Bike Saint Paul: Macalester-Groveland

Smart, Sweet, and Cycleable. Bike to the pleasant, picturesque, and delicious Mac Groveland neighborhood.

People biking in professional gear in Saint Paul, MN.
Credit: @brandonwold_msp
The Mississippi is more than the dividing line that gives our Twin Cities their namesake-- it’s a picturesque reason to hop on a bike and marvel.
While our 10,000 lakes (the real number is actually closer to 15,000) get all the play, start at the River Road and head over the Lake Street Marshall Avenue Bridge for true aquatic inspiration.

Head into fairest Mac Groveland, taking part of its nickname from prestigious Macalester College. Equal parts posh and friendly, you’ll get an instant feel for how sophisticated yet affable St. Paul can be, particularly when the academic year is nigh, and the crispiness of autumn is on the horizon.

  1. First, begin on the Minneapolis side of the Lake Street-Marshall Bridge and cross into St. Paul
  2. Continue onto Marshall Avenue
  3. Turn right onto Cleveland Avenue
  4. Turn left onto Summit Ave
  5. Turn right toward Cambridge Street
  6. You will arrive on the Macalester College Campus in 13 minutes (about 2 miles)

A few standout places worth breaking a final seasonal sweat for:

Credit: @drannedmay
Credit: @n.e.r.d_15

Shish Mediterranean Kitchen

A boxer-turned-chef has made this wee storefront the Middle Eastern institution of your dreams, with high-octane Turkish coffee guaranteed to keep you going all day, grilled kebabs served with garlic sauce that will keep you talking about it for years, and hummus and pita to keep you coming back. Shish even has burgers and chicken sandwiches, if you must.

Credit: @shishongrand

Estelle

This newcomer to the neighborhood has been inspiring major chatter among people who love to eat and drink, and do it in a space with all the charm of a favorite neighbor who loves to share and cook. With Estelle's coastal European menu with St. Paul-level pretension (read: none) you’ll not just eat well (arancini, salt cod fritters, handmade pastas) you can feel good and relaxed while doing it (a record player in the corner, easygoing chef’s counter, $7 glasses of Cava).

Credit: @minny_and_me

St. Paul Cheese Shop

If you’re on the move, get the sandwich of your grab-and-go dreams at this amiable little cheese counter, where they build the sandwich with world-class cheeses, made-to-order, excellent for stashing in your bike bag and enjoying at the riverfront. After a sammie plied with real imported Raclette or Comte at St. Paul Cheese Shop, you won’t be able to face a cellophane-wrapped, soggy mess again.

Nashville Coop

Haven’t you heard? The Tennessee Hot Chicken craze (founded by the one and only, Black-owned Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville) is a bonafide, legit craze, inspiring potato chip flavors to ramen. Get St. Paul’s version, Nashville Coop (yes, including “MN Nice: No Heat”) available in strips, sammich, or on Texas Toast. Don’t forget slaw to tamp down the burn.

More to Explore

Mecca Bos

Author

Mecca Bos

Mecca Bos is a Twin Cities based food writer and professional chef. Thinking of tacos and travel are hobbies. Her work can be found at meccaboswrites.com