Dinner
Dinner at The Lexington
Dinner in the renovated Grand Avenue landmark, with a bar featuring the original wood paneling that once concealed Prohibition-era bootleg liquor. The rooftop bar opens seasonally.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
No photograph
on file
Est. 1935on file
HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
- 01Glasses flying off the bar with no apparent cause
- 02Tablecloths moving in empty event space
- 03Phantom phone calls on an unlisted number
- 04Presence felt in empty rooms by staff
+ 1 further entry on record
Haunted Dining / Bar
The Lexington
Grand Avenue institution operating since 1935 with hidden speakeasy compartments and a basement that investigators called consistently active — glasses fly off the bar and phones ring on unlisted lines.
1096 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$$
Full-service upscale restaurant; bar and rooftop also available.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Ground-floor dining and bar accessible; basement is staff-only.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1935 · Operating since 1935 on Grand Avenue in St. Paul's Summit Hill neighborhood · Interior retains hidden compartments and a concealed staircase from Prohibition era · Launch point for CynCity Tours' Gangsterland walking tour of St. Paul
The Lexington has anchored the intersection of Grand Avenue and Lexington Parkway in St. Paul since 1935, serving the Summit Hill neighborhood through multiple decades and ownership changes. The building itself predates the restaurant, and its interior retains physical evidence of an earlier life: the expansive wood paneling along the bar conceals hidden compartments, and a concealed staircase behind the coat check was purpose-built for moving alcohol out of sight during Prohibition. Whether the Lexington operated as a formal speakeasy or simply as a discreet drinking establishment during that era, the architectural fingerprints remain.
The restaurant closed for an extended renovation and reopened to considerable attention, retaining its classic American menu while updating the physical space. A rooftop bar was added, and the original bar-room layout was preserved largely intact. Minnesota Monthly, KSTP, and other Twin Cities outlets have covered the reopening and the building's history in depth.
The Lexington is the launch point for CynCity Tours' Gangsterland walking tour of St. Paul, which traces the city's documented history of organized crime, corrupt policing, and the underworld figures who made St. Paul a refuge in the early 20th century.
Sources
- https://thelexmn.com/
- https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/so-minnesota-a-look-at-the-history-of-a-st-paul-legendary-restaurant-the-lexington/
- https://www.fox9.com/news/haunted-history-minnesotas-lexington-restaurant
- https://www.startribune.com/haunted-twin-cities-area-restaurants-ghost-hunters-tim-niver-mucci-lexington-paranormal-society/600109019
Glasses flying off the bar with no apparent causeTablecloths moving in empty event spacePhantom phone calls on an unlisted numberPresence felt in empty rooms by staffObjects moving in the basement area
Events manager Minda Sherman described her experiences at the Lexington to FOX 9 in specific terms: setting tables, she would feel someone enter the room, look up, and find no one there. On a separate occasion, vases on a shelf in her office toppled while she was on a phone call — an incident she interpreted as a signal to end the conversation. Other staff reported glasses leaving the bar on their own and tablecloths moving in the Williamsburg Room when the space was empty and there was no discernible air movement.
Investigators Chuck Love and Kelsey Mead filmed an episode of their series Midwest Paranormal at the restaurant. Mead told reporters there was 'never any moment really where we weren't picking up on something.' The basement — used for furniture storage and old windows — was the most active area during their session. They characterized the spiritual presence as lighthearted rather than threatening.
Star Tribune reporting on haunted Twin Cities restaurants documented the Lexington alongside other investigated venues, noting that the building's architectural history — the speakeasy compartments, the concealed stair — lends a physical dimension to the paranormal claims that purely anecdotal haunted restaurants lack. What spirits might be attached to a place is unknowable; that the building has hidden spaces built for illegal purposes is a documented material fact.
Media Appearances
- Midwest Paranormal (Web/streaming series, 2023)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
- 1.thelexmn.com
- 2.kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/so-minnesota-a-look-at-the-history-of-a-st-paul-legendary-restaurant-the-lexington
- 3.fox9.com/news/haunted-history-minnesotas-lexington-restaurant
- 4.startribune.com/haunted-twin-cities-area-restaurants-ghost-hunters-tim-niver-mucci-lexington-paranormal-society/600109019
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Lexington family-friendly?
Upscale restaurant; paranormal history is part of the venue's identity but not a programmed experience. Bar and evening ambiance skew adult. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit The Lexington?
Full-service upscale restaurant; bar and rooftop also available.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is The Lexington wheelchair accessible?
Yes, The Lexington is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Ground-floor dining and bar accessible; basement is staff-only..