If the announcement of new restrictions in Ontario (a.k.a lockdown version "who knows anymore") makes you want to scream into the night, we get that. But instead of burying our heads in the snow, we're trying to make the best of it by shopping local where we can (especially at these awesome independent bottle shops), ordering takeout and outdoor dining on a heated Toronto patio.
Toronto restaurants have been incredible at (don't say pivoting, don't say pivoting) rolling with the punches and many have created wonderful heated patios to shield you (sort of) from the so-cold-it-burns winter air.
We've got a list of some of Toronto's best heated patios for outdoor dining that will keep you and your extremities from feeling blue. Bundle up, bring your friends and make winter bearable by checking out these heated patios for outdoor dining.
15 of Toronto's best heated patios for outdoor dining
Bar Raval
505 College St.
Clink Spanish fizzes with your friends around a Bar Raval barrel on their covered, heated patio while the snow gently falls — hello, music to our ears. The patio is walk-ins only (good thing we're going for LOTS of strolls).
Bar Neon
1226 Bloor St. W.
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So Toronto may feel like the exact opposite of a vacation right now, but you'll feel like you're on a getaway as you snack and sip winter warmers on this epic Bloor West patio.
Bar Neon has hot toddies, mulled wine and spiked (or not) hot cider on offer. They also have a fantastic, daily happy hour which includes $7 draft beer and buck-a-shuck oysters with the purchase of a beverage from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
El Catrin
18 Tank House Lane
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We're really hoping sipping mezcal by the fireplaces on El Catrin's year-round patio will transport us to Mexico. But, in light of teleportation not actually existing yet, a glorious serving of chips and guac in Toronto's historic Distillery District sounds pretty darn great.
Aura
686 Queen St. E.
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This east-end lounge is known for its sensuous ambiance and craft cocktails. Escape to their heated patio in the back after a long day of "is this still happening?"
Patria
478 King St. W.
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Enjoy Spanish tapas daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Patria's heated and covered King West patio. Forget all about the windchill with bites of crispy jamon croquettes and traditional paellas.
Cafe Diplomatico
594 College St.
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This Little Italy classic has a covered, weather-proof patio on the Clinton Street side of the restaurant, meaning that you can enjoy arancini balls and pasta while basking in the glow of their fully heated patio. Bellissimo!
King Rustic
905 King St W.
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Find soul food to warm the soul at King Street's go-to spot for comforting classics. Chow down on beef and pork sausage ragu layered between sheets of pasta underneath their heated and covered patio — now open for lunch.
Bar Piquette
1084 Queen St. W.
Bar Piquette just announced the opening of their heated solarium (which sounds way sexier than patio). The gorgeous, light-filled lounge is open Monday–Sunday, 3 p.m. to close. And they're offering 15 per cent off of unique wine to-go from their bottle shop.
Bymark
66 Wellington St W.
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One of our favourite Financial District patios has upgraded with a tented and heated situation that'll keep you eating and sipping long after the sun goes down (which is still before 5 p.m.).
BlueBlood Steakhouse
Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
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If you can't class things up inside this opulent steakhouse, at least you can dine in the castle grounds. They're open seven days a week and you can reserve online for seats on their tented, heated terrace.
Tav's Resto Bar
589 College St.
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Tav's Nonna-approved woodfired pizza and handmade pasta are sure to warm anyone up. Now you can enjoy them next to a fireplace on their heated and covered back patio. Call ahead or book on OpenTable to secure your spot.
School Restaurant
70 Fraser Ave.
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Poached eggs don't exactly travel well, so bring brunch back into your life inside School's warm, twinkly-light tent — our kind of classroom.
Stackt Market
28 Bathurst St.
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Spend the afternoon strolling through the shops at Stackt's marketplace, or not getting competitive at all (ahem) on their Crokicurl rink. Then, cozy up with hot chocolate and some Joybird Fried Chicken by the firepits on their multiple heated patios around the site.
Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington Ave.
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After operating as a bottle shop for most of the pandemic, Bellwood's iconic brewpub is back in action, and man did we miss their duck confit and golden brown french fries.
Bar'kada
745 Queen St. W.
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Bring your barkada (group of friends) to this heated Queen West patio offering takes on Filipino food combined with influences from cultures that make up our diverse city.
