CaféTO restaurant patio program set to return this year

With frigid temperatures keeping people indoors, it’s unlikely anyone is thinking about patio season.

That said, winter will end and when it does, Toronto’s popular pandemic-born CaféTO patio program will triumphantly return to the city’s thawing streets.

This week, the city announced that it officially opened applications and renewals for the 2025 CaféTO curb lane program. The program, which came into effect during the pandemic when indoor dining was prohibited, allows participating restaurants to expand or create patios to increase outdoor seating. Aside from giving restaurants an opportunity to create more space for al fresco dining, the city says it also transforms the streets and “revitalizes neighbourhoods.”

The program is officially entering its fifth year and last year, the program saw the creation of approximately 1,500 outdoor dining spaces across the city, including 304 curb lane cafés, 583 sidewalk cafés and 615 private patios.

Restaurants outside of the downtown core can and do participate in the program.

While some restaurants participate year-over-year, the city says eateries interested in the program for the first time can learn more and apply early. Applications are due Feb. 19.

The program runs from May until October.