Best rooftop bars in Minneapolis/St Paul? (St. Paul, Nicollet: hotel, restaurant)

[MChugN]

Hello all! My wife and I travel to the cities regularly in the summer months usually for concerts, etc.

I'm looking for some suggestions for some good rooftop bars.

We're usually in either downtown Mpls or downtown St Paul around W 7th, and occasionally uptown.

Not looking for anything too upscale or hip, just something that has decent pub food and a good variety of craft brews (We're mainly into IPA's and Double IPA's). And of course, an excellent view.

[audadvnc]

I believe Brit's has a rooftop bar. Isn't there one on top of that kitchen shop at Calhoun Square? And the Independent (also at Calhoun Sq) has a semi-enclosed outdoor seating area which has a nice view of Lake & Henn for people watching.

[GBCommenter]

If you are looking for more casual and publike, I would probably steer away from Solera, Seven, Chambers (rooftop of Le Meridien Hotel) or new rooftop Crave. Those four all have their appeal, but they are duking it out for "hip and trendy" club/rooftop. Crave is probably getting a bunch of attention right now as they just opened both the massive restaurant plus rooftop.

Perhaps Brit's on Nicollet Mall? Others will need to speak to specifics as I have not personally been there, but I know there is a rooftop with bocceball (I think) and you'll get the taps, I suspect.

There is also the Local on Nicollet Mall. Not a rooftop but looked like a fairly decent street/outdoor dining. This would probably hit more along the lines of casual and craft brews.

In St. Paul, another one that I can think of but again others will need to speak to specifics on would be the Liffey. They are next door to the Holiday Inn right on 7th. They happen to be owned by same group as the Local. I'm not suggesting them necessarily because of this, but just so you know. You can check them both out online at Cara Irish Pubs - Home.

That's what I can think of at the moment...

[uptown_urbanist]

Cafeteria in Calhoun Square has great views of downtown.

Haven't been to Moto-i in Lyn-Lake (first sake brewery outside of Japan!), but they have a rooftop deck that looks nice.

[Ghengis]

Been a couple years since I was there but Joes Garage near Loring Park had a nice quiet rooftop with a great view of the Basillica.

Joe’s Garage Restaurant

[GBCommenter]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

Been a couple years since I was there but Joes Garage near Loring Park had a nice quiet rooftop with a great view of the Basillica.

Joe’s Garage Restaurant

I had thought about them too, but I wasn't sure about their tap situation there. Looks like some options, plus bottle options too.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

Haven't been to Moto-i in Lyn-Lake (first sake brewery outside of Japan!), but they have a rooftop deck that looks nice.

I've been there a couple times. The rooftop deck is smaller and less fancy than some of the other ones in that area but it's very laid back and has a nice street view of Lyndale Ave. Overall I would say that moto-i is probably one of my favorite bars in the city. Not only do they have really good sake, but they only serve beers brewed in Minnesota, which I find very unique and cool.

When I think of rooftop bars, the two that always come to mind right away are Drink and Stellas in Uptown. If you can put up with the pinnacle of douchedom clientele that frequent those two places, their rooftop patios are actually very nice.

Also, I'm not sure it counts, but the Budweiser Rooftop Deck at Target Field is amazing!

[west336]

Stella's and Brit's are the two best that I've experienced. Hard to beat Stella's skyline view, and Brit's has a freaking yard on their roof! I heard that there were going to be a few more rooftop patios opening up soon -- was Crave the only one? I personally would love to know if there are better ones than Stella's and Brit's -- both of which, to me, are two of the best I've been to, period.