May 10, 2024
Our favourite season is nearly here – patio season! While the Italians may have their piazzas, the Spanish their plazas, and the English their squares, in Canada, as soon as temperatures start to rise, we seek out the nearest patio, and there are so many to choose from in the neighbourhood surrounding our midtown apartment buildings. Morning, noon, and night, the neighbourhood comes alive around bustling tables, where people sit and sip a coffee, enjoy a cocktail, and soak up the sun. Here are six spots for an alfresco experience, where you can drink, dine, and enjoy the fresh air, all close to home.
La Bohème for your morning coffee
For nearly 15 years, La Bohème Café Patisserie has been delighting midtown locals with gourmet roasts, delicious quiches, and mouth-watering baked treats. The sweet and savoury pastries are made fresh by nearby Jules Café, the much-sought-after Mount Pleasant bakery with a reputation for some of the city’s most authentic croissants, tarts, and baguettes. The backyard patio is a hidden gem and the perfect spot to sip your morning matcha latte in the shade of the leafy tree canopy.
A leisurely lunch at Stock Bar
As if the architecture and offering at Stock Bar isn’t enough - the art deco building served as a historic Canada Post Office from 1936, and is now home to a gourmet mecca from Terroni and Cumbrae’s - the midtown bar and restaurant also boasts the largest rooftop patio in the Yonge-Eglinton corridor. Dine on dishes you know and love (the burger and handcrafted pizza and pasta are bestsellers), then while away the afternoon enjoying the gentle breeze and the panoramic views.
Go Dutch for dinner at Little Sister
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Little Sister took part in CaféTO, the city program that gave restaurants and bars the opportunity to access public space to expand their outdoor dining options. Four years later, the Dutch-Indo restaurant still has one of the most popular patios on Yonge Street. The menu is bursting with the vibrant flavours of Dutch-Indonesian cuisine, and nearly all plates are designed to share, making it a great spot for dinner with a group of friends.
Oretta Midtown, an alfresco brunch
In a neighbourhood known for its strong tradition of weekend brunch, Oretta Midtown goes above and beyond. Not only does the Italian-inspired restaurant offer an outstanding menu of unexpected dishes (things like uova burrata e tartufo where scrambled eggs are elevated with creamy burrata and black truffle, and a caprese cocktail that reinterprets the Caesar with basil oil and balsamic vinegar), Oretta also has one of the most breathtakingly beautiful patios in the neighbourhood. Bougainvillea and palm fronds create a tropical backdrop, transporting you from midtown to exotic locales.
An evening at the Duke of Kent
The Duke of Kent is a midtown institution, a low-key hangout that ticks all the boxes of your friendly neighbourhood pub. Wings, beer, burgers, brunch, you’ll find it all, along with some good cocktails and a “Power Hour” Aperol Spritz (just $11.99 from 4-6pm). During the warmer months, the action spills out onto the north-facing patio that lines Roehampton Avenue, a prime spot to hang with friends and have a pint.
Late nights at La Carnita
The Mexican street corn with ancho chili powder, and the Carne Asada with tomatillo salsa verde and BBQ eight spice are just a few of the items on the menu at La Carnita that offer a little heat, but it's late at night on the wrap-around patio that things really get spicy. That's when art, music, and cocktails combine to create magical, margarita-fuelled evenings under the stars.
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