Patio season in Toronto is finally here. And although the patio at Bellwoods Brewery Brewpub has been packed since the first day of the year when temperatures climbed above 10 C, it’s finally warm enough for the rest of us to sit on a patio without getting the endorphin rush of a cold-plunge.
One of the few beautiful things to come out of the global pandemic, the legacy of the CaféTO Program has given some of the best restaurants in Toronto the opportunity to sequester some of the sidewalk, or even the road, for makeshift, temporary Toronto patios. But while we love that some of the top drinking dens in Toronto now have a street-side patio option, those aren’t the patios on this list. Instead of rounding up every patio in the city that we like, we’ve narrowed it down to the absolute best patios in the city.
These are the Toronto patios worth planning a whole weekend around. They’re the ones we cross our fingers will be participating in Summerlicious, so we can cross them off our summer bucket list at a discounted price. These are the Toronto patios that rival some of the city’s most romantic restaurants with their charm and ambience. Whether for a sun-soaked brunch or lunch, a cold drink at sunset, a full-blown dinner al fresco or a late-night dance party under the stars, these are the best patios in Toronto that you must visit this summer.
18 of the best patios in Toronto for summer 2026
1. Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington Ave.
Maybe it’s just our imagination (or wishful thinking), but it seems like every year the iconic Bellwoods Brewery Brewpub stretches out a little more on Ossington. Recently, they expanded their casual, white-picket-fenced Toronto patio into the space in front of the bottle shop, giving guests even more room to sip rotating fruit-forward flavours of on-draught Jelly Kings in the sunshine. You can easily have lunch or dinner here too, with a menu that runs from roasted maple carrots and fried chicken to chopped salad and a deluxe burger topped with raclette.
2. Henry’s
922 Queen St. W.
This casual fine dining restaurant and wine bar on West Queen West is romantic at any time of year, but its back-garden patio really sets the mood. Far from the skyscrapers of downtown, shrouded in greenery and bistro lights, and backing onto a residential laneway, this Toronto patio feels like dining in a very well-off friend’s backyard. The wine list is impeccable and the globally inspired dishes always surprise us with something unexpected and delicious.
3. Bar Pompette
607 College St.
Few Toronto patios can rival the charm of this enchanting back garden space, and even fewer Toronto bars can stand toe-to-toe with this award-winning spot that just landed at number eight on North America’s 50 Best Bars. If you can snag a seat under the big trees and the bistro lights as the sun goes down, we guarantee your date will be impressed. The food menu is light, but there are a handful of snacks if you’re peckish. Otherwise, sip on the complex creations made with fresh ingredients and bask in the ephemeral nature of Toronto summers.
4. Pennies
Multiple locations
Some of the best things in life come in the simplest packages and that’s exactly the case at Pennies. Both the shiny new location on College Street and the… well-loved location on Strachan Avenue have large wrap-around patios loaded with picnic tables set against the backdrop of the bar’s bright yellow façade.
The food and drinks are just as (cheap and) cheerful. Slushies are cold (and boozy if you like); cocktails are simple; the list of beer, wine and cider is short; and the baskets of tater tots come piled high. Add on sliders and tacos — including vegetarian and vegan options — or boatloads of free popcorn, and you can while away an entire afternoon.
5. Harriet’s Rooftop
550 Wellington St. W. Suite C
High above the city on the rooftop of 1 Hotel Toronto, Harriet’s is a year-round, late-night Toronto patio destination. Dine on Japanese-inspired dishes from chicken karaage and tempura to sushi rolls, alongside seafood platters in the plush atmosphere. Then, listen to live DJ house beats as the glow from the surrounding skyscrapers lights up the night sky. With a retractable roof and glass panels, the greenery-clad patio can be enjoyed anytime, in any weather, without risking the gorgeous outfit you picked out just for this occasion.
6. Waterworks Food Hall
50 Brant St.
Did someone say patios and dogs? Waterworks Food Hall is so welcoming to four-legged friends that guests at the 55,000-square-foot space can not only enjoy cocktails and natural wine outdoors, but also peruse the artisan vendors inside. Choose from three gorgeous spaces, including the Grape Witches’ Secret Courtyard at the Adelaide Street West entrance and the mural-clad Civil Works patio, which seats 100 people and faces Brant Street. Sip summer specials — like piña coladas served inside flaming pineapples and other frozen tipples — while your dog sniffs out a new best friend.
7. Osteria Alba
665 College St.
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Replacing a long-standing Italian restaurant on College, the opening of Osteria Alba was met with big expectations from Little Italy — and we must say, it delivers. Grilled calamari smacks of freshness, and rigatoni alla vodka hits all the right spicy, saucy notes, while cocktails are spritz-y and refreshing. The only thing more exciting than the food and drink are the two patios: a large, enclosed space beside the restaurant and a covered rooftop terrace.
8. Bar Allegro
597 College St.
The cool new kid sister to Bar Pompette, located just a few doors down, Bar Allegro has already charmed us with its ever-so-sippable, booze-forward cocktails and bar bites backed by plenty of depth.
In its former life as Vinoteca Pompette, the covered side patio was wrapped in greenery and always abuzz, so we have high hopes for spending long evenings lingering and imagining we’re summering in Europe. Plus, the large floor-to-ceiling windows open right up, connecting the indoors and the outdoors, so there’s no bad seat in the house.
10. Pizzeria Badiali
581 Markham St.
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Our chances of snagging a slice from the enduringly popular Pizzeria Badiali just increased substantially with the arrival of the brand’s second location, opening on Markham Street in Mirvish Village. Set inside a restored redbrick building — the former home of Victory Cafe — the iconic Toronto pie institution features a few fun upgrades at its new outpost. The 1,400-square-foot space, designed by Futurestudio, seats 30 indoors and boasts front and side patios perfect for sipping Aperol spritzes and wine on tap while trying Grandma-style pizzas exclusive to this location.
11. Riley's Fish & Steak
155 Wellington St. W.
Toronto’s glitziest opening of the season is also set to launch a 100-person patio this June. Riley's Fish & Steak, the sister restaurant to Black + Blue Steakhouse, opened this spring, bringing seafood towers and live music to the space formerly occupied by The Shore Club.
12. George Restaurant
111C Queen St. E.
This Michelin-recommended spot on Queen Street East is frequently featured on best fine dining lists across the city, but not everyone knows that it’s also home to one of the city’s most charming patios. The courtyard will open up this summer with a dedicated menu of aperitivo-style dishes and shareable plates from chef Lorenzo Loseto, designed to be enjoyed in the serene al fresco space. The historic enclosed courtyard features water elements, sunshades, fans and umbrellas, while lush ivy creeps over the original stonework, adding to the sense of tranquillity in the heart of the city.
13. Baro
485 King St. W.
This rain or shine rooftop, fully covered and enclosed in sliding glass panels, guarantees a patio day (or night) regardless of how fickle the weather might be. High above King West, on the fourth floor of Baro, lush greenery, light wood and rattan lay out the breezy summer vibe. Drinks lean tropical, with tequila well-represented, and the menu runs from ceviche and cold plates to all manner of grilled meat and seafood, all with Latin flare.
14. Foxley
207 Ossington Ave.
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This unassuming restaurant on the Ossington strip flies relatively under the radar with a hidden gem of a back patio. Encircled by climbing vines and hanging lights, it’s a charming, casual setting for delicious pan-Asian share plates and a bottle of wine or sake.
15. Taberna Lx
1161 Dundas St. W.
A win for Little Portugal, Taberna Lx opened last year serving what it describes as a love letter to the southern European country through modern takes on the classics and an all-Portuguese wine list. Open this summer, the rooftop patio is yet another win for the neighbourhood. High above the busy street, the tranquil patio features a beautiful line work mural of the Arco da Rua Augusta in Lisbon and other symbols of Portuguese culture, setting the tropical scene.
16. Drake Skyard
1150 Queen St. W.
A legendary Toronto patio if ever there was one, The Drake Sky Yard is an institution. In the daytime, it’s a sun-soaked getaway above West Queen West for spritzes and sushi. At night when the DJs come on, it’s a lively patio party where locals and hotel guests mingle into the early morning.
17. Chotto Matte
161 Bay St.
A wall of greenery hides this lush Toronto patio away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Recessed from street level and tucked behind towering palm fronds, you would never know you’re dining right at Bay and Front Street. Once you’re settled in, the flavourful Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) cuisine takes centre stage, with supporting roles from the cocktail menu.
18. Bar Reyna
158 Cumberland St.
When Bar Reyna reopened after a six-month hiatus last year, it wasn’t just the interior that got a makeover. Nicki Laborie gave every inch of her Yorkville staple a spruce, including the year-round patio, which has been decked out in romantic pastel shades of teal, green and pink that cajole you into making hay while the sun shines. Nibble classic dishes like the Lamb Baklava and the Lebanese Taco while sipping signature cocktails beneath the twinkling light and foliage.
