Looking to spend your entire summer patio hopping? We’ve got you covered
Photo by Kristen de Jager.
With so many patios and such little summertime, choosing the perfect spot to get your fruity little drink can feel like an Olympic sport.
To make things a little less intimidating, I have carefully curated a list of patios to go to this summer based on your plans for the night. Whether you want to pregame for a rager, or have a drink with your parents, hopefully this list will help you figure out where your night is going.
The “perfect pregame” patio: The Local
Warmer nights mean pregaming on patios. If you are looking for a patio to be your first stop of many throughout the night, look no further than The Local. It’s location on Wharf Street makes it the perfect patio to pregame your heart out, before popping over to *shudder* Upstairs.
The “I want a chill night” patio: Rooftop
Sometimes going to patios does not mean that you’re pre-ing for a night of summer clubbing, and that’s okay. That’s where Rooftop steps in! Though they don’t offer a happy hour, Rooftop is still perfect for when you want a chill night with your friends or if you want to get drinks with your parents. The mocktail and cocktail menu combined with the view of the city makes it a perfect place to have a peaceful patio moment, and their volleyball courts help to bring the summertime fun into the heart of downtown.
The “girls night” patio: Superflux
If you are looking for a place that has a view similar to Rooftop (but slightly better), with a good selection of drinks to catch up and gossip over, Superflux is absolutely the way to swing. Situated over Discovery Coffee, Superflux offers a heated patio, great cocktails, and (if you want to indulge, which I heavily suggest you do) curly fries.
These elements combined with a great view of downtown Victoria make Superflux the perfect place to visit with your besties on the weekend.
The “let’s break-up” patio: Belleville’s
A query many people face when planning emotional talks is where to have them. If you are looking for a warm, comforting environment where your future ex will feel safe, don’t break up with them on a patio.
But if you want to leave them at a place where they will have no other emotional ties and you don’t want to ruin one of their favourite spots, Belleville’s is the place. With little to no mocktail options, your new ex will have no choice but to get absolutely plastered after you break up with them. Maybe the heated patio will help them feel comfortable with staying for as long as they need to on the cold night.
The “silent but deadly” patio: McRae’s
For the people looking to soak up the sun outside of the heart of downtown Victoria, Mcrae’s is the spot. Located on Shelbourne and McRae Avenue, McRae’s boasts a wonderful amount of food and drink options. If you are going in a group and looking for a fun option with cocktails, I recommend you try getting the tower that serves large portions of drinks from mimosas to mojitos.
Just remember to bring a summer sweater or jacket, as the Mcrae’s patio is not heated, and the breeze may blow you over on windy days (in true Victoria fashion).
The “let’s catch up over brunch” patio: Boom + Batten
If you find yourself in the need to catch up with your friends over mimosas and eggs Benny, then the Boom + Batten patio will treat you right. Its location in the inner harbour allows Boom + Batten to offer you and your party the ultimate view while you catch each other up on your goals, inspirations, or simply what went down the night before.
With so many occasions and such little time, this patio list hopefully broke down where to go based on your needs.
However, if you are still in the market for a patio in Victoria, here are some honourable mentions that didn’t make the list, but that I still hold close to my heart:
- Milestones at the Wharf
- Tapa Bar
- Leopold’s Tavern
- Glo
- Maude Hunter’s Pub
- Craft Beer Market
- The Drake Eatery
