Saphir Bar
Do you and your partner often get into disputes over musical tastes when clubbing? Fortunately the Mediterranean cum Moroccan bar has two floors of tunes for people with just that problem (you’ll never worry about Hip Hop head infiltrating the Goth dance floor again). Now you can get your groove on equally without worrying if the other is having a good time. Meeting ground for the two of you is the terrace where you can cool down and catch a beer between tracks (or perhaps have an impromptu dance off?). -E.J. $$$. 3699 boulevard Saint-Laurent, 514-284-5093.



Shed Cafe
Remember when you were fifteen, and hanging out in the shed with your buddies getting high was literally the highlight of those formative years? Shed aims to replicate those carefree days with a somewhat Gothic dungeon den take on the traditional garden-tool home, however the grungy appeal has drawn patrons for years. If you don’t get down and dirty with the interior, the patio is an escape option where you can bask all day in the sun for a bronzed and healthy glow. For those pasty white skin tones, set up shop on the patio in the evening where risks of melanoma are at a minimum. -E.J. $$. 3515 St Laurent, 514-842-0220.




Social Club
You will often see the same Italian men at a table playing cards who had been going there for years. Known for their coffees (especially their espresso), the Social Club is super laid-back. They serve beer and sandwiches too, so you can relax over a light lunch. Their terrace is pleasant with simple, yet comfortable chairs and a nice tree that provides shade on hot summer days. –M.K. $. 180 St. Viateur O., Montreal, 514-495-0114.




Taverne Sur le Square
Its name might be misleading, because this 'tavern' is not your typical grungy pub. With its high-end provisions and vast selection of martinis, Taverne Sur Le Square offers an elegant, and perhaps even swanky, dining experience. Meals can easily be $25 per person before tax and tip. Keep in mind that you're paying for the location, and it's not necessarily the best bang for your buck. The patio is bright and sunny in the summer so you can work on your tan while feeding your growling stomach. M.K. $$$. 1 Carré Westmount, 514-989-9779



La Terrasse Magnetic
The lovely bodies from the surrounding offices flock to this Art Deco-meets-trailer-park deck above the Hotel De La Montagne. You can check out exotic dancing on a regular basis and they're even open in the daytime. No, the gals and guys don't get naked—you can go down the street for that - but for a wide variety of goods in bikinis, T's delivers. You just gotta love Montreal in the summer. Oh, and the view from the terrace is the best in the city (take that, 737). –A.J. $$$$. 1430 De La Montagne, 1-800-361-6262.



Tokyo Bar
Patio? It's not the first thing that comes to mind when Tokyo Bar is mentioned. This notorious student/club kid favourite actually has quite an alluring oasis sitting right on top of it. There, St-Laurent’s gorgeous and devoted patrons eagerly submit to Tokyo’s numerous charms: pounding music and tube tops below. The two-level rooftop terrace, complete with a full bar, provides a nice space to cool down; it's sweat respite for glorious Montreal summer evenings, and for those chilly nights, they have heating-lamps standing every few feet that are so efficient, you have to step away after about ten minutes because your head starts to burn as if you'd been standing under the blazing sun. Last time I went, they had barbeques set up on the terrace serving hamburgers to help satiate those experiencing the beer-munchies. –MBO. $$. 3709 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, 514-842-6838.



Unity II
Superfreaks alike can let loose at Unity – Montreal’s biggest gay discotheque. Straight girls flock there instead of the clubs on St-Laurent or Crescent with or without their gay friends to avoid being hit on my sketchy men in exchange for the possibility of being inappropriately touched by gay guys who are hotter and less intimidating. Though Rick James won’t be present, his spirit can live on through his funky tunes where patrons of Unity II get down and dirty until the wee hours of Muscle Night – an evening dedicated to ‘80s hits. First of July fireworks from the terrace or a mini-makeout session in the corner is what the third-floor patio is all about. Those guys feeling all hot and bothered by the sexy young thangs shaking their booties on the dance floor but having little luck picking up inside might be able to swindle a sexy man into a heated conversation on the patio (and perhaps even after the bar). Come out for a cool down in the crisp night air and take in the sight’s from a bird’s eye view of MTL’s gay village. –MBO. $$. 1171 St. Catherine Street, 514-523-2777.




Vices et Versa
With more than 18 choices of microbrew, the beer-lover can't go wrong. The company is proud of its Quebec roots and aims to showcase their own province's goods, while serving their customers quality products and a great atmosphere. The terrace is out back and offers a nice place to lounge on the summer. Nice place with a certain grunge factor in a good location. –M.K. $$. 6631 St-Laurent Boulevard, 514-272-2498.



Verses Bar at the Hotel Nelligan
Thanks to Lost in Translation, there's a certain je ne sais quoi surrounding hotel bars, and this one has it in excess. If you can't afford to get a room there, but want to splurge and spend the night in the lap of luxury, their restaurant/bar's outdoor escape is a great compromise. As you might imagine, this opulent hotel does not disappoint. Quite possibly the best terrace in Old Montreal, the Verses Sky at the sexy Hotel Nelligan is everything you’d expect from a boutique hotel’s roof-top patio: an impeccable view, beautiful people and killer cocktails. So strut through the Nelligan’s lobby, head for the top floor and order their signature ‘clear sangria’: a perfect concoction of sparkling wine, white cranberry juice and lychees, then drunk dial Scarlett Johansson. –MBO $$$$. 100 Saint-Paul Street West. 514-788-4000.



Vol de Nuit
Killer pitchers and industrial-strength margaritas lure a smorgasbord crowd of students, downtowners, gay men, and neigbourhood wanders to this cobble stone staple. The resto itself is far from exciting, but the excellent terrace is a major draw. Smooth and low-key, Vol has been bringing in a St-Laurent crowd for years. Stick around, this Prince Arthur patio gets busier throughout the, um, nuit. – R.L. $$. 14 Prince-Arthur east, 514-845-6243.