seeds served at a revitalized 138-year-old former firehouse
- Relax with a refreshing and crisp Minnesota craft beer as you soak up your surroundings in an atmospheric 18th-century fire station pub renowned for its vast array of brews
- Satisfy your sweet tooth with a rich, nutty brown butter glazed doughnut accompanied by a cup of clean, crisp drip coffee in a former grand hotel with a sordid past as an upscale brothel for the wealthy locals
- Melt in your mouth open-faced oxtail marmalade and pea sandwich served at the neighborhood’s most luxurious and romantic restaurant, named after the building’s original tenant, a well-respected pharmacist
- At an atmospheric and authentically Eastern European restaurant in the shadow of the Cathedral, sample the traditional national dish of Russia – savory dumplings (either pelmeni [meat and onion] or vareniki [potato and onion]) with sour cream dipping sauce, like generations have enjoyed in the old country
- Toast the fun day with unique vodka shots that you can only get on the Hill, finishing your foodie experience in sumptuous surroundings with cultural artifacts, luxe fabrics, and welcoming hospitality
Subject to change without notice
Click here for our Food Allergy & Food Choice Policy
Overview
Enjoy an elevated, curated dining experience in one of St. Paul’s most vibrant and historic neighborhoods. Dominating the skyline, the majestic Cathedral of Saint Paul stands as a grand gateway to the city’s most scenic heritage district. This is where Victorian-era movers and shakers – immigrants and servants, priests and industrialists – shaped a neighborhood that defined St Paul’s Golden Age and reflected its growing wealth and influence. From the stately mansions of Summit Avenue, where it was once fashionable both to see and be seen, to lush green spaces, Mississippi River overlooks, and repurposed historic buildings filled with hidden stories, this neighborhood is rich with character and intrigue. As we explore, you’ll uncover the stories of James J. Hill, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cass Gilbert, Ma Barker, and other famous, wealthy, and notorious figures from the capital city’s colorful past. Along these storied streets – within these walls and among the echoes of history - you’ll dine at some of the area’s most historic, luxurious, and tantalizing locations. By tour’s end, you may just feel right at home in the Golden Age on the Hill.