Folks in the gaybourhood love to see and be seen. Since a patio provides the perfect opportunity to do both simultaneously, it’s no surprise that Church Street is littered with them.

OLD STANDBYS We’ve found a new definition of happiness — it’s sitting in the huge back terrace of Voglie (582 Church, 416-929-9108) with trees filtering the sunlight, a trio of mini burgers for $10.95 (lamb, beef and Portobello mushroom) in front of us and glass of crisp dry white. And the decadent lounge, bar and club areas upstairs will take care of those with more energetic evening ambitions.

BEST BET: DRAG QUEENS
Drink sangria by the jug on the patio of Zelda’s (542 Church, 416-922-2526), where you can watch drag performances from just far enough away to admire the false lashes and sequins without being coerced into the cutest butt competition.

The windows at Woody’s (465-467 Church, 416-972-0887) open up to a decent chunk of Church Street, allowing drinkers to enjoy the eye candy while being protected from the elements. With two areas to choose from and elevated seating, there’s plenty to see here!

Post-coital-looking topless guys line the mural-painted walls of the patio at The Black Eagle (457 Church, 416-413-1219), which bills itself as “Toronto’s original cruise bar.” Hungry leather daddies take note: Donnie’s banana bread is just a dollar a slice and there’s a BBQ every Sunday.

O’Grady’s (518 Church, 416-323-2822) may have the biggest patio on Church, but it’s crammed with tables, so you can feel penned in. Luckily, its army of tireless staff offer distraction in the form of “Bad Boy” 140oz pitchers.

Church Mouse and Firkin (475 Church, 416-927-1735) rivals O’Grady’s on the south side of Maitland and Church. With a smaller patio and variety of table shapes and sizes, it’s equally sunny and popular from brunch till sundown.

With a 70-seat patio at the north end of Church, The Bishop and the Belcher (175 Bloor E., 416-591-2352) offers up a different crowd. Single girls can pick up after-work suits or take on an even more trivial pursuit with the board game collection.

With two patios giving shelter from the wind and a retractable awning for shade, Spirits Bar & Grill (642 Church, 416-967-0001) is a corrupter of Church Street workers on their way to the subway. If your tan lines aren’t embarrassing enough, you can always humiliate yourself at karaoke on Saturday nights.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Formerly Lüb, Statlers (487 Church, 416-925-0341) offers the best view of Church Street with new high stools and a lowered glass wall on its second floor patio. The extensive cocktail menu is heavy on innuendo; the “Heavenly Head” is a winner. Hit up Tuesday’s “customer appreciation night” for reduced prices.

Open since the beginning of last summer, “healthy Indian” restaurant Veda (506 Church, 416-961-9797) has two giant picnic tables that make for a sociable informal eating experience. Or take the bench facing Church Street and people-watch while you tuck into a $6.86 Tiffin Combo.

SEE AND BE SEEN The only thing warmer than the sun beating down on Café California’s (538 Church, 416-960-6161) 48-seat patio is Chilean owner Leticia. Known to locals as “Mama,” it’s like watching a soap opera with all the cheek-kissing and caressing that goes on between her and the regulars… some so regular they’ve been coming back for 20 years!

The set-up is a luxurious outdoor lounge at Fuzion (580 Church 416-944-9888), punctuated with flowers and patio heaters for when night comes. With a new outside bar, too, it appears they’ve thought of everything.

Menus are printed big at Fire on the East Side (6 Gloucester, 416-960-3473) so if you’ve already overdone it, you can still make out the Southern-style delights you should’ve lined your stomach with. Huge patio doors open up fully so you can sit in the elegant interior and observe passersby while feeling smug.   

With an enormous front patio sheltered by a canopy of trees, out front at The Red Lion (449 Jarvis, 416-967-5551) feels like a real English beer garden. It’s only fitting then that they serve a classic English breakfast.

With a popular patio tucked away on the southeast corner and a slogan of “Come, Sit, Stay,” you don’t mind doing what you’re told at Hair of the Dog (425 Church, 416-964-2708). There’s a good beer selection, as well as food that’s talked about.

Fiddler’s Green (27 Wellesley E., 416-967-9442) is a traditional Irish-style pub complete with red-faced locals who take pride in sharing its history. The large tree-scattered patio out front welcomes you with well-spaced plastic tables and promotional beer flags reminding you of what else you should be doing while soaking up the sun.

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