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A covered patio space with rich carpets on the floors and blue walls.
Hola Arepa’s cozy covered patio.
Hola Arepa

Where to Dine Outdoors in the Twin Cities in Any Season

Heated patios and beer gardens for outdoor dining through the year

by Eater Staff Updated
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Hola Arepa’s cozy covered patio.
| Hola Arepa
by Eater Staff Updated

Patios are a year-round affair in Minnesota. As winter approaches, many diners are planning their chilly season restaurant strategies — and happily, these Twin Cities restaurants have outdoor spaces open through the seasons. From canopies strung with paper lanterns to dog-friendly heated patios, here are some essential Twin Cities restaurants for outdoor dining in the crips temps of fall, winter, and spring.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Wise Acre Eatery

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Wise Acre has a covered, heated pergola. This farm-to-table restaurant is incredible — it has its own farm, out near Plato, Minnesota. Stop by for comforting fall brunch dishes including a savory bread pudding topped with a poached egg and shreds of candied bacon.

5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 354-2577
(612) 354-2577

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Heather's

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Heather’s installs a heated tent on its charming patio for the winter — it’s dog friendly, too. Stop by for seasonal brunch dishes like caramel apple French toast and egg strata with goat cheese and spinach. Heather’s is a fine dinner option for simple, elegant specials like grilled halibut puttanesca and fresh pasta.

5201 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 445-8822
(612) 445-8822

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Terzo

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At this must-try Minneapolis Italian restaurant and bar the outdoor dining option comes in the form of a temperature-controlled exterior terrace. The space is open Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m., Chianti and porchetta sandwiches flowing like wine in old Napoli.

2221 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 925-0330
(612) 925-0330

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Reverie Cafe + Bar

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Vegan favorite Reverie has a covered, partially protected seating area with fire pits and hay bales for seating. Try the nachos supreme with jackfruit carnitas, or the BLT with tempeh bacon, and save room for the baseball-sized chocolate beignets, which suffer nothing for their lack of butter.

1517 E 35th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 987-7080
(612) 987-7080
Two people sit at a small white table at an outdoor backyard patio area. They are eating a salad and each have a glass of white wine. A white woman in a red sweatshirt is pouring wine into their glasses. A tent, globe lights, a fence, and walls with graffiti art on them are visible in the background.
Reverie’s patio is covered during the colder months.
Theresa Scarbrough

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Hola Arepa

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Hola Arepa offers heated seating in a cozy canopy-type space that’s carpeted with burgundy rugs. Lush ferns and philodendrons hang from the ceiling. The hearty arepas, from chimichurri chicken to black bean and sweet potato, are filling, warming dishes for the chillier months. Don’t skip the horchata pot de creme.

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 345-5583
(612) 345-5583
A tented patio with patterned rugs on the floor and Hola’s signature turquoise colored chairs at the tables
Hola Arepa’s year-round canopy.
Hola Arepa

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Lago Tacos Lyn-Lake

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Lago Tacos’ Lyn-Lake location is a terrific option for outdoor dining in Uptown. Its cold-weather patio has standing heaters, fire pits, and strings of globe lights, which add to the warm and cozy effect. Start with the fried avocado wedges and then hit the taco menu, which spans from barbacoa and al pastor to vegan chorizo and ahi tuna.

2901 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 353-6736
(612) 353-6736

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The Butcher's Tale

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The Butcher’s Tale is back in full swing, and the heated, covered beer garden is an ideal spot for a cozy meal, pre-show cocktail, or post-game feast. The area is spacious and accommodating to groups, for a casual beer or a hearty meal of English blood sausage and double-cut Duroc pork chops alike.

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 236-4075
(612) 236-4075

Also featured in:

Smack Shack

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Smack Shack’s covered patio, which stretches down Sixth Avenue, has a permanent roof and overhead industrial heaters, making it an extra-cozy spot for blustery days. Grab a cup of shrimp chowder, Dayboat scallops in a garlic cream sauce, or jambalaya — all ideal meals for the chilly months.

603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 259-7288
(612) 259-7288
A covered patio area with chairs, tables, and a number of patrons eating. The ceilings are angled and there are lights strung on the beams; two large industrial heaters run along the ceiling.
Smack Shack’s heated patio.
Smack Shack

Also featured in:

Hai Hai

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Hai Hai’s semi-enclosed, covered patio — called the “chalet” — is kept warm with heaters and strung with dreamy paper lanterns and fairy lights. The water fern cakes, shrimp toast, and Vietnamese crepe are all highlights on James Beard-nominated chef Christina Nguyen’s menu. But the Balinese chicken thigh, served with macerated kale and coconut rice, may be the standout winter dish.

2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 223-8640
(612) 223-8640

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The Gnome Craft Pub

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The Gnome’s popular patio is well equipped with heaters, a tent, and massive fireplaces. This spot is known for its fun takes on bar food: Think spiced beer can chicken, giant pretzels, and a hefty pork belly and skirt steak burger with bacon jam.

498 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 219-4233
(651) 219-4233

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Bad Weather Brewing Company

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While outdoor dining options are limited at this St. Paul brewery, there are propane-fueled fire pit tables for guests to enjoy. The business will change its options once snow is here to stay for the season, but fare from food trucks including Parlour Food Truck and powerful beers such as the hazy Neon Sunrise IPA are around no matter what.

414 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 207-6627
(651) 207-6627
Beer. Bad Weather Brewing

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Travail Kitchen and Amusements

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While sister restaurant Nouvelle Kitchen & Brewery’s parking lot becomes an outdoor patio May through October, Travail Kitchen and Amusements’ third-floor patio converts into an indoor, heated private dining room starting in October. Travail’s Sky Lounge features both indoor and outdoor dining space, as well.

4134 Hubbard Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
(763) 535-1131
(763) 535-1131
Travail Kitchen and Amusements Travail Kitchen and Amusements

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Wise Acre Eatery

5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Wise Acre has a covered, heated pergola. This farm-to-table restaurant is incredible — it has its own farm, out near Plato, Minnesota. Stop by for comforting fall brunch dishes including a savory bread pudding topped with a poached egg and shreds of candied bacon.

5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 354-2577
(612) 354-2577

Heather's

5201 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Heather’s installs a heated tent on its charming patio for the winter — it’s dog friendly, too. Stop by for seasonal brunch dishes like caramel apple French toast and egg strata with goat cheese and spinach. Heather’s is a fine dinner option for simple, elegant specials like grilled halibut puttanesca and fresh pasta.

5201 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 445-8822
(612) 445-8822

Terzo

2221 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419

At this must-try Minneapolis Italian restaurant and bar the outdoor dining option comes in the form of a temperature-controlled exterior terrace. The space is open Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m., Chianti and porchetta sandwiches flowing like wine in old Napoli.

2221 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 925-0330
(612) 925-0330

Reverie Cafe + Bar

1517 E 35th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Vegan favorite Reverie has a covered, partially protected seating area with fire pits and hay bales for seating. Try the nachos supreme with jackfruit carnitas, or the BLT with tempeh bacon, and save room for the baseball-sized chocolate beignets, which suffer nothing for their lack of butter.

1517 E 35th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 987-7080
(612) 987-7080
Two people sit at a small white table at an outdoor backyard patio area. They are eating a salad and each have a glass of white wine. A white woman in a red sweatshirt is pouring wine into their glasses. A tent, globe lights, a fence, and walls with graffiti art on them are visible in the background.
Reverie’s patio is covered during the colder months.
Theresa Scarbrough

Hola Arepa

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Hola Arepa offers heated seating in a cozy canopy-type space that’s carpeted with burgundy rugs. Lush ferns and philodendrons hang from the ceiling. The hearty arepas, from chimichurri chicken to black bean and sweet potato, are filling, warming dishes for the chillier months. Don’t skip the horchata pot de creme.

3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 345-5583
(612) 345-5583
A tented patio with patterned rugs on the floor and Hola’s signature turquoise colored chairs at the tables
Hola Arepa’s year-round canopy.
Hola Arepa

Lago Tacos Lyn-Lake

2901 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Lago Tacos’ Lyn-Lake location is a terrific option for outdoor dining in Uptown. Its cold-weather patio has standing heaters, fire pits, and strings of globe lights, which add to the warm and cozy effect. Start with the fried avocado wedges and then hit the taco menu, which spans from barbacoa and al pastor to vegan chorizo and ahi tuna.

2901 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 353-6736
(612) 353-6736

The Butcher's Tale

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

The Butcher’s Tale is back in full swing, and the heated, covered beer garden is an ideal spot for a cozy meal, pre-show cocktail, or post-game feast. The area is spacious and accommodating to groups, for a casual beer or a hearty meal of English blood sausage and double-cut Duroc pork chops alike.

1121 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 236-4075
(612) 236-4075

Smack Shack

603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Smack Shack’s covered patio, which stretches down Sixth Avenue, has a permanent roof and overhead industrial heaters, making it an extra-cozy spot for blustery days. Grab a cup of shrimp chowder, Dayboat scallops in a garlic cream sauce, or jambalaya — all ideal meals for the chilly months.

603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 259-7288
(612) 259-7288
A covered patio area with chairs, tables, and a number of patrons eating. The ceilings are angled and there are lights strung on the beams; two large industrial heaters run along the ceiling.
Smack Shack’s heated patio.
Smack Shack

Hai Hai

2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Hai Hai’s semi-enclosed, covered patio — called the “chalet” — is kept warm with heaters and strung with dreamy paper lanterns and fairy lights. The water fern cakes, shrimp toast, and Vietnamese crepe are all highlights on James Beard-nominated chef Christina Nguyen’s menu. But the Balinese chicken thigh, served with macerated kale and coconut rice, may be the standout winter dish.

2121 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 223-8640
(612) 223-8640

The Gnome Craft Pub

498 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102

The Gnome’s popular patio is well equipped with heaters, a tent, and massive fireplaces. This spot is known for its fun takes on bar food: Think spiced beer can chicken, giant pretzels, and a hefty pork belly and skirt steak burger with bacon jam.

498 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 219-4233
(651) 219-4233

Bad Weather Brewing Company

414 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

While outdoor dining options are limited at this St. Paul brewery, there are propane-fueled fire pit tables for guests to enjoy. The business will change its options once snow is here to stay for the season, but fare from food trucks including Parlour Food Truck and powerful beers such as the hazy Neon Sunrise IPA are around no matter what.

414 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 207-6627
(651) 207-6627
Beer. Bad Weather Brewing

Travail Kitchen and Amusements

4134 Hubbard Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422

While sister restaurant Nouvelle Kitchen & Brewery’s parking lot becomes an outdoor patio May through October, Travail Kitchen and Amusements’ third-floor patio converts into an indoor, heated private dining room starting in October. Travail’s Sky Lounge features both indoor and outdoor dining space, as well.

4134 Hubbard Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
(763) 535-1131
(763) 535-1131
Travail Kitchen and Amusements Travail Kitchen and Amusements

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