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). 


INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies

Last 30 Days: 58,483 Votes

All Time: 1,345,077 Votes

1963 VOTES
Do you agree that malls and stores should be allowed to open on some statutory holidays?

WIN A $100 GIFT CARD

Subscribe to INsauga’s daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.