Best Patios in the Twin Cities South Metro
Your 2026 Guide to Patio Season
If you've lived in Minnesota for more than five minutes, you know patio season isn't just a season — it's practically a holiday. The moment temperatures crack 60 degrees, we are outside. Every weekend from May through September is spoken for, and the question on everyone's mind is the same: where are we going?
As a Lakeville resident and south metro local, I've spent a lot of time researching this question. (Okay, "researching" might be a generous word for eating and drinking my way around the suburbs, but here we are.) In this guide, I'm rounding up four of my favorite spots for outdoor dining across the south metro — from Eagan to Prior Lake — so you can spend less time Googling and more time actually enjoying the sunshine.
Why the South Metro Has the Best Patio Scene in the Twin Cities
The south metro doesn't get nearly enough credit for its dining scene, and I'm on a mission to change that. Lakeville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Prior Lake are home to a growing number of locally owned restaurants and breweries with seriously impressive outdoor spaces.
This is also one of the things that makes the south metro such a special place to live. When my clients are searching for their next home in this area, community and lifestyle amenities are always part of the conversation. Good restaurants, walkable neighborhoods, and places where families can actually enjoy an evening out? Those things matter — and this area delivers.
Now let's get to the good stuff.
Mason Jar Kitchen & Bar — Eagan
Vibe: Hearty Minnesota staples from hotdish to Swedish meatballs
Location: 1565 Cliff Rd, Eagan, MN 55122
Website:masonjar.kitchen
If you haven't been to Mason Jar Kitchen & Bar, I genuinely feel bad for you — and I say that with love. This locally owned gem in Eagan is the kind of place that feels like Minnesota in the best possible way. Think elevated comfort food made completely from scratch: Tater Tot Hotdish, 10,000 Lakes Chicken Pot Pie, stone oven pizzas, fresh seafood, and an in-house bakery turning out cupcakes and French macarons.
They have two patios, a Minnesota-only craft beer list, creative cocktails, and a full weekend brunch menu. The ambiance is warm and a little whimsical — hundreds of mason jars hang overhead — and it works equally well for a date night or a Saturday out with the kids.
Pro tip: Make a reservation. This place fills up fast, especially on weekends.
Southern Social — Eagan
Vibe: Modern southern kitchen with smoked meats, fried chicken, and creative cocktails
Location: 1940 Rahncliff Ct, Eagan, MN 55122
Website: southernsocialmn.com
If you've never had buttermilk biscuits with bourbon honey butter and blackberry preserve on a patio on a warm Minnesota evening, Southern Social is about to change your life. This modern southern kitchen in Eagan has built a serious following since opening, and it earns every bit of it.
The menu is the kind of thing that takes a solid ten minutes to read because everything sounds too good: cherrywood-smoked brisket, St. Louis ribs, Nashville chicken sandwiches, shrimp and grits, fried catfish with hushpuppies, and pimento mac and cheese. The cocktail program is equally impressive — including their signature "social punch bowls" served for groups in vintage crystal punch bowls, which is exactly as fun as it sounds.
The patio is a great spot to settle in for a longer evening — the food and drinks invite that kind of pace. It's elevated enough for a night out without kids, but the menu has enough crowd-pleasing options that it works for the whole family too.
Lakeville Brewing Company — Lakeville
Vibe: Family-friendly brewpub with full food menu and great kid space
Location: 8790 Upper 208th St W, Lakeville, MN 55044
Website:lakevillebrewing.com
As a Lakeville local, Lakeville Brewing Company holds a special place in my heart — and my weekend plans. This locally owned brewpub is exactly what a neighborhood gathering spot should be: welcoming, unpretentious, and genuinely fun for the whole family.
The outdoor space is one of the best in the area — a large yard with picnic tables, lawn games, and a stage for live music. Inside, you'll find high chairs, kid-friendly menus, and family board games on the tables. The beer is brewed right on site (and you can only get it here, which makes it feel a little more special), and the food menu goes well beyond typical bar fare — think brisket, Reubens, tacos, and loaded nachos.
Whether you're pulling up with a stroller or meeting friends for a Saturday afternoon, Lakeville Brewing delivers every time.
Revolve Food Hall — Apple Valley
Vibe: Five distinct dining concepts under one roof
Location: 14889 Florence Trail, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Website:revolvehall.com
If you haven't discovered Revolve Hall yet, consider this your sign. Located at Fischer Marketplace in Apple Valley, this food hall brings together five different dining concepts under one roof — from Curiouser Coffee to Detroit-style pizza to creative cocktails and more.
What makes it especially great for patio season is the summer outdoor patio, where the Wanderer Bar sets up shop and the vibes are immaculate. It's been described as feeling like a South Minneapolis restaurant that somehow landed right in Apple Valley — which is exactly the kind of energy the south metro dining scene needs more of.
Whether your group can't agree on what to eat (been there) or you just want to explore something different, Revolve Hall is the answer. It's a fun one to bring out-of-town guests to as well.
Charlie's On Prior — Prior Lake
Vibe: Voted "Best Patio" for three consecutive years — lake views and a great atmosphere
Location: 3950 Green Heights Trail SW, Prior Lake, MN 55372
Website:charliesonprior.com
There's a reason Charlie's On Prior has been voted "Best Patio" for the last three years running: the views are unbeatable. Sitting on the patio at Charlie's, overlooking Prior Lake, is one of those quintessentially Minnesota summer experiences that just never gets old.
This lakeside restaurant and marina is open year-round, but summer is when it truly shines. The upper patio features a full menu — appetizers, tacos, walleye, house-made desserts, and a solid cocktail list. The lower waterfront patio (The Landing) is more casual and dog-friendly with water bowls on hand, perfect for those evenings when our chocolate lab Kenai needs to come along. You can even dock your boat and dine by the water.
Weekend brunch with a lake view? Yes, please.
OMNI Brewery and Taproom — Rosemount
Vibe: Wine, beer, coffee, and woodfire pizza all in one spot
Location: 15701 Biscayne Ave, Rosemount, MN 55068
Website:omnibrewing.com/location/rosemount
OMNI is one of those places that has something for everyone — which, if you're regularly coordinating plans with a group of adults with varying preferences, is genuinely invaluable. The Rosemount location features a spacious open-concept taproom with tons of natural light, a large wraparound bar, and a big patio surrounded by green space.
The drink menu covers craft beer, wine, and coffee (yes, coffee — great for a morning or afternoon visit). The woodfire pizzas are the move for food, featuring creative brewery-inspired flavors alongside the classics. It's casual and community-centered, and the Rosemount taproom has a great big-patio energy that's perfect for a long summer evening.
A Note from Your Twin Cities South Metro Realtor
One of the things I love most about helping families find homes in Lakeville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Prior Lake is that I genuinely live this community. The restaurants, the patios, the weekend routines — these are the things that make a neighborhood feel like home, not just a zip code.
When my clients ask me what it's actually like to live in the south metro, this is part of the answer. Yes, the school districts are excellent. Yes, the home values are strong. But also? The patio game is top-tier and the summers are worth every single Minnesota winter we endure to get here.
f you're thinking about making a move to the south metro — or curious about what your current home is worth — I'd love to connect. Real estate questions welcome, restaurant recommendations free of charge. 🏡
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