The patio must be pretty, pleasant, popular and playful.

Latitude 53
Rain or shine, this contemporary downtown art gallery is throwing unmatched rooftop patio soirees every Thursday evening until August 18 alongside a rotation of incubator artists and fresh DJ’s.

 Latitude 53, 10248-106 St., Edmonton, 780-423-5353, www.latitude53.org


Urban Diner
Just off 124th Street, stroll on over for brunch, lunch or dinner on a private, muraled, garden-style patio and you’ll feel like you’re holidaying in 1950s' Europe.

 Urban Diner, 12427-102 Ave. NW, Edmonton, 780-488-7274, www.urbandiner.com


Packrat Louie
Nestled in the heart of Old Strathcona, don’t let the squeals from their Patio Pig Roast ($60) fool you. This classy place is elegance personified. 

Packrat Louie, 10335-83 Ave., Old Strathcona, Edmonton, 780-433-0123, www.packratlouie.com


Leva Café & Bar
Quaint and set in the old Garneau District, here’s where the best Italian cappuccinos, pizzas and gelatos lull patio tenants into summer comas. Look for the yellow umbrellas.

 Leva Café & Bar, 11053-86 Ave., Edmonton, 780-479-5382, www.levabar.com

The Black Dog
Playing canopy to the mainfloor bar and the grungy-but-popular Underdog, the renovated, elevated Wooftop patio on Whyte Avenue is guaranteed to be heaving on hot summer nights. This is the nightlife. The Black Dog, 10425-82 Ave., Edmonton, 780-439-1082, www.blackdog.ca

—Caroline Gault

Let’s face it: Calgary’s downtown core is better known for harvesting tumble weeds than action on the weekends.

But that' s changing as the Wild West’s tumble weeds have been replaced with West Restaurant and Bar’s new rooftop patio. Live it up and get down! This 1,500-square-foot patio has unleashed an evening energy that is unlike anything downtown Calgary has seen before, be it lunch, dinner or beyond. West’s patio has opened just in time for Stampede and provides enough room to line dance, two step and shimmy. The bylaw officer who approved the sound levels for the music is one groovy fellah.

Hats off. —Kristin Hursh

West Restaurant & Bar, 225 Seventh Ave. SW, Calgary, 403-237-5556, www.westrestaurantandbar.com

Patio season couldn’t come sooner, and what better way to will spring in than sampling a patio-perfect bevy.

Lemon Tea Beer ($2.65 each) from Toronto Mill St. Brewery is a little bit sweet, slightly malty and totally refreshing. The sunset-coloured (how summer) wheat brew is infused with a blend of Orange Pekoe and Earl Grey teas, finished off with a lemon twist.

Cheers to new brews and warmer days.

At Highlander Wine and Spirits, 2919 Richmond Rd SW, Calgary, 403-233-2629 and two other locations, www.highlanderwine.com

Alloy has always been our go-to haunt for a delectable meal. Whether a romantic dinner or a meeting with colleagues, the bright white space, peppered with cherry blossoms, is perfectly private.

Now that patio season is in sight we can’t wait to snag a seat on the eatery’s deck—and we do mean snag since there are only eight outdoor tables. Surrounded by the trunks of 50-foot trees and a waterfall that feeds into a small pool, it’s a serene dining oasis.

And the tempting new menu (think blue cheese soufflé, potato wrapped halibut and avocado garlic tortilla soup) at our fingertips, we'll be decked out all summer.

Alloy, 220-42 Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-287-9255, www.alloydining.com