St. Paul Secret Stories Bar Crawl – Hidden Tales & History

St. Paul’s polite public face hides a long record of bootleggers, gangsters, backroom deals, and lawmen who did not always play by the rules. This three-hour bar crawl turns those stories into a walking tour through historic downtown, with stops at bars tied to the city’s rougher past.

I like the local storytelling, especially the focus on figures such as Pig’s Eye Parrant, John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly, and the Barker Gang. I also like the mix of history and drinks: you get one complimentary drink, then can buy craft cocktails or premium beer at the stops. The main drawback is simple: at $79, the price is high if you are mainly looking for an inexpensive night out.

Key points to know before booking

• Gangster-era St. Paul: Hear about visiting Chicago criminals, bootlegger hideouts, and the city’s links to John Dillinger and the Barker Gang.
• Three hours on foot: Comfortable shoes matter as you move through historic downtown districts and several bar stops.
• One drink included: Additional drinks are available for purchase, so your final cost can rise beyond the $79 tour price.
• A strong guide makes the difference: Camille, Dan, and Collin have led this experience, with Dan noted for shaping the tour around a guest’s interests.
• A useful brewery stop: Waldmann Brewery was singled out as a highlight, while the former Schmidt brewery area may interest anyone who wants more local industrial history.
• Adults only: You must be at least 21, and you should bring photo ID, cash, and comfortable shoes.

St. Paul’s darker side begins outside Cossetta’s

Your meeting point is outside Cossetta’s restaurant, not inside. Look for the guide in blue. That small detail matters in a busy downtown setting, so arrive with enough time to find the entrance and identify the guide before the group sets off.

The experience begins in central St. Paul, where quiet streets and old buildings provide the setting for stories that rarely appear in a standard city tour. You are not simply moving from bar to bar. The guide uses each place to explain how criminals, officials, business owners, and police were connected during the city’s more crooked years.

The tone should suit you if you like history with a little edge. The stories cover bootleggers, hidden arrangements, criminal safe houses, and local legends. You will hear about Pig’s Eye Parrant, an early figure linked to St. Paul’s beginnings, as well as Chicago gangsters who used the city as a place to hide or conduct business.

The guide is central to the experience. Camille has been praised for her strong command of St. Paul’s past and its bars. Dan has been described as friendly and able to tailor the discussion to a guest’s interests. Collin is also known for bringing an easy, entertaining approach. Guide assignments can change, but the quality of the evening depends heavily on who is leading it.

Historic bars replace the usual museum displays

The biggest strength here is the setting. Instead of looking at old photographs behind glass, you enter working bars with their own connection to St. Paul’s past. That gives the stories a more immediate feel, though it also means the experience is less controlled than a museum visit.

A bar can be noisy. Seating may vary. The pace may depend on how quickly drinks are served. Those are normal tradeoffs when history is presented in active businesses rather than formal galleries. You should expect a social walking tour, not a quiet lecture.

The exact sequence of stops can vary, but the route focuses on historic downtown bars and districts. At each location, the guide explains the place’s connection to bootleggers, gangsters, corrupt officials, or unofficial political arrangements. The subject is not only famous criminals. You also get a look at the city systems that allowed people to hide, work deals, and move around the law.

That broader focus improves the tour. A simple gangster tour can become a parade of famous names. This one aims to show why St. Paul became useful to people who wanted privacy. The important story is not only who visited, but how local buildings, officials, neighborhoods, and underground routes helped them operate.

Gangsters, tunnels, and the city’s unofficial history

The headline names are hard to resist. John Dillinger is connected with the type of criminal world that makes this tour appealing, while Machine Gun Kelly and the Barker Gang add national notoriety. Their St. Paul hideouts form part of the story, but they are not the entire point.

You will also hear about Chicago criminals who used underground tunnel systems to evade law enforcement. This is one of the more unusual parts of the experience, since it links the city’s bars and streets with spaces below them. The tour presents these routes as part of the way criminals moved through St. Paul and avoided attention.

Keep your expectations measured. The information provided does not promise that you will enter every tunnel or inspect a preserved underground passage. The value is in learning how these routes fit the city’s criminal past. If you expect a physical underground expedition, you may find the walking and storytelling format more modest.

The stories about corrupt officials and unofficial arrangements may be even more revealing than the gangster names. They show a city where crime did not operate in isolation. Deals, favors, and silence could matter as much as weapons and disguises. That gives you a better sense of the local character the tour is trying to explain.

Waldmann Brewery and the value of a real drink stop

Waldmann Brewery received especially strong praise as a place to stop for a beverage. It adds a useful change of pace to the crawl, giving you time to enjoy a drink while the guide connects the location to St. Paul’s past and present.

The experience includes one complimentary drink along the route. That may be a cocktail, beer, or another offered drink, but the details of the specific pour are not stated. Any drinks beyond the included one cost extra, so bring cash and set a spending limit if you want to keep the evening near the advertised price.

The access to craft cocktails and premium beers is part of the appeal, but it is also where the value question becomes important. At $79 per person, you are paying for the guide, the route, the history, access to the selected bars, and one drink. You are not buying an open bar.

If you plan to buy several drinks, the total can become a fairly expensive night. If you view the drinks as a setting for a guided history experience, the price makes more sense. I would choose this for the stories and the places first, then treat the drinks as part of the atmosphere.

The former Schmidt brewery offers a useful extra idea

One stop that could use more attention is the former Schmidt brewery area. The brewery is no longer active, but bars inside the old complex offer a place to have a beverage. Its past connection to the area and its buildings could add another layer to the tour.

This is worth keeping in mind if you are interested in architecture, brewing, and neighborhood change as much as gangsters. The supplied details do not promise that Schmidt is part of the standard route, so you should not assume it will be included. Still, it may be a good independent add-on if you want to continue the historical theme after the crawl.

That suggestion also points to one limit of a three-hour tour. St. Paul has more stories than any single route can cover. A guide must choose between criminal figures, breweries, old buildings, political history, and neighborhood details. If you find yourself wanting more context about Schmidt or another site, ask the guide during the walk. Dan, in particular, has been praised for adapting the discussion to personal interests.

What the three-hour pace feels like

Three hours gives the guide enough time to develop a story, but it also creates a fairly long outing when walking and standing are included. Wear comfortable shoes. You are moving between downtown locations, and the experience is not designed as a seated tasting.

The tour is generally offered in the afternoon. That timing can work well if you want history before dinner or a night out. It also means you should think about how much you want to drink during the tour, especially if you plan to continue visiting bars afterward.

The group moves through historic districts rather than relying on a bus or other transport. That is useful because you see the distance between locations and get a better feel for downtown St. Paul. It also means the weather can affect your comfort. The activity information does not provide a weather-specific route or indoor alternative, so dress for the conditions.

Express security or skip-the-line access is included in the activity details. Since this is a bar crawl rather than a major ticketed monument tour, the practical value may vary by stop and by crowd level. Still, it suggests the guide handles entry arrangements so you spend less time sorting out access and more time hearing the stories.

Who will get the most from this bar crawl

I would recommend this experience to adults who like local history presented in a social setting. It is a good match if you enjoy old bars, organized crime stories, craft beer, cocktails, and city walks that go beyond the standard landmarks.

It should also suit a person visiting St. Paul for the first time who wants an introduction to downtown and a few ideas for places to return later. The route gives you local context that a normal pub stop would not provide.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink, dislike bar environments, or prefer formal historical detail supported by exhibits and documents. You can still enjoy the stories without ordering extra drinks, but the setting is built around bars. Anyone under 21 cannot join.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible. Because the experience takes place across several downtown bars and streets, it is sensible to confirm current access details when booking if you have specific mobility needs. The supplied information does not describe the exact entrances or restroom arrangements at each stop.

Practical details that affect your choice

The meeting point is outside Cossetta’s, with the guide wearing blue. Do not go inside the restaurant to find the group. Bring a passport or ID card, since this is an adult activity, and carry cash for additional drinks or small purchases.

The tour is in English and uses a live guide. The storytelling format means you can ask questions during the walk, which is useful if you want more detail about a particular criminal, building, or brewery.

The $79 price is easiest to justify when you want three things at once: a guided downtown walk, access to historic bars, and an organized introduction to St. Paul’s criminal past. It is less attractive if you only want one drink and a short pub visit.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are helpful if your St. Paul schedule is still shifting. Check the final booking details for the current start time, since the experience is usually offered in the afternoon.

Should you book the St. Paul Secret Stories Bar Crawl?

Book it if you want local stories in the places where they belong, especially tales of bootleggers, Chicago criminals, tunnels, corrupt officials, and famous hideouts. The strongest part is the guide-led connection between St. Paul’s old bars and the people who used the city’s shadows.

I would book it for a history-minded night out, not as a cheap drinking tour. Camille, Dan, and Collin have each brought strong personal style to the experience, and a good guide can make the three hours feel like a conversation rather than a list of dates and names.

At $79, the tour asks you to pay for access, context, and a carefully planned route. If that sounds worthwhile, it offers an unusual way to meet St. Paul. If your main goal is several drinks for the lowest possible cost, spend your money at a bar on your own.

FAQ

How long does the St. Paul Secret Stories Bar Crawl last?

The experience lasts three hours and is usually available in the afternoon.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet the guide outside Cossetta’s restaurant. Do not go inside the restaurant. The guide will be wearing blue.

What drink is included?

One complimentary drink is included during the crawl. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

Are additional drinks included in the $79 price?

No. The price includes one drink, while any additional drinks cost extra.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour has a live guide and is conducted in English.

Do I need to bring identification?

Yes. Bring a passport or ID card. The activity is for people aged 21 and older.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.