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10 Best Outdoor Dining Spots in Toronto [For a Guaranteed Delicious Time!]
When the sun’s out, it’s time to take advantage of outdoor dining in Toronto before the winter season arrives (because we know we’re gonna want to curl up at home in the warm safety of our blankets).
You see, the city’s vibrant culinary scene is not to be underestimated, especially paired with a patio. That’s why we happily stuffed our tummies just to find restaurants in Toronto with the best outdoor dining areas, from fun to elegant settings.
There’s nothing more exciting than eating the best food while enjoying the views and the relaxing atmosphere. Time to head out! Taste and experience the best Toronto has to offer because we sure did!
Grape Witches
Media credit: grapewitches
Location: 1247 Dundas St W
Contact: (416) 546-2151
Hours:
- Sunday – Wednesday: 12 pm – 10 pm
- Thursday – Saturday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Price: $$
Grape Witches provides wine-tastic outdoor dining with over 350 choices of wines. From smooth to balanced to full-bodied, you can find one of the best wines Ontario has to offer.
This sweet (and newly renovated) patio on Dundas Street West is covered (keeping you safe, rain or shine!). It’s the ultimate dog lover paradise because dogs are welcome (bring Fido!).
While you’re here, it’s almost like you’re not downtown anymore, as the patio feels like a secret garden, with its magical ambience, small water fountain, and vines all around.
Have one of the most delightful wine and snack experiences because the menu is as incredible as the patio looks. Enjoy hybrid grape wines, sparkling, reds, and whites, as well as small plates to snack on while you sip!
Pro Tips:
If you’re having a party, you can reserve the patio for large groups (8 to 12 people only), ideal for small birthday celebrations.
You can enjoy a whole bottle of wine from their store. There’s no corkage fee on Sundays!
Cafe23
Media credit: cafe23coffeebar
Location: 728 Queen St W
Contact: (514) 994-0465
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7 am – 7 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 8 am – 7 pm
Price: $
Entering the patio of Cafe23 is like being transported to a different dimension. This enchanted sanctuary has a cozy back patio and a rooftop one you can only see if you go to the back garden (it’s like a hidden stairway that will take you to a secret place).
The menu is delicious and worth every loonie. Their baked goodies are never disappointing (especially their butter tarts and croissants!), while their premium coffee comes from De Mello Coffee and Hale Coffee Company, both ethical roasters.
If you’re still not sold, they sell St.-Viateur bagels, which they ship fresh from Montreal. And their patio is dog-friendly, so you and your furry companion can enjoy a quiet spot after a nice walk together.
Pro Tips:
Cafe23 is no longer a hidden spot in Toronto because it has become a popular cozy gem. We suggest avoiding peak hours if you want a quiet place to enjoy your coffee and pastries.
If you’re bringing your dog, make sure you’re keeping them on a leash. Many people bring their four-legged friends here, so yours should be well-behaved around other dogs.
Playa Cabana
Media credit: playacabana
Location: 111 Dupont St
Contact: (416) 929-3911
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 12 pm – 10 pm
Price: $$
Hola, Toronto! Outdoor dining in Playa Cabana is open all summer long. It’s the perfect casual spot to bring your friends or family on a sunny afternoon—they have big umbrellas per table, keeping you safe under the sun’s UV rays.
Enjoy the best authentic Mexican delights here, where they use fresh ingredients and cook traditional meals inspired by various cities in Mexico. Their menu consists of tacos, burritos, and chorreados (crispy tortillas with cheese).
Mexican dining experiences aren’t complete without strong alcoholic beverages like tequila and mezcal. Their tequila is pure and made from 100% blue agave, while their small selection of mezcal is from Oaxaca, Mexico.
Pro Tip:
If you’re lightweight, we suggest you skip their tequila and mezcal. Instead, pick from their cocktail menu with the lowest alcohol content.
Hair of the Dog
Media credit: hairofthedogto
Location: 425 Church St
Contact: (416) 964-2708, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 11:30 am – 12 am
- Friday: 11:30 am – 2 am
- Saturday: 10:30 am – 2 am
- Sunday: 10:30 am – 12 am
Price: $$
Sure, Hair of the Dog is not the most pleasing restaurant name to hear, but that’s also one of its charms. You can enjoy one of the most incredible outdoor dining because this is actually an upscale pub!
The patio has a casual vibe with a tinge of premium touch. There are two outdoor dining areas, the garden and the rooftop, which both boast pleasant atmospheres due to the design because there’s no shortage of greenery here.
Just like the ambience, the menu is pleasant as well. You can pick from many choices of food, including chicken kebab, Indian curry, fish and chips, mac and cheese, and brunch plates!
Pro Tip:
The place does get busy because it’s well-known as one of the nicer patios in the area. If you’re looking for a quiet spot to dine in, you may want to skip the patio during peak hours.
BlueBlood Steakhouse
Media credit: blueblood_steakhouse
Location: Inside Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
Contact: (416) 353-4647, [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 5 pm – 11 pm
Price: $$$
Head over to BlueBlood Steakhouse for an elegant dining experience. It’s located inside Casa Loma, a historic Gothic revival mansion in Toronto.
The place is exquisite, even the outdoor terrace. Here, you can dine inside a patio pod surrounded by ambient lighting (which looks really intimate at night!) for a unique and romantic dining experience.
The menu is just as refined as the place, with soft and juicy steaks and fresh seafood bursting with flavours. To complete your fine dining experience, there’s a really, really long list of international wines you can choose from.
Pro Tip:
This is not an inexpensive place, so make sure your wallet is ready! You also need to reserve a table to secure your slot and make sure you have a valid credit card because there’s a $50 reservation charge per person.
Bar’kada
Media credit: barkadatoronto
Location: 745 Queen St W
Contact: (416) 551-8889, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 5 pm – 11 pm
- Wednesday – Thursday: 5 pm – 12 am
- Friday: 5 pm – 2 am
- Saturday: 3 pm – 2 am
- Sunday: 11 am – 11 pm
Price: $$
One of the best outdoor dining spots is situated right in the heart of downtown Toronto, which has a heated covered patio open year-round! Bar’kada is a trendy spot that offers a modern menu inspired by Spanish, Filipino, Portuguese, and American flavours.
It’s a place meant for dining with your barkada, a Filipino word that means a group of friends. The menu reflects exactly that because you can order food that you can share with the ones closest to you, like hand-rolled spring rolls, calamari, and tacos.
On weekends, you can have even more fun because they have live DJs to entertain everyone. Plus, their daily happy hour is perfect for mini celebrations with cocktails!
Pro Tip:
If you’re dining with a group of 7, don’t forget to book a reservation to ensure you get a table.
Mercado Restaurant
Media credit: mercadorestaurant.to
Location: 682 Caledonia Rd
Contact: (647) 748-1370, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday: 12 pm – 9:30 pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday – Thursday: 12 pm – 9:30 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 10 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm – 4 pm
Price: $$$
Located in the Castlefield Design District area, Mercado Restaurant offers a carefully curated menu of Portuguese cuisine. They specialize in serving authentic taste in beautifully plated meals.
The stunning outdoor dining area will transport you to Portugal. You’ll be dining in a place with lush greenery and chandeliers above you, surrounded by sculptures and folksy ambience.
The menu is equally as beautiful. The selection of meats and fish (the popular seafood platter is our favourite for-sharing meal) will bring your tastebuds on a great, mouthwatering culinary adventure!
Pro Tip:
Book the outdoor dining area for intimate celebrations. The rectangular layout is perfect for outdoor events and you don’t need to add a lot of decorations because the patio is beautiful enough.
The Chase
Media credit: thechaseto
Location: 10 Temperance St Floor 5
Contact: (647) 348-7000, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
- Saturday: 5 pm – 11 pm
- Sunday: Closed
Price: $$$
The Chase elevates your outdoor dining experience (literally!) by providing a covered patio on the top of the Dineen Building. This restaurant in the Financial District showcases a sophisticated atmosphere with a tinge of casual vibe.
The menu is the same as the ambience it sets, like fancy shrimp cocktails and caviar, as well as filling roasted chicken and striploin. There’s a decent selection of drinks, whether you’re looking for a fun cocktail or a robust red.
You’ll basically enjoy contemporary dining because of the innovative dishes and creative plating. That includes creative cocktails that work perfectly well with their dishes.
Pro Tips:
Visit on a Friday if you want to take advantage of the 50% off on oysters! It’s a good deal, considering a dozen is $54.
For a smooth dining experience, we recommend you make a reservation.
The Rooftop at the Broadview Hotel
Media credit: broadviewhotel
Location: The Broadview Hotel, 106 Broadview Ave
Contact: (416) 362-8439
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 4 pm – 10:30 pm
- Friday – Sunday: 12 pm 10:30 pm
Price: $$
The Rooftop offers a spectacular dining experience in Toronto. The outdoor dining area is right at the top of the Broadview Hotel, which provides a cool panoramic view of the city skyline and the Don River (you basically get the best East End views!)
The expansive terrace boasts a 360° glass facade and pyramid-shaped skylight, perfect for people who want stunning views day or night. And despite being located in a hotel, the vibe remains casual and smart, perfect for dining with friends.
The international menu is perfect for sharing as well, which also change depending on the season. Bite into delicious snacks and flatbreads, and order a big plate from their eclectic selection.
Pro Tip:
Make sure you factor in Toronto traffic when going to the restaurant. Even though they close late, the last reservations are seated at 9:15 pm.
El Catrin Destileria
Media credit: elcatrinca
Location: 18 Tank House Lane
Contact: (416) 203-2121
Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 12 pm – 10 pm
- Thursday – Friday: 12 pm – 11 pm
- Saturday: 11 am – 11 pm
- Sunday: 11 am – 10 pm
Price: $$
If you want to taste a mix of modern and traditional Mexican cuisine, head over to The Distillery Historic District and walk to El Catrin Destileria. The incredible atmosphere will bring you to Mexico, with its colourful setting that looks particularly magical at night.
The menu is even more impressive because of the delicious and flavourful dishes. You can enjoy a bunch of small bites, ceviches (citrusy fish with seasonings), quesadillas, tacos, and sweet Mexican desserts!
Their drink menu is also worth checking out, which will probably take you a few minutes to browse because they hold the largest tequila and mezcal collection in Canada!
Don’t forget to bring your precious pup because their outdoor dining area is dog-friendly! So, head out when the sun is shining because the patio isn’t covered—but it is heated!
Pro Tip:
Follow their socials if you want updates on their Cocktail of the Month! They make fun and unique flavours you have to try!