LOOKIN’ UP Though located in the Financial District, Vertical (pictured) offers an escape from the hustle and bustle—its modern-chic open-air mezzanine overlooks a parkette instead of Bay Street’s beaten path. Enjoy a fresh Mediterranean-inspired meal while listening to the serene gurgle of the waterfall feature or grooving to the DJ’s mix on Thursday and Friday nights. HIP HIDEAWAY Lounge with your friends on pillow-laden benches and shoot the breeze above the cool West Queen West nabe. Palm trees and an unimpeded view make the all-season rooftop Sky Yard at the Drake Hotel a desirable destination for relaxing. ONE & ONLY Glammed-up residents and visitors frequent luxurious One for chef Mark McEwan’s cuisine and, in summer, the wraparound patio. Order some cocktails and peer between the bountiful shrubs for a perfect view of upscale Yorkville. EXOTIC SIGHT Tuck in at a teak table or swivel into a seat at the black granite bar on the patio at Ki Modern Japanese & Bar. Some privacy is afforded by a sleek iron fence and planter boxes with bamboo stalks, but really, you want to be seen sipping sake martinis at this swank spot. FEELS LIKE HOME Students, families and young professionals alike gather on the large patio at Café Diplomatico. Ensconced in Little Italy and just off busy College Street, it’s an ideal spot for casual conversation over a round of pints and panini.
