Patio season is here, and pups are welcome at many of B.C.’s top restaurants listed as Top 100 outdoor options.
With May long weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, Open Table is releasing its annual ranking alongside data on Canadian dining trends. Five Greater Victoria eateries are among the options, fitting in with rising trends such as view, venue and a warm welcome for man’s best friend.
The dog-friendly Glo Restaurant + Lounge and Wind Cries Mary are on the list alongside Boom + Batten, Finn’s Seafood, Chops and Cocktails and Fireside Grill.
Dogs matter, with data showing a 34 per cent year-over-year increase in dining at dog-friendly restaurants in the past 12 months. That coincides with a 39 per cent increase in dog-friendly restaurants, with 53 per cent of human companions citing pup-friendly food or drink options on the menu as a factor when choosing a restaurant.
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The list is compiled by analyzing more than one million diner reviews and metrics, including diner ratings, reservation demand and percentage of reviews tagged “outdoor dining” and other factors. It features 45 restaurants in Ontario, 21 in B.C., 18 in Alberta, 10 in Quebec, three in Atlantic Canada, two in Manitoba and one in Saskatchewan.
Ten patios make Vancouver the most popular destination, while Victoria boasts five, Kelowna three and Langley two.
Kelowna’s finest outdoor eating includes Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery, Kin & Folk Kelowna, and the dog-friendly patio at Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Winery. In Langley, folks prefer Haven Kitchen + Bar and the pup-friendly Willowbrook Tap & Barrel.
“As patio season gets underway, Canadians are clearly eager to dine in the sunshine. We see it in how they book, with 62 per cent choosing a restaurant specifically for its outdoor seating,” says Laure Bornet, senior vice president of international growth at OpenTable. “For many diners, the perfect patio also includes space for their dogs. Our annual Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list features standout patios across the country, with icons to help identify dog-friendly spots, so it’s easy to find the right place, whoever you’re dining with.”
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Outdoor dining has increased by 24 per cent in Canada, year-over-year, with July ranking as the most popular month, and 51 per cent said warmer weather changes how often they eat out – 43 per cent dine at restaurants more frequently in the spring and summer.
Luckily for the sometimes soggy South Island, the desire to dine outdoors holds up when the forecast doesn’t, with a quarter of the respondents saying they’ll stay out in bad weather.
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Email: christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
