When it comes to the best restaurants in Toronto for patio days, there are two kinds of people: the ones who just want cheap eats and beers in the sun, and those who want luxury even in 35-degree weather. I fall firmly into both categories depending on the day, so this list covers both.
After surviving what seems like another endless winter in the city, most people have no interest in eating indoors anymore. Give us sunshine or give us death! We're here for spritzes, people-watching, and the best bites.
If you're planning your summer dining bucket list based around the outdoor seating arrangement, these are the Toronto patios I'd book again and again.
#1. Contrada
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian-Canadian
Address: 537 College St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Little Italy is patio heaven in the summer, but Contrada makes it even better. Its two semi-enclosed heated patios mean you're not gambling on unpredictable Toronto weather, and the atmosphere is always lively with an upscale twist.
The chef recently revamped the menu with summer weather in mind, so it pairs perfectly with the restaurant's Italian wine program (and hot summer weather).
Think fresh, light, and delicious.
#2. Mercatto Centrale
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 230 Missinnihe Way, Mississauga, ON
Why You Need To Go: While technically this one isn't in Toronto, I don't actually care because it's worth every minute of the drive.
Mercatto Centrale, a sister restaurant to multiple Mercatto locations scattered across the city, sits right on the Port Credit waterfront and feels like you've escaped to a lakeside vacation town rather than the GTA. The patio views are gorgeous, the breeze, because you're by the water, would be incredible on a day like today, and the food is consistently exceptional.
#3. SARA
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Contemporary
Address: 98 Portland St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: SARA is for our friends who want it done right. The friend who knows luxury and elevation and manages to stay elegant and composed even in the face of a heat wave.
SARA offers two completely different patio experiences to suit your mood, so even your pickiest friend will like at least one of them. The front patio opens onto one of Portland's liveliest stretches of street, making it ideal if you want to bask in the city's energy.
But the hidden rear patio is where the magic happens. Surrounded by greenery, it feels like an intimate garden tucked away from King West.
Pair the patio with the restaurant's seven-course tasting menu, and you've got one of the best date-night patios in the city.
#4. DaNico
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Fine-dining
Address: 440 College St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: DaNico already had one of the best fine-dining experiences in Toronto, but their new Luna patio gives people another reason to visit.
The covered patio focuses on cocktails, aperitivi, and shareable plates. It gives you the chance to be sophisticated without being snooty or rigid. It's one of the easiest luxury patios to enjoy, even if you're just stopping in for a drink.
#5. The Drake
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Contemporary
Address: 1150 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Drake gives you the chance to patio crawl without actually leaving the building.
You can grab a drink at the Cafe Patio before heading upstairs to Sky Yard, one of Toronto's most iconic rooftop spaces. With rooftop views, DJs, a live-fire grill, a photo booth, and a constantly updated atmosphere, you could spend an evening here without ever feeling like you've done it all.
#6. Pennies
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Comfort food
Address: 127 Strachan Ave., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Not every patio needs to be fancy, and Pennies is proof of that. Pennies is one of the most popular patios in the city.
Known for its iconic yellow patio, Pennies has easily won over my heart. As a natural contrarian, we all know I normally dislike all that is popular, but I have to give flowers where they're due. It's exactly what you want on a hot afternoon: picnic tables, umbrellas, burgers, garlic fried chicken, chopped cheese sandwiches, crispy tater tots, and affordable drinks.
It's loud, it's got a punch, and it always feels like someone at the next table is having the time of their life.
#7. Grape Witches
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Wine bar
Address: 1247 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: If someone told me this patio was hidden behind a wine shop in Europe, I'd believe them.
You walk through the bottle shop before entering the secluded backyard complete with string lights, a fountain and colour. For days like today, when I'm mourning the dream of a euro girl summer, this dreamy backyard patio steps in to save the day.
#8. Paris Paris
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Contemporary French
Address: 146 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: I'm about to sound very Toronto when I say this, but there's nothing like Ossington in the summer. Ossington in the summer makes me want to cancel all my plans, call in sick to work, and spend the day outside with a nice cold bev.
Paris Paris has a big patio — and I mean large enough to host a small wedding (I've seen it). The menu leans French without feeling formally French.
Lively without feeling too young. Elevated without being boring.
#9. Bar Allegro
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Aperitivo
Address: 597 College St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: People-watching doesn't get better than this.
Bar Allegro's covered patio (for pale people like me avoiding the sun) sits right on busy College Street (did I not say Little Italy is the best?), so there's always something happening while you sip your beverage.
The menu is snack-forward in the best way. With everything from mussels with nduja to cheese plates and bone marrow.
Even the looming threat of rain can't ruin this patio.
#10. Allen's
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Gastropub
Address: 143 Danforth Ave., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: I don't think enough people in this city know about Allen's, more specifically, Allen's backyard patio.
It has to be one of the prettiest outdoor dining spaces in the city, with an enormous weeping willow tree growing right in the middle of the seating area. Benches wrap around the trunk, chalkboards line the wall with menus, and there's even a charcoal grill cooking outside in the summer.
It feels like a countryside beer garden, but it's steps away from Broadview Station.
#11. Queen's Harbour
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Seafood & Contemporary
Address: 245 Queens Quay W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: If you're from Toronto but you're obsessed with Miami, this is the spot for you. Queen's Harbour is massive, glamorous and truly impossible to ignore, even if you tried.
Between its two patios, retractable roof and waterfront location, it's one of the city's biggest summer destinations. Whether you're stopping by for a few cocktails or splurging on an outrageous seafood tower, it's hard not to behave like you're on vacation here.
#12. Taberna LX
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Portuguese
Address: 1161 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Toronto doesn't have many rooftop patios quite like this one.
Perched atop Dundas West, Taberna LX serves up Portuguese classics on a rooftop. It's the closest I've been to Lisboa since I visited in 2024. Whether you're sharing salt cod fritters or asking for some vinho verde, you're instantly transported.
Toronto has no shortage of patios, but these are the ones I find myself wanting to return to over and over again. Some are hidden gems or waterfront favourites, but really, what they all have in common is the way they remind me why patio season is my favourite season of the year.
Get outside, ladies.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.