hile some bars take their patios seriously, few are as serious as the Bedford Academy, which has an outdoor space almost as large as their indoor. Near UofT, the Academy is popular with university students and Annexians as well as Bay Street professionals.

As soon as the ice thaws in Toronto, the wrap-around patio is almost always packed. It’s a good place to meet a date on one of the smaller round tables on the street underneath the umbrellas, or a big group of friends as the multitude of picnic tables can be easily pushed together. Positioned on a street north of and parallel to Bloor, the manor-like building has a charm other bars are jealous of, and the area is just quiet enough to allow you to forget that you are in the heart of the city. – T.F.