Butcher & the Boar just opened one of our favorite new patios of the spring.Wherever you reside, chances are you can't wait to have that first drink of the season on your favorite neighborhood patio. With every nook of the Twin Cities having its own unique options, we couldn't help but wonder which area boasts the best.

To answer this burning question (we don't have a lot on our minds), we scoured the patio hotbeds of downtown Minneapolis, Northeast, Uptown and St. Paul, grading each on the number of options, overall quality, character, and how each area's top tier of patios stacks up against the rest.

Here are the results of our patio prowl, along with our takes on some assorted favorites in each location.

House music and happy hour: the rooftop patio at Crave.

When it comes to open-air nightlife, downtown is full of options. While there are a few respites from the suburban fun-boys who flock to the Warehouse District, many downtown places -- posh or pub -- attract similar hard-partying patrons.

Proving there's no such thing as too many rooftop bars, Crave has become a dining and nightlife hot spot since opening last May. If you don't mind a little house music with your happy hour, consider this downtown Minneapolis perch for your next after-work cocktail.

Confidently dubbed Eden, the lavish courtyard at Le Meridien Chambers has all the swank needed to impress your guest. Whether you're trying to get laid or close a business deal, a $15 DK Manhattan by the rock-bed fireplace is a great place to start.

This downtown Minneapolis mega-pub has enough room to accommodate you and all your Jameson-, er, 2 Gingers-drinking buddies on its sprawling sidewalk piazza. A daily daytime happy hour makes popping in for an afternoon pint a little too tempting.

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A slight Greek vibe at Rachel's patio on East Hennepin.

While Northeast has two of the Twin Cities' top patios (Psycho Suzi's and Jax Cafe), an admirable but ultimately underwhelming supporting cast leaves the all-stars hanging.

After a long wait, Rachel's finally opened its doors along East Hennepin last April. The fare might be American, but a small, colonnade-like overhang gives the patio, which pushes up against Punch Pizza's, a slight Greco-Roman vibe.

It ain't much, but the little strip overlooking Gluek Park gives the Bottineau neighborhood a quieter al fresco alternative to Suzi's sensorial onslaught. If you prefer palatal over visual stimulation, make the Sample Room your go-to Nordeast spot.

While there are more elegant options at picturesque St. Anthony Main (Aster Cafe, for one), Tuggs has one thing the competition doesn't -- beer rockets. Keep cool during the dog days of summer with their signature 130-oz. suds-filled towers. Just don't try to tackle this bad boy solo.

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Muddy Waters' seduced alcove was a welcome new addition to the Uptown bar scene.

Despite threats of a City Council crackdown last summer (see page 25), Uptown remains the most prolific neighborhood for patios. From intimate dining to late-night buffoonery, our ultimate al fresco area has it all. Throw in all the spots with sidewalk seating and there's really no reason to ever eat indoors this summer.

Despite its rebranding effort, it's tough to imagine the former Drink attracting a different demographic (see: Thursday beer pong nights). But at least the open air should alleviate the smell of excessive cologne, and that massive big screen makes this one of the best places to catch the game and a tan.

Restaurant impresario Kim Bartmann (Barbette, Red Stag, Bryant-Lake Bowl) struck gastropub gold with this not-quite Uptown, not-Kingfield eatery. The laidback front lawn is a perfect post-softball option. City Council recently gave Bartmann the green light to nearly double the number of seats on the low-key patio. The more the merrier.

The antithesis of Uptown's trendy rooftops, the C.C. gives those of us with blue collars or punk-rock T-shirts a place to unwind with a pint and some sunshine. With better-than-you'd-expect bar food and cheap pitchers, the backyard porch fits like your favorite worn-out jeans you just can't throw away.

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Serenity at the sports bar: Patrick McGovern's patio in St. Paul.

One of St. Paul's most alluring loggias got even better with the addition of a massive greenhouse structure, replete with retractable roof (eat your heart out Zygi). With two more 55-inch TVs to come, serenity-seeking sports fans take note: The soothing sounds of the babbling waterfall should come in handy after the latest Twins blowout loss.

If 76 tap lines weren't enough of a draw, the beer-geek sanctuary's shaded back porch alone warrants the trip. Whether it's a sweltering afternoon or a cool summer night, you should have no problem finding the perfect brew at this Selby standby.

This quaint Italian joint is home to one of the Twin Cities most underrated patios. Don't believe us? Take a peek through the vine-covered, iron gate at the lush, multi-tiered hideaway and discover this secret garden for yourself.

Though a bit out of the way in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood, it might be the secluded location that gives a fairytale-like quality to Muffuletta. Bring a date and bask in the Euro-village vibes over a cheese plate and a bottle of wine.

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