Outdoor Dining Guide: Minneapolis 2020

Located on White Bear Lake’s western shore, Acqua is all about gorgeous lakeside views and unique Italian dishes. There are two scenic decks overlooking the marina and a spacious lakeside patio.

Battered fish & chips, traditional meat pasties, and classic poutine. This is the real deal. Join The Anchor on their covered patio for authentic Irish-style dishes and pints of Kilkenny.

Book a table on this delightful French brasserie patio. The kitchen uses local and sustainably farmed ingredients to create a French-inspired menu, with classic Croque Monsieur made with local ham, or Shrimp Scampi that utilizes house-made heritage wheat linguine.

The Birdhouse specializes in creative, yet classic American food, premium beer, and easy spirits. Book a table on the patio for breaded Wisconsin cheese curds, fried green tomatoes, braised pork chops, and seasonal cocktails.

This modern German-inspired taproom celebrates Minnesota craft beers, breweries, and brewers. They have an excellent bourbon program, too. Grab a picnic table on the expansive patio.

The Block is your spot for elevated bar food, block-tails, and boozy custard shakes. The menu has something for everyone, including vegan, healthy, and hearty options. Broasted Chicken is a signature dish, served original or hot chic crispy. Enjoy the dog-friendly patio—it’s open year-round.

Reserve a table on Borough’s loading dock patio. Here, you can enjoy refined food, perfectly-balanced cocktails, and a daily butcher’s menu, which seeks to utilize the whole animal.

This neighborhood spot focuses on chef Andrew Kraft’s handmade pasta. Expect comfortably adventurous cuisine, cocktails, and wine in a laid back setting. Make a reservation, then request the patio upon arrival, as it’s first-come, first-serve.

This is your destination for Parisian-inspired weekend dining. Book chef Lisa Carlson’s seasonal tasting menu, offered on the patio on Fridays and Saturdays. There’s nothing like experiencing fine French food in a quiet river town in the middle of the Midwest.

Experience Beer Alley while you still can at this destination microbrewery. The team has created an intimate, funky, and fun space in which you can enjoy fine craft beers. Find the entrance in between Dangerous Man and Young Joni.

Fall is here. Sip on the new sweet potato maple bourbon lattes on this socially-distanced patio. Dogs are recommended, but not required.

This excellent neighborhood wine bar has garnered national recognition. It has a cozy, romantic atmosphere, an outstanding menu, and a wine shop with over 600 selections, so you can stock up until your next visit. Make a reservation, then request the patio upon arrival.

Fair State is proud to make some of the finest and most innovative beers in the Midwest, from traditional lagers to hoppy ales to sours to seltzers and slushies. Join them in the festive beer garden.

These beers are made with a combination of locally-foraged ingredients, regionally native grains, and wild hop varieties. They pair perfectly with Forager’s unique and rustic-style dishes. Reserve a table on the patio.

Fulton has become one of the fastest-growing breweries in the Midwest. They offer an ever-changing tap selection, which currently features barrel-aged porters, session IPAs, and a brown ale aged in Jameson Whiskey barrels. Enjoy these fine beers on the patio.

The Gnome Craft Pub recently expanded their patio into a watering hole oasis. This modern pub and beer hall experience focuses on craft, comfort, and community. Go get yourself a pear & fig jam grilled cheese.

Experience a Slice of Paris at Grand Cafe’s sidewalk cafe. For a limited time, the team if offering Parisian-inspired prix fixe menus highlighting ultra-luxurious ingredients on the weekends. Don’t sleep on this charming outdoor experience.

Hope Breakfast Bar brings people together for the most important meal of the day, no matter what time you want to enjoy it. Book a table on the expanded patio for bourbon smoked salmon toast, cereal milk French Toast, and wild blueberry pancakes.

The Howe Daily Kitchen & Bar offers lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekend. Enjoy delicious food, craft cocktails, and forty beers on tap. The dog-friendly patio is first-come, first-serve.

Indeed is all about cultivating an artfully eclectic line-up of beers from the heart of Northeast Minneapolis. Join them on the patio for good people, good beers, and good experiences all around. Patio seating is not guaranteed, but most of the tables are in a covered outdoor area.

Kado no Mise serves Japanese fare that is simple, delicate, and true to the tastes and form that chef Furukawa learned when he first started cooking professionally in his hometown of Tokyo. Join this delightful corner spot for an outdoor dining experience.

Grab a table on Main Street. Leader is the restaurant built inside of the 102-year-old Leader building in Cambridge. They are currently offering lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner underneath the awning on the sidewalk.

This family-owned Americana eatery has a scratch kitchen approach. They’re all about supporting local businesses, small bakeries, and farms. The food is comforting, nostalgic, and the cocktails utilize fresh ingredients. Join them on the patio to see what it’s all about.

Overlooking the shores of beautiful Lake Minnetonka in the heart of downtown Wayzata, McCormick’s features a cozy pub and adjoining dining room, steeped in Irish tradition. Go for the corned beef hash, fish & chips, and pot pie. The patio is first-come, first-serve.

Lakeside Japanese dining? Yes, please. Visit MIZU for specialty sushi rolls and Japanese plates, like pork belly ramen and miso-glazed Chilean sea bass. Pair with craft cocktails, sake, and gorgeous lakeside views.

Modest Brewing makes one-of-a-kind beers on a one-of-a-kind system. They push past traditional brewing by embracing creativity and unconstrained experimentation. In other words, they’ve decided not to be bound by style guidelines. The results are delicious. Book a table on the patio to see for yourself.

Monello’s menu reflects the rich culinary traditions of Italy, particularly the Campania region. The menu celebrates the charm of rustic simplicity with the inherent elegance of fresh ingredients. Request the patio.

Make a reservation for the Parlour patio experience. Here, you can enjoy fine cocktails, from classics to creative libations that feature fresh-squeezed juices, house-made syrups, elixirs, and rare artisanal spirits.

This is your destination for eggs all day, boozy milkshakes, and elevated pub food, like bone marrow, terrine, and braised chicken dumplings. The vibe, as well as the food, is ultra-comforting. The sidewalk patio is in full swing.

Over the summer, the Pig Ate My Pizza crew converted their parking lot into a celebratory patio. Join them for delicious pizza, house-brewed beer, small plates, and wine. The patio will remain open until it gets too cold.

This is the spot for whiskey, beer, and burgers. Pub 819 has tons of great brews on tap, categorized by their flavor profiles. Grab a table under an umbrella and search the “Toasted & Nutty” section for those delicious Oktoberfest beers.

Republic has one of the finest (and most diverse) selections of beer in the city. You can try a cherry rhubarb cider, nitro IPA, and peat-smoked red ale, all in one sitting. The gastropub fare pairs perfectly. Enjoy it on the patio.

The Southern-inspired restaurant is known for its award-winning fried chicken. Both the Minneapolis and St. Paul locations are currently taking reservations for the patio. Choose a beautiful day to enjoy Tennessee hot chicken, bourbon carrots, and white cheddar grits.

It’s a rooftop like no other. Take in the Minneapolis skyline from this 6th floor oasis, while enjoying an all-season bar and lounge, plus delicious bites from chef Nyle Flynn.

This neighborhood burger institution was founded in 1933. This is where you go when you’re craving diner-style griddle burgers, cheese curds, onion rings, and fried pickles. Book a table on the sidewalk patio.

6Smith is for the “urban-suburban.” Nestled on the stunning shores of Lake Minnetonka, this rustic spot appeals to those looking for a modern food and drink program, combined with a friendly, spacious vibe. That is to say, 6Smith can appeal to pretty much anyone.

Located in what was once a horse stable, chef Gavin Kaysen’s award-winning restaurant features seasonal Midwestern meets French cuisine. You can now book brunch or dinner on the patio. The team just put up some heaters, so you can stay nice and toasty.

This casual neighborhood spot offers excellent craft food and spirits. The menu features all-day breakfast, tacos, burgers, bowls, and cocktail slushies. The patio is dog-friendly.

This cozy Parisian​-inspired​ buvette is known for champagne all day, French-style omelettes, tartines, frites, and fresh oysters on the half-shell. Book the prix fixe on the patio with delicious options for each course.

Tilia is named after the genus of the trees in the quaint Linden Hills neighborhood where it resides. Here, chef Steven Brown cooks creative rendition of familiar fare. Book the delightful 3-course prix fixe on the patio.

This restaurant/brewery has been serving up scratch-made food and drinks since 1997. Join them for a casual lunch or dinner on the patio. The menu is centered around delicious pub favorites, like cheese curds and famous Bavarian-style pretzels.

This brewery focuses on barrel-aging and blending, along with exciting IPAs, adjunct-heavy stouts, clean lagers, and farmhouse ales. Sip these delicious brews on their patio. Dogs are welcomed and the tap lines are open with vintage and new beers.