I've never been able to understand why the Twin Cities are so sparse on heated patios. In other cold weather cities – Chicago, New York, Boston, even San Fran – you can hardly walk down the street in the fall without stumbling across some patio packed with patrons basking in propane-fueled coziness. (Bonus: in Europe, many bars and restaurants give you BLANKETS, too.)
Why haven't the Twin Cities -- home of frigid temps but also gorgeous blue-skied autumn afternoons -- embraced the extended patio season?
I can't answer that.
But I can tell you about the handful of rebellious bars and restaurants in town that are intent on keeping people toasty and therefore, extending our short autumn season by precious weeks or even months.
So to you who refuse to go inside when it's chilly, to you who fight back at winter with patio protest: cheers.
(P.S. If you know of a spot I am missing, tweet me @AmeliaRayno and let me know! I'll add it.)
What kind of heat? Propane heaters on the patio.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Until it gets below the 40s."
What kind of heat? Stand alone units on the patio.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Very late in the year. We're one of the last patios to close."
What kind of heat? Free-standing propane units.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Until the end of Nov."
What kind of heat? Tall propane heaters
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Until no one uses the patio or it starts snowing."
Italian Eatery (pictured above)
What kind of heat? An overhead heater for four outdoor bar seats.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Until it snows."
What kind of heat? Hanging heaters on a covered patio.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Through at least early November."
What kind of heat? Fire "balls" on the roof top.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Until customers can't handle the cold, even with the fire balls"
What kind of heat? A fireplace with 11 tables around it, and a fire pit by the bocce court.
How long will they seat you outdoors? All winter long for the fireplace. The bocce court is weather dependent."
What kind of heat? Stand-alone heaters
How long will they seat you outdoors? "If there's a nice day, we'll put them out there."
What kind of heat? Partially covered heated patio with a retractable roof.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "Pretty much year-round."
What kind of heat? A built-in awning over a handful of bar seats; a few stand alone units for the patio.
How long will they seat you outdoors? "All through the winter."
What kind of heat? Heaters on the patio "ceiling."
How long will they seat outdoors? "Until it gets too cold" (then, they put a tent over the patio for extended use).
What kind of heat? Standing lanterns.
How long will they seat outdoors? "Until it gets cold."
What kind of heat? A fireplace outside.
How long will they seat outdoors? "Until they feel like closing the patio."
What kind of heat? Stand-alone units.
How long will they seat outdoors? "Until it snows."
Yum! Kitchen and Bakery (Minnetonka location)
What kind of heat? A bar-top fire feature.
How long will they seat outdoors? "Until it gets too cold to bear."
