The Night Shift: Toronto’s favourite patios

The patio. Nothing is more synonymous with summer in the city. Heres a collection of Torontos favourites.

You know that saying about how house parties always end up in the kitchen? Well, all of Torontos best parties between June and September end up outside. On Saturday night, for example, my friend and her neighbours overtook the roof of a Sobeys, because on a warm night, you wouldnt dare want to be anywhere but under the skies. Yup, just say the word and youll notice patios are now selling points: youd get dizzy at the number of patio opening parties that have become actual occasions. And I dont just mean people being cute with their backyards. (I was even invited to something actually dubbed a partyio, or patio party.)

Since all the days and alfresco nights are permanently glued together now, lets see if I can remember all the new additions everyones been talking about and/or drinking for free at. First there was the opening of DEQ, the Ritz-Carltons opulentyet somehow underwhelminghalf indoor/half outdoor space. Its fine, and there are fire pits, but it stops being expansive just as you realize it overlooks, I believe, the back of another building. (But the amazing hand-shaken minimalist daiquiri is like chloroform, so youll forget.) And Italian restaurant Piola opened a sorely-needed front sidewalk patio on West Queen West, just shy of Dufferin, creating a feel someone described to me as a taste of Little Italy without the obnoxious. The Thompson Hotel also re-unveiled its rooftop pool space, slightly re-designed with new finishes and, look, more fire. (I also get confused when people bitch that its so exclusive. I think its pitch perfect for Toronto views on any non-weekend day because everyones at work. Just elevator up.) Then Grand Electrics patio opened (yay!) and it looks so cute and side-of-the-road taco stand-ish, but I still see people waiting in line. Tomorrow night, Yorkville-adjacent Malna Restaurant at Avenue and Davenport will open its 14-seat outdoor space, too, andsurprisingly and welcomingly way-off-trendwill take reservations! (Protip: thats just in time for Summerlicious, and the restaurant is participating.)

And last Friday, the Drake Hotel celebrated the opening of its newest summer theme, the carnival-meets-amusement park Drakeland. The Hotel is continuing its tradition of transformation hot off the sizzling successes of last years Summer School and, before that, their first instalment of the seasonal series with Camp Drake. I remember when the buildings Sky Yard was as good as it got for rooftop bliss. Now, weve got healthy competition and more than enough favourites to go around. And I think back to mine: weekends with board games (fine, Scrabble) and half-price wine at The Roxton (379 Harbord Street), Tuesday afternoons hiding at La Hacienda (640 Queen Street West) with those lick-your-fingers nachos, or the ridiculously legit tapas in the velvet night at Julies Cuban (202 Dovercourt Road). Or The Done Right Inn.(Thought: why arent there any rooftop patios that host actual dance parties? We cant be that lame with noise laws.)So, in the spirit of the season and because I am so sick of Best Of lists, I once again surveyed some of Torontos social-est butterflies for a quick compilation favourite outdoor spots worth a trip this summer. And yes, lets have some fun and compare by adding your own recommendations below and comparinglike, maybe, some spots in the east end?

Easy Question. Bairrada (1000 College Street). The back patio is a hidden gem; I almost dont even want to tell the people about it. Its all picnic benches, the food is to die for, the sangria is cheap and if youre down for Euro Cup they have screens for the games. Hands down my favourite patio in Toronto. A close second is probably still the Green Roomalthough, is that place still open? Stefania Yarhi, photographer of the stylish and woman behind Textstyles.ca. (And, yes, according to a Yelp review from May 2012, the Green Room is still poppin.)

I met my guy on the Teatro (505 College Street) patio (well, at the bar technically) so its always been a favourite of mine. Tati Bistro (124 Harbord Street) feels like a treehouse in the very best way. And the Toronto Island Cafthe most idyllic spot in Torontojust got a liquor license so the good just got even better. Alison Lawler-Dean, senior PR manager, Joe Fresh

The Gem Bar & Grill(1159 Davenport Road) is my favourite patio by far. I am a bit biased because its mere blocks from me, but despite my clear subjectivity, its beautiful at night and offers patrons a secluded space adorned with multi-coloured LED lights. (Plus, theres tons of loud-mouth conversations, making for hilarious, overheard, out-of -context scenarios.) Navi Lamba, social media at GCI Canada, and a bystander to last weeks MMVA meltdown

Read the original:
The Night Shift: Toronto’s favourite patios