2025 Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2025 Hipster Hack Food Review
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As I said last year I LOVE a costume party and while the Minnesota Renaissance Festival may frustrate some that it has become more of a cosplay convention for anything fantasy or even just nerdy instead of a sole celebration of the Renaissance era, I personally love it. You never know what you’re going to see. One second you’re looking at someone in period costume, the next second you’re looking at someone dressed up like Where’s Waldo, Batman or Bermuda Merlin from “Sword in the Stone” (true story haha).

You can check out my review from last year for some other foods I really like that are still available, but I did a really good job this year of trying new foods!
Pro: I liked everything enough.
Con: I missed out on the soup in a bread bowl, but there was also no way I was eating hot soup in today’s heat.

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Buca di Beppo | Saint Paul, MN

Buca di Beppo Saint Paul Minnesota Hipster Hack Review
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Husband and I were invited to Buca di Beppo in St. Paul to try out their menu and learn more about the history of their company and the history of that location’s building…including some ghost stories 👻.*

Buca di Beppo is a national chain that actually started in a basement in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their humble beginnings were actually the inspiration behind the name, with Buca di Beppo translating roughly to “Joe’s small place,” in Italian.

*I do want to add a disclaimer that while I was gifted a dinner experience, my review and thoughts are my own.

See pictures of everything we tried below.

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2024 Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2024 Hipster Hack Food Review
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I love a theme party and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is the biggest costume party of the year! The theme is “renaissance” but within 5 minutes of being inside the gates you’ll see that the dress code isn’t universal; medieval, vikings, cottage core, witches, Zelda, Lord of the Rings characters, Dr. Who, Mario Kart, you name it – the gangs all here!

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The Brickhouse | White Bear Lake, MN

Brickhouse White Bear Lake Hipster Hack Food Review
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A friend and I stumbled upon the Brickhouse when we were searching for a place to grab some rooftop cocktails in White Bear Lake and it was definitely what I like to think Bob Ross would consider “a happy accident.”

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Apostle Supper Club 2024 | Saint Paul, MN

Apostle Supper Club Saint Paul Minnesota Hipster Hack
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I previously visited the Apostle Supper Club last year with a friend and remember telling Husband that he had to go back with me because he’d love it and I added it to our list… finally over a year later we made it back 😬.

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Saint Paul Brewing | St. Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul Brewing St. Paul Minnesota Hipster Hack
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I’ve previously dedicated an entire Hipster Hack to my love of the Saint Paul Brewing patio and the eclectic seating vignettes, but now that it’s too cold to be outside (remind me why I live in Minnesota again?) we’ve been able to experience the back of the brewery, which also homes a bunch of eclectic seating areas and funky, recycled designs.

Cliff notes: this brewery is my absolute favorite. But keep reading if you require more evidence 😂

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W.A. Frost and Co. | St. Paul, MN

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I’ve tried and failed in past summers to get onto W.A. Frost and Company‘s patio and I was not going to make that same mistake this year. Their patio is continuously listed on the top patios of the Twin Cities and it is clear why!

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Handsome Hog | St. Paul, MN

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We are having the best summer finally experiencing restaurants we’ve been talking about going to for what feels like ever. After two years of pandemic takeout and sticking to the same places (some would say sticking to the rivers and the lakes that we’re used to #IYKYK) it just feels like we’re finally getting back to experiencing life.

I’m embarrassed to say that Handsome Hog has been on my list since it was in its first location so it’s taken me damn near a decade to get there 🤦‍♀️. I’m happy to report, that brunch was everything I’ve been dreaming it would be, but jokes on me, because now Handsome Hog is back on the list for dinner.

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Saint Paul Brewing | St. Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul Brewing Patio Ski Lift Swing
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Saint Paul Brewing is my absolute favorite patio. I know it sounds made up or ridiculous, but the first time we went there last year, I felt a rush of pure joy that has only happened to me a handful of other times like when I heard my favorite song performed by my favorite band live, when I was about to jump out of a plane with a human strapped onto my back, and when we secured our wedding venue and it hit me that we were actually getting married.

Don’t get me wrong, the beer is really good, too haha, but without a doubt, my obsession with this brewery revolves around the joy and wonder their patio gives me.
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