Toronto’s Cassius has opened a new Italian Riviera-inspired patio, giving King West a new destination for everything from lunch and aperitivo to dinner and late-night cocktails.
Summer in Toronto is all about finding the right patio, and Cassius is leaning fully into the season with a new outdoor space designed to feel more like a hidden corner of the Italian Riviera than a typical city patio.
The contemporary Italian restaurant and supper club at 624 King Street West has launched its new patio for the summer, creating an extension of its dining and nightlife experience with a distinctly Italian feel.
The design is a major part of the experience. Checkered flooring, a marble bar and plenty of greenery give the space a Riviera-inspired look, while lounge seating, ambient lighting and an immersive sound system are intended to keep guests there well into the evening.
For Cassius co-owner Pat Lisi, the idea was to capture the feeling of an Italian summer in the middle of Toronto.
“We wanted to capture the feeling of spending summer in Italy,” says Lisi. “It’s about slowing down, sharing incredible food and drinks with great company, and creating a place where one cocktail naturally turns into dinner, and dinner into the rest of the evening.”
From lunch to late-night cocktails
The patio has been designed to change with the day rather than serve as simply an outdoor dining area.
Guests can drop in for lunch, settle into aperitivo hour, stay for dinner and continue into the late evening with cocktails. That all-day approach fits with Cassius’ positioning as both a restaurant and supper club, where the experience evolves from dining into nightlife.
The patio is also introducing Dopolavoro, Cassius’ take on the traditional Italian aperitivo hour. Rather than treating the period after work as a conventional happy hour focused on discounts, Dopolavoro is built around the ritual of meeting friends, having a drink, sharing food and settling into the evening.
The program comes with its own food and beverage menu, including gnocchi alla nerano, featuring ricotta gnocchi and zucchini blossoms, as well as the Italiano burger, made with a brisket and chuck patty and caramelized onions.
More than just a new patio
The new outdoor space also joins Cassius’ existing weekly programming, including Sabato Nights and Ciao Bella Fridays, giving the restaurant an ongoing lineup of reasons to visit throughout the summer.
According to co-owner Bruno Commodari, the patio will be open seven days a week through the end of summer, bringing together Dopolavoro, the restaurant’s weekly programming and all-day hospitality.
“The patio is an exciting new chapter for Cassius,” says Commodari. “Open seven days a week through the end of summer, it will bring together Dopolavoro, weekly programming and all-day hospitality, from lunch through late night.”
Located in the heart of King West, Cassius describes itself as a contemporary Italian restaurant and supper club combining Italian cuisine, cocktails, music and immersive design. The restaurant is open for dinner, private events and signature experiences throughout the year.
With its new patio, Cassius is making the most of Toronto’s short outdoor season by bringing together food, cocktails, music and the atmosphere of an Italian summer, without leaving King Street West.
Cassius
624 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Website: cassiusonking.com
Instagram: @cassiusonking
