6 Covered Patios Worth Rain or Shine This Summer
From rooftop views to garden seating, these Toronto restaurants have serious weather protection—and solid drinks.
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Summer rain is back, and patios with actual coverage are suddenly essential. Toronto Life rounded up spots where you can sit outside without worrying the sky will ruin your plans.
Contrada (537 College St.) feels like stepping into someone's very chic grandmother's home. The streetside patio is well-equipped to keep the rain out while you sip a spritzy aperitivo. Their Contrada Spritz—a bubbly blend of skin-contact wine, Cocchi Rosa, aquavit, sumac, pomegranate, and prosecco—runs just $10 during aperitivo hour (Tuesday to Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.). Pair it with ricotta gnocchi or whole sea bream and crispy potatoes.
Bar Piquette (1084 Queen St. W.) channels the 11th arrondissement of Paris—the kind of place where light rain won't stop you from sitting outside. The covered garden patio is stunning with heating units on hand if the weather turns cool. Order their famous mortadella bun and smoked trout dip, and take advantage of their cinq à sept wine discounts.
Low Bar (1426 Bloor St. W.) is quirky and west-end friendly. The back patio isn't glamorous but it's nicely covered, with a monthly zine you can read while curled up on the couch alongside free popcorn. A pickled egg costs just $3; house lager is a dollar off during happy hour.
Baro (485 King St. W.) takes patio dining literally skyward—the covered rooftop space has views for days, a dedicated bar, and its own outdoor grill for a special patio menu. Street corn and their newly launched Big Ass Board (a $290 splurge platter for two to four people loaded with bone-in rib-eye, lamb anticuchos, chicken, octopus, and veggies) are standouts. The Coco Loco, a piña colada served in a coconut shell, is the drink. Make a reservation; seating fills fast.
Bar Reyna (158 Cumberland St., Yorkville) is a Mediterranean-flavored Victorian with a back patio lit by twinkle lights, soft wood finishes, and cozy seating. Order the lamb baklava, falafel bites, and signature Reyna fries. Bubbles, wine, and spritzes run $10 from 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.
Brasserie Côte (400 Bloor St. W., the Annex) is a new Parisian bistro from the team behind Union and Côte de Bœuf, bringing classic French bistro energy to the covered patio.