Patios you need to hit up in Kingston, volume 1

By Visit Kingston

Ah, patio season – the most wonderful time of the year! Sunshine, umbrellas, and cocktails! Let’s take a look at some of the patios in the Kingston area.

Waterfront

The Patio at AquaTerra

1 Johnson St.

Daily, noon–9 pm

AquaTerra offers picturesque waterfront views of Lake Ontario and Confederation Harbour. Their menu focuses on the freshest, and whenever possible, locally sourced ingredients. They also have a large selection of refreshing beverages such as champagne, cocktails, and local wines and brews. The Patio is located at the bottom of Clarence Street.

Juniper Café

370 King St. W.

Mon–Fri, 8 am–7 pm
Sat, 8 am–6 pm
Sun, 9 am–5 pm

Juniper Cafe serves house-made sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. They use local ingredients whenever possible and offer a variety of gluten-free and vegetarian options. Here, you can enjoy a cup of Pilot Coffee or an iced turmeric latte beside sparkling Lake Ontario. This waterfront gem is also located in the Tett Centre for Creativity & Learning, which is home to nine arts organizations.

Wharf & Feather Restaurant and Patio

2 Princess St.

Mon–Sun, 7–11 am, noon–3 pm, 3–9 pm

Wharf & Feather Restaurant and Patio boasts Kingston’s largest outdoor waterfront patio. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tuck into some shareables like the loaded nacho stack or bigger plates like the pier fish and chips. They’re also Feast On® certified, so, you’ll be dining at a restaurant dedicated to sourcing their food and beverages from Ontario.

 

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The River Mill Restaurant

2 Cataraqui St.

Tues–Sat, 11:30 am–2:30 pm, 5–11 pm

Dine along the Cataraqui River at the Woolen Mill, a building that’s 125 years old. You’ll enjoy plates that use only the freshest ingredients from local producers. From pear salad to mushroom ragu potato gnocchi, the River Mill serves amazing food for casual public dining and private formal events.

Dockside Patio on Crawford Wharf

1 Brock Street

Wed–Sun, 11 am until late

Enjoy Kingston’s waterfront at the Dockside Patio on Crawford Warf. This family-friendly patio offers cold beer, chilled wines, refreshing cocktails, and picnic-style items with great flavours. In addition, their affordable pricing, creative use of ingredients, and quick service will keep you wanting more!

West end

Spearhead Brewing Company

675 Development Dr.

Sun–Tues, noon–7 pm
Wed–Sat, noon–10 pm

Craving a cold one? Spearhead’s patio is a west-end favourite. You won’t regret enjoying some fresh air and cool brews here. Depending on the day, you might just pop by during a fun event like open mic or trivia night.

 

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Raxx Billiards Bar and Grill

665 Development Dr.

Sun–Mon, Closed
Tues–Thu, 11:30 am–10 pm
Fri–Sat, noon–midnight

What’s better than saucy wings and tap beer? Serving typical pub food, Raxx Bar and Grill has an extensive menu with yummy starters, stone-baked pizza, and more. Dine on the patio and return inside to their pool hall for some fun with the whole family.

Smoke ‘N’ Barrel

627 Fortune Crescent – Unit 1

Daily, 11 am–11 pm

Smoke ‘N’ Barrel features delicious southern barbecue including wings, chicken thighs, biscuits, ribs and more. Their patio is open late every day, but you can head over any weekday from 2 to 5 pm for $6 pints of Bud and Bud Light.

Mesa Fresca

1347 Gardiners Rd.

Tues–Sat, 11:30 am–9 pm
Sun, noon–7 pm
Mon, Closed

Mesa Fresca is a fully accessible, full-service restaurant offering a modern, casual, and fun setting. Their approachable menu includes Latin and Mexican inspired fare, along with twists on some great restaurant classics. They also have a kids’ menu that’s perfect for picky eaters. Mesa Fresca strives to bring the freshest and finest quality ingredients to your table (along with house corn chips and salsa, of course).

Downtown

The Backyard Patio Bar & Grill

285 Queen St.

Mon–Thu, 4–11 pm
Fri–Sun, noon–11 pm

The Backyard Patio Bar & Grill offers park-like dining in downtown Kingston. This shaded patio is a full-service restaurant and bar with more than 150 seats. They’ve created a new summer menu for you to enjoy with choices such as plant-based burgers, tacos, and individual pizzas. The patio is located behind the Renaissance Supper Club (formerly known as the Renaissance Event Venue) and can be accessed off Queen Street by following the walkway beside the building.

The Mansion

506 Princess St.

Mon–Fri, 11 am–2 am
Sat–Sun, 10 am–2 am

Enjoy one of the largest patios in downtown Kingston for brunch between 10 am and 3 pm, or tuck into some pub-style food for dinner. This restaurant has a full-service bar and is also a popular live music venue. You’ll find their patio bustling with performers throughout the summer. The best thing about The Mansion might be that their patio includes a tiki bar and a beach volleyball court!

 

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Wooden Heads

192 Ontario St.

Daily, 11:30 am–11 pm

Nothing beats a fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza. Luckily, Wooden Heads offers patio service so you can enjoy some of their delicious wood-fired pizza and signature cocktails in their cozy courtyard. They also have daily specials that highlight unique pizza sauces and toppings.

NORTHSIDE espresso + kitchen

281 Princess St.

Tues–Sun, 8 am–3 pm

The patio – and the food – at NORTHSIDE espresso + kitchen are vibrant, sunny, and fresh. They highlight seasonal and local flavours with their breakfast, coffee, alcoholic beverages, and sweet treats. You’ll find some of the most creative, Aussie-inspired brekkie options here.

Harper’s

93 Princess St.

Sun–Thu, 11:30 am–9 pm
Fri–Sat, 11:30 am–10 pm

Whether you’re craving a beef, chicken, salmon, or veggie burger – Harper’s Burger Bar is the place to go! Harper’s Burger Bar serves delicious customizable burgers, crispy hand-cut fries, and creamy, refreshing milkshakes. Their sidewalk patio allows you to take in the sights of Princess Street and makes any downtown shopping trip better.

Chez Piggy

68 Princess St.

Mon–Sat, 11:30 am–9 pm
Sun, 10 am–9 pm

Bringing you locally sourced ingredients and flavours inspired by global cuisine, Chez Piggy also offers their fine dining experience outside. This local favourite serves brunch, lunch, and dinner on their courtyard patio in the heart of downtown. It’s a space surrounded by greenery and bustling flowers and is perfect for any dining occasion. Kids’ options are also available at every mealtime.

Kingston Coffee House

322 King St. E.

Sun–Thu, 7:30 am–7 pm
Fri–Sat, 7:30 am–8 am

Head down to Kingston Coffee House for a cup of freshly roasted, organic, fair-trade coffee, and an unbeatable view. Kingston Coffee House is located directly across from Springer Market Square, making their patio a sunny spot for a sweet pick-me-up. The café is a family-owned business that serves creative caffeinated beverages like a maple white chocolate mocha or iced salted caramel latte, as well as sandwiches and treats made in-house with hyperlocal and organic ingredients.

Kingston Brewing Company

34 Clarence St.

Sun–Thu, 11:30 am–midnight
Fri–Sat, 11:30–1 am

Kingston Brewing Company is best known for its beer, its laid-back vibe, and the gorgeous, private patio in the old carriageway beside the pub. Established in 1986, the Kingston Brewing Company is Ontario’s oldest brewpub. The food is pub standard with unique twists – beer is used in many of the recipes. Explore their different brews and delicious food.

Daft Brewing

768 Princess St.

Mon–Tues, 3–9 pm
Wed, 3–10 pm
Thu, 3–11 pm
Fri, 11:30–2 am

Sat, 11:30–1 am
Sun, 11:30 am–8 pm

This brewery is the ultimate taproom for anyone who loves beer and socializing. Whether you’re a novice hoping to try your first sip of craft beer or a seasoned veteran who’s sampled a variety of brews, the wide range of flavours available will interest anyone interested in discovering beer’s true potential. The venue features a full taproom, vibrant murals, an open concept brewery, and a large patio.

Tom’s Place – Best Western

1217 Princess St.

Mon–Thu, 11:30 am–10 pm
Fri–Sat, 11:30 am–11 pm
Sun, 4–9 pm

Best Western Kingston has been on the Kingston scene for nearly 50 years, and you can grab a comforting lunch or light dinner here. Tom’s Place patio is open to the public and serves starters, salads, sandwiches, and yummy shareables like Swiss cheese fondue.

 

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Amadeus Café

170 Princess St.

Tues–Thu, 4–8 pm
Friday, 4–10 pm
Sat, noon–10 pm
Sun–Mon, Closed

Sit back and relax at Amadeus Café’s hidden beer garden (biergarten in German). For nearly 30 years, Amadeus has been delighting guests with authentic European recipes straight from their family’s kitchen. They focus on German and Austrian dishes such as smoked pork chop, chicken schnitzel, and unforgettable sausages, along with tap beer.

Delightfully Different Tea Room

197 Wellington St.

Wed–Sat, 10:30 am–4:30 pm
Sun–Tues, Closed

This garden patio is located at the end of Martello Alley, an art-themed historic alley in downtown Kingston. The alley features numerous artists’ original and printed artwork in a friendly atmosphere. Delightfully Different Tea Room’s patio is situated within the alley’s charming courtyard and offers homemade soups, quiche, sandwiches, salads, and delicious desserts. They also have vegan and gluten-free options. You’re sure to find your perfect cup of tea here!

 

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Tango Nuevo

331 King St. East

Sun–Thu, 11:30 am–11 pm
Fri–Sat, 11:30 am–midnight

Immerse yourself in a globally-inspired tapas experience at Tango Nuevo. Tango Nuevo embraces the Spanish tradition of sharing small plates (tapas), which brings people together and encourages conversation. Embrace the tapas experience on their sidewalk patio trimmed with lights and greenery.

East end

The Duchess Pub

1206 Highway 15 – Unit 8A

Mon–Sat, 11:30 am–10 pm

If you’re looking for a great patio in the east end of Kingston, check out The Duchess Pub. The Duchess Pub offers traditional pub fare on their breezy patio. We love their fried polenta, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert. They also have a kids’ menu.

This article was updated in August 2024 to reflect changes in menus and venues, using previous content by Rebecca Jansen.

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