The best restaurant patios in Toronto are places where the outdoor ambience is as much as draw as the stellar offerings from the kitchen. These are places where the food-minded flock to dine in full sun and sip beer, wine or cocktails under starlight.
Here are the best restaurant patios in Toronto.
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El Catrin
This upmarket Mexican restaurant in the Distillery District boasts fire pits, giant outdoor chandeliers, and bright yellow furniture. While there's room for 200, the terrace fills up fast with those looking to bask in the sun while drinking and dining on tacos, ceviches and 100-plus brands of tequila.
Buca (King West)
Nestle into a table at this brick and concrete courtyard where an industrial-chic plays host to serious gourmands. Whether out for a glass of wine with a side salumi, or to dine on rustic pastas and pizzas, the patio at Buca can accommodate.
THR & Co.
Occupying a pretty corner lot, the patio at THR & Co. is perfect for an al fresco date night. The boulevard is outfitted with bistro tables and surrounded by neatly manicured hedges, offering both unobstructed views of the street as well as a semblance of reclusiveness making it an intimate destination for an al fresco date night.
The Chase
Situated in the heart of the Financial District, this refined restaurant offers a streetside terrace as well as a highly-coveted rooftop patio with sweeping views to the south and west. Premium cocktails and raw bar selections attract a cinq-a-sept crowd, while in the evenings, the lavish spot makes for an impressive date destination.
Bar Raval
It's standing room only inside Grant Van Gameren's tapas bar at College and Palmerston, which is just one of the reasons that seats on the patio are so highly coveted. Expect to find this outdoor space perpetually packed with saavy diners enjoying cocktails and pintxo in full sun.
Tabule (Riverside)
The Middle Eastern eatery offers a comfortable, enclosed oasis outfitted with cushioned benches and illuminated at night by punched tin lanterns. Spread out here with mezze dips while sipping mint tea, or opt for something stronger like a kumquat mojito.
Kasa Moto
Dine on sushi and robata selections on this sprawling rooftop terrace in Yorkville. The patio is serviced by its own bar, and offers private cabanas, and sky high cocktails geared to the upwardly mobile.
Gusto 101
Street level and rooftop patios at this chic Italian eatery on Portland are sun soaked spots to sip the $1/oz house wine, while nibbling on antipasti. A retractable roof means the top tier is available for family dinners and date nights rain or shine.
Globe Bistro
Enjoy dinner on the elegant rooftop patio crowning this Danforth restaurant to indulge in dishes like duck tartare and pork cheek gnocchi. The wine list offers a dozen labels by the glass, while BYOB is encouraged ($20 corkage).
Rasa
The sidewalk patio at Rasa is a destination for truffle gnudi and wagyu beef ribs under the stars. Find the east-facing patio mercifully shaded in evenings, offering a chance to cool down with a cocktail or a glass of wine.
What did I miss? Add your favourite restaurant patios to the comments.
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The top patios on 
Thanks to Strongbow for sponsoring our 2015 Toronto Patio Guide.
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The first phase of the Mascot Brewery is now open, and it's a backyard barbecue themed patio in the sky surrounded by picket fences and outfitted with its very own food cart. On the menu find the house brew in mini kegs as well as an assortment of grilled favourites and summery foods.
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Summer is here and for folks at the 
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Fosco then performs an exam on two short-tailed weasels who had been found crying under a parked car at only two-days-old. A TWC fosterer named Debbie hand-fed them every two hours around the clock. Now that they are six-weeks-old, Debbie laughs and says she "gets a bit of a break" and only has to feed them every four hours. "They are so healthy!" Fosco excitedly tells Debbie, who beams.
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