28 JUN 2019: Summer is here, which, from our perspective, pretty much means patio season. So, with this in mind – and, more importantly, glass in hand – we at Travel Industry Today, ever at the service of our readers, launch a seasonal series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues to enjoy the (hopefully good) weather, a frosty something or other, and some good cheer with friends, family or colleagues, or perhaps someone just met.

We start this week at home (at least for TIT) in Toronto on the waterfront with a venue that came to mind when recommended recently by friends to a gent who was looking for a great date spot to take a sweetheart visiting from Calgary: The Amsterdam BrewHouse (245 Queens Quay, Harbourfront).

Date or not, the restaurant and bar is a perfect summer setting thanks to its vast patio space (accommodating 300 people) overlooking Toronto Harbour, cool indoor space in case the weather isn’t co-operating (the patio is also heated), and, of course, a requisite selection of Amsterdam craft brews, such as 3Speed Lager, Big Wheel Deluxe Amber, Boneshaker IPA and KLB Raspberry Wheat Beer. Food isn’t of the run-of-the-mill variety and includes wood oven pizza and “award winning” barbecue, as well as trendy “bowls.”

Getting in is rarely a problem with close to 500 seats in total and reservations can be made online but are not required. Opening time is 11 a.m., and the vacuums come out “late.” The location is a short walk to the rest of Harbourfront, the Rogers Centre for a Jays game, and the downtown core.

And if you manage to go this Canada Day weekend, be sure to check out the tall ships – including, for the first time in a decade, the Bluenose II – which are dropping anchor for the Redpath Waterfront Festival and the Tall Ships Challenge race series.