Minnesotans enjoy few things more than the outdoor eats and drinks of patio season, and few metro area mainstays do it better than Edina. From the bustling 50th and France district to the stylish area surrounding Galleria Edina and Southdale Center, the city is packed with patios for long lunches, happy hours and warm summer nights.
Whether you’re planning a brunch outing, date night, or family dinner in the sun, these Edina patios boast some of the best outdoor dining offerings in the Twin Cities.
1. Tavern on France
Centrally located along France Avenue, Tavern on France is known for its fantastic happy hour and lively ambiance, making it one of the most popular patios in town. No matter the time of day, its outdoor bar and fire pits are crowd-pleasers.
“It’s regularly voted the best patio by our readers,” says Edina Magazine editor Angela Johnson. “It’s enclosed, so you’re not hearing a lot of the traffic, even though it’s really close to France Avenue.”
Order a signature cocktail like the Minneapolis Mule or Rosénade, then ease into elevated American comfort food, including stacked burgers, wood-fired pizza, and custom salads.
2. Pittsburgh Blue
Galleria Edina’s upscale shopping meets its culinary counterpart at Pittsburgh Blue, where a spacious seasonal patio provides the perfect setting for a productive business lunch or a celebratory dinner on a warm summer evening.
The locally owned steakhouse leans into elevated American classics, from its prime rib French dip and wagyu beef cheek pappardelle with truffle cream, maitake mushrooms and shaved Parmesan to six variations of its naturally aged filet mignon, crowned with everything from a spicy horseradish crust to an Oscar-style combination of crab cake, asparagus and béarnaise.
Dining with a group? Order The Butcher’s Sampler — a chef’s selection of premium cuts paired with signature sauces — and pass around family-style sides as the sun sets, like lobster mac and cheese, kung pao cauliflower, Buffalo Brussels sprouts, green beans amandine and pan-roasted mushrooms.
3. Thérèse
Located in the rollicking heart of 50th & France, Thérèse unveils an upscale French brasserie concept from acclaimed chef Daniel del Prado to one of Edina’s most walkable neighborhoods. Named after del Prado’s mother, the restaurant draws inspiration from Paris with a lively, modern atmosphere centered on French wines, cocktails and refined takes on brasserie staples.
Look out for beef tartare with a horseradish buttermilk sauce, chive oil, capers, and pickled mustard seeds; a decadent burger with caramelized onions, chicken liver pate, gruyere and veal jus; and seasonal all-stars like stinging nettle risotto and chicken a la creme with morel mushrooms, fingerling potatoes and tarragon.
The patio fits right in within the buzz of 50th & France, making it an ideal spot for people-watching during summer evenings. Whether stopping in for a brunch tartine, snacks and sips at happy hour, or a long dinner outdoors, Thérèse delivers one of Edina’s most polished patio experiences.
4. Bellecour
Chef Gavin Kaysen’s widely revered Wayzata restaurant (Bellecour) is back and better than ever in Edina, adding to the area’s Francophile bona fides with all-day cafe offerings like carefully laminated pastries, strong espresso drinks, and Lyon-inspired breakfast and lunch dishes.
We’re partial to the jambon baguette, a master class in minimalism (just ham, salted butter, and gruyère). But you can’t go wrong with a pillowy omelet of Boursin cheese and fresh herbs, a slice of signature crepe cake, or Kaysen’s iconic Dirty French burger, either. The dish was so popular at Bellecour 1.0 that it made its way onto the bar menu of Kaysen’s flagship restaurant, Spoon and Stable. (It’s now a Bellecour exclusive.)
The patio is especially inviting during the warmer months, offering a relaxed setting for morning coffee runs, brunch outings and leisurely meals outdoors. Whether you stop in for a flaky croissant and cappuccino or settle in with a tartine and glass of wine, Bellecour captures the charm of a European café right in the middle of Edina.
5. Wooden Hill Brewing Company
There’s nothing like sipping a cold beer outside on a sunny day. That’s why the patio at Wooden Hill Brewing Company — Edina’s first brewery and taproom — is a must-visit.
“It’s casual, friendly and a great place to meet up,” says Sean Ewen, a co-founder and co-owner with his brother James. “We have large windows that look out onto it as well as a glass garage door that we’ll open up so it becomes an extension of the taproom.”
Try the Code 3 Juicy IPA with one of Wooden Hill’s gourmet burgers, hot dogs or flatbread pizzas (its chef was a contestant on MasterChef). Or sip the French River Saison while taking in the patio’s sunset views.
In addition to all the rotating beers on tap, Wooden Hill serves non-alcoholic craft soda made in-house with loose-leaf tea and spices.
6. Good Earth
Snag a table outside Good Earth before or after browsing the big-name designers at the Galleria. A foliage-draped pergola shades you from the sun, and its location above the street provides panoramic views without the noisy hustle and bustle below.
Good Earth is famous for its summertime salads, which celebrate all the local farmers who supply it with fresh bushels of bright tomatoes and other crisp produce. Drink wise, Good Earth offers fresh juices, smoothies and natural shakes, plus beer, cocktails and organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines.
7. CōV Edina
The beautiful, nautical-themed patio at Cōv has quickly become a hot spot thanks to its Nantucket vibe and noteworthy cocktails. It’s the kind of warm and welcoming place where you’ll want to linger for hours on end. The couch surrounding the fire pit is a cozy place for drinks and light bites, as are any of the tables with toasty heat lamps.
As its name (pronounced “cove”) suggests, the restaurant serves seafood. There’s everything from jumbo lump crab cake with Creole mustard and lemon to grilled or fried mahi tacos, sushi, and a satisfying cioppino stew made with North Atlantic lobster, scallops, shrimp, mussels, roasted fennel, and tomato fumet (a robust stock that reveals new layers and notes with every bite).
8. Ciao Bella
A glass of Pinot Grigio and a beet caprese, heirloom-grain or spicy-sweet chopped salad are better enjoyed alfresco at Ciao Bella. Right on the border of Edina and its next-door neighbor, Bloomington, its tight-knit team aims to make your dining experience memorable with handcrafted dishes made with local ingredients. We’re talking about everything from a turkey burger with basil aioli, bibb lettuce, ruby red tomatoes and house-cut fries to a brick-roasted chicken served alongside artichokes, baby carrots, roasted potatoes and a lemon-thyme sauce.
The inviting patio encourages you to savor another glass of wine or a post-dinner espresso, along with such dessert staples as gelato with fresh mint and shortbread cookies, molten chocolate cake, tiramisu, and a signature Limonetta Bella pie crowned with a graham cracker pecan crust, lemon cream cheese filling, candied almonds, a whipped cream and lemon curd topping, and more fresh mint.
9. Pinstripes
You may come to Pinstripes to play bocce and go bowling, but its patio is the star attraction. “It sits right on the edge of Centennial Lakes Park,” says Johnson, “so you can watch people on the park trail and see out over the lake.”
Adirondack chairs surrounding the fire pit are a lively setting for sipping a handcrafted cocktail or beer from the rotating list of local and craft brews. The Italian-American bistro serves classic comfort food like wood-fired pizza, burgers, sandwiches and housemade pasta. It’s the perfect place for a drink or meal during the sun-baked summer kick-off that is the Edina Art Fair, one of the biggest events of its kind in the country.
10. Town Hall Station
A converted gas station is the last stop on our tour of Edina’s top patios. Town Hall Station, a restaurant with its own Minneapolis-brewed beers on tap, has a true community feel.
“It’s a charming little place with great food,” says Johnson. “It’s in a neighborhood, so it’s walkable from a lot of people’s homes.”
You can still see the building’s past, with a sign advertising gas prices and large windows that open, bridging the indoor bar with the outdoor patio. Described as “road food,” the menu revolves around a wide range of burgers (wild rice, Oklahoma smashed, a cheese-stuffed Juicy Lucy), tricked-out tacos (bang bang shrimp, Tennessee hot chicken, fried walleye), and other filling pub fare.
Pair your food with an award-winning Town Hall Brewery beer like the Pitstop Cherry Lager or the Parkway Java Porter for a grade A meal.