Cigar Affair's Cigarden
323 Conant St., Maumee / 419-891-0109
It's a puffer's paradise — a smoker-friendly garden terrace perfect for testing one of the area's widest selections of Pedrons, Perdomos, Olivas and Ashtons. The BYOB patio caters to a more sophisticated crowd of cigar aficionados — the kind of men who can communicate their machismo by crossing their legs. "There aren't any cigar shops like this one," says Cigar Affair's Josh Malone. "That [patio] is kind of our pride out there."
La Roe's Restaurant
24138 Front St., Grand Rapids / 419-832-3082 / www.laroesrestaurant.com
The crown jewel of Historic Downtown Grand Rapids is the beloved La Roe's Restaurant, with it's lost-in-1800s feel. If you think nothing could be more perfect than the tavern's storefront, stroll around back and you will simply fall in love with the patio. With picturesque views of the Sidecut Canal and the Maumee River, diners may be enticed to bring a canvas and easel to capture the moment with paint. (It's seriously that pretty.) The patio also features heaters for cool summer nights and fans for hot summer days. The best part of a dining experience here is the sound of the river trickling over the rapids.
El Camino Real
2500 W. Sylvania Ave. / 419-472-0700 / www.elcaminorealtoledo.com
Is there anyone in town that doesn't have a story about a wild night at this West Toledo patio? Or at least a story where all your friends have to fill in the details following too many of El Camino's legendary margs? Voted "Best Patio" in TCP's 2012 Dining Guide, El Camino's outdoor space is known to be the premier place to heat up summer nights Thursdays through Saturdays.
Shorty's True American Roadhouse
5111 Monroe St. / 419-841-9505 / www.mancys.com/shortys
No other type of food preparation embodies a season like BBQ, and if you're anywhere near the corner of Talmadge and Monroe Streets the sweet, smoky smell of Shorty's is impossible to elude. Shorty's knows BBQ is best served outdoors, so they've spared no expense to enhance the roadhouse's covered patio. It's a modern salute to the rustic beginnings of BBQ and the tradition of enjoying char-grilled meat with friends and family around an open fire pit. And the patio is equipped with six retractable panels that make it ready for all seasons—enclosed when it's chilly and opened up to make the warm weather bearable
Swig
219 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg / 419-873-6223 / www.swigrestaurantandbar.com
Foodies are already aware of Swig's adventurous menu, but when the summer heats up, this Perrysburg gastropub's patio takes eating outside up a notch. It's a great place to relax and enjoy their fine selection of craft brews or to get a breath of fresh air after stuffing your face with Scotch eggs. And honestly, what sounds more delectable than indulging in one of Swig's Chocolate Covered Bacon Sundaes on a hot summer day?
The Oliver House
27 Broadway / 419-243-1302 / www.theoliverhousetoledo.com
Tucked inside the elegant 19th century architecture of the historic Oliver House is a charming open air courtyard with the ambiance of a Parisian bistro. The Oliver House is home to five different restaurant experiences that share the courtyard as a binding centerpiece. Whether you're enjoying lunch at The Cafe, a couple Buckeye Beers at happy hour or sampling the whole selection of craft brews from the in-house Maumee Bay Brewing Co. during a late night at Mutz, the courtyard makes dining & drinking alfresco a choice decision any time of day.
Herbie's
100 W. Main St., Haskins / 419-823-3409 / www.herbiespizzadepotandpub.com
The drive to Herbie's is calm and serene — you catch the typical Ohio farmland views — so when you arrive at this Haskins restaurant and bar to find a beach retreat emerging from the small town abyss, it's a pleasant, sandy surprise. Wooden swings suspended from the ceiling provide the swaying bar seating, and candy-colored lifeguard chairs and umbrellas help solidify the Cancun-like scene. Because a margarita tastes a little sweeter when you can dig your feet in the sand.
Bar 145
5305 Monroe St. / 419-593-0073 / www.bar145toledo.com
The patio at Bar 145 is truly an extension of all the fun that takes place inside this West Toledo gastropub. Known for burgers, bourbon and bands, the large oval bar straddles indoors and outdoors. You can enjoy a delicious gourmet burger out on the patio and still have a great view of the inside stage, where there is live music entertainment every weekend. It’s a testimony to all the planning that owner Jeremy Fitzpatrick put into the construction, making this one of Toledo’s best rock spots.
Element 112
5735 N. Main St., Sylvania / 419-517-1104 / www.element112restaurant.com
Chef Chris Nixon is all about bringing his New York training and experience to a Toledo audience — though he's young, the newly minted restaurateur's aesthetic is that of a seasoned pro. Nixon's modern-looking bar scene spills out through a garage door-like opening, and the drink concoctions — experimental and fun — are what secure Element 112 as the rookie to watch.
Rosie's Italian Grille
606 N. McCord Rd. / 419-866-5007 / www.rosiesitaliangrille.com
For those who can't make the trip to the Boot, Rosie's is the next best thing. It's equipped with everything a Toledoan needs for a staycation — a sophisticated crowd, a gorgeous stone setting, and superb cuisine. And the adjacent wall of trickling water that feeds into a fountain filled with koi fish provides a refreshing view to admire while sipping a pomegranate martini or a fine Italian wine.
Wesley's
1201 Adams St. / 419-255-3333 / www.wesleysbar.com
Maybe we're a bit biased since this fine drinking establishment is right across from the TCP office, and barmaid Lori already knows the staff's individual poison when we race in after work. Nevertheless, this UpTown District patio serves as a great place to slug your worries away—with a high privacy fence that allows you to breathe easy and enjoy your fill of brews, and a bocce court that doubles as a space for corn hole. And there's no cooler scene in the Glass City than the bar’s Old School Hip Hop Friday nights.
Dégagé Jazz Cafe
301 River Rd., Maumee / 419-794-8456 / www.historiccommercialbuilding.com
Just a few blocks from Downtown Maumee is the Historic Commercial Building where Dégagé Jazz Cafe occupies the first floor. The romantic patio is a lovely area to cool off from the hot jazz inside or to dine with a picturesque view of the quiet neighborhood along River Road—even without a view of the water. This patio isn't of the raucous variety, so it’s ideal for date night or conversing with friends over one of Chef Joseph Jacobsen’s gourmet pizzas.
The Pinnacle's Twylite Terrace
1772 Indian Wood Circle Rd., Maumee / 419-891-7325 / www.pinnaclecpwevents.com
Typically, all a patio needs to do to help us solidify the coming weekend is provide a talented bartender and a little greenery. If it can tie our fun to a little philanthropy, too, all the better. The Pinnacle partners with area charities weekly— from Feed Lucas County Children to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure N.W.O. — to host Twylite Thursdays on its terrace every week from 5-8pm. The $10 cover charge is donated to local causes.
The Docks El Vaquero, Real Seafood Company, Forrester's On The River, Zia's/ Main St.
downtown Toledo near International Park
It's the grand daddy of Toledo patios: four behemoth restaurants, a crowd that arrives by land and (quasi) sea, and the best view of the city skyline. The Docks are an established classic. The best thing about a classic? It never disappoints.
Best Western Premier Grand Plaza Hotel
444 N. Summit St. / 419-241-1411 / www.hoteldowntowntoledo.com
Though it's endured changes to its moniker through the years, one part of this downtown hotel remains unspoiled (and undiscovered): the patio of its Del Sol restaurant. Its tables sit undisturbed on the quieter side of the Maumee River, where you can admire the Martin Luther King, Jr. bridge and pretend you're seated on the edge of a waterway in some European city. We head here after 5 when all we need is a drink, a view, and some peace and quiet.
Burger Bar 419
Monroe St.
5215 Monroe St. / 419-724-7901 / www.burgerbar419.com
Just because they had a name change doesn't mean they changed the game. The former Star Bar still has the same great nightlife and now has the added allure of Toledo's most creative burgers. Anchoring the back of the Beverly Hills Plaza, Burger Bar Monroe St.'s large patio is a prime spot to try all the mammoth burgers on the menu or meet for drinks and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.
Elliot Charney
419-480-9821 / www.toledophoto.net
During his assignments for the Toledo City Paper, Charney has had to sneak onto rooftops and enter no trespassing zones. Luckily for our annual patio guide, his most taxing duty was to imbibe. "The best patios have the best beer," Charney says. "Of all the patios I photographed, my favorite was the Oliver House for their great atmosphere and their great local brews."
Marisa Rubin
419-244-9859 / [email protected]
Though staff photographer Rubin (who worked with Elliot Charney) has traveled through Central America and much of Europe, her favorite patios are still in Toledo. "I enjoyed seeing people having a great time in the city, even though so many people say it's boring," Rubin says. She can often be found at Wesley's, camera-free, answering questions about her hair color.
