Get Outside: The 10 Best New Toronto Patios

Toronto’s balmy summer nights are too precious to waste on mediocre drinks in a dark, dreary room. Lucky for us, over 100 new patios have opened in the last year, many of them in the downtown core. Rollicking barbecue joints have us sipping bourbon and Pabst at packed picnic tables; secluded Financial District terraces are catering to power-lunchers looking for a snatch of midday sky; and a giant new waterfront swimming hole is luring club kids away from the usual King West haunts. Here, our top ten new patios for open-air eating, dating, schmoozing and kicking back in the city this summer.

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>ORIGIN NORTH</strong></span><br /> The newest outpost of Claudio Aprile’s Origin franchise brings downtown glam uptown. Partitions and designer shrubs shield a pair of spacious patios from the suburban sprawl.<br /><br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> The Origin Crush, a tart blend of orange-infused gin and fresh orange pieces. <br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 140 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Umbrellas and awning<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> No<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 11 p.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> No<br /><br /><br /> <em>Origin North, 2901 Bayview Ave., 416-479-8833</em>

(Image: Igor Yu)

Best New Toronto Patios

Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>ROCK LOBSTER QUEEN</strong></span><br /> The laid-back deck on Queen West is a pastiche of Canadiana: canoe paddles, driftwood, decorative antlers and a giant beaver stenciled on the back wall. Think sea-shanty chic with east-coast comfort food to match.<br /> <br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> The Tromba-Granita, a grown-up slushie made with tequila, Cointreau and house-made orange-cedar bitters.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 80 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> None<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> Yes<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 2 a.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> No<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <em>Rock Lobster Queen, 538 Queen St. W., 416-203-6623</em> <br />

(Image: Renée Suen)

Best New Toronto Patios

Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>ELECTRIC MUD BBQ</strong></span><br /> A rowdy hangout with a clutch of picnic tables, baskets of sticky, peanut-flecked ribs and plenty of cheap bourbon cocktails that pack a serious wallop.<br /><br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> The Big Boi Rootbeer, which, according to co-owner Ian McGrenaghan, “tastes like a root beer but gets you fucked up.”<br /><br /><br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 24 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Umbrellas<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> Yes<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 2 a.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> No<br /><br /><br /> <em>Electric Mud BBQ, 5 Brock Ave., 416-516-8286</em>

(Image: Renée Suen)

Best New Toronto Patios

Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>OSTERIA DEI GANZI</strong></span><br /> Located in the turreted Gooderham mansion, one of Toronto’s oldest buildings, the new osteria serves after-work apertivos and snacks at garden tables tucked behind a manicured hedge.<br /><br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> The Bijou, a mix of gin, sweet vermouth, green chartreuse, bitters and lemon oils.<br /><br /><br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 200 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Umbrellas<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> Yes<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 11 p.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> Yes<br /><br /><br /> <em>Osteria dei Ganzi, 504 Jarvis St, 647-348-6520</em><br />

(Image: Renée Suen)

Best New Toronto Patios

Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>JABISTRO</strong></span><br /> The Financial District’s best sushi restaurant recently opened a Zen-like rooftop patio. Slatted wooden walls block out the city hubbub so that diners can focus on what’s really important: platters of jewel-toned sashimi that are almost too pretty to eat.<br /> <br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> Sake infused with coconut and lemongrass.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 40 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> No<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> No<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 11 p.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> Yes <br /><br /><br /> <em>Jabistro, 222 Richmond St. W., 647-748-0222</em><br />

(Image: Renée Suen)

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Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>GUSTO101</strong></span><br />The auto-garage turned trattoria on King West has a new, Skydome-style retractable roof that makes its popular patio suitable for all-weather lounging.<br /> <br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> The Gusto Bianco on tap is a crisp summertime pinot grigio and only a dollar an ounce.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 90 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Retractable roof<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> No<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 1 a.m. weekends; 11 p.m. Monday-Tuesday; midnight Wednesday-Thursday<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> No<br /><br /><br /> <em>Gusto 101, 101 Portland St., 416-504-9669</em>

(Image: Renée Suen)

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Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>AMSTERDAM BREWHOUSE</strong></span><br /> Amsterdam Brewery’s new giant four-patio extravaganza next to Harbourfront Centre has a killer lake view, hundreds of seats and an encyclopedic selection of beer.<br /> <br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> The Beer in a Bag, a can of beer wrapped in a paper bag and served with a shot of whiskey.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 360 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Awning and umbrellas <br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> West patio only<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> Wednesday to Sunday until midnight; Thursday to Saturday until 2 a.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> No<br /><br /><br /> <em>Amsterdam BrewHouse, 245 Queens Quay W.</em>

(Image: Renée Suen)<br />

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Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>CABANA POOL BAR</strong></span><br /> Charles Khabouth’s outrageous, Miami-style pool and bar has a show-stopping city view, giant hexagonal pool and room for 2,500 frolickers in very little clothing.<br /> <br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> Bottle service inside one of the 12 luxury cabanas.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 800 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Umbrellas and cabanas<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> Yes<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> Weekends until 11 p.m.; weekdays until 8 p.m. <br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> Cabana bottle service only <br /><br /><br /> <br /> <em>Cabana Pool Bar, 11 Polson St.</em>

(Image: Cabana Pool Bar)

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Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>BIG CROW</strong></span><br /> Rose and Sons backyard is like summer camp in the city. There are picnic benches, barbecue and the wait staff holler every time a train rolls by on the nearby CP railway tracks.<br /><br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> Homemade ginger beer from Thomas Lavers in Kensington Market spiked with a shot of whiskey.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong> 60 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Retractable awning<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> Smoking section<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 11 p.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> Yes<br /><br /><br /> <em>Big Crow, 176 Dupont St., 647-748-3287</em>

(Image: Gizelle Lau)

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Best New Toronto Patios

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<span class="font-size: 14pt"><strong>TERRONI YONGE</strong></span><br /> With the regal Summerhill clock tower as a backdrop, the swishy rooftop lounge feels more like a quaint European café than a Rosedale power restaurant.<br /> <br /> <strong>Patio Sipper:</strong> A classic Negroni with gin, Martini Rosso and Campari over ice.<br /><br /> <br /> <strong>Capacity:</strong>150 seats<br /><br /> <strong>Coverage:</strong> Umbrellas and roof<br /><br /> <strong>Smoking:</strong> No<br /><br /> <strong>Curfew:</strong> 11:30 p.m.<br /><br /> <strong>Reservations:</strong> No<br /><br /><br /> <em>Terroni Yonge, 1095 Yonge St., 416-504-1992</em>

(Image: Shaun Merritt)

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Best New Toronto Patios

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