Ten of the city’s best covered patios for rainy summer days
Don’t let wet weather ruin your plans
In usual Toronto fashion, a wet and wintry spring led straight into a stinking-hot summer. But the rain is (apparently) making a triumphant return—which is pretty rude, because now we’ve had a taste of sweet, sweet patio weather. It’s one thing for a restaurant to put up some umbrellas, but those are useless in anything worse than a sun shower. So we rounded up some of our favourite spots with actual covered patios, perfect for riding out storms with a beverage or three. Save this list for when rain threatens to ruin your patio plans this summer.
Related: Toronto’s best new patios to sit on this summer
Contrada
537 College St., contradarestaurant.com
Stepping into this Italian spot feels like entering the home of someone’s very chic nonna, and the streetside patio is well-equipped to protect you from the elements while you sip on something spritzy or a glass of chilled chianti.
What to order: The ricotta gnocchi, the whole sea bream and a side of crispy potatoes.
What to drink: The Contrada Spritz, a bubbly and fruity blend of skin-contact wine, Cocchi Rosa, aquavit, sumac, pomegranate and prosecco—and it’s only $10 during the restaurant’s aperitivo hour, Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bar Piquette
1084 Queen St. W., barpiquette.com
Anyone who’s ever been to Paris knows that un peu de pluie won’t stop the French from dining outside. Bar Piquette offers a trip to the 11th arrondissement, albeit with a little inclement-weather insurance. Their covered garden patio is stunning and even has heating units, just in case it gets nippy.
What to order: Their famous mortadella bun and smoked trout dip.
What to drink: Discounted glasses of wine during the bar’s cinq à sept.
Low Bar
1426 Bloor St. W., lowbar.ca
When the odds of rain are high, we go low. This quaint and quirky bar is a favourite of west-enders looking for something low key. The back patio isn’t glamorous, but it is nicely covered, and there’s even a monthly zine you can read while you’re curled up on the couch with some free popcorn.
What to order: A pickled egg—a high-protein snack for just $3.
What to drink: A pint of the house lager, which is a buck off during happy hour.
Related: Ten Italian restaurants in Toronto with the best aperitivo hours
Baro
485 King St. W., barotoronto.com
Baro takes patio dining to another level—literally, because it’s on the rooftop. The covered space has views for days, a dedicated bar and its own outdoor grill for a special patio menu. There’s no shortage of seating, but we’d still recommend making a reservation.
What to order: Street corn and the newly launched Big Ass Board (a $290 splurge platter loaded with bone-in rib-eye, lamb anticuchos, chicken, octopus and veggies) for two to four hungry people.
What to drink: The Coco Loco, a piña colada–like cocktail served in a coconut shell.
Bar Reyna
158 Cumberland St., barreyna.com
Travel through the flavours of the Mediterranean without leaving the comfort of the back patio of this Yorkville Victorian, decorated with glowing twinkle lights, soft wood finishes and cozy seating.
What to order: A snacky selection of the bar’s hits, like the lamb baklava, the falafel bites and the signature Reyna fries.
What to drink: $10 bubbles, wine and spritzes from 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.
Brasserie Côte
400 Bloor St. W., brasseriecote.ca
This new Parisian bistro in the Annex, the French sister restaurant to Union and Côte de Bœuf, is the definition of cozy-chic. It’s already one of the neighbourhood’s most happening spots—thankfully, a sizable streetside (and covered) patio is now open to accommodate the masses.
What to order: There’s a rotating monthly menu, so try something new each time. When in doubt, get the steak frites.
What to drink: A bottle of something French for the table—even if it’s a table for one.
La Paella
1146 Queen St. E., lapaella.ca
What could be more summer-coded than a trip to Spain—and if that’s not in the cards, there’s La Paella. Enjoy a trip to the Costa del Sol (even if there’s no sol) without leaving Toronto with a visit to its heavily covered patio.
What to order: Paella (duh), but specifically the paella de mariscos.
What to drink: A whole litre of sangria—you won’t regret it (until the next morning, perhaps).
Related: Toronto’s best oyster deals
Bandit Brewery
2125 Dundas St. W., banditbrewery.ca
Rain or shine, snow or sleet, Bandit Brewery’s covered patio has you, well, covered. Its street-facing glass enclosure has picnic tables, real trees and plenty of pints. The best part: if the rain stops, that roof is retractable.
What to order: Beer-battered cheese curds and their signature smash burger with truffle fries.
What to drink: The Yoyo smoothie sour, made with real raspberries and pink guava for a splash of summer.
Bar Raval
505 College St., thisisbarraval.com
Little Italy’s perfect pintxos bar is one of the coziest spots to hunker down when the weather is less than soleado. The covered patio offers bar seating and barrel tables for standing while sipping.
What to order: Kitchen bread (always), grilled octopus and Basque cheesecake.
What to drink: The Crepo Francesco, the bar’s more interesting take on the ubiquitous espresso martini, made with Sam James espresso, Chambord, Grand Marnier, Fernet-Branca and house coffee liqueur.
Blueblood Steakhouse
1 Austin Terrace, bluebloodsteakhouse.com
This swanky steakhouse at Casa Loma has individual pods where you can enjoy dinner under the sun, under the stars or during a rain storm—either way, your expensive Louboutin pumps won’t get damaged.
What to order: You’re at a castle, so go big with caviar service and the Australian lamb rack.
What to drink: Pop a bottle of Dom Perignon while you’re at it.
Dylan Muñoz is a writer and recipe developer based in Toronto (and sometimes France). His work covers food, design and travel. Muñoz has written for Food Network Canada, CBC Life, Designlines, the Toronto Star, Fashion magazine and more. You can find him at @dylanmakes on Instagram or sunbathing somewhere in Mallorca.
