The temps have been teasing us over the past few weeks with a beautiful day or two sprinkled in among our region’s more standard chilly, overcast spring days, and there’s nothing like a rare day of sunshine on full blast to get you craving Patio Season. It seems the local business owners around Fredericton are feeling it too – patios started being resurrected earlier than ever this year.

There is no shortage of great patios to flock to in The Capital City. Every outdoor-loving Frederictonian has had a craftychat with friends at The Dooryard behind Picaroons Roundhouse, joined coworkers after a busy week at work to cool their heels on Dolan’s patio for Friday afternoon happy hour (a local classic), or lounged a summer day away at The Dip patio at the Delta. 

There have been some terrific new additions.  I’m here to walk you through some new arrivals, some lesser-known options, and give some love to some eternal favourites.  Bring your favourite sunnies, pop on your flip flops, and let’s head outside to take in some air and do some people watching!

Snooty Fox Rooftop Patio

Looking for an established open-air muster station for your favourite people that’s easy on the pocketbook?  The Snooty (rhymes with “footy”, not “booty”) has been a hit for the college crowd and the after-work set alike for close to 2 decades.  A long-enjoyed English pub with all your comfort food favourites on the menu (ask for their “spin dip”), you can’t go wrong soaking up the rays on the spacious rooftop patio.  Plus, it’s the birthplace of the popular Dave Matthews cocktail!  Paired with their nightly specials, you’ll leave full and buzzy, if that’s your mission.

Snooty’s recently renovated a new indoor space as well, for those rainy days when the rooftop is less of a draw.  Beautiful, modern décor with huge booths for larger parties, make for fantastic add-ons to the “Olde English” charm of the OG space.

Isaac’s Way

The owners of this local favourite have been all about local focus, in decor and in sourced ingredients since its inception at its former home on Carleton Street.  Grab a selfie with Saucepan Sam, the carved wooden chef who is their (un)official greeter, on the way into the historic, “old courthouse”, and place a silent auction bid on a piece of local artwork. Their “comfort food with a twist” includes a delicious variety of vegetarian and vegan options.  Their spacious patio wraps around the side of the building, offering up blessedly shaded and wide-open enjoyment of the outdoors, with a beautiful view of the majestic Wolastoq (aka Saint John) River. 

As of last summer, they’ve also added a sweet little dog-friendly patio space, so you and your four-legged friend can take in the Vitamin D and the vibe of the city. Don’t leave your pooch in the car.  Enjoy a delicious dish while your furry friend enjoys a house-made pup treat!  Win-win!

 

 

 

 

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Gahan House Riverside

Downtown Fredericton prides itself on its high percentage of local-only restaurants and eateries, which adds to the character and unique feel.  Gahan House may be one of our few downtown franchise options, but it is a Maritime favourite for their meticulously crafted beer, their fresher-than-fresh East Coast oysters, and their delectable menus.  Their spacious courtyard-style patio, situated at the back of the restaurant, is the perfect location for more breezy days.  Order up a flight of Gahan beer to sample a bit of everything, including delicious house-made non-alcoholic root beer and seasonal options like their amazing Raspberry Sour, or crafty deliciousness like my favourite, Vic Park.  The Instagrammable interior is a stunning dining environment year-round, but for a summertime open-air experience, this patio is a sure win!

The Lunar Rogue

Whether it’s for a business lunch or some after-work enjoyment, The Rogue has been a purveyor of hits-the-spot pub food, and a specialist in Scotch and world-renowned whisky for over 30 years.  Enjoying their classic pub fare with their iconic selection of over 80 whiskies or an ice-cold beer while people-watching along King Street is a wonderful way to pass a sun-drenched day as it eases into a cool summer night (and for occasions when there’s a little more bite in the air, there are lots of heat lamps to keep you feeling cozy…and also, whisky can help).

 

 

 

 

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Brewbakers

A date night favourite, as much for their ambiance as for their food, Brewbaker’s is back, baby! This long-time favourite among visitors and locals alike is now open under new ownership.  With a mouth-watering new menu, renovated kitchen area and refreshed indoor and outdoor dining spaces, this is sure to be the spot for a business dinner, a night out with your friends, or a special bubble experience on the patio.  Expect casually elegant fine dining options and wine pairings curated by sommelier, co-owner and general manager Doug Williams. Also on the menu this summer: pop-up craft beer gardens and cocktail tastings.  They’ll be arranged by co-owner and Fredericton Craft Beer Festival organizer Lloyd Chambers, so you know they’ll be great!

 

 

 

 

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The New(er) Kids On The Block:

11^th Mile / The Sipping Container

This unique addition gets my vote for favourite sustainable outdoor lounging space!  Not only has 11^th mile established itself as *the* spot for inventive craft cocktails and incredibly flavourful small plate dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients – they’ve raised the bar for ingenuity.  Their intimate indoor space has spilled out into the street with this creative curbside nook.  Bubbles of 4-8 can book ahead and lounge on either side, or smaller parties can walk up and order from the cocktails & nibbles menu that is only available in The Sipping Container – the Corpse Reviver has my name all over it!

 

 

 

 

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540 Kitchen & Bar’s Back Patio

When I found out about this additional patio, I was so excited to have another outdoor dining option for one of my favourite restaurants!  Bringing the feel of their funky indoor atmosphere to the outdoors, the fabulous cocktails, killer craft beer options, and amazing menu items make this cozy, loungey space all the more appealing!  Those #FCF (Fried Chicken Fridays, for the uninitiated) posts give even more reason to check it out…like you needed more reasons…

 

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Hilton Garden Inn’s Pickle Jar

Can you ever go wrong with dining on a terrace overlooking a main downtown artery and bottomless mimosas/Caesars/meadmosas for brunch?  Absolutely not!  Add to this the incredible menu and this is why Pickle Jar is my favourite go-to spot for brunch.  Personal plea: please bring back the Sweet Potato Pancakes!  For lunch, try their dill chicken wrap with (THE BEST) tossed salad.  You won’t be sorry!

Add to this the beautiful street-level patio area where sister spot Southside Shake has been hosting Gin & Jazz nights, plus an equally-amazing lunch and dinner menu AND Tiny Tinis cocktail flights, and the Hilton Garden Inn’s got a happenin’ food & beverage and entertainment scene! 

 

 

 

 

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King West Brewing and RustiCo.

This beautiful open patio space, with mouth-watering Mediterranean-inspire wood-fired pizza and finely crafted beverages, is a Frederictonian favourite you will not want to miss!  This open-air dining room is especially charming as the overhead lights flicker on at dusk.  It’s a fantastic spot to greet fellow locals and get a stamp on your Fredericton Taproom Trail map!  Next time you stop in, order the Sour Gingerman, their craft beer cocktail featuring the refreshing bite of ginger beer & lime, with gin and Kolsch.  You can thank me later!  You can also grab some cans of made-on-site King West Brewing beer, as well as a couple of other regional favourites, to enjoy at home when you’re done your visit.

 

 

 

 

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Wolastoq Wharf

The newly constructed patio at Fredericton’s favourite seafood restaurant, and Taste of Canada listing for many years, is a welcome addition to the Northside! Adding to the new options: they now carry two specialty, unique-to-them Picaroons brews! Toast to summer days and the taste of tradition and exceptional seafood with the new Wolastoq Golden or Wolastoq Amber.  Shout-out to this culinary team, whose skills and TripAdvisor reviews have placed them in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide!

What’s your favourite patio-hopping pitstop? Is there one you can’t wait to check out? Regardless, I hope to see you out and about this summer! Before you do, though, check out this extensive list of all the patio bliss Fredericton has to offer: