Brian Nagele
Minneapolis is Minnesota’s major metropolis and shares a nickname with St. Paul as one of the Twin Cities. Minnesota’s winters are brutal, so when the summer and fall roll around, locals and visitors alike take full advantage of spectacular weather.
You can spend your day sightseeing and exploring the city’s various attractions. And as the night draws in, you can watch spectacular sunsets with 360-degree views of the Minneapolis skyline at a rooftop bar.
Minneapolis has plenty of options to dine and drink al fresco.
Brit’s Pub
1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-332-3908
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Brit’s Pub is a family-friendly British pub in a stately building in Central Minneapolis. It’s got cozy fireplaces and rich wood bars to grab a pint during the winters.
And during the summer, they have a massive rooftop deck with a bowling lawn that Thrillist deems one of the best rooftop bars in America.
They’ve got 24 beers on tap from the UK, Europe, and local microbreweries. I had a pint of Old Speckled Hen with a decadent order of poutine, with pork belly, cheese curds, and brown gravy.
LynLake Brewery
2934 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-224-9682
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Located in the heart of Uptown, LynLake Brewery is a microbrewery, taproom, and burger joint in an old theater.
Its marquee always has clever play-on-words to summon beer lovers. The atmosphere is welcoming and hip, and their burgers and fries are over-the-top, gourmet takes.
They brew all their beer onsite, with a rotating tap of 9 beers and ciders.
I was there for the summer to try the Mango Habanero cider, which went perfectly with their Southwestern-inspired Pedro double patty burger with bacon, ham, pico de gallo, and avocado.
moto-i
2940 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-821-6262
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Not only is Moto-I an authentic Japanese izakaya, but it is also the first sake brewery outside of Japan.
Located in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood, moto-I serves house-made sake along with ramen, steamed buns, and imported Japanese beer in a sleek and lively atmosphere.
Their ramen is delicious, but the most impressive menu is their unique home-brewed sake that comes in 8 varieties.
They also make amazing sake cocktails. I recommend the Old Shimbashi with Junmai, pisco, lavender cordial, egg white, and fresh lemon.
Seven Steakhouse Sushi & Rooftop
700 Hennepin Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-238-7770
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Seven Steakhouse Sushi & Rooftop is an American steakhouse as well as an elegant cocktail bar and sushi bistro, serving beautifully presented dishes and craft cocktails with views of the surrounding Central District of downtown Minneapolis.
They have a great happy hour with discounted prices on rolls. On Mondays, happy hour includes all-you-can-eat sushi.
The rooftop menu draws from both steakhouse and sushi menus for a well-rounded small plate selection. I loved their beef tips with mashed potatoes and demi-glace.
Stella’s Fish Café & Prestige Oyster Bar
1400 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-824-8862
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Overlooking Lake Calhoun in the bustling Uptown neighborhood, Stella’s Fish Café & Prestige Oyster Bar is a casual, family-friendly seafood restaurant with a massive, multi-tiered rooftop patio.
Minneapolis may be landlocked, but you can expect the best quality fish and shellfish varieties are flown in every morning for your lunch or dinner meal.
I recommend going for their daily happy hours to get half-priced oysters and great two-for-one deals on tap beer and house wine.
Amore Uptown
1601 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-823-0250
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Located a few blocks from Lake Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles in Uptown, Amore Uptown is a quaint, old-school Italian restaurant with a charming rooftop patio.
The interior is full of vintage French and Italian posters with candlelit tables, while the patio has bright blue umbrellas and vintage wicker chairs.
They serve high-end traditional Italian dishes with a luxurious and extravagant Italian-inspired cocktail menu.
I had a dessert cocktail after my meal called Café Amore with amaretto, baileys, and dark roast coffee.
Union Rooftop
731 Hennepin Ave Suite 1, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-455-6690
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Teetering between North Loop and Loring Park, Union Rooftop is a beloved rooftop bar and kitchen for its year-round views of the downtown skyline and Mississippi River.
Its retractable glass roof allows you to enjoy incredible views without having to brave bad weather.
They have a full lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch menu with elevated American fare, accompanied by delicious, seasonal cocktails.
I thought their Rose Sangria with peach, citrus, and berries was the perfect refresher.
Up-Down Minneapolis
3012 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-823-3487
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If you’re looking for the ultimate adult playground, you’ll find it at Up-Down Minneapolis, a giant arcade, pub, and pizza joint in Calhoun Isles.
Up-Down features over 50 arcade games from the 80s and 90s, life-size table games like Jenga, and old-school Nintendo consoles to enjoy a night full of nostalgia.
They have a rotating beer tap with special discounts on different beer selections each night. You get pizza by the slice in typical New York slice shop fashion.
I was feeling carnivorous and got a slice of the sausage pepperoni, bacon, and ham pizza.
The Rooftop Bar
515 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-800-6033
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Located on the roof of NOLO’s Kitchen and Bar in a refurbished yet restored historic building in North Loop, The Rooftop Bar is a hip and classy bar and patio with great views of the surrounding historic architecture.
The Rooftop Bar is an extension of NOLO’s kitchen, which also has a basement bar. Renowned Chef Peter Hoff creates locally sourced, classic American comfort food from every region.
I found their baked stuffed shells with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan to be the height of comfort.
Rooftop at Hewing Hotel
300 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 651-468-0400
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The Rooftop of the historic and elegant Hewing Hotel is at once a hip pool deck, a classy lounge, and a luxurious winter spa with a sauna and heated jacuzzi.
Located in Downtown West in a historic red brick warehouse, the Rooftop offers incredible views of the downtown skyline and Nicollet Island.
The lounge menu has a wide selection of creative craft cocktails, beer, and wine with a nice lineup of elevated American bar fare for snacking.
I savored a delicious Hewing Manhattan with rye, old forester, vermouth, and cherry bark vanilla bitters.
Ties Lounge & Rooftop
921 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612-248-8196
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Ties Lounge & Rooftop is a lounge and rooftop bar dedicated to inclusion, ties to the community, and activism in the face of the 2020 racial and social unrest.
Teetering between Loring Park and Elliot Park, Ties Lounge and Rooftop has a young and diverse team that welcomes all races and socioeconomic groups for a round of drinks.
I went for their happy hour during the week from 3-6 pm to find the lowest prices on beers, well drinks, and house cocktails in the Twin Cities. Their whiskey sour with a touch of orange bitters was an instant favorite.
REVEAL Rooftop Bar and Lounge
5075 W Wayzata Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55416
Phone: 763-545-0000
Located on the roof of the lovely AC Hotel by Marriot in Blackstone, REVEAL is an ultra-modern tapas and cocktail bar.
The atmosphere is sleek and fun, while the cocktail, wine, and small plates are classy and fairly priced.
The small bites menu encompasses crowd-pleasing favorites from bar fare around the globe, like street tacos and Bavarian pretzels.
I loved their Jasmine cocktail with gin, Campari, Cointreau, and lemon.
RH Rooftop Restaurant Minneapolis
6801 France Ave S, Edina, MN 55435
Phone: 952-206-6307
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The RH is an interior design gallery, mall, and residential complex in the West Edina suburb of Minneapolis.
The rooftop restaurant serves elevated New American cuisine in a fashionable and elegant lounge patio with beautifully manicured greenery, trees, and plush lounge couches.
The wonderful multi-course menu has a diverse selection of appetizers, mains, and salads. I thought their gem lettuce salad was almost too beautiful to eat.
CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar (LaSalle Plaza – Minneapolis)
825 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 612-332-1133
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Located in the heart of downtown, across from the Target Center, Crave is a trendy and bustling New American eatery with something for every culinary craving.
Their eclectic menu, high-end craft cocktails, mock-tails, and inviting atmosphere have won them Open Table’s Diner’s Choice Award.
I went for a great happy hour to get a cheap hard seltzer to accompany an extravagant Godzilla roll with spicy tuna and shrimp tempura combined with avocado, cucumber, and seaweed salad, among other ingredients to this flavorful mix.
Uptown Tavern & Rooftop
1400 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-824-3333
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Overlooking The Mall Park in Calhoun Isles, Uptown Tavern is a casual and friendly neighborhood bar and gastropub with a massive rooftop patio.
They offer over 30 beers on tap, indulgent bar fare, and a full week of events like trivia night or painting classes.
Their rotating beer taps source from local microbreweries and international artisanal breweries alike. I thought they paired perfectly with a heaping plate of Tavern Nachos with house-made poblano queso and steak.
