NOW's survey of T.O.'s best patios is organized by neighbourhood. To be extra helpful, we've included other notable restaurants in each area.

= Critic's top-50 pick
 B   = Barrier-free: When NOW labels a patio "barrier-free," it has at least one entrance where there are no steps, its tables are reasonably spaced and its washrooms are located on the same floor although they're not necessarily equipped with assistance.

Downtown

Bymark 66 Wellington West, at York, 416-777-1144. Located right on the courtyard with 50-storey skyscrapers looming overhead, Mark McEwan's Bymark claims one of downtown's most impressive skyline views. And you don't have to leave the ground to see it! TD architect Mies van der Rohe would approve the resto's Yabu Pushelberg interior, huge wine cellar and adjacent sculptural cows. On the patio, the Bay Street gang knock back Sea Salt Margarita's and chow down on downtown's priciest burger, 8-ounces of prime Alberta beef topped with aged chèvre, grilled porcini and shaved black truffles sided with rosemary-scented onion rings and truffle-mustard aïoli.  B  

Counter Culture Cafe 75 Sherbourne, at Adelaide East, 416-203-8451. Don't let the flower-power handle put you off. This very chic café in a reconverted warehouse – it's been gentrified twice – offers stylish panini, pain au chocolat and designer salads in a glorious cloistered atrium. Grab an Americano from the bar and a style magazine from the rack and chill surrounded by lush vegetation and brick walls that soar five storeys above.

Hard Rock Cafe 279 Yonge, at Dundas Square, 416-362-3636. By night, the neon-lit advertising towers that act as a high-tech backdrop to this Dundas Square curbside deck look like a sci-fi skyline straight out of Blade Runner. The Director's Cut. By day it's a somewhat less futuristic front-row seat for summer-long concerts and street festivals. Though most of its mainstream menu could be classified as tourist food (and why not? – busloads of them on their way to a Hairspray matinee pack out this historic rock 'n' roll shrine just to catch a glimpse of a pair of platforms once worn by Gene Simmons), its way-south-of-the-border nachos were named best in town by NOW's Test Kitchen^TM.  B  

Also notable

Berkeley Cafe 141 Berkeley, at Queen East, 416-955-9791. Quiet weekday lunch spot popular with TV commercial and advertising types.

Biff's 4 Front East, at Victoria, 416-860-0086. Posh French bistro across from the Hummingbird.

CLUB ROCKIT 120 Church, at Lombard, 416-306-9922. Metal-head mezzanine with pizza.

Hot House Cafe 35 Church, at Wellington, 416-366-7800. St. Lawrence local near the Market.

Imperial Public Library 58 Dundas East, at Church, 416-977-4667. A Rye High hang, this second-storey terrace overlooks bleak Dundas Platz.

Jump Commerce Court East, 416-363-3400. Power suits commandeer tables in the shadow of Commerce Court.

Kubo DX 234 Bay, at King West, 416-368-5826. Inexpensive pan-Asian lunches and classy cocktails at the foot of the Design Centre.

Mercatto on Bay 330 Bay, at Adelaide West, 416-306-0647. The Core's only patio, an offshoot of the Toronto Street trat.