… by day or under the stars
by Heather Peter
With warm weather rolling around, daydreams of relaxing on those sunny patios start to become a reality. Luckily for us, we are spoiled for choice in Hamilton! Whether you are pining for a chill spot with friends, a fancy evening out, a night by the water, or a secret hidden gem… you’ll find what you need in this beautiful city of ours.
Visit some of these this summer:
Sarcoa
Spend a summer’s day by the sparkling Hamilton Harbour. When you feel the need for a cool lake breeze, head down to Sarcoa at Pier 8, for an all-you-can-eat brunch (featuring Roast Beef and Brunch classics) or snacks and drinks. You’ll feel right at home (but with those additional breathtaking views!) on their expansive patio with cushy seating.
| sarcoa.ca
Radius
If you’re from Hamilton – heck, even if you’re not – you’ll have heard of the Radius patio. Their multi-level patio in the heart of the city (housed in Isaac Buchanan’s old home) is the stuff of legends… boasting an outdoor bar and a waterfall! Enjoy some of their handcrafted cocktails or delicious eats. Korean Fried Cauliflower, Stuffed Chicken, or a Smoked Surf Burger, anyone?
| radius.ca
Mattson & Co.
A beautiful view of the Locke Street Shops, jazz playing in the air and a chilled cocktail (cheekily named after some jazz favourites) in-hand. Sound good? Then you’ll want to visit Mattson & Co. on Locke! Open all day for brunch, lunch and dinner, their patio is one you’ll want to spend time on. Not to mention that Chef Mike Middlemost and his culinary team come up with some divine creations!
| mattsonandco.ca
Coffee Shops
A casual hang out more your style? Then you may want to visit one of the many coffee shops and cafes that offer a great patio experience. Places like Mulberry Coffeehouse (with it’s side patio overlooking the bustling James Street North), Detour Cafe in Dundas (a fenced off oasis, reminiscent of a French cafe), and Finch on Locke‘s back patio are all sure to tickle your fancy. If their patios aren’t enough to entice you, maybe their food and drinks will. They all serve up high-quality espresso (some roasting their own beans), and fresh made lunch items.
King William
Ask anyone their favourite restaurants in the city and you are bound to get restaurants on King William mentioned. Fortunately for us, many offer patio seating. Berkeley North features a roll-up door looking onto their wrought-iron edged patio… so you can get the patio experience from the inside too! The French has also become a favourite restaurant for many Hamiltonians. This will be their first summer open, and our guess? It will be a busy one! And last, but not least, what’s better than chilling on a patio? Chilling on a patio while stuffing your face with a burger – that’s where Hambrgr comes in!
Secret Patios
You won’t see them at first glance, but the secret patios in Hamilton are some of the best. Do we have your attention yet? Spread across the city, some best secret patios include: The Brain (indulge in homemade pie, sip craft brews and work outside on your laptop!), Jack & Lois (watch films on a wall screen while you devour their huge portions), and The Ship (seafood and burgers and beer, oh my!).
Street Patios
Not only does Hamilton have a plethora of stationary patios to enjoy, we now have our own pop-up patio program. How does it work? Take a parking spot here or there, build a beautiful wooden set up, and you have a patio! Test out some of these patios at places like Architect Hair Design – where you can also get a beer, or two – Hambrgr on Ottawa Street and many more.
