Half Time Rec Named One of the Best Bars in America by Esquire
It’s official: Half Time Rec has been named one of the best bars in America for 2026 by Esquire — and it didn’t just make the list, it landed at the very top. The men’s magazine’s annual roundup pulled together 14 bars from across the country, leaning on nightlife heavyweights like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, and Miami. Right there leading the pack was our charmingly well-worn Irish bar on Front Avenue in St. Paul.
For a neighborhood spot that’s spent decades being unmistakably St. Paul, national recognition feels less like a surprise and more like overdue credit. Here’s what Esquire had to say, what makes Half Time Rec special, and everything you need to know to come see for yourself.
What Esquire Said About Half Time Rec
Esquire editorial director Ryan D’Agostino visited the Twin Cities bar scene over the course of three days, and Half Time Rec rose to the top. What set the write-up apart wasn’t talk of craft cocktails or velvet ropes — it was the bar’s complete lack of pretension.
D’Agostino noted that the place employs no publicist, doesn’t chase favor on social media, and treats every single customer the same way: warmly, and with a simple what’ll you have? He described walking in on a Friday morning to find the barstools already full and local high school hockey playing on every TV during tournament weekend. In other words, exactly the kind of honest, welcoming bar that’s getting harder to find.
You can read the full feature on Esquire’s Best Bars in America 2026 list.
The Bloody Mary That Stole the Show
If one drink earned Half Time Rec the top spot, it was the Bloody Mary — which Esquire’s editor called the best he had ever tasted.
There’s no secret-ingredient theatrics here. It’s a no-nonsense pour built on bottom-shelf vodka, loaded with salt and pepper, and garnished the way it should be: a dill pickle spear and a beef jerky stick standing tall in the glass. And in true Minnesota fashion, it arrives with a “bump” on the side — a small shot of beer to chase it. Simple, generous, and unapologetically Midwestern.
A Genuine St. Paul Institution
Half Time Rec has been a fixture on Front Avenue for generations, and it wears its history proudly. The bar is famous for the clay bocce ball courts tucked into its basement — a feature almost no other bar anywhere can claim — alongside bean bag games, a row of taps a mile long, live bands, pull tabs, and a weekly meat raffle.
Longtime locals will also recognize it from the big screen: Half Time Rec was featured in the classic film Grumpy Old Men. Over the years it’s been a perennial winner on Twin Cities “best dive bar” and “best Irish bar” lists, including honors from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. The Esquire nod simply puts a national stamp on what Minnesotans have known for years.
Rooted in the Neighborhood: Part of the Como Front Dale Collective
The same neighborhood spirit that Esquire praised is exactly what keeps Half Time Rec invested in St. Paul beyond its own four walls. The bar is a proud member of the Como Front Dale Collective — a group of local business owners working together to strengthen the Como–Front–Dale district.
The CFD Collective supports micro-businesses, makers, and entrepreneurs by building connections, sharing resources, and investing in the neighborhood they call home. For a bar that’s spent decades as a gathering place for its community, that membership is a natural fit. Half Time Rec isn’t just a destination people travel to — it’s a cornerstone of the surrounding district, and being part of the Collective is one more way it helps the whole neighborhood thrive.
When a place treats every customer warmly and pours its energy back into the streets around it, national recognition starts to make a lot of sense.
What to Order at the Paddy Shack
The kitchen at Half Time Rec — known as the Paddy Shack — has its own reputation, and it punches well above what you’d expect from a neighborhood bar. A few favorites worth ordering:
- The Paddy Shack Burger — a Twin Cities Burger Battle champion, and the reason a lot of people first walk through the door
- Beer Cheese Mac — exactly as comforting as it sounds
- Shepherd’s Pie — proper Irish-pub comfort food
- Corned beef and fish & chips with mushy peas — for the full Irish-bar experience
Pair any of it with one of the 20 beers on tap (Guinness included, naturally) and you’ve got the kind of meal that makes a casual stop turn into an afternoon.
Visit Half Time Rec in St. Paul
Want to see what all the national fuss is about? Here’s everything you need to plan your visit.
- Website: https://halftimerec.net/
- Address: 1013 Front Ave, St. Paul, MN 55103
- Phone: (651) 488-8245
- What it’s known for: Irish pub fare, 20 beers on tap, basement bocce courts, live music, pull tabs, weekly meat raffle, and that award-winning Bloody Mary
- Vibe: Iconic St. Paul dive — warm, unpretentious, and welcoming to everyone
Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer making the trip after seeing the Esquire list, the welcome is the same. Pull up a stool, order a Bloody with a beer bump, and find out why Half Time Rec is officially one of the best bars in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Half Time Rec named one of the best bars in America?
Esquire named Half Time Rec the top bar on its 2026 Best Bars in America list, praising its complete lack of pretension, its warm and equal treatment of every customer, and a Bloody Mary the magazine’s editor called the best he’d ever had.
Where is Half Time Rec located?
Half Time Rec is at 1013 Front Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota — an Irish bar and dive in the North End neighborhood.
What is Half Time Rec known for?
It’s known for the clay bocce ball courts in its basement, its long row of taps, the Paddy Shack kitchen (home of an award-winning burger), live music, pull tabs, a weekly meat raffle, and its appearance in the movie Grumpy Old Men.
What should I order at Half Time Rec?
Start with the Bloody Mary — the drink that helped earn the national recognition — and the Paddy Shack Burger. The Beer Cheese Mac, Shepherd’s Pie, and corned beef are local favorites too.
Did Half Time Rec really top the Esquire list?
Yes. Out of 14 bars nationwide on Esquire’s 2026 Best Bars in America list, Half Time Rec led the list — ahead of entries from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, and Miami.