Best Bars With Heated Patios In Minnesota
If there's one thing Minnesotans love, it's outdoor dining. During warm summer months, you can expect to find swarms of midwestern folk occupying outdoor patios, soaking up the sunshine while sipping cool cocktails and enjoying meals. Unfortunately, frigid temperatures force many bar/restaurant owners to close their patios during winter months. Luckily, a few dedicated owners go the extra mile and create heated outdoor spaces so their patrons can enjoy the outdoors year round. Check out the following establishments for the best heated patios in Minnesota.
Seven
700 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 238-7777
www.7mpls.com
Seven is a trendy downtown bar/restaurant known for having one of the best rooftop dining spaces in downtown Minneapolis. Located on the corner of 7th and Hennepin, Seven's patio features a spectacular view of downtown and has several posh seating areas for patrons. When temperatures drop outside, Seven keeps it hot by creating a tented, heated area on its rooftop so patrons can enjoy the view year round. If you're a sushi fan, head inside for all-you-can eat sushi from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays in the sushi bar.
Butcher & The Boar
1121 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 238-8888
www.butcherandtheboar.com
The Butcher & The Boar recently transformed its already stellar patio by turning up the heat just in time for fall. A cozy, all-weather German-style tent protects patrons from the elements while heat lamps keep the patio toasty warm. The owners intend to keep the patio open year round with a veritable "Bavarian winter beer garden" during snowy months. Known for its tasty eats and drinks, the Butcher & The Boar is a must for bourbon drinkers, craft beer enthusiasts and carnivores. If you've got room for dessert, the grasshopper pie is a must.
Dean's Tavern
1986 Rice St.
Maplewood, MN 55113
(651) 488-6868
www.deanstavern.net
One of Minnesota's oldest bars, Dean's Tavern is a cozy, neighborhood joint. A great place to go for live music, patrons can enjoy a variety of different genres every Friday and Saturday evening (see Dean's calendar for upcoming performance information). While the Dean's patio is at its best during summer months when the koi pond and surrounding foliage are in bloom, the all-season patio keeps its patrons warm during winter months. Warm up with Dean's cheap drink specials and try one of its famous Coney Dogs. If you're feeling adventurous, give the peanut butter hot dog a try for an unexpectedly delicious treat.
Ice Chambers
Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis
901 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 767-6900
www.lemeridienchambers.com
Located at the swanky Chambers Hotel in downtown Minneapolis is Ice Chambers, a super cool, outdoor ice bar. You like your drinks cool right? So why not sip a cool cocktail in a (literally) cold bar? When the weather permits, Ice Chambers is constructed with over 12,000 pounds of crystal-clear ice to create a fabulous outdoor ice bar complete with ice sculptures. The first and only urban outdoor ice bar of its kind in Minnesota, the Ice Chamber is a treat for hardy Minnesotans looking for a unique place to enjoy a cool cocktail. Order a fancy martini from a fleece-swaddled bartender and cozy up to the glass fire pit to keep the chill at bay. Dressing to impress at Ice Chambers means donning your finest winter coat and accessories. If the cold gets to you, head inside and warm up with a piping hot plate of gourmet pasta at D'Amico Kitchen.
Union
Expected to open in November
8th St. and Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
As if Crave's fab multi-million-dollar rooftop in downtown Minneapolis wasn't enough, owner Kam Talebi has upstaged that venture with the opening of Union which features a 200-seat rooftop complete with a retractable, 28-foot-high glass roof that enables year-round dining. When the weather cools down, the glass roof closes up so that patrons can enjoy climate-controlled dining regardless of what the weather is like outside. The restaurant also features a 150-seat, street-level restaurant with an exhibition kitchen and bar. The offerings on the rooftop are different from those inside and vary with the changing seasons. Don't let winter snowfalls deter you from dining out, because Union is determined to make your dining experience unique no matter what the season. Grab a coveted rooftop seat beneath the glass during winter months, order up some of Union's eclectic American cuisine and enjoy the sight of snow without the chill.
A Minnesota native that was born and raised Up North, Minneapolis is where Christina Kalinowski currently calls home. Christina appreciates irony, loves bacon, enjoys a hearty libation (drink responsibly, folks), and is an avid proponent of the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
