Though summer is coming to an end as the school year begins, the perks of the season don’t have to go just yet. While the temperature drops along with our collective spirits, many downtown establishments still have their summer patios open to the public with special deals that take customers back to mid-July.
With the influx of students coming into the city, there’s only a small window of time where outdoor drinking remains a viable option, and these selected patios consider the bars with the best deals for happy hour. There’s no better way to drink than in the sun while saving money.
While these bars may differ from one another in atmosphere and patrons, they all make for great outings that can be enjoyed by any crowd.
The Toucan, located on Princess St., is a staple of Kingston nightlife. Though it’s on everyone’s Friday and Saturday night itineraries, this local favourite is not to be misinterpreted as solely a rowdy Irish pub. Their outdoor patio area makes for a great evening setting, with happy hour taking place from 2 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with specially priced cocktails until 3 p.m.
However, the clear vinyl tarp encasing the patio on most nights risks recreating the vibe of being a caged animal, separating customers from the open-air patios often provide. Nonetheless, The Toucan will always remain a viable option for any alcohol related outing, patio included.
Musiikki, located on Brock St., has an outdoor area that could easily be mistaken as the setting of a fairytale. Imagine being serenaded by acoustic instruments under the stars with ambient lighting to accompany your evening. Yes, you can have that at Musiikki.
Musiikki hosts live music events every night, including on their back patio. With happy hours from 4 to 7 p.m. every day, and 15 per cent off drinks, Musiikki creates an enjoyable environment year-round. Their patio is unmatched.
Union Kitchen, located on Princess St., may not have one of the best patio areas for sitting and enjoying a beverage with friends as you are plunked into the middle of Princess St., but there’s a happy hour on sangrias and spritz from 4 to 6 p.m. that is quite enticing. Still, Union Kitchen remains a rather dull restaurant bar when put up against other patio areas in downtown Kingston. With similar deals as the other two but no entertainment, there are better patio areas to spend time at.
The Caesar Company, also on Princess St., is home to another lovely patio area for Kingstonians to enjoy.Their large outdoor section, pointed towards the street, is especially nice when the sun is out.
While their September deals are rather underwhelming in comparison to other places downtown, they offer $5 off tacos and smash burgers, and are planning to revamp their happy hour drink specials sometime in September. So, for now, while the environment of The Caesar Company is rather hard to beat, their special deals leave much to be desired.
For on-campus options, The Queen’s Pub offers a shaded patio view of Stauffer on their large outdoor patio. This student-run pub is easily the most convenient place to enjoy the outdoors over a drink after class, and with a 24/7 deal on pints of PBR for $7, The Pub is worth the visit.
These patios will not be available all year, so it’s best to enjoy them while it’s still possible. With the amount of lovely outdoor locations and good deals, happy hour has never been a happier experience.
Tags
Musiikki, The Caesar Company, The Queen's Pub, The Toucan, Union Kitchen
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