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A large lawn bowling green with skyscrapers in the background.
Lawn bowling at Brit’s Pub.
Brit’s Pub

13 Essential Rooftop Bars in the Twin Cities

Pair lawn bowling, craft sake, or tacos with a sunset

by Eater Staff Updated
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Lawn bowling at Brit’s Pub.
| Brit’s Pub
by Eater Staff Updated

The Twin Cities have excellent options for dining on high: As summer approaches, sample Scotch eggs and go lawn bowling downtown, pair linguine alla vongole with cathedral views in St. Paul, or enjoy a cocktail and a cool dip in the pool. Here are fourteen essential rooftop bars around the Twin Cities.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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LynLake Brewery

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LynLake Brewery has a classic rooftop bar with simple wooden tables and benches, a firepit, and views of Minneapolis’s Uptown neighborhood. The in-house brewery serves craft beers like the “Rubbish,” an oat amber ale, or the “Pony Boy,” a golden ale. LynLake’s Oakie-style onion burgers are popular, too.

2934 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 224-9682
(612) 224-9682

moto-i

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Moto-i is Minneapolis’s only craft sake brewery. In fact, it’s widely counted as the first sake brewery in America. Enjoy a bottle underneath sparkling strings of globe lights on the rooftop patio — downtown Minneapolis gleams from a distance to the north. From Moto-i’s menu, try the maitake gyoza, or the curry ramen with beef tenderloin and scallions.

2940 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 821-6262
(612) 821-6262

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Up-Down Minneapolis

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Up-Down is a popular arcade bar on Lyndale Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis — stuffed to the brim with old-fashioned pinball and video games, it offers an impressive selection of beers on tap. The atmosphere on the recently renovated rooftop is a little more pared-back: Play jumbo Jenga and stay warm near the fireplace.

3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 823-3487
(612) 823-3487

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Uptown Collab

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Uptown Collab’s whimsical vibes extend to the rooftop bar, which is perched over Lake Street in Uptown. After a mini golf game inside, mosy up to the rooftop for summery drinks and ceviche, tacos, and other dishes from chef Kamal Mohamed (also of Nashville Coop and STEPCHLD).

3001 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 354-2958
(612) 354-2958
People sitting on a rooftop patio with a sunset in the background.
A sunset at Uptown Collab.
Uptown Collab

Brit's Pub & Eating Establishment

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The multi-level rooftop patio at Brit's is well-known for its impressive lawn bowling set-up. The menu is stacked with pub favorites: Try the mac and cheese bites, made with smoked gouda, or the Scotch eggs. Brit’s also hosts annual summer movies, televised sporting events, and, occasionally, abridged Shakespeare performances.

1110 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 332-3908
(612) 332-3908

Union Restaurant & Rooftop

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This rooftop patio in downtown Minneapolis is home to wildly popular drag brunches by Flip Phone. Union Rooftop’s trademark feature is their retractable, glass-enclosed rooftop, which arcs over the dining area. Union serves truffle fries and ricotta beignets rain or shine.

731 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 455-6690
(612) 455-6690

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Riva Terrace

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Riva Terrace is the swanky rooftop bar at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Minneapolis. The menu centers light, summery dishes like rainbow trout salad, walleye sandwiches, and shrimp skewers. Riva has a pretty upscale vibe; a smash burger clocks in at $22.

245 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 895-5700
(612) 895-5700

Graze Food Hall

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Graze food hall’s second-story rooftop patio is an excellent spot to enjoy the golden hour: Watch the sun set against the skyline of downtown Minneapolis. Graze offers an array of local food options — sample a Hmong sausage patty sandwich from Union Hmong Kitchen, curry tofu bowls from Viva Taco, or wings with honey hot sauce from B.A.D. Wingz.

520 N 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

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The Rooftop Bar

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NOLO’s Rooftop Bar, which has great views of the North Loop, is a bit of a party spot in the summer. Slushies, Sangria, live music, and foosball are the focus here.

515 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 800-6033
(612) 800-6033

Also featured in:

Hewing Hotel

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Hewing Hotel’s rooftop has one of the best vantage points of Minneapolis’s brilliant nighttime skyline. The menu features upscale hotel fare like duck fat French fries, Brussels sprouts with pecorino and fried shallot, and wines. A rooftop sauna is open year-round, and the pool is open all day in the summer.

300 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(651) 468-0400
(651) 468-0400
In the foreground are wooden tables and chairs, a string of fairy lights, and two white women sitting at one of the tables. In the background is the Minneapolis skyline, bright against a deep blue evening sky.
The Minneapolis skyline from the Hewing Hotel’s rooftop patio.
Hewing Hotel

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The Lexington

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The Lexington is a 75-year St. Paul establishment on Grand Avenue — its rooftop, however, isn’t as formal as the main level’s traditional steakhouse. The menu features dishes like salmon burgers and lobster rolls. The Lexington also serves ice cream cocktails, like Brandy Alexanders made with creme de cacao.

1096 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 289-4990
(651) 289-4990
A white slushy cocktail topped with peach and herbs.
A slushy cocktail from the Lex.
Joy Summers

Louis Ristorante

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Cosetta's Louis Ristorante rooftop has stellar views of the city's downtown skyline, the St. Paul Cathedral’s ornate dome, and the picturesque bluffs along the Mississippi River. The atmosphere here is understated and elegant, and the menu, which has old-school Italian feel, features dishes like linguine alla vongole with Manila clams.

211 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Ox Cart Arcade & Rooftop

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This funky rooftop arcade bar has a decidedly ‘80s and ‘90s feel. Grab a homemade Pop Tart, cheese pretzel, or Vienna beef hot dog from the dining menu, which was designed by chef Justin Sutherland to feature nostalgic, hand-held foods. The rooftop serves fishbowls and has games like Giant Jenga and Connect Four on hand.

255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 528-6171
(651) 528-6171
Open rooftop bar with a yellow awning and outdoor seats are all under a rainbow just after a storm OxCart Alehouse

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LynLake Brewery

2934 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

LynLake Brewery has a classic rooftop bar with simple wooden tables and benches, a firepit, and views of Minneapolis’s Uptown neighborhood. The in-house brewery serves craft beers like the “Rubbish,” an oat amber ale, or the “Pony Boy,” a golden ale. LynLake’s Oakie-style onion burgers are popular, too.

2934 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 224-9682
(612) 224-9682

moto-i

2940 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Moto-i is Minneapolis’s only craft sake brewery. In fact, it’s widely counted as the first sake brewery in America. Enjoy a bottle underneath sparkling strings of globe lights on the rooftop patio — downtown Minneapolis gleams from a distance to the north. From Moto-i’s menu, try the maitake gyoza, or the curry ramen with beef tenderloin and scallions.

2940 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 821-6262
(612) 821-6262

Up-Down Minneapolis

3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Up-Down is a popular arcade bar on Lyndale Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis — stuffed to the brim with old-fashioned pinball and video games, it offers an impressive selection of beers on tap. The atmosphere on the recently renovated rooftop is a little more pared-back: Play jumbo Jenga and stay warm near the fireplace.

3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 823-3487
(612) 823-3487

Uptown Collab

3001 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Uptown Collab’s whimsical vibes extend to the rooftop bar, which is perched over Lake Street in Uptown. After a mini golf game inside, mosy up to the rooftop for summery drinks and ceviche, tacos, and other dishes from chef Kamal Mohamed (also of Nashville Coop and STEPCHLD).

3001 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 354-2958
(612) 354-2958
People sitting on a rooftop patio with a sunset in the background.
A sunset at Uptown Collab.
Uptown Collab

Brit's Pub & Eating Establishment

1110 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

The multi-level rooftop patio at Brit's is well-known for its impressive lawn bowling set-up. The menu is stacked with pub favorites: Try the mac and cheese bites, made with smoked gouda, or the Scotch eggs. Brit’s also hosts annual summer movies, televised sporting events, and, occasionally, abridged Shakespeare performances.

1110 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 332-3908
(612) 332-3908

Union Restaurant & Rooftop

731 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

This rooftop patio in downtown Minneapolis is home to wildly popular drag brunches by Flip Phone. Union Rooftop’s trademark feature is their retractable, glass-enclosed rooftop, which arcs over the dining area. Union serves truffle fries and ricotta beignets rain or shine.

731 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 455-6690
(612) 455-6690

Riva Terrace

245 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Riva Terrace is the swanky rooftop bar at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Minneapolis. The menu centers light, summery dishes like rainbow trout salad, walleye sandwiches, and shrimp skewers. Riva has a pretty upscale vibe; a smash burger clocks in at $22.

245 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 895-5700
(612) 895-5700

Graze Food Hall

520 N 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Graze food hall’s second-story rooftop patio is an excellent spot to enjoy the golden hour: Watch the sun set against the skyline of downtown Minneapolis. Graze offers an array of local food options — sample a Hmong sausage patty sandwich from Union Hmong Kitchen, curry tofu bowls from Viva Taco, or wings with honey hot sauce from B.A.D. Wingz.

520 N 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

The Rooftop Bar

515 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

NOLO’s Rooftop Bar, which has great views of the North Loop, is a bit of a party spot in the summer. Slushies, Sangria, live music, and foosball are the focus here.

515 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 800-6033
(612) 800-6033

Hewing Hotel

300 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Hewing Hotel’s rooftop has one of the best vantage points of Minneapolis’s brilliant nighttime skyline. The menu features upscale hotel fare like duck fat French fries, Brussels sprouts with pecorino and fried shallot, and wines. A rooftop sauna is open year-round, and the pool is open all day in the summer.

300 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(651) 468-0400
(651) 468-0400
In the foreground are wooden tables and chairs, a string of fairy lights, and two white women sitting at one of the tables. In the background is the Minneapolis skyline, bright against a deep blue evening sky.
The Minneapolis skyline from the Hewing Hotel’s rooftop patio.
Hewing Hotel

The Lexington

1096 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105

The Lexington is a 75-year St. Paul establishment on Grand Avenue — its rooftop, however, isn’t as formal as the main level’s traditional steakhouse. The menu features dishes like salmon burgers and lobster rolls. The Lexington also serves ice cream cocktails, like Brandy Alexanders made with creme de cacao.

1096 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 289-4990
(651) 289-4990
A white slushy cocktail topped with peach and herbs.
A slushy cocktail from the Lex.
Joy Summers

Louis Ristorante

211 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Cosetta's Louis Ristorante rooftop has stellar views of the city's downtown skyline, the St. Paul Cathedral’s ornate dome, and the picturesque bluffs along the Mississippi River. The atmosphere here is understated and elegant, and the menu, which has old-school Italian feel, features dishes like linguine alla vongole with Manila clams.

211 7th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Ox Cart Arcade & Rooftop

255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101

This funky rooftop arcade bar has a decidedly ‘80s and ‘90s feel. Grab a homemade Pop Tart, cheese pretzel, or Vienna beef hot dog from the dining menu, which was designed by chef Justin Sutherland to feature nostalgic, hand-held foods. The rooftop serves fishbowls and has games like Giant Jenga and Connect Four on hand.

255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 528-6171
(651) 528-6171
Open rooftop bar with a yellow awning and outdoor seats are all under a rainbow just after a storm OxCart Alehouse

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