Whether it’s a Mexican-fusion restaurant serving mouthwatering tacos or an authentic Texas barbeque offering platters of perfectly grilled meat, Kingston’s west-end restaurants are distinctive in their style and cuisine.
We’ve created a list of the best west-end patios you can visit today.
Mesa Fresca
1347 Gardiner Roadƒ
With Mesa Fresca’s patio open for the summer, the city has a new spot to sip on a hibiscus margarita and snack on house-made tortilla chips with fresh guacamole.
During the day, Mesa Fresca’s patio is dotted with bright yellow umbrellas and vibrant greenery. When the sun sets, string lights illuminate the outdoor space, creating a warm and intimate ambiance amplified by Mesa Fresca’s wooden bar and private location in the west end.
The restaurant serves Latin and Mexican-inspired dishes, such as their crowd-pleasing churros with bittersweet Mexican chocolate and gooey caramel. Mesa Fresca prides itself on using local suppliers to purchase its dairy, meat, produce, and alcohol products.
Mesa Fresca offers vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options. Plus, their kitchen is entirely peanut-free.
Call Mesa Fresca at 613-389-6372 and book your reservation today.
Spearhead Brewing Company
675 Development Drive
Founded on the mantra “Beer Without Boundaries,” this west-end brewery serves a variety of unique beers on their orange-accented patio.
Sitting outside in Spearhead Brewing Company’s beer garden, filled with orange umbrellas and placed on a neatly trimmed swath of grass, you can enjoy their signature brews, such as the Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, featuring pineapple and citrusy flavours, or Amber of the North, which has a warm chocolate molasses taste with undertones of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit aroma.
Can’t pick just one beer? Expand your palate and purchase the flight of four beers.
If you’re not a fan of beer, Spearhead also serves classic cocktails, local wines, and non-alcoholic drinks, including their handcrafted sparkling beverage, Akwa, with notes of grapefruit, tropical fruit, and lemon. It’s the perfect drink to cool down on a hot summer’s day.
In addition to a wide variety of drinks, Spearhead serves kettle chips, smoked meat on rye bread, and a variety of mouthwatering flatbreads. Order their warm pretzel with mustard to go along with your pint.
Whether you come on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday from 2 to 6 pm for happy hour or on Sundays for $5.97 Caesars, you’re bound to have a great time on Spearhead’s patio chatting with friends over a cold drink. Book a table on their patio today!
Smoke ’N Barrel
627 Fortune Crescent
Southern-style banana cream pie and authentic Texas barbeque has found a home in Kingston at Smoke ’N Barrel.
Smoke ’N Barrel’s spacious patio outfitted with whisky barrels, string lights, and rustic, wooden accents is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a spiked lemonade. The restaurant, run by the owner of the iconic ’50s diner in downtown Kingston, Tommy’s (377 Princess Street), hosts happy hour on Monday to Friday from 2 to 5 pm.
In addition to its extensive whisky and drink menu, Smoke ’N Barrel serves huge BBQ meat plates, loaded mac and cheeses, and other delicious southern classics. Despite their expertise in brisket and pulled pork, Smoke ’N Barrel also has flavourful options for vegetarians, including their cornbread buttons with homemade honey butter.
Take a trip to the American south in west-end Kingston and enjoy a plate of smoked meat on their patio!
Red House West
629 Fortune Crescent
Red House West’s seasonal menu items and weekly specials, featuring fresh ingredients like peach salsa, arugula, and cherry tomatoes, never disappoint. Nor does their patio on a sunny summer day.
Red House West’s food is both flavourful and versatile, making their sauces and marinades from scratch and serving dishes from a wide range of cultures. From burgers to fish tacos to jambalaya, there’s a dish for everyone to enjoy on the restaurant’s patio. Red House West also offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
The flavours of southeastern Ontario permeate all Red House West’s dishes; they purchase fresh garlic, incorporated into tasty dishes such as their seafood linguine, from A&B Elephant Garlic located in Central Frontenac. They also provide customers with a selection of locally crafted beers from Spearhead Brewing Company (featured in this list) and MacKinnon Brothers Brewing.
Red House West even collaborated with the MacKinnon Brothers on a signature brew you can order at the restaurant!
Check out their Instagram for updates on seasonal and weekly specials.
Raxx Bar and Grill
665 Development Drive
For a pool hall, restaurant, and bar wrapped into one establishment, head over to Raxx Bar and Grill. Its distinctive green and red exterior is hard to miss.
Raxx Bar and Grill’s patio offers a breezy, open atmosphere, contrasting the bar and grill’s intimate, dimly lit interior where customers can play a game of pool and listen to live music on Friday and Saturday.
In addition to staple menu items such as the King Kong Club and fajitas, Raxx Bar and Grill offers dinner specials during the week. Come down to Raxx on Tuesday for fish and chips, Wednesday for wings, Thursday for ribs, and Friday for steak. They also offer gluten-sensitive and vegetarian options.
Go to Raxx Bar and Grill’s website to make your patio reservation.
Hard Way Cider Co.
748 Development Drive
Besides visiting Kingston’s beaches, lounging in a Muskoka chair on Hard Way Cider’s patio while sipping on their Life’s a Peach Slushie is the perfect way to cool down this summer.
The only urban cidery in the west end, Hard Way Cider is serving their dry and barrel-aged ciders all summer long on their open patio. Cider flavours include the Loco Blanco, a tequila-infused cider featuring sweet notes of vanilla and caramel, and the Ramboozle, mixed with raspberry juice, giving the cider a fruit-focused taste.
To go along with your cold cider, Hard Way Cider serves General Assembly pizzas and small snack plates.
To learn more about the local cidery’s story, check out our profile on the business.
The Loyal Oarsman
1724 Bath Road
Try this English-style pub’s famous wings and wide selection of beers on their patio this summer.
The Loyal Oarsman, outfitted with an authentic British telephone booth, dim lights, deep brown furniture, and an intimate, old-timey bar, also has a large, shaded patio. Serving mouthwatering pub food, such as steak and Guinness pie and bangers and mash, The Loyal Oarsman is a welcoming spot for large groups and small intimate gatherings alike.
Head over to The Loyal Oarsman’s website and book your reservation on their patio.
Need more patio recommendations? Check out our list of patios you need to hit up Kingston!
