Dog Friendly Patios in Minneapolis for Short Summers

Dog friendly patios in Minneapolis are a seasonal pleasure: the patio season runs from the first warm weekend in spring to the first hard frost, and the city fills with people eating outside as if the winter had never happened. With a dog, the question is not only where there is a table, but where the staff will welcome the animal.

Rules differ by place and change by the season, so here is how to find, judge and rate a patio that welcomes your dog.

How do you find dog friendly patios in Minneapolis?

Start with the tags. Dog-Friendly and Outdoor seating are stored tags that raters add when a place welcomed a dog or had tables outside, and a diner can look for them in the Find sheet. A tag is one person's note, not a promise, so use it to build a shortlist and then confirm by looking at the place's own page or calling.

Then walk. The best patios announce themselves with a water bowl at the door.

Fences help. A patio with a low rail between the tables and the sidewalk keeps a dog from wandering, and a corner table keeps it out of the main traffic. Ask to be seated there, and say politely that you have a dog when you arrive, rather than after you sit.

What does the Dog-Friendly tag Minneapolis diners use really tell you?

That at least one person had a good experience with a dog at that place. It does not tell you the rules for every table, whether the patio is fenced or whether the staff will serve a large dog on a busy night. Read the other tags, and look for notes such as "water bowl", "shaded" or "quiet".

If you add the tag yourself, describe what happened. A line such as "bowl at the door, corner table, staff friendly" is worth more than the tag alone.

How short is patio season in Minneapolis?

Short and precious. A reliable patio season begins in May and ends around early October, with the best days in June, July and August. Spring and fall evenings can turn cold quickly, and a warm lunch can become a cold dinner. Many patios open and close with the weather rather than the calendar, so check the day.

Plan for shade in July and a blanket in October. A dog on a hot pavement is a problem you can avoid.

On the hottest afternoons, eat early or late and let the dog rest at home. The ground in the sun can burn paws, and a dog that pants through lunch is not enjoying it. Spring mud and fall leaves bring their own mess, so keep a towel in the car.

Where are dogs on brewery patios welcome?

Taprooms and brewpubs with outdoor space are among the most dog-friendly places in the city, because the setting is relaxed and tables are wide. The breweries with food guide explains how to find the ones with a kitchen or a truck. Ask before you sit, keep the leash short and take your dog home if it is tired or restless.

A busy patio on a Saturday afternoon is not the best place to train a nervous dog.

What is a good lake walk and lunch with a dog?

Minneapolis has a chain of lakes with paved paths, and the walk around one of them is a good way to tire a dog and open an appetite. Plan the loop first and eat afterward, so the dog is calm at the table. The Uptown guide and the Linden Hills guide cover neighborhoods beside the lakes.

Carry water for the dog, a bag for cleanup and a towel in case of mud.

What are the manners at a dog friendly table?

Keep the dog on a short leash and under the table or beside your chair. Do not let it greet other diners or beg. Bring a chew toy or a mat. If the dog barks, take it for a walk. A patio that welcomes dogs does so on trust, and one bad afternoon can change its policy.

Tip well if the staff were kind about the dog.

A small courtesy goes a long way: clean up after the animal before you leave, wipe the table if it dripped and thank the person who brought the water. Places that welcome dogs are doing a favor to their customers, and every good visit keeps the door open for the next owner.

How do you rate a patio for the next dog owner?

Rate the food first, and then add what a dog owner needs to know. Was there a bowl, shade, space between tables, a gate or a fence? Was the staff relaxed? Was it too busy for a nervous dog? Tag the place Dog-Friendly or Outdoor seating if it fits.

Keep a list called Patios for dogs, sorted by neighborhood, and a friend with a new puppy will thank you.

More in the US food guides.

Open the Mosey app on your next warm afternoon, rate the dish, add the Dog-Friendly tag and save the patio to a list for other dog owners.