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The sun is here and that means it's time to find a patio (and a drink) near you
Whether you’re looking for mountain views, cityscapes, or prime people watching, study our roundup of the city’s best patios in the following neighbourhoods so you’ll be ready for an al fresco adventure when the sun is shining:
Specializing in the culinary traditions of Italy’s northwest region of Liguria, this West End bistro has a lush patio that invites leisurely and luxurious dining. Indulge in authentic pasta and enjoy a nice selection of Italian wines. Serves brunch and dinner.
This beachside patio secured its spot at one of Vancouver’s most popular hangouts – and arguably one of the city’s most historic waterfront locations – and offers two levels of open air seating with breathtaking views of English Bay.
You’d never know by looking at the unassuming house set back from Davie Street that a tucked-away patio lies beyond. But that’s the case for Gurkha Himalayan Kitchen, serving Nepalese fare like Kathmandu Sekuwa (grilled chicken marinated in yogurt, ginger and spices) on its intimate patio, sheltered from the back lane by a wooden lattice fence.
Enjoy one of Milestone’s signature benedicts or their lip-smacking pear and coconut pancakes while taking in the stunning view of English Bay from this patio. Feel like taking a walk while you digest? Sandy beaches are only a few steps away and a trip to Stanley Park takes no time at all. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
The restaurant’s second-floor patio, heated year-round, gives diners an elevated view of palm-tree-lined Beach Ave and sandy English Bay Beach beyond. Serves fresh West Coast cuisine and a good selection of BC VQA wines, for brunch, lunch and dinner.
Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with scones, little sandwiches and sweets on one of two lovely patios in this historic building overlooking magnificent Stanley Park. Also serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Right on the western edge of Stanley Park overlooking the Burrard Inlet, the splendid patio at The Teahouse has a grand view that is matched by a sumptuous menu featuring West Coast cuisine. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Set on the Vancouver Convention Centre’s Jack Poole Plaza, this wraparound patio provides panoramic views of Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains and Vancouver’s cityscape – plus diners can relive the 2010 Winter Games spirit as they sit next to the Olympic Cauldron.
Overlooking the Coal Harbour marina – with an awesome view of Stanley Park and the North Shore – Cardero’s perpetually-sunny patio offers al fresco dining that may inspire amorous intentions. Serves lunch and dinner.
Perched above the water on Coal Harbour, Lift has two spectacular levels of patio space with grand ocean views and prime sightlines of Stanley Park and the adjacent marina. The night heats up as the sun begins to set at this popular Vancouver nightspot, making it an ideal place to take the object of your affection. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
The white sails of Canada Place and breathtaking views of Burrard Inlet greet patio diners at Miku, renowned for their flame-seared Aburi sushi and innovative West Coast Japanese cuisine featuring sustainable seafood. Serves lunch and dinner.
Bring out your inner-Parisian with French-inspired cocktails or take your tastebuds on a tour of France with a wine list that represents many regions around the country. Situated on Melville Street near Coal Harbour, Tableau serves modern bistro fare with fresh West Coast ingredients. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Sip from a huge selection of on-tap lagers, ales, stouts, porters, ciders and local and international wines, as well as delicious house-made fare, like craft-beer-battered sustainable cod fish and chips, on an expansive patio with postcard-perfect ocean and mountain views.
With spectacular views of Coal Harbour and the North Shore mountains, the Mill is a fantastic place to have a cold one on a hot day. The exposed patio gets sun from morning till night, and plenty of umbrellas are available if you need a break from the rays. Serves lunch and dinner.
Beyond the big picture windows at the back of Bitter Tasting Room lies their little tucked-away, fenced-in patio. Order a growler of over a dozen rotating taps on draft, choose a flight if you can’t commit to just one brew or pick one of nearly two dozen labels showcasing “the beer making regions of the world, with a nod to both traditional and unique styles.”
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an empty seat on this busy patio if the sun is shining, but the prime people-watching makes it worth the wait. Once seated you’ll be tempted to dig into tasty entrees like the pan-seared arctic char with arugula pesto and beet carpaccio. Serves lunch and dinner.
Grab a seat on the intimate patio that fronts a 110-year-old brick building while you nibble on South American-style tapas and sip house cocktails like the O’leary Smolders, with Hennessy VS cognac, Fernet Branca, Vya extra dry vermouth, and Bittered Sling Moondog bitters.
This funky Paris-style patio is the first of its kind in the Lower Mainland, with its rainbow-coloured posts fencing in a seating area perched right at the edge of the sidewalk, so passersbys move between patio patrons and the charming restaurant. Try the kale Caesar salad with rosemary croutons washed down with a local brew. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Nestled beneath the palm trees sipping a mai tai or a dark ‘n’ stormy cocktail in an Easter Island Tiki mug, you may find yourself transported to the tropics on Rogue’s patio, which fronts the neoclassical architecture of Waterfront Station. Try their turkey sandwich on cranberry sourdough with bourbon bacon jam, or the Rogue burger, which you can order a juicy medium-well. Serves lunch and dinner.
The Tasting Room at Secret Location, “one part lifestyle boutique, one part restaurant,” now extends outside along brick-lined Carrall Street under a bright blue awning. Choose from their new 3-, 5-, and 10-course tasting menus and new drink menu with craft cocktails and nearly a dozen different mimosas. Serves weekday lunch and dinner, Saturday brunch and dinner, and Sunday brunch until 5 p.m.
Sheltered from the elements during winter, the lid is lifted on Steamworks’s year-round patio once the sun comes out. Quench your thirst with a flight of beer so you can try a selection of the more than 15 brews from their on-site brewery. Serves lunch and dinner.
Located at the base of the iconic Woodward’s building, The Charles Bar’s patio stretches out from its rounded wall along the cobbled sidewalk on West Cordova. With daily drink specials as low as $3.99 for draft beer, it’s a great spot to have a cold one on a hot day. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Celebrating over 25 years in Vancouver’s historic ‘hood, the Water Street Cafe has a lovely wrap-around patio adorned with hanging baskets overflowing with colourful flowers. Pair one of a dozen local and international wines by the glass with their famous West Coast crab cakes with tomato jam, garlic aioli and rocket. Serves lunch and dinner.
Set back from the sidewalk on Burrard Street in the heart of downtown, this patio is a great choice for some mid-day sustenance. Sun exposure peaks in mid-afternoon, so Vitamin D seekers should stretch out their lunch, which may include tasties like the Korean-style BBQ pork lettuce wraps, BQQ duck clubhouse or halibut soft tacos. Serves lunch and dinner.
Partly shaded by the trees on Robson Street below, this secluded patio fronts CinCin’s second-floor restaurant. Known for its contemporary Italian cuisine and staggering wine list of nearly 800 labels, CinCin offers a memorable and unique dining experience in Tuscan-inspired style. Serves dinner only.
Just one block away from busy Robson Street, this posh patio is nestled back from Alberni Street, protected by a large awning and flanked by crackling fireplaces. Coveted for its fresh seafood, Coast offers a wide selection of high-quality fish and shellfish, as well as a small sampling of beef, chicken and pasta. Serves lunch and dinner.
Tucked away above busy Robson Street, Earls offers a respite from hectic weekend shopping and has not one but two patios that collectively receive sun throughout the entire day. Their lunch menu has a wide selection of international fare and there are plenty of bar menu choices to wet your whistle. Serves lunch and dinner.
Just off Robson Street and up a flight of stairs, the Gallery Cafe’s beautiful patio offers shade or sun, and their all-day menu offers a delectable range of quiches, paninis, salads and more. Open from 9 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.
Hidden behind a dense hedge and cement walls, the American-style steakhouse’s urban garden patio is the perfect place to enjoy a private dinner, warmed by a crackling fireplace on a cool summer night. Start with a martini before perusing the labels from their well-stocked wine cellar to accompany one of their more than half a dozen options for prime Alberta beef steaks. Serves lunch and dinner.
Right downtown, at the corner of Robson and Thurlow, this swanky patio is ideal for wrapping up the workday with a glass from their extensive wine menu (over 400 wines) and some nibblies from their happy hour menu. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
This two-level rooftop patio is easy to miss from the street below but don’t forgo visiting this hidden gem with twinkling palm trees and a trickling water fountain. Stop by for their happy hour menu or gluten-free features, washed down with dozens of beer and wine labels by the glass or bottle. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
This third-floor patio is concealed from the unaware passerby but offers excellent people watching from its elevated perch above swanky Alberni Street. And it’s shielded from the elements, stretching its open season from early spring to fall. Serves breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner.
Gain the perfect vantage of Robson Street on this second-floor patio at the corner of Bute and Robson. Snack on the combo platter made up of calamari, chicken tenders, avocado spring rolls, chicken wings and bread with dip, or relax and sip on a Moxie’s Bellini to beat the heat. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
This stylish fourth-floor patio terrace gives off a fiery Miami vibe with a little help from its chic cabanas and glowing fire pits, surrounded by twinkling water features and striking art installations. Choose from a selection of handcrafted cocktails and hot and cold tapas, for lunch or dinner.
Head to The Fish Shack between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and pair your people-watching along bustling Granville Street with 50 per cent off all appetizers and only $5 for featured cocktails, beer, and wine, seven days a week. Celiacs rejoice: gluten-free fish and chips are on the menu. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
This third-floor patio offers city views, gorgeous decor and classic cocktails, plus the kitchen boasts Canada’s first Josper by Wood Stone Charcoal Broiler Oven, which heats up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit for steak cooking perfection. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Serving quintessential West Coast fare, this Yaletown hotspot has a fantastic patio surrounded by lush greenery at the corner of Hamilton and Helmcken. And the sun exposure at this dinner-only establishment is perfectly timed from early to mid evening. Choose from an amazing selection at the raw bar or order one of many tantalizing dishes like the West Coast sablefish, Cherry Creek chicken or Waygu beef.
Obscured by a heavy velvet curtain, the intimate courtyard patio in this Yaletown heritage building is the perfect setting for a romantic rendezvous. And the delicious menu will definitely help to set the mood if your plans extend past dessert and special coffee. Open from dinner until late.
Right on the corner of Davie and Hamilton, this large patio gets the sun from lunch until late afternoon, making it ideal for an afternoon brew and share plates of mini burgers, flatbread or calamari with chipotle aioli and tzatziki. Serves lunch and dinner.
Head to this Yaletown patio for award-winning Mediterranean cuisine enjoyed in the summer sun. Luxuriate in the elegant al fresco experience as you flip through the 62-page wine menu and peruse the exceptional menu utilizing sustainable West Coast ingredients.
The length of this raised patio is hugged by warm wooden slats and made cosier by overhead heaters after the sun sets. Serving hearty morning favourites and delectable sandwiches, flatbreads, salads and entrees, Commune is open weekdays from 8 a.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
Direct your merriment to this sun-drenched space at the corner of Mainland and Helmcken. Boasting the largest patio in Yaletown, you won’t have to worry about leaving any friends out of your fete, and the menu is sure to please your group’s tastes with its selection of modern pub fare and West Coast-inspired cuisine. Serves lunch and dinner.
What better way to start a birthday weekend than a decadent brunch on this lovely Yaletown patio lined with comfy benches and potted plants. Expect to be spoiled as you feast on lobster bennys, rosemary honeycomb French toast, and, of course, mimosas. Also serves lunch and dinner.
One of the newer kids on the block, Good Wolfe serves awesome ethical food in a coveted spot on one of Yaletown’s patio rows. For brunch, try the croissant bread pudding French toast with maple blueberries and whipped cream, and a side of bacon or sausage, all cured and smoked in-house. Later in the day, try the ratatouille lasagna with eggplant and zucchini, or the roasted ling cod with lentils, beets and carrot purée. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
Tucked into an alcove where the historic Homer Building meets The Beasley’s towering condominiums, the Homer Street Cafe’s elegant patio is the perfect spot to enjoy their juicy rotisserie chicken on a sunny evening – or the rotisserie breakfast of pork sausage and pork belly, eggs, potatoes and toast on a bright morning. Serves brunch, lunch and dinner.
This is one of the best rooftop patios in the city and a lively place to have an evening drink, whether it’s a cocktail, beer, sp
