Restaurants in Toronto, Mississauga and Niagara make best patio list

With the unofficial start of summer officially upon us, many winter- and cold spring-weary Ontarians are planning to (finally) dine al fresco as soon as possible, and a new list with some of the province’s top-ranked patio places has dropped just in time. 

This week, restaurant reservation service OpenTable released its annual Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list, spotlighting popular patios across the country that offer both ample sunlight and on-trend dining options. 

This year, restaurants in Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, the Niagara region and, of course, Toronto made the list. 

In a news release, OpenTable said nearly three-quarters of Canadians (74 per cent) plan to eat outdoors at least once a month or more at a restaurant, cafe or pub during the warmer months this year. The company’s annual list, which features a mix of waterfront, rooftop and vineyard patios, was compiled by analyzing more than one million diner reviews and metrics, including diner ratings, reservation demand and percentage of reviews tagged “outdoor dining”, among other factors. 

The list also mentions, with a very cute emoji, which patios allow dogs. 

Restaurants that made the cut this spring are:

• The Good Earth Vineyard And Winery in Beamsville 
• DiMario’s Trattoria, Burlington 
• Isabelle Restaurant + Lounge, Burlington 
• Spencer’s at the Waterfront, Burlington 
• Lakeside Seafood & Grill, Collingwood 
• The Friendly Society, Elora 
• La Vecchia – Marine Parade, Etobicoke 
• Bardo Guelph, Guelph 
• Charcoal Steak House, Kitchener 
• Dolcetto, London 
• Posta Ital Bar Cucina, Mississauga 
• Snug Harbour, Mississauga 
• Taps Public House, Mississauga 
• The Winery Restaurant at Peller Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake 
• Treadwell Cuisine, Niagara-on-the-Lake 
• Trius Winery Restaurant, Niagara-on-the-Lake 
• Cucci Ristorante, Oakville 
• Verace Restaurant, Oakville  
• Greystones, Orangeville 
• Arlo – Ottawa, Ottawa 
• Stillwaters Plate and Pour, Paris 
• The Royal Hotel, Prince Edward 
• Crossroads Restaurant, Parry Sound 
• Walker House, Simcoe County 
• Allen’s, Toronto 
• Amsterdam Brewhouse & Restaurant, Toronto  
• Capocaccia Trattoria, Toronto 
• El Catrin, Toronto  
• Fox on John, Toronto
• KŌST, Toronto 
• Le Sélect Bistro, Toronto 
• Mar’aa Yorkville, Toronto 
• Miller Tavern, Toronto 
• ONE Restaurant, Toronto 
• Queens Harbour, Toronto 
• Rasa, Toronto 
• Rooftop Bar at the Broadview Hotel, Toronto 
• Simona, Toronto 
• The Chase, Toronto 
• Trattoria Mercatto- Eaton Center, Toronto 
• Il Postino, Unionville 
• Lake House Restaurant, Vineland 
• Sole Restaurant, Waterloo 
• The Bauer Kitchen, Waterloo 
• Wildcraft, Waterloo 

According to OpenTable, outdoor dining has increased by 24 per cent in Canada year-over-year, with July ranking as the most popular month to do so in 2025. The brand’s research also found that dining out is more popular in general during the warmer months, with 43 per cent of respondents saying they eat out more in the spring and summer. 

A quarter of respondents also said they’ll eat outside in less than ideal weather. 

Another trend the newest report picks up on? The increase in dog-friendly dining. New OpenTable dining data shows a 34 per cent increase in dining at dog-friendly restaurants in the past 12 months, alongside a 39 per cent increase in dog-friendly restaurants, year-over-year.

“As patio season gets underway, Canadians are clearly eager to dine in the sunshine. We see it in how they book, with 62 per cent choosing a restaurant specifically for its outdoor seating,” says Laure Bornet, senior vice president of international growth at OpenTable.

“For many diners, the perfect patio also includes space for their dogs. Our annual Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list features standout patios across the country, with icons to help identify dog-friendly spots, so it’s easy to find the right place, whoever you’re dining with.” 

OpenTable also found that nearly one in five diners also say they spend more time dining outdoors, with outdoor diners averaging 127 minutes at their tables over the past year: 20 per cent longer than the overall average.

As for which patios tend to attract the most patrons, OpenTable found that diners gravitate to courtyard patios and terraces (56 per cent), followed by waterfront settings (49 per cent).