Toronto’s most buzzworthy new patios: 2016 edition
From second-storey terraces to canopy-covered courtyards, 2016 has been a good year for Toronto’s patio game. We’ve got the goods on the brand-new brewery on Roncesvalles and the Lakeshore’s most recent party-worthy spot. East to west, these resto-bar newcomers have created inspired outdoor spaces so you can start patio season off right. [Image credit: iStock.com/Sean Pavone]
Bandit Brewery
2125 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1X1It was only a matter of time ‘til Roncesvalles got a microbrewery, but little did we know it would boast such an impressive set-up. Inspired by the beer halls of Europe, Bandit Brewery has launched their sizeable space at the corner of Dundas and Roncesvalles Avenue, complete with a stunningly modern wraparound bar, communal tables, the full gamut of brewed-in-house craft beer, a snack-worthy food menu, and a huge street-facing patio (dog friendly!).
The Slip
235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8This outdoor watering hole at the Harbourfront Centre is the brainchild of the boys behind the Boxcar Social. The Slip is purely patio (no interior), with gazebo-style seating and rounded communal picnic tables lit by strings of warm Emerson lights. You’ll find a small selection of draft beer, made-in-house blood orange and grapefruit radlers, buckets of Corona, margaritas, and rotating specialty cocktails. Seating 250 with additional standing room, it’s the ideal stop-in after a Lakeshore stroll or when you’re with a larger group, but hot tip: it’s generally only open ‘til 10 pm during the week.
Wrestlers
198 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L6If it seems more Kensington locals are slurping gourmet popsicles as of late, it’s because the neighbourhood has seen an influx of paletas focusing on frozen treats. Wrestlers, perched beneath La Tortilleria on Augusta Avenue, is one such popsicle palace, complete with fancy paletas (pistachio dipped in chocolate and accented with coconut shreds, for instance), slushy margaritas, Mexican horchata, and churros. To boot, there’s a street-facing patio, so can enjoy the cool treat while getting in some solid people watching.
The Walton
607 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B5This dreamy café-bar in fact opened at the tail end (and thus, post-patio season) of 2015, so patrons are only getting to take advantage of the stunning back patio now. The courtyard-like outdoor space is a welcome break from the bustling and beaten Little Italy path, with marble twosome tables, plenty of lush greenery, and a canopy of trees overhead. As for the fare, it’s all about the craft cocktails, local beer, fresh, snack-y plates and mouthwatering pastries at The Walton – in other words, all the good stuff.
Clocktower Bar
1210 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1W1The patio at Rosedale’s Boxcar Social has proved to be one of midtown’s prime locales, whether you’re stopping in for an afternoon latte, a post-work brew, or a late-night tasting flight of hard-to-find bourbons. But now that sibling bar The Clocktower has opened next door and is sharing the back patio, you can get craft cocktails out in the canopy-covered courtyard to boot. Sitting beneath an elderly oak tree and sipping a Persephone (prosecco, cucumber gin, lime), or a smoked maple and rosemary Old Fashioned? Sign us up. [NB: Clocktower cocktails will be available on the patio starting July.]
Macho Tex Mex Radio Bar
92 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 4A7Tex-Mex gets a makeover at this sprawling resto-bar in Toronto’s City Place hood. High-top tables, pinball machines, and a huge wraparound bar create the lively interior of Macho Radio Bar, while the glass-enclosed patio makes a bid for one of the coolest patio designs in TO. The colourful space seats 100, making it the perfect stop-in with a group of friends with a hankering for sangria, micheladas or some good ol’ craft beer. As for the fare, think DIY-taco plates with smoked short ribs and necessary accoutrements, upgraded fajitas, and Macho fries – topped in avocado aiolo, salsa, and jalapenos.
Rainhard Brewing Company
100 Symes, ON M6N 3T1This Stockyards brewery, taproom and bottle shop actually opened in summer 2015, but they’ve now launched an outdoor patio-meets-beer-garden for their thirsty patrons. The brewhouse hosts a revolving selection of craft brews, from the Armed ‘N Citra, an APA with melon, grapefruit and soft pine tasting notes, to the Kapow!, a 6.5% west coast IPA. As for the patio, it’s compact and Canuck-worthy, with picnic tables and umbrella coverage. If you’re running errands around the Stockyards, make one of them a quick pint and a few bottles to go ;)
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