After further attempts here’s what I’ve been able to figure out: If the patron has no name or health bar as is the case with the Hyborian Dancer pictured then I can talk to them.
But if they have a name and health bar like Bohdan the Flexible then you cannot interact with them. I cannot be sure, but I think that even though they are showing up as patrons they’re somehow still flagged as enemies, hence the name and health bar.
I currently have 14 patrons in my tavers and only 3 have the [Press E to talk] option none of them have their names and health bars visible on mouseover.