These 15 spots are new or new to our patio guide this year.

THE APOSTLE SUPPER CLUB, 253 W. Kellogg Blvd., apostlesupperclub.com: Chef Brian Ingram’s 1960s Palm Springs-inspired restaurant has given its patio a major upgrade. With thatched cabana-like umbrellas, a bar made with barrels and plenty of tiki heads — in both statue and cocktail glass form — the large patio is basically begging you to sit back on a sticky summer day and sip a Mai Tai (only $6 during the 4–7 p.m. happy hour, a steal compared to the rest of the menu).

THE BUNGALOW CLUB, 4300 E. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-866-3334; thebungalowclubmpls.com: We’re not sure what took us so long to check out this charming spot, which has been open since 2018 in the former Craftsman spot, but we’ll definitely be frequenting Bungalow club for chef Andrew Kraft’s tasty prix fixe menus, delicious craft cocktails and the pretty patio, which has plenty of shade from an expansive pergola with a rooftop.

Dining and drinking on the river is a way of life at City House in St. Paul, housed in a restored grain elevator. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

CITY HOUSE, 258 Mill St., St. Paul; cityhousemn.com: Casual riverfront drinking and dining (an adjacent food truck offers sandwiches, tacos and more) in a restored grain elevator offers killer views of Harriet Island and the riverboats docked there. Full bar, excellent craft beer selection. Credit or debit card only.

CRASQUI, 84 Wabasha St., Suite No. 3, St. Paul; 952-600-5578; crasquirestaurant.com: Urban terrace with bright blue umbrellas for a tropical vibe. The arepas and seafood here are spectacular, and they serve what is probably our favorite pork chop in town. Bonus: the craft cocktails here, with a special emphasis on rum, are phenomenal and the wine list is excellent.

DIVE BAR AT COASTAL SEAFOODS, 286 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul; 651-698-4888; coastalseafoods.com: The new Coastal Seafoods location, just down the street from the old one, has an adorable diner counter with indoor seating and a patio to the side of the building. The menu is full of casual seafood favorites such as lobster rolls, fish and chips, fish sandwiches, calamari, and fresh oysters. There will eventually be canned beer, wine and cocktails, but the city of St. Paul is behind on licensing new establishments, so if you’re counting on alcohol, I’d call first.

EAT STREET CROSSING, 2819 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis; 612-345-4136; eatstreetcrossing.com: The patio at the new Minneapolis food hall is spacious yet cozy, with plenty of tables, a firepit and a walk-up bar. Pick from sushi, burgers, Brazilian pizza, ice cream, or pan-Asian fare at the new Staff Meeting restaurant — a new concept from chef Louross Edralin that replaces a ramen shop. Cocktails from the central bar are well-made, too.

GAI NOI, 1610 Harmon Place, Minneapolis; gainoimpls.com: Look, I’m a simple guy: Ann Ahmed makes it, I eat it. After opening Minneapolis stunner Khaluna a few years back, the Laotian chef launched Gai Noi in Loring Park in spring 2023 to immediate national acclaim. The restaurant is quite large and walk-in only; the patio, with comfortable seats and cute flower boxes, is well-arranged to provide guests with a choice of sunnier or shadier table. And the food, obviously, is great: The uber-flavorful wok-fried beef and the basil wings, succulent with a dry rub that feels like a Southeast Asian Old Bay, are both particular standouts.

GUACAYA BISTREAUX, 337 Washington Ave. N, Minneapolis; 612-345-4981; guacayabistreaux.com: The patio at this Latin Caribbean-Louisiana fusion tapas restaurant is set up in front of the building, along busy Washington Avenue — the sidewalk re-routes around it — so it still has an impromptu, Covid-era feel. If you’re already in the North Loop on a nice day, it’s a worthwhile snack-and-drink stop.

A beet salad and the full-proof mineral cocktail at Herbst in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

HERBST EATERY & FARM STAND, 779 Raymond Ave., St. Paul; 651-340-0254; herbstsaintpaul.com: True farm-to-table eating, in a pretty, shaded, private patio? Sign us up! This newbie has patio dining dialed in, from the ample shade to the comfy chairs and tables. The menu changes frequently, but is always heavy on vegetables, freshly made pastas and beautifully composed meat dishes. The cocktails are innovative, the wine list spectacular and the service next-level.

KING COIL SPIRITS, 550 Vandalia St., Suite 140, St Paul; kingcoilspirits.com: This 80-seat patio is a nice complement to neighboring brewery Lake Monster, which has the same owners. There’s a nice mix of sunny and shady areas, and there are large tables to accommodate your group of friends. Nosh on a thick-crust pizza and sip on one of the distillery’s fantastic cocktails while you’re there. Happy hour runs 3-5 p.m. daily and includes $8 highballs and draft cocktails. There will also be free live music — viewable from either patio — on Saturdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m. through Oct. 26.

Diners eat at the patio at Porzana, a steakhouse from chef Daniel del Prado in the North Loop in Minneapolis, on May 7, 2024. The restaurant, formerly the home of the Bachelor Farmer, made use of a slim alleyway to create a European-inspired patio. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

PORZANA, 200 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612-489-6174; porzanampls.com: Daniel del Prado’s new North Loop steakhouse, which swapped out the upscale Midwestern quirk of the Bachelor Farmer for the Argentinian chef’s trademark creative elegance, makes excellent use of a slim alleyway for a charming European-style patio. It’s a splurge, to be sure — a single 6-oz entrana (like skirt steak; juicy, beefy, perfectly seared) with chimichurri, a side of crispy oven-roasted potatoes with smoky red pepper sauce and a pair of cocktails topped $100 — but the top-notch service and overhead twinkle lights make for a transporting patio experience.

SMORGIE’S, 127 W. Seventh St.; 651-204-5096; smorgiesbar.com: The affordable spot across from the Xcel Energy Center has adopted a new motto: “It’s not too terrible.” The very Minnesotan compliment-ish also applies to the patio, I think, which is nothing fancy. If the restaurant is busy, you might have to order food (via QR code) inside and carry it out yourself to some of the metal tables or lounge chairs alongside the building, or to the walk-up bar. Not a destination patio, exactly, but if you’re looking to grab a bite to eat outside before heading to the X, Smorgie’s will do the trick.

The patio at Wrestaurant at the Palace in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

WRESTAURANT AT THE PALACE, 33 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; 952-600-5611; wrestaurantatthepalace.com: The cobblestone pedestrian-only West Seventh Place makes for a naturally pretty patio, and Wrestaurant, the new eatery from the folks behind First Avenue, the neighboring Palace Theatre and Wrecktangle Pizza, takes full advantage with pretty mint-colored patio furniture and flowers. Craft cocktails and Detroit-style pizza make it the perfect place to meet friends before a show.

YUM! KITCHEN AND BAKERY, 164 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-615-1230; or 8340 City Centre Drive, Woodbury, 651-603-4444; yumkitchen.com: One of our favorite lunch spots in St. Paul has an indoor-outdoor space that features a screen to keep out the rain if the weather is bad but you still really want some fresh air. And new this year, in Woodbury, brightly colored flowers and whimsical pinwheels surround a lovely 60-seat space with giant red umbrellas for shade. Counter-service model serves homey but delicious sandwiches, salads and plated dishes, including the best tuna melt in town, served on a house-made English muffin. Save room for dessert — all the baked goods here are delicious.

ZAMBONI’S ON 7TH, 174 W. Seventh St., 651-225-2999; zambonison7th.com: Familiar name, new location: With Eagle Street Grille gone, pizza joint Zamboni’s joined forces with The Loon Cafe to move into the large corner spot across from the Xcel Energy Center and expand their Italian-influenced menu. Sports bar vibes reign supreme inside, but the semi-secluded back patio captures a quaint, weathered charm that feels like old St. Paul. It took us a couple tries to actually sit on the patio — evidently, they make the call daily on whether to open it and at what time, a host said — so you might need to call ahead.

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Our picks for outdoor dining to see and be seen. See the rest of the Pioneer Press 2024 patio guide here.

CAFE AND BAR LURCAT, 1624 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, 612-486-5500; lurcatminneapolis.com: The elegant establishment features a patio with gorgeous views of Loring Park. For something more quiet and private, we’ll let you in on a secret: Lurcat also has a few outdoor seats in the back.

The entire restaurant Blondette, on the fifth floor of the Rand Tower in Minneapolis, is essentially a patio. It has a retractable glass roof. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

BLONDETTE, 527 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-224-3750; blondettempls.com: Forget the patio, this entire, very elegant restaurant has a retractable glass roof that opens on nice days. It’s on the fifth floor, so when you look up, it’s blue sky and towering skyscrapers as far as the eye can see. There’s also a small, open-air terrace that wasn’t open when we visited, but I’d prefer the restaurant proper anyway. The food here is incredible, too. Oysters, mussels, poached lobster, wagyu steak, duck and even a buzzworthy burger are yours for the ordering.

BOROUGH RESTAURANT AND PARLOUR BAR, 730 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-354-3135; boroughmpls.com: Be a part of the North Loop action at this contemporary restaurant with a spacious dockside patio with a bar. Or, grab one of the sidewalk seats out front.

BUTCHER’S TALE, 1121 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-236-4075; butcherstale.com: Downtown Minneapolis’ most magical outdoor space has reopened with a new owner and new name, but the original butcher (chef Peter Botcher) from Butcher & The Boar is back, this time helming the kitchen. The meat-centric menu is as good as ever, and the patio has new furnishings.

COLITA, 5400 Penn Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-886-1606; colitampls.com: Colita serves some of the best contemporary Mexican fare and cocktails around, and the hot spot comes with two patios to sit back and relax on. A few tables on the sidewalk are available, but the majority of the restaurant’s 46 patio seats can be found in an enclosed space on the east side of the building. Plants, wood accents and a pergola for shade add to the charm. Garage doors adjoin the indoor and outdoor dining areas.

EMBER & ICE, Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, 2611 Nordic Way, Eagan; 651-689-9800; omnihotels.com/hotels/viking-lakes-minnesota: The contemporary Ember & Ice, the Omni Vikings Lakes Hotel second-floor patio connected to Ember & Ice lounge, boasts several seating areas, firepits, its own bar and a great view overlooking the Vikings practice field. All this while being able to enjoy a great cocktail and food list. The vibe in the lounge takes on Icelandic culture of the North, and that philosophy extends onto the patio.

Server Calvin Kunst delivers lunch to Carol March and Patrick Smith as they enjoy the new patio at the Handsome Hog, 173 Western Avenue in St. Paul, Thursday, July 16, 2020. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)

HANDSOME HOG, 173 Western Ave. N., St. Paul; 651.219.4013; handsomehog.com: It’s hard to believe that this patio was once a pass-through with a few parking spots. During the pandemic, Handsome Hog relocated from Lowertown to the former space of The Fitz on Cathedral Hill. The space has been transformed, including the addition of a 120-seat fenced-in patio decked out with a wrap-around bar, pergola, multiple seating areas, umbrellas, potted plants and flowers. And the food is great — you can’t go wrong with anything you order at this contemporary Southern restaurant.

HEWING HOTEL ROOFTOP BAR AND LOUNGE, 300 Washington Ave. N. Minneapolis; 651-468-0400; hewinghotel.com: Contemporary rooftop bar and lounge at the Hewing Hotel has a spectacular view of the city. Not only that, the food and drinks are always reliable.

THE LEXINGTON, 1096 Grand Ave., St. Paul; 651-289-4990; thelexmn.com: The 80-seat rooftop retreat offers plenty of choices for sun or shade. An upstairs bar and kitchen guarantee that drinks and food come out at just the right pace. A second-floor private event space seating up to 120 people is also available.

LOUIS RISTORANTE & BAR, 211 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, 651-222-3476; cossettas.com: Located off the third-floor sit-down Italian restaurant, the large terrace has its own bar, pretty Italian villa accents and flower beds. And then there’s the gorgeous view of the Cathedral of St. Paul. For something more low-key, the second-floor wrap-around patio is part of the more casual Cossetta restaurant.

MAISON MARGAUX, 224 First St. N., Minneapolis; 612-900-1800; maisonmargauxmpls.com: What might be chef David Fhima’s most personal restaurant yet, the stunning new Maison Margaux in Minneapolis’ North Loop has Parisian style in spades, including on its outdoor terrace, which sports a pretty pergola, classic bistro chairs and strings of lights for ambiance. The classic French cuisine here — they even have frog legs — is dynamite, as are the cocktails. There’s also a very eclectic, very large wine list.

MERITAGE, 410 St. Peter St., St. Paul; 651-222-5670; meritage-stpaul.com: Bustling sidewalk terrace with brasserie charm aims to whisk you away. Spectacular French dishes, the freshest oysters in town and a stellar wine list add to the ambiance.

RIVA TERRACE on the Four Seasons Hotel rooftop, 245 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; fourseasons.com/minneapolis/dining/restaurants/riva: As you might imagine, this rooftop patio in the heart of downtown Minneapolis is full of fancy people drinking fancy drinks in a very fancy space with lots of flowers and greenery, an outdoor bar and a pool that’s accessible only to guests. It’s a great pre-theater option in the warmer months, and they even have a happy hour (they call it apertivo hour) where prices, though still not cheap, come down to a level that even the un-fancy among us can afford.

SMACK SHACK, 603 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-259-7288 or 3801 Minnesota Drive, Bloomington; 952-333-7722; smack-shack.com: Grab a seat on the long, 150-seat patio at this popular North Loop seafood spot and make sure oysters and lobster rolls are part of your group’s order. Retractable coverings can be adjusted according to whether you want sun or shade. Water-tight overhangs also make the patio a reliable option for dining al fresco even if it starts to drizzle. The new Bloomington location, in a former Fuddruckers, also has a new 120-seat paved patio with Edison lights strung everywhere, umbrellas for shade, and a bonus — parking there is a breeze.

The patio at W.A. Frost in St. Paul, photographed in the summer of 2019. (Courtesy of Tim Gauldunick for W.A. Frost)

W.A. FROST, 374 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-224-5715; wafrost.com: This perennial favorite on Cathedral Hill has long been a crowd-pleaser for its classy vibe, fancy stonework and abundant gardens. The spot is even more breathtaking when lit up at night, making it one of the most romantic — and popular, so don’t forget a reservation — spots around.

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