Best People-Watching Patios in Toronto
Top Outdoor Restaurants and Bars in Yorkville, Queen Street West
Jul 11, 2009
A favourite pastime of many Torontonians during the summer is people-watching at the city's numerous outdoor restaurant and bar patios. Most patios in Toronto do not take reservations, so in order to snag a table, patrons should aim to get there before 5 p.m. when the office crowd descends. Below is a guide to the best patios and sections of the city to see and be seen in the downtown Toronto area:
Downtown Toronto Patios
There are so many bars and restaurants in the downtown core, but these few are some of the best people-watching patios:
- The Bier Markt, 58 The Esplanade, 416-862-7575, is busy from noon to the wee hours due to its prime location near the King and Yonge office district, as well as its south-facing seating area. When the sun goes down, patrons can head inside for some headbanging tunes from live bands.
- The Keg, 165 York Street, 416-703-1773, is not a typical Keg. The dark, sleek and seemingly unfriendly bar area opens up onto a bustling, bright patio with a mixture of suits and casual folk discussing the day's events. Not stuffy like other upscale downtown bars where stock-traders and Bay Street high-rollers congregate.
Queen Street Patios
Just five minutes west of the downtown business core, Queen Street is the happening place in T.O., mixing funky and urban styles. The best patios in the 'hood include:
- The Black Bull, 298 Queen Street (at Soho), 416-593-2766. This tres casual local stalwart has been around forever, but it just seems to gain in popularity. Unpretentious as its name, the sunny west-facing patio can get busy by 4 p.m. on weekdays so it is best to arrive early.
- Ultra Supper Club, 314 Queen Street West, 416-263-0330, is the locale for many private parties with A-List stars due to its L.A. style patio design. Sitting atop street level, the dressed-in-white seating area is a perfect place to perch and contemplate the city skyline.
Yorkville and Bloor Street Patios
For celebrity sighting and the best of everything (read $$$), Yorkville has no competition in Toronto:
- Hemingways, 142 Cumberland Avenue, 416-968-2828, gets props for surviving the '80s and still continuing as a popular drinking spot. The top level patio is heated in cooler weather, ensuring that this place stays hopping in October. Visitors should forget about joining the celebrity-seeking crowd during the Toronto Film Festival unless line ups are their cup of tea.
- The SkyLounge at the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel, 220 Bloor Street West, 416-960-5200, has a deceptive standard hotel exterior that hides an ultra sleek patio with sofas, silk pillows, and throws for cooler evenings. Some of the celebs stay here for the Toronto Film Festival so it is possible to rub shoulders with them while basking in the UV rays on the patio.
Liberty Village and Queen Street West Patios
Just 15 minutes west of the downtown core, Liberty Village and Queen Street West have several popular patios so that the "it" crowd does not have to trudge down to the city centre:
- The Brazen Head Irish Pub, 165 East Liberty Street, 416-535-8787, is a relatively new entrant on the bar scene that has quickly gained popularity due to its three outdoor patios. Accommodating guests for brunch or afternoon to evening drinks and meals, the patio includes free wireless for the Liberty Village crowd.
- The Drake Hotel SkyBar, 1150 Queen Street West (at Beaconsfield), 416-531-5042, is a slick and sumptuous all-season space to wile away the afternoon sipping on a martini while relaxing on chaise lounge chairs and gazing at the pretty patrons.
Whether seeking a downtown patio after work, looking for a Queen Street West patio as a break from shopping, meeting friends at the local patio in Liberty Village, or stargazing in Yorkville, Torontonians and visitors alike will find the city is a people-watching Mecca during the sweet days of summer.
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