It’s finally here; after a seemingly endless and cold winter, patio season has officially kicked off in Toronto. Naturally, long-time staple Toronto patios are back in business (i.e. Hemingway’s, The Black Bull, and ONE Restaurant); but they’re also joined by many new additions across the city that have recently opened up shop. From Midtown to Entertainment District, these are 14 of the best new Toronto patios for breezy outdoor wining and dining this summer.
New Toronto Patios To Check Out This Summer
1. Oretta Midtown
Modern day Italian hotspot, Oretta, opened a midtown location in February 2022. Located on Yonge Street just south of Eglinton Avenue, the sprawling new 200-seat restaurant occupies real estate at the bottom of the Art Shoppe condos. Like the bustling King Street location, Oretta Midtown features a chic art deco-inspired design, an open-concept kitchen, and all of the comforting goodness from southern Italy that your hungry heart could desire. A large bar at the front of the space offers an upbeat vibe for a cocktail and snack (and, perhaps, a chat with a stranger). Find more info here.
2. Il Patio di Eataly with Aperol
Eataly Toronto’s Il Patio di Eataly with Aperol has expanded this year to include a new second, entirely separate patio space on Bloor Street with a focus on walk-in drink service. This complements the Bay Street space that has been around for a few years and focuses on both sit-down dining and drinks. The perfect spot to bookend a day of shopping in the surrounding Yorkville neighbourhood or dining at Eataly, the new patio serves up classic cocktails (like the Aperol Spritz, naturally), Italian wine, and craft beer street-side a la Italy. Find more info here.
3. Soluna
While it has yet to officially open its doors (but is very close to doing so), Soluna is already the talk of the town among Toronto’s in-the-know set. Taking over prime (and, some would argue, iconic) real estate on Queen Street, Soluna – the former location of Ultra Supper Club and Cube (oh, the memories) – will provide a lush and scene-y urban oasis this summer. The spot will offer a day-to-night experience and a bohemian-inspired vibe. A laid-back, share-style menu will take inspiration from Latin America, South East Asia, and the Mediterranean. Craft cocktails, music, and live performances will complement the dining experience. Find more info here.
4. Harriet’s Toronto
Last summer,1 Hotel breathed new, sustainable life into the former Thompson Toronto. With it came the view-filled see-and-be-seen spot, Harriet’s Toronto. The rooftop restaurant is filled with chic sustainably reclaimed décor, ample greenery, and a sleek new bar along the north wall. The upscale Japanese restaurant and party spot features an open concept sushi bar, expertly made cocktails, and tailored poolside bottle service rituals. With low-key live music and nightly DJs, this Harriet’s has become a quick go-to for local tastemakers. Find more info here.
5. EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace
At the Ritz-Carton Toronto, EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace opened in September 2021 and is new to the city’s summer patio scene this year. Those looking for a lush and elevated – bit still upbeat and unstuffy – outdoor dining experience will find it here on the dreamy terrace. Here, you can expect expertly crafted cocktails (that are well worth every penny of their steep price tag), and a menu full of reimagined traditional British gastrobar dishes of the 90s gastrobar movement. Find more info here.
6. MARKED Restaurant
In the thick of the pandemic, MARKED Restaurant opened its doors in Toronto’s Entertainment District and has had a relatively low profile despite the crave-worthy fare cooked within its walls. Perfect for a meal pre or post-movie at Scotiabank Cinema or YukYuks show, the sprawling and high-energy spot features a large patio on John Street. The restaurant serves up a memorable South American-inspired menu (word of advice: order a burrata, ceviche, or carpaccio to start for the table), with an emphasis on natural wood-fire cooking. Find more info here.
7. Ration: Beverley
Located in Queen Street’s Beverley Hotel, Ration Food Lab’s Ration: Beverley does things refreshingly different. With roots as a takeout concept during the pandemic, Ration Food Lab opened its doors to in-house diners this past winter. The zero-waste dining experience at Ration: Beverley includes a frequently-changing six-course tasting menu that reflects contemporary Canadian cuisine and features an abundance of foraged ingredients. In the summer months, the star of the show here (aside from the food) is the 70-seat rooftop patio. Find more info here.
8. Bar Pompette
Little Italy got another new addition last summer with the arrival of Bar Pompette, sister spot to the celebrated French restaurant, Pompette. With an intimate back patio and laidback vibe, Bar Pompette offers a rotating selection of wine, cocktails, coffee, and small plates. Guests of Bar Pompette can expect a French café feel by day, complete with pasties and baguettes. By night, the spot serves up small and sharable snack plates to enjoy with drinks. Find more info here.
9. Toronto Beach Club
Aside from the sun-kissed sand and boardwalk, Toronto’s sophisticated set of diners and partyers have another reason to hit Woodbine Beach as of late, with the arrival of Toronto Beach Club. Located steps away from the breezy boardwalk, the anticipated spot opened for business last summer and features a large outdoor patio, where stylish guests enjoy flowing cocktails and champagne and a Mediterranean-inspired menu filled with seafood and grilled meats. By late in the evening, this place offers more of a party atmosphere, complete with DJs. Find more info here.
10. Vela Toronto
Vela Toronto gave King West revelers a sophisticated new wining and dining hotspot when it opened its doors last summer. Helmed by the city’s culinary fixtures Amanda Bradley (Alo) and Robin Goodfellow (Bar Raval), Vela is inspired by the golden era of hotel lobbies. It offers creative takes on classic American dishes and is also known for its expertly made cocktails. The sprawling restaurant features a large street side patio with no shortage of greenery (or opportunities for people watching). Find more info here.
11. Writers Room Bar Terrace
After closing its doors in 2017 for an extensive renovation, Yorkville’s iconic Park Hyatt Toronto re-opened in September 2021 with a whole new look. This includes a revamp of the equally as iconic Writers Room Bar; a romantic 17th-floor cocktail lounge with a large terrace that offers sweeping south-facing views of the city. While its look has changed a little, guests can expect the same somewhat mysterious vibe to the storied spot, as well as hand-crafted cocktails and a menu of elevated bar bites. Find more info here.
12. Port Light
Those with a soft spot for themes and relaxed cocktail-sipping will appreciate Port Light, a pandemic era addition to Bloor West’s bar scene. Offering all the tropical vacation vibes you were missing all winter, this nautical-themed bar is complete with a tiki bar cocktail takeout window. Guests can expect colourful (and boozy) cocktails, a small but spot-hitting food menu, and an eclectic assortment of tropical and nautical decor. Find more info here.
13. Zitto Zitto Taverna
Last summer Little Italy got a comforting new Sicilian-inspired wining and dining spot when Zitto Zitto Taverna opened its doors. Owned by culinary powerhouse couple Anita Mancuso and Alan Thomson (who have owned the restaurant Sotto Voce Wine and Pasta Bar next door for years), the restaurant leans heavily into the grill and seafood. The outdoor breezy back patio offers the perfect summertime spot for channeling all the Italy vibes. Find more info here.
14. Stock T.C
Midtown’s new(ish) addition Stock T.C combines three beloved Toronto food brands; Terroni, Cumbraes, and Sud Forno (yum). Housed in a former post office near Yonge and Eglinton, the bustling spot is a high-end grocer/celebrated restaurant. But the dreamy rooftop oasis – the arguable star of the show – makes a perfect spot for everything from a memorable night out with friends, to a place to mark special occasions with the in-laws. Find more info here.
No Comments