After months of being forced to consume food and drinks indoors like peasants, the weather is finally warm enough for us to eat and drink outside like kings.
Minnesotans know how to appreciate good weather, and with a plethora of rooftops and patios around the Twin Cities, it’s easy. Here are some of Minneapolis and St. Paul’s bests:
W.A. Frost and Company
Perfect for: Daytime
Winner of a “Best Restaurant Patio” title, this Selby establishment truly has one of the best outdoor dining experiences in the area. As soon as the trees bloom, it’ll feel like a fairytale’s magical forest.
W.A. Frost’s patio has all the amenities: umbrellas, heat lamps, comfortable couches, fire pits and twinkling lights. It feels like you’re attending a garden party in the countryside.
When you can’t find space to chill outside, the restaurant’s interior has an old school vibe with exposed brick, dim lighting and Persian rugs — classy. You might even forget that you’re drinking the cheapest wine on the menu.
374 Selby Ave., St. Paul
Solera
Perfect for: Dusk
This Spanish restaurant boasts panoramic views of the Minneapolis skyline and extensive sangria options. Located in the city’s theater district, the fourth floor rooftop has a combination of high tables and couches that are perfect for getting your drink on while soaking up the sun.
However, Solera’s rooftop movie nights are what make the restaurant stand out. Every Tuesday and Sunday during the summer months, Solera hosts movie nights on its rooftop where you can watch films while sitting under the stars. “Space Jam,” anyone?
900 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Seven Steakhouses Sushi Ultralounge and Skybar
Perfect for: Happy hour
Much like Solera, the “skybar” of this Hennepin Avenue restaurant has great views of the city. But that’s not the only redeeming quality. Seven Sushi’s Skybar has a great happy hour with cheap sushi rolls, inexpensive beers and wine from 4-6:30 p.m. on weekdays. You’ll come for the tasty happy hour treats and stay for the outdoor ambiance.
700 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Uptown Tavern & Rooftop
Perfect for: Evening drinks
If you’re searching for a large rooftop filled with people on a Friday night, look no further than Uptown Tavern. It has one of the largest rooftops in the Twin Cities.
On weekends from 9-11 p.m. you can get $3 Captain, Jack and Jameson cocktails, which is pretty cheap for an Uptown establishment.
With many strategically placed heat lamps, you don’t have to worry about freezing once the sun sets; however, you do have to worry about interacting with some bros.
1400 Lagoon Ave., Minneapolis
Stella’s Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar
Perfect for: Dinner
If the sun is shining, people are at Stella’s. Though this eatery is a little mainstream, the rooftop is quite nice and the seafood is fresh.
Assuming you don’t mind the wait — which can be pretty lengthy due to a fairly unorganized system — Stella’s two-level rooftop is a great place to get an expensive dinner with friends. At least while you wait you can kill time at the bar and yell across the street to the rooftop diners at Uptown Cafeteria.
1400 W. Lake St., Minneapolis
Stub & Herbs
Perfect for: Chugging drinks in between classes
The patio behind Stub & Herbs isn’t necessarily pretty, but it is a great option if you want to sit outside between classes and get drunk. But you have to get there early because if you go any time after 4 p.m., you will be completely immersed in shade. That’s fine in mid-July when it’s 95 degrees, but during spring it can get chilly.
Being close to campus and having ample seating, Stub & Herbs makes it easy to get weird before your three hour lecture.
227 Oak St. SE, Minneapolis
Republic
Perfect for: Post-class refreshments
Let’s face it: Pretty much any patio is nice if the sun is shining and the drinks are cheap, but Republic’s outdoor seating makes it easy to get a drink after that pesky West Bank class.
If you love drinking beer outside, head over to Republic. It has around 50 beers on tap any given day.
221 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis
