A Night Out At W.A. Frost & Company In St. Paul

W.A. Frost & Company in Saint Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood is most well-known for its patio, and rightly so. On summer afternoons, the trees that encircle provide ample shade and at night, the lights strung from the trees and along the fence twinkle between the leaves. It's all quite magical, really. Although, it's not what you would call a cheap outing, but if you're looking for that, you've got lots of options.

Tucked away at the bottom of the stairs you'll find at the back of the bar, it's a cozy, comfy space with three tinier rooms set off by curtains or French doors around its perimeter. This isn't where you go to be seen or dance—most nights of the week it's empty, but that makes it the perfect place for small, impromptu get-togethers or intimate evenings of conversation and good drink.

And what good drinks they are. Frost's menu of cocktails changes pretty regularly, but you'd do well to focus on the ones with house infused spirits. The Star Anise Daisy ($8) combines star anise infused brandy with orange, cloves, sparkling water and house-made sweet and sour. The sweet and sour is the real key here, since it's not as sugary as a commercial mix and the drink, like many of Frost's, is sweet without being overbearing. The same goes for the Mint-Lime Daiquiri ($10), whose mint and lime infused rums blends well with the aforementioned house sweet and sour and a splash of Grand Marnier for a cocktail that would have made the Daiquiri's most famous advocate, Ernest Hemingway, proud.

If you prefer something more savory, the adventurous Gazpacho Martini ($11) is something like the inverse of a Bloody Mary, combining cucumber and cilantro infused vodka with just a splash of tomato juice. Add some spicy Sriracha, Worcestershire sauce, and a bit of lime juice, garnish with a pickled cherry tomato and a pepperoncini, and you've got a light, peppery drink that's less dense than a Bloody Mary.

When you want a mellow evening with friends with quality, balanced cocktails, Frost's is a great choice.

W.A. Frost & Company
375 Selby Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 224-5715

Dining Room Hours 
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-1:30pm
Brunch: Sat/Sun 10:30am-2pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun 5:00pm-10pm

Bar Hours 
Sun-Thurs: 11am-midnight
Fri-Sat: 11am–1am

Steve McPherson is a writer and musician who has lived in the Twin Cities since 2004, where he teaches writing and music at McNally Smith. His dog is named after both a drink and a guitar. He tweets from @steventurous.