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TORONTO QUEER (AND QUEER-ISH) PATIO GUIDE 2025
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From East to West, a comprehensive guide of queer and queer-friendly patios across the city
East end or west end, small and sweet or big and brash, out on the street or tucked in back, in your ear and out your crack – Toronto is packed with queer (and queerish patios). They are oases of cuteness and drink specials in the hot pavementy city landscape – little outposts where you can think a gay thought, sip a gay sip, and sit your gay ass down. To guide you on your journey, we’ve compiled a roundup of the best of ’em.
This list is made up of spots with licensed patios, which sometimes include temporary street patio spots.
Happy sipping, sissies!
THE VILLAGE
THE BLACK EAGLE
457 Church Street
All the way up on top of the dirty bird is a big ol’ nest, also called the rooftop deck. It holds about a hundred people and plays host to summer Sunday afternoon barbecues. While there are rarely parties outside, there is porn on the HD screens, loads of bench space for seating, and cocktail tables for leaning. It’s open during the evening land into the wee hours of the morning.
Buvet Pacey
141 Berkeley St
Alert. This is a dog-friendly, queer-run wine and cocktail bar and café that you must visit. Café during the day, wine bar at night with a great soundtrack, super-cute mixed crowd, queer-events and lovely little patio out front for snacking and sipping.
CREWS & TANGOS
508 Church Street
All the way past the drag shows, plastic cups, and mysteriously dark dancefloor at Crews is a substantial back patio with lots of seating and its own tiki-style bar. There’s no music outside, but who needs it! There is plenty of T being spilled all over the wooden space, and one step inside brings you right back to the stage area for shows. Beware of bachelorette parties.
HAIR OF THE DOG
425 Church Street
One of the first queer spots on the strip, Hair of the Dog is another cute date spot or place to gather a small-ish group for pints. The food is good, too, so show up hungry, but it’s the lovely vine-covered wall and trellises that will put a spell on you. One of our favourite pubs on the street, it’s another great spot to watch folks crawling up into the Village, it’s dog friendly, but mostly it’s a little tucked-away gem for a low-key hangout.
O’GRADYS/GARAGE/CHURCHMOUSE AND FIRKIN
Church and Maitland
We’re grouping these three together because they are kind of the trifecta of patios at the Church and Maitland intersection. Garage is great because it’s right on the street, with bonus drag shows. Churchmouse is very cute, quaint, and cozy, with a big beer selection, and O’Grady’s is a huge, sprawling spot with streetside viewing, a huge back patio zone for large groups, and pint specials. Keep a close eye on your bill at at O’Grady’s as they notoriously are so busy things often get mixed up.
BOUTIQUE
553 Church Street
We think we can speak on everyone's behalf when we say we're THRILLED that Boutique Bar is back! They've twirled just up the street to where Smith used to live, just next door to Out On The Street. They have TWO patios, one out front and one out back. One for people watching and one for a bit more of a date-night, cute and quieter vibe. The cocktail list is fun and the staff are always super sweet (and wildly good looking).
WEST END
BANDIT BREWERY
2125 Dundas St West
Another queer-ish recommend from us, Bandit brews their own beer, has super cute glasses and a bumpin’ patio! Like, it’s full all the time. It’s gently covered, there are trees, picnic tables and lots of straight-young-Roncy-dad-baseball-league-trade to look at. The fries are yummy, and hot tip!… if you can’t get a spot, go grab a seat at the almost-secret patio at Blue Bird across the street. Also not queer, but SUPER friendly and lovely.
BAR NEON
1226 Bloor Street West
A Bloor West retreat worth the journey, Bar Neon is a queer-owned spot for absolutely delicious food (oysters!) and fun drinks, all available out back on their lovely patio. A mix of big tables and a ledge with benches, this spot attracts a mixed but cool crowd. Their yummy drinks will keep you around for longer than you might have expected, and a bonus: they celebrate pretty much every holiday and love baseball.
Enter through the back alley for the full experience.
BAR POMPETTE
597 College St
OK, this queer-ish spot gets top marks for vibe, décor, cute service staff and really yummy cocktails. Their patio will transport you out of Toronto and somewhere in France. This is a great date night. The back patio fills up fast, but waiting inside with a drink isn’t so bad, it’s très chic as well.
E.L Rudy
1371 Dundas Street West
With warmer weather comes the doubling in size of one of our favourite queer-friendly locals. It's cozy in the cold seasons, but in the summer they have two patios out front for the best people watching, fashion parading and new friend making. There are drink specials every night of the week... it's giving small town bar energy with a big city twist and a heart of gold.
The Fountain
1261 Dundas Street West
A very friendly, very witchy, very cozy local haunt. Not an official queer bar, but we consider everyone involved part of the family. The bartenders are the coolest (Hiiiii Chris, Leigh and K!), the music is dark and delicious... and speaking of dark, the dark n' stormies at this spot and their baby patio situation on Dundas West are A+. The patio is open until witching season.
Grape Witches
1247 Dundas Street West
The most beautiful back patio in the west! Plants, a fountain, a retractible ceiling... this hidden gem on Dundas West is one of the city's most interesting wine bars, and the owners and staff wildly knowledgable, lovey, sweet, with a handful of queer servers you'll crush on as much as the rosé.
HAPPY COFFEE & WINE
1304 King St West
King Street! It’s true! This one’s west of Dufferin near Spencer and tucked inside, at the back with adorable seating and tables. The snacks at this spot are super good, and though this isn’t officially queer bar, any queer person in Parkdale most likey knows and loves this lil’ spot.
LOVELESS CAFE
1430 Dundas Street West
One of the best people watching patios on Dundas West with a cute couple seats out front, and tables and benches to the side. Beers on tap, margaritas, or just coffee or iced tea if you're not drinking. The music and vibe here are always chill... perfect spot for a date night or a catch up, not a great spot for big groups.
PARADISE GRAPEVINE
841 Bloor St West
With locations on Bloor Street West and gorgeous sunny spot up on (218) Geary Ave, these wine bars create their very own product, are so lovely, and have a team overflowing with queer royalty. Their secret back patio on Bloor is vine-covered, quite, cute and their wine selection is super interesting. They also have a happy hour from 5-6, and a bi-monthly are home to Juicy, a queer wine night hosted by the all powerful Rizz.
Soleil
1251 Dundas St W
This is a straight-friendly, queer-focused patio space in the heart of Little Portugal. Soleil is queer-run and owned and they not only host our annual Gay Gardens and Summertime Sadness parties, but all kinds of events on weekends, during the day. Follow their IG for upcoming gay happenings under the sun.
SWEATY BETTY’S
13 Ossington Avenue
Sweaty Betty’s is the spot that made Ossington Ave what it is today. The anchor of this über-trendy West End strip is run and owned by the legendary May Brand. The very green, very cozy back patio will cast a garden spell on you, and you’ll never want to leave the comfort of its benches and vines. Raccoons often take naps on the covered ceiling, and if you can’t fit out back, take several seats out front on the picnic tables to people watch - if you're lucky you'll catch a drag show from some of the city’s best. Shout outs to the perfectly punk staff.
Three Dollar Bill
1592 Queen Street West
DID YOU KNOW that the gayest gay bar in the west has a hidden back patio with lots of tables, chairs, a couch, and and a pop-up sex store shack?! . It's a great, sun-soaked-but-also-overed spot that with snacks from their neighbours - CiCi's with 25 seats, is dog friendly and open until 11pm... adding just a bit more capacity to this bustling queer bar with very special events and dance nights goingn on, every weekend.
EAST END
AVLING
1042 Queen Street East
Home of the Queer Beer Night summer series, this gorgeous Queen East brewery isn’t queer-owned but clearly supportive of the game. It’s a super friendly spot, and a great spot for a dinner date. The menu is yummy.
FARSIDE
600 Gerrard St E
It doesn’t get more inclusive, welcoming, friendly, nerdy and nice as this far east haunt. Farside isn’t an official queer bar, and doesn’t have an “official patio” - it’s only seasonal on the sidewalk - but we wanted to give them a shout out because the east end needs some love and they are so great.
HOUSE ON PARLIAMENT
454 Parliament Street
A Cabbagetown favourite, this casual dining spot has a patio out front for sidewalk viewing and vibes and another off the back of the second floor for something a little more private. Though the space is a huge, comfortable old Victorian house, their outdoor spaces are done just right, and the beer/wine selection is stellar.
RORSCHACH BREWING CO.
1001 Eastern Ave
What is this?! A rooftop patio! Yes! Their very own special brews, pizza, snacks and following… this queer-operated brewery is great for a night out before a show at the nearby History, post-beach, or just to go somewhere new. This spot isn’t queer-owned but they are proudly queer-operated.
Lead image is by @ashleysenja at the Three Dollar Bill
If we missed any of your faves, let us know!