elcome to the Martiniboys.com Patio Guide. It's that time of year when offices empty with alacrity, the air has subtle hints of sunscreen, and sunglass tans abound. We've cut through the underbrush to uncover a truly superlative round-up of patios, crowded with other like-minded stylers for whom threads and rides are as salient as scoring. Somewhere in this list is the place for you: the social haven where elements converge to form that brilliant alchemy of comfort and down-home drinking. Whether wooing a mate, sealing a deal with a client, partying with a group of friends, or bonding with that rotten kid, each of these spots hold the power to put you in a better mood.



Amber
Once you’ve received the nod, you’re greeted into an overly SoBe space with unadorned whitewashed walls in which to keep the focus on the main attraction: the seriously hot crowd. The urban style atmo, crammed with people that look, feel, and taste better than anybody that you've ever seen before, forces revelers to drink and, to a certain extent, dance. When you piece it all together, you realize that you are standing on a little deck that just happens to be crowded with other like-minded stylers for whom threads and rides are as salient as scoring. - B.J. $$$$. 119 Yorkville Avenue, 416-926-9037.



Aunties & Uncles
Cute as a goddamned button, this is the quintessential sun-drenched, home-spun, neighbourhood patio. While the exterior looks sketchy, rest assured, everything on that little deck is just right. Really, A&U's patio may not look like much, but this modest, spot has an inclusive, esoteric allure - it's an anti-Starbucks if there ever was one. With low, café-style tables and diffused lights, Aunties & Uncles induces instant ease. - B.J. $. 74 Lippincott Street, 416-324-1375.



Balzac’s Cafe
In the upper ventricle of the Distillery District’s heart, Balzac’s Café remains difficult to locate, yet still manages to pull in a young crowd. Balzac’s patio, a pretty product of its surroundings, boasts Brasserie-type umbrellas that keep patrons cool, contemplative and indifferent to their expansive view of surrounding movie sets. We're betting that this landmark patio will outlive all the shiny newcomers in town. - D.E. $$$. 55 Mill Street, 416-207-1709.



The Beaconsfield
The Beaconsfield, an upscale watering hole, will take your mind of off its hulking, cross-the-street compatriot. Beaconsfield owners have created an inviting patio that attracts rather than intimidates. Though The Beaconsfield offers a stellar French martini - essentially a raspberry-spiked cocktail in a martini glass - the crowd typically (and fanatically) sticks to wine and beer. The wine, food, and service are first rate and will undoubtedly help spread the word. So the odds are strong that the Beaks will age pleasantly with time. You must be sick of the Drake by now. - S.W. $$$. 1154 Queen Street West, 416-516-2550.



Bedford Academy
The Bedford takes everything fabulous about this old Annex location and combines it with a DIY flair of ravish cool that maximizes the most from the space, including a fun-and-cheap patio area, when in season. As soon as the ice thaws, the wrap-around patio is generally packed, making it a great place to meet a date or a big group of friends, as the multitude of picnic tables can be easily pushed together (or apart). Positioned on a street north of and parallel to Bloor, the manor-like building has a charm, and the area is just quiet enough to allow you to forget that you are in the heart of the city. – T.F. $. 36 Prince Arthur Avenue