By Natalie Hall

These elevated dinner tables give a whole new meaning to high class and reinvented the outdoor dining scene, taking it up a notch: to the rooftop. Stella’s Fish Cafe started the craze in Minneapolis and the Ox Cart Ale House raised the bar in St. Paul. Get a bird’s-eye view of the cities from any of these amazing rooftops.

Stella’s Fish Cafe

Stella’s takes the crab cakes for the most elaborate rooftop restaurant; the double-decker rooftop looks down on Calhoun square in Uptown, Minneapolis. Stella’s Fish Cafe is known for their—you guessed it—seafood! Their oyster bar comes highly recommended, and they serve steak, pasta and ribs for the non-fish-friendly.

Image by TJ Turner

Union Bar and Grill

This versatile rooftop is a beautiful spot even in the winter. With a glass retractable enclosure, the Union rooftop is open-air in the summer—and on those random 65-degree days in February—but is enclosed for rainy days and colder weather. Immerse yourself in the Minneapolis skyline with up-close views from the only year-round rooftop in the cities.

4 Bells

A recent addition to the Minneapolis skyline, 4 Bells radiates summer sunshine with yellow chairs and an abundance of blooms spilling out of the planter boxes lining the rooftop deck. Glimpse breathtaking views of Loring Park, the Minneapolis skyline and the Basilica of St. Mary from the quaint rooftop.

Image by TJ Turner

Ox Cart Rooftop at the Ox Cart Ale House

As Lowertown’s first and only rooftop patio, Ox Cart has views of CHS Field, the State Capital and the St. Paul Cathedral. The Ox Cart Ale House evokes a utilitarian style, and the rooftop preserves its industrial vibe. Down a cold one and defeat your friends at shuffleboard, a Minnesota summer essential.

Louis Ristorante and Bar

Italy is known for its abundance of outdoor dining, and Cossetta’s is known for its abundance of amazing Italian food. Take your taste buds abroad for a night of Italian cuisine from the largest rooftop bar in St. Paul, Louis Ristorante and Bar rooftop, a high-end branch of Cossetta’s, on the third floor of its building.