Email
Print
del.icio.us
digg
FeedTake it Outside
17 patios to match any mood
Photo by Dave Turner
UP ON THE ROOF
Brit’s Pub, Downtown Minneapolis
Located on the south end of Nicollet Mall, Brit’s is just what comes to mind when you think of a pub. Its rich, dark wood interior and toasty fireplaces might make Brit’s the perfect place for a winter drink after work. But during the warmer months, it’s even better when Brit’s opens the rooftop garden, complete with 10,500-square-foot manicured English greens used for lawn bowling or, at other times, for outdoor screenings of British films. Try the Scotch Eggs with one of the many stouts, ales and lagers on tap, or sit outside along the Mall and enjoy a hearty pub meal. 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-332-3908, www.britspub.comThe Liffey, Downtown St. Paul
Inside the Liffey, it’s easy to lose track of time. One of three locations created by West Ireland native Kieran Folliard, this shiny black pub features a maze of antique mirrors, cozy dining rooms and a center bar surging with whiskey and stout. Step up and out however, and you’ll gain a brighter perspective, as the renovated second-level terrace offers views of St. Paul’s historic cathedral and the bustling West Seventh Street. Both inside and out, The Liffey brings an authentic dose of Irish spirit to Minnesota’s capital city. 175 W. Seventh Street, St. Paul, 651-556-1420, www.theliffey.comSolera, Downtown Minneapolis
This Spanish-inspired restaurant, located in the heart of Minneapolis’ historic theater district, attracts a young, eclectic crowd hungry for tapas, beer on tap and budget wines. Contemporary mosaics and floating light sculptures combined with a friendly staff make Solera a first choice for atmosphere alone. The free Sunday and Monday movie nights are a real hit, too, as some 100 cinemagoers head to the Moroccan-style rooftop at dusk to enjoy dinner, drinks and a movie. 900 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 612-338-0062, www.solera-restaurant.comStella’s Fish Café & Prestige Oyster Bar, Uptown Minneapolis
You can’t get much better than chargrilled seafood kabobs under the clouds. Unveiled in summer 2005, this trendy restaurant specializes in fresh fish, oysters, spicy jambalaya, fried green tomatoes and other Gulf Coast staples. It also boasts one of Minneapolis’ most dazzling rooftop decks. The brainchild of local restaurateur Phil Roberts, who launched Buca di Beppo, Chino Latino, The Oceanaire Seafood Room and many other hot spots, the three-story Stella’s is kitty-corner from Calhoun Square, near the corner of Lake Street and HennepinJax Café, Northeast Minneapolis
From this landmark building in Northeast Minneapolis, the Kozlak family operated a furniture store, a funeral home, a dance hall, a billiards parlor and a liquor store before launching their restaurant in 1933. By the early ’50s, the restaurant expanded to fill the entire building, and the family soon added Minnesota’s first outdoor dining patio. The quaint hideaway features a stream from which patrons can catch their very own rainbow trout. A Jax staffer will even snap a Polaroid with you and your soon-to-be dinner. 1928 University Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, 612-789-7297, www.jaxcafe.comW.A. Frost & Company, Cathedral Hill, St. Paul
Set in the beautiful Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul, W.A. Frost is a prime spot for dining alfresco. Unlike some of downtown’s sidewalk seating, where you may be forced to talk over traffic, Frost’s patio is its own private garden. Surrounded by trees, flowers, bushes and stone walls, you forget you’re in the middle of a major city. And with the upscale entrées made mostly from organic products, dining out at W.A. Frost seems only natural. 374 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, 651-224-5715, www.wafrost.comCITY SIDEWALKS
Billy’s on Grand, St. Paul
This Grand Avenue favorite boasts all the pleasures of an easy, breezy afternoon, with baskets of wings and rings, budget brews and pastimes aplenty (including darts, billiards, a premium jukebox playlist and sports coverage on all sides). But the most pleasant highlight of all is Billy’s expansive terrace—ideal real estate for catching a few rays while observing passersby. The patio even features its own menu of seasonal staples, including ballpark hot dogs, lip-smacking salads and fresh lemonade. With sliding glass doors that open to the patio area, the music and laughter echoing from the bar enhances that summertime spirit. 857 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-292-1316, www.billysongrand.com
Explore Minnesota Tourism
The Local, Downtown Minneapolis
Another urban hotspot by Irishman Kieran Folliard, The Local is actually three pubs in one: The intimate Willy Reilly’s with its large windows; the Victorian-style Porter Pub and its 80-foot bar; and the comfy Whiskey Lounge. Adding to this winning combination is a mezzanine-level billiards room, as well as an expansive sidewalk patio around the pub’s exterior. This stretch of outdoor seating is the perfect place to take in all of downtown’s warm-weather happenings—with a fresh Black and Tan in hand. 931 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-904-1000, www.the-local.comExplore Minnesota Tourism
