Kensington Kitchen
The Kensington Kitchen is an ideal brunch buffet for your sweet Granny’s birthday. It can also offer a romantic midnight date spot beneath the rustling trees. There's even a chance to combine cocktails with firefly sightings. Kensington Market regulars keep hoping the latest round of gentrification won’t ravage places like the much-loved Kensington Kitchen and, so far, they’ve been lucky. KK’s deck gives you the thrilling, semi-nostalgic sensation of being in a tree house. It's fragile, shaky, completely shaded by trees and very, very romantic.-MBO $$. 124 Harbord Street, 416-961-3404.



Karuchie
With its signature Mediterranean motel motif now comfortably in place, Karuchie has managed to pull in a like-minded crowd that fits the darkly polished space at College and Ossington like a glove. Karuchie’s evening guests, at a superficial but unsuspecting glance, seem to be an amorously inclined bunch, considering their behavior remains pretty well within PG-13 standards. But, the small, stylishly appointed patio is conducive to all sorts of intimacies. The executive chef is Chris Thorn, the latest prodigy to emerge from the kitchens of Scaramouche. But it's not Japanese; Karuchie is Thorn's vehicle for staging his creative take on continental cuisine. – B.J. $$$. 924 College Street, 416-850-1729



Madison Avenue Pub
Take up thy arms and trek to the Annex, down to the Madison Avenue Pub where students gather to quaff Guinness and enjoy the warm atmosphere of the Maddy. On busy nights, all five patios will teem with draught drown-ers. A frat boy/Blackberry-wielder's wet dream, these patios are hot even on cool August nights. Do not enter without a high tolerance and be prepared to get your flirt on. This place offers prime pickin’s. - A.J. $$. 14 Madison Avenue, 416-927-1722.



One
This is another one of those Yorkville locations that is a high quality restaurant featuring a well-respected celebrity chef (in this case, Mark McEwan) and a ginormous price tag. There’s no getting around the fact that you’ll be paying through the teeth for a meal here, but at least you’ll be getting damn high quality eats in return. The summer patio is open, clean, and beautiful. The wealthy locals strut their stuff on the surrounding streets, decked out in the finest designer threads they could find. It’s hard to have a bad time while you’re drinking here (unless you bankrupt yourself paying for the bill of course). –P.B. $$$$. 134 Yorkville Avenue, 416-961-9600.



Panorama
While European cities may have architectural pedigrees, plethoric history, and stunning promenades, North American metropolises have skylines. There is nowhere in Toronto where this is more apparent than at Panorama. The drop-dead gorgeous view of the city transcends this resto's less than ideal Manulife Centre location for an experience like no other. So if a great view is the primary quality that you seek in a patio, you really can’t beat this place.-S.W.
$$$$. 55 Bloor Street West (51st floor), 416-967-0000.