Torontonians endure snow, sleet and SAD for approximately six months a year, sustained by the tender promise that come summer, we’ll be able to gather outside for a cherished Canadian ritual: the patio hang.
The sun’s return is an invitation to peel off a few layers, order a frosty drink and socialize en plein air, and the city offers plenty of opportunities for doing so. From beloved brew pubs and fancy wine bars to prime people-watching perches, here are Toronto’s top patios to grab a bite or a drink in the sunshine.
The Lisbon-inspired escape: Taberna LX
1161 Dundas St. W.
The open-air rooftop terrace of this restaurant that opened last summer is tucked above the bustling corner of Dundas and Ossington in Little Portugal. With a combination of lounge, dining table and high-top bar seating for 44, the Lisbon-inspired restaurant offers its full food and beverage menu on the breezy patio, plus a new weekend lunch menu of Portuguese fare like Bifanas pork sandwiches and a Porto Tonico cocktail that combines white port wine with fizzy tonic water. The Per Se Spritz replaces Aperol with a punchy Portuguese aperitif made from 24 botanicals, including cardamom, orange, Jamaican pepper and hops.
The cutest courtyard: F’Amelia
12 Amelia St.
Tucked away on a side street in the delightful Cabbagetown neighbourhood, F’Amelia’s 32-seat patio is partially covered and has heaters for cool evenings. The cosy restaurant occupies a charming cottage-style home and specializes in Italian cuisine, offering up fresh handmade pasta and bread, risotto, wood-fired pizza and the chef’s daily features including braised rabbit pappardelle and calamari. There’s a daily happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. with $10 glasses of wine, $12 French and espresso martinis, and food deals like mini arancini ($12) and a Margherita pizza ($14).
The coolest hideaway: Paradise Grapevine
841 Bloor St. W.
Blink and you’ll miss the entrance to this cool bar at the corner of Bloor and Shaw near Christie Pitts park. Shaded by 37-year-old grapevines planted by the owner of the Greek restaurant that previously occupied the space, it’s a backyard oasis perfect for sharing a bottle with friends or a date. Open all year (they enclose and heat the patio through the winter), the space seats 100 people inside and out and offers 20 wines by the glass that rotate weekly; there’s a daily happy hour on all wines by the glass and draft beer from 5 to 6 p.m. The retail shop stocks more than 250 bottles including Paradise Grapevine’s own creations.
The most charming Little Italy patio: Contrada
537 College St.
Nestled at the corner of College St. and Euclid Ave. in Little Italy, Contrada has two semi-enclosed, heated patios that seat up to 40. New executive chef Lifni Kalikutty has updated the menu with a refreshed, ingredient-focused approach to Italian cuisine that includes ricotta gnocchi with morels, asparagus and sherry cream; and tagliatelle with white rabbit ragù and stinging nettle. Aperitivo is on offer Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with discounted beer, prosecco and espresso martinis and hearty $5 plates such as dressed olives, crostini, arugula salad, lamb rib and crispy potatoes.
The al fresco tasting menu experience: Sara
98 Portland St.
Sara has not one but two patios, just a stone’s throw from King West. While the 14-seat streetside seating area is cute (it blends right into the row of neighbouring patios alongside Cafe Renée, Little Sister and Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, making for a Euro-inspired al fresco vibe), Sara’s discreet back patio is a must-visit. With 24 seats surrounded by greenery, it’s an intimate spot to take in the restaurant’s new tasting-menu-only experience. The seven-course shared dining adventure blends Asian, Mediterranean and North American cuisine for $115 per person (wine pairings can be added for $60).
The Queen West gem: Henry’s
922 Queen St. W.
The Henry’s backyard patio isn’t just charming, it’s useful: Filled with plant life, including a living canopy over some of the tables, it provides many of the herbs and vegetables the sweet Queen West restaurant uses in its menu. With room for 40, the patio is open for dinner (Tuesday to Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m.) and weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), where menu standouts include the breakfast sandwich and pancakes, plus a rotating bellini and frozen negroni offering. An afternoon charcuterie menu to bridge brunch and dinner will soon be introduced on Saturdays.
The uptown sanctuary: The Miller Tavern
3885 Yonge St.
Nestled within the tranquil, verdant uptown Hogg’s Hollow neighbourhood, The Miller Tavern’s picturesque patio blends into the natural beauty of its surroundings. Accenting a historic Toronto landmark building, this patio has three tiers including a dedicated service bar on the upper level, and promises refined service in a laid-back atmosphere. Up to 120 seated visitors can enjoy daily happy hour deals from 3 to 6 p.m., Buck-a-Shuck Tuesday ($1 oysters) and Wine Down Wednesday where bottles of wine are half off.
The tiny tropical oasis: Bar Etc.
1036 Gerrard St. E.
This groovy backyard space in the east end seats just 20 people for tropical-inspired cocktails and bites. The food menu is made for sharing, with plates like a sea bream crudo with hibiscus, pickled strawberry and jalapeno; and grilled shrimp with coconut lime leaf sauce, coconut choka and pickled bird’s eye chili. Signature cocktails include a blended to order frozen daiquiri made with green mango and curry leaf, and a Tiki of house-made falernum, aged rum blend, pineapple, coconut and house tiki bitter. As of mid-June, half-price bottles of wine are on offer every Wednesday.
The historic, high-end rooftop: Writers Room Bar
4 Avenue Rd. (Park Hyatt Hotel)
The word “iconic” gets tossed around a lot, but this 17th-floor rooftop bar has earned the descriptor. With more than 50 years of history — it was once a gathering place for celebrated Canadian writers and artists — the space in the Park Hyatt has been reimagined. The cocktails are unabashedly fancy but it’s the unobstructed views of the Toronto skyline that will leave you breathless. There’s room for 120 across the indoor and outdoor spaces for indulging in extravagant bites like the new Wagyu Beef Burger ($52) with gruyère, Chianti-braised onions and onion rings, or a “Rare Edition” cocktail such as the Smoke & Boar ($60), a sweet and savoury concoction of Bowmore 18 whiskey, bacon wash, maple, chocolate and walnut bitters and pecan smoke.
The best bougie brunch: Black + Blue Toronto
130 King St. W.
This Toronto steakhouse has a sprawling 2,000-square-foot garden patio with room for 80 seated guests and greenery and white blooms dripping from the ceiling. That means no one’s squished into a booth without enough elbow room to lift their mimosa while ordering from a decadent weekend brunch lineup including a lobster omelette and “banofee” buttermilk pancakes slathered in dulce de leche, brûléed banana, Chantilly cream and toasted coconut. There’s also an impressive happy hour, seven days a week from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., where you can sip dirty martinis for $10 a pop.
The most panoramic views: The Broadview Hotel
106 Broadview Ave.
This rooftop patio is an east-end favourite for a reason: its sweeping 360-degree views of the Toronto skyline and Don River are among the best in the city. Perched high above the buzzing Riverside neighbourhood, it’s walk-in only, seats 80 and offers a lively atmosphere for sunset drinks, weekend brunch or a killer weekday happy hour. From Monday to Friday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there’s $10 house wine and $12 margaritas. The food is Asian-inspired with crowd favourites like fried chicken bao buns with a gochujang glaze, Kewpie mayo, pickled carrots and daikon ($17).
The most interesting wines: Grape Witches
1247 Dundas St. W.
This hidden backyard oasis is easy to miss from the hustle and bustle of Dundas Street West. Bursting with greenery, it has a retro water fountain providing a tranquil soundtrack for your repast. Open from noon daily with room for 55 (including space for kids in strollers and dogs — both welcome!), this patio’s retractable sunshade makes it weatherproof. The focus here is natural wines from around the world, including a by-the-bottle menu of over 350 unique wines not available at the LCBO and a selection of their own wine collabs with Ontario producers like Paradise Grapevine and Khush. There are two rotating wine flights, and lovely plates like charred scallion dip and herby potato salad. Happy hour is weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and includes $13 glasses of wine and 20 per cent off snacks. On Sundays, the $20 corkage fee is waived on any of their bottles.
The lively aperitivo: Bar Allegro
597 College St.
With a large streetside patio at the corner of College and Clinton Streets, Bar Allegro’s lively patio is a primo spot for Little Italy people-watching. Opened by the folks behind Bar Pompette next door, it’s inspired by Italian café and cocktail culture and has space for 50 to enjoy spritzes, martinis and mocktails. A daily happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. offers $12 cocktails and special pricing on some snacks. The small but mighty food menu includes devilled eggs with crispy chili oil and ginger mayo; and mussels in nduja sauce.
The serene secret garden: George
111C Queen St. E.
Creeping ivy, the gentle trickle of a water feature and summer blooms galore — George’s courtyard patio is a lush garden that’s easy to stroll right past. Tucked behind the Michelin-rated restaurant’s dining room, this enclosed courtyard with room for 52 is one of those “if you know you know” spots. It’s the ideal spot to take in the sunset (with sunshades and fans on hand if needed) while enjoying shareable aperitivo plates and cocktails like a tuna tartare with wasabi mayo ($21) and The Florentine drink ($17), a tangy concoction of gin, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, Pama pomegranate liqueur and rhubarb. The restaurant’s full menu, including signature dishes like beef tenderloin with green asparagus and potato pavé, is available on the patio, too.
The buzziest brew pub: Bellwoods Brewery
126 Ossington Ave.
From the first sunny spring day, Bellwoods’ patio has a lineup, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. The cosy street-side space with room for 55 and a mix of dappled sun and shade throughout the day is beloved for its greenery and crawling vines that make it a relaxed respite from Ossington’s energetic pace. Sip on Bellwoods beers or signature Jelly King slushes, and nibble house-made eats from open to close. The food menu changes seasonally; this summer there are crispy tofu lettuce wraps with cabbage slaw, scallions, bibb lettuce and chili oil, and steak frites with charcoal flat iron and chimichurri. A weekday happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., known as Witching Hour, features $7 beers and snacks.
The modern French destination: Parquet
97 Harbord St.
Lined with cedars and framed by mature ginkgo trees, Parquet’s terrace is an elegant extension of its indoor dining room. Retractable charcoal screens filter the late-afternoon sun, making for a comfortable al fresco experience. Up to 46 guests can indulge in fine French fare recognized by the Michelin Guide for three consecutive years since opening in late 2022. The bistro recently launched a new “bouchées” menu including baked Camembert in puff pastry with fig jam, Ontario honey gastrique, walnuts and fried rosemary; and corn croquettes with scallion béchamel, seasonal pickles and Comté. A fresh summer cocktail menu features the Bergamot Spritz with gin, Prosecco, soda and orange, bergamot, apricot and lavender bitters, and the Negroni Vert-Blanc with gin, Strega, dry vermouth, lemon oil and rosemary.
The best for groups: Bandit
2125 Dundas St. W.
This roomy Roncesvalles brewery seats 120 and is growing — it’s expanding into the building next door and hoping to open the extended space by summer’s end. The vibe is casual but elevated, with pub-inspired eats like beer-battered cheese curds with chipotle aioli, locally farmed brisket smash burger on a Mabel’s potato brioche bun and seasonal fresh fish (at press time it was Lake Erie-caught pickerel). With heated floors and retractable glass, the patio can be adjusted to suit the weather, and is a dog-friendly space in the summer.
The cosiest covered patio: Viaggio
1727 Dundas St. W.
In an unassuming but lovely Victorian in Brockton Village, Viggio is a beloved local Italian spot with a side-yard patio that houses a wood-burning pizza oven and full-service bar. The space is covered by large wedding tents and a canopy of trees above. With room for 65, the restaurant’s full menu is available on the patio from 5 to 10 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday. On weekends, happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. includes the full pizza menu, aperitivo snacks like carbonara arancini and a prosciutto and melon plate, and drink specials like $5 craft beers and $12 cocktails and wines by the glass.
The fancy uptown terrace: Auberge du Pommier
4150 Yonge St.
A cheap pint on a patio is a classic but you know what else is fun al fresco? A gorgeous French degustation on an elegant patio in North York. Auberge du Pommier’s covered garden terrace has French countryside charm and seats 54 guests. The restaurant’s recently refreshed tasting menu ($185 per person) includes six exquisite courses (not including canapés and petit fours) such as crudo de daurade with Japanese sea bream, rhubarb, lime leaf, verbena and watermelon and canard with strawberry, beet, wild rice, sumac and sesame. Santé!
The hottest pizza on a patio: Pizzeria Badiali Markham St.
581 Markham St.
Badiali’s second location offers tons more seating than its original spot on Dovercourt that has a near-constant lineup around the block. The new Annex spot, which occupies a restored red brick corner building in the vibrant Mirvish Village development, has 30 indoor seats and many more on its front and side patios. Expect to find the pies and dips you know and love along with a few upgrades including Peroni, Aperol spritz and wine on tap, and the Grandma Pie, a special thin-crust, square-shaped pizza available exclusively at this location.
