After a long winter stuck inside, Toronto residents are just itching to get outside once the temperature warms up. And that goes for dining too! Many restaurants have turned to patio dining as a way to expand both their seating capacity and their clientele, particularly with families. Even upscale venues and hotspots are now catering to the highchair crowd with separate kids menus and family-focussed amenities. (Hot tip: Hit the busy places early, around 5:00 – 6:00 PM, for quick and easy service before the adult dinner rush starts after 7.) Say Cheers to our Guide to the Best Family-Friendly Restaurant Patios in Toronto…

The Blake House
Address: 449 Jarvis Street, Church-Wellesley Village
Kids menu items: Chicken caesar salad, chicken fingers, baked mac & cheese, grilled cheese, burger

Cluny Bistro
Address: 35 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
(Les Petits Enfants) Kids menu items: Classic Caesar, gnocchi, grilled cheese sandwich & frites, fish & chips, raw market garden vegetables

El Catrin Destileria
Address: 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
(El Niños) Kids menu items: Arroz Con Pollo (braised chicken w/rice), cheese or chicken quesadilla, pescaditos (fried fish & tortilla chips w/guacamole)

Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant
Address: 212 King Street West, Entertainment District
Kids menu items: Grilled cheese, Fish & chips, cheeseburger, chicken fingers, cheese pizza

Hemingway’s Restaurant and Bar
Address: 124 Cumberland Street, Yorkville
Kids menu items: Pasta, pepperoni pizza, chicken fingers, grilled cheese

The House on Parliament
Address: 454 Parliament Street, Cabbagetown
Kids menu items: Pasta, cheese & chicken quesadilla, fish & chips, chicken fingers

IRENE — Corus Quay
Address: 25 Dockside Drive, Harbourfront
Kids menu items: Cheeseburger, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, grilled chicken burger, linguine rosé

Lobster Burger Bar
Address: 214 King Street West, Entertainment District
Kids menu items: Cheeseburger & fries, mac & cheese, fish sticks & fries, poutine, grilled chicken caesar salad

Mill Street Brewery
Address: 21 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
Kids menu items: Chicken fingers, hamburger, cheeseburger, cheese or pepperoni pizza 

The Old Spaghetti Factory
Address: 54 The Esplanade, Old Town Toronto
Kids menu items: Chicken dippers or tenders & fries, cheese or pepperoni pizza, tomato or meat sauce spaghetti, spaghetti & meatball, penne alfredo

Paupers Pub
Address: 539 Bloor St. West, The Annex
Kids menu items: Fish & chips, burgers, chicken fingers and more

Pie Bar
Address: 207 Queens Quay West, Harbourfront
Kids menu items: Cheese or pepperoni pizza, tomato or butter & parmesan pasta, chicken fingers

The Rec Room – Three10
Address: 255 Bremner Blvd., John Street Roundhouse
Kids menu items: Pepperoni or cheese pizza, chicken bites or fingers, mac & cheese, Cheeseburger, hot dog

Steam Whistle Kitchen
Address: 255 Bremner Blvd., John Street Roundhouse 
Kids menu items: Hot dog (vegan option) & fries, dino nuggets & fries, mac and cheese, kids pierogi & fries

Stella’s Kitchen Pizza & Pasta
Address: 182 Dupont Ave., The Annex
Kids menu items: Cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, spaghetti or rigatoni with cream sauce or tomato sauce, chicken tenders with fries

Storm Crow Manor
Address: 580 Church Street, Church-Wellesley Village
Kids menu items: Mama Crow’s ol’ Fashioned Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Kim Possible Burger (vegan burger), Padawan Pasta (cavatappi with butter & cheese or tomato sauce), Chocobo Tendies and Pixie Plum Sauce (chicken tenders), Tauros Burger, Necromancer Nachos (gluten-friendly possible)

Stout Irish Pub
Address: 221 Carlton Street, Cabbagetown
Kids menu items: Chicken fingers, fish’n’ chips, grilled cheese, cheeseburger, mini cheese pizza, mini nachos, mini cottage pie

Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co. (seasonal)
Address: 120 Centre Island Dock, Toronto Islands
Kids menu items: Mac & cheese (chicken or pulled pork add-on available), chicken fingers, hamburger (cheese & bacon add-on available)

Beaches Brewing Company
Address: 1953 Queen Street East, The Beach
Kids menu items: “I don’t care” (cheeseburger), “I’m not hungry” (chicken tendies), “I don’t know” (mac n’ cheese), “I don’t want that” (cheese pizza), “Ummmm whatever” (grilled cheese)

Bodega Henriette
Address: 1801 Gerrard Street East, Upper Beach
Kids menu items: Burger, grilled cheese, French toast, Kids’ breakfast

Breakwall BBQ
Address: 1910 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: Chicken wings, chicken fingers, cheeseburger, pulled pork sliders, poutine, pasta (choice of sauce) with garlic bread

Jawny Bakers Restaurant
Address: 804 O’Connor Drive, East York
Kids menu items: Penne or Alfredo pasta, pita pizza, grilled chicken, chicken strips

Slate Restaurant & Bar
Address: 2237 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: San Marzano spaghetti (tomato), Butter & Parmesan spaghetti, Americano pizza, Margherita pizza, chicken bites

Occasions Restaurant
Address: 30 Eastwood Road, Upper Beaches
Kids menu items: Grilled cheese, chicken fingers, spaghetti with meat sauce, fish & chips

The Stone Lion Pub
Address: 1958 Queen St. East, The Beaches
Kids menu items: Burger, cheeseburger, veggie burger, mac & cheese (bacon optional), chicken tenders, fish & chips

The Wolfe Tone Pub (Kids eat free on Tuesdays!)
Address: 1961 Queen St. East, The Beaches
Kids menu items: Burger & fries, chicken fingers & fries, sausage & fries, curry chips, fish & fries, grilled cheese

Barque Smokehouse (Kids eat free on School Nights!)
Address: 299 Roncesvalles Ave., High Park
Kids menu items: Chicken tenders, beef brisket, chopped BBQ pork, baby back ribs, pulled BBQ chicken, grilled cheese

The Indie Alehouse
Address: 2876 Dundas Street West, The Junction
Kids menu list: Burger, chicken plate, grilled cheese, mac n’ cheese

The Lakeview Restaurant
Address: 1132 Dundas Street West, Ossington Village
Kids menu items: Chicken fingers, grilled cheese, hamburger, veggie burger, tuna sandwich and more

Granite Brewing & Tied House
Address: 245 Eglinton Ave. East
Kids menu items: Fish and chips, Chicken fingers, Grilled cheese, Burger, Cheese pizza, Mac & cheese, Pasta with tomato sauce or butter & parmesan, Chicken & Cheese Sandwich, 1 egg meal or pancakes for brunch

McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon (Kids eat free on Wednesdays!)
Address: 1544 Bayview Avenue, Uptown
Kids menu items: Kids breakfast, pancakes, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, vegetable crudite

Café Landwer
Address: 33 Bloor St. East; 165 University Ave.; 1912 Avenue Road; 3401 Dufferin St.; 5000 Yonge St.; 33 Front St.
Kids menu items: Breakfast, halloumi sticks, pizza (also available gluten-free), pasta, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, grilled cheese

Il Fornello
Address: 576 Danforth Avenue, Greektown; 2901 Bayview Ave, North York, plus Ajax, Oakville, Richmond Hill
Kids menu items: Pizza – cheese, margherita, pepperoni, Hawaiian, pasta – Bolognese (meat), Pomodoro (tomato), Burro (butter), Alfredo (cream)

Is your tummy rumbling? Then, check out our Food & Drink event list here!