I’m sure all of you are happy that patio season is upon us – yay! It’s been an unchracteristically warm Spring/Summer already  in Toronto and I am enjoying every bit of the gorgeous weather.

Solmaz and I have been taking advantage of the hot weather and we’ve discovered some new bars with great patios (with the help of our lovely friend Vince… I hope he doesn’t mind that his name is being mentioned in our blog…lol)

We totally recommend these spots if you are looking for a new hangout.

Adelaide St. Pub

The Adelaide St Pub is hardly your run-of-the-mill pub. A small, cozy place on the corner of Adelaide and Peter Street, I would describe it as a trendy bar/lounge/gastro-pub. From the outside, ASP catched your eyes with its bold red decor. On the first floor there are a few tables and a bar with a massive “draft beer organ” which is very cool-looking.

Once you head upstairs, there is a great patio with booths and a bar area. The patio is suprisingly modern and chic – especially when you consider that it is a “pub” after all. We were there on the a slightly chillier weekend (in April) so it was not busy upstairs but apparently during after-work hours and on warmer days, it becomes quite packed.

ASP offers more than your usual pub grub. There are some twists on classic pub dishes and some unusual items as well – they have fish & chips and as well as jerk chicken on their menu. I really enjoyed their Duck Confit Poutine – a must-try if you visit the place.

Overall, I loved the Adelaide St. Pub – great food, lots of different beer and friendly staff plus a stand-out patio. There is no official web-site but they have a facebook page you can visit to if you want to check it out before heading over.

The Adelaide St. Pub  340 Adelaide St West, Toronto, ON (416-977-6800)

Waq N Raq

Technically, this Queen West bar/billiard joint is hardly new. It’s been around since 1997, but I believe it underwent renovations and offers a large patio that overlooks Queen Street West.

I like RaqNWaq since it has a bit of everything. In a large space, there are 10+ billiard tables, a bar in the centre, a mid-sized dance floor and most importantly, a great patio where you can enjoy the summer with some friends. 

 WaqNRaq is pretty casual and it felt a little bit like a university hang-out – if you’re looking for a “scene” this definitely would not be it. However, if you want somewhere fun, friendly and laid-back, this would be the spot to spend your summer.

Waq-N-Raq (Their Facebook page is a bit more informative) 739 Queen St West, Toronto, ON (416-504-9120)

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Pictures from the Facebook pages of Adelaide St. Pub and The Raq