When the sun finally shows up in New Westminster, the whole city shifts gears. The boardwalk fills up, the brewery patios come alive, and restaurant tables spill out onto the street. It’s the kind of thing you notice the first warm Thursday in May and keep chasing all the way through September. This city sits right on the Fraser River, which means a lot of the best outdoor seats in town come with a view that most Metro Vancouver neighbourhoods can’t touch.
We put this guide together after a lot of sunny afternoons spent doing the research ourselves. A cold beer on a brewery patio, a long weekend brunch by the water, and a glass of wine above historic Columbia Street are all on the list. New West has a patio for each one. Here’s where we’d send you.
Longtail Kitchen
If you only make it to one patio in New West this summer, the Longtail Kitchen boardwalk deck at River Market should be in serious contention. Sitting right along the Fraser, it catches afternoon sun and gives you an unobstructed view of the river, paddle wheelers, and the mountains on a clear day. The menu is Thai street food by celebrated chef Angus An; crispy wings and basil stir-fries like their gra pao pork are the ones locals come back for. It’s a counter-service setup, open Mon–Thurs 11:30am–6pm and Fri–Sun 11:30am–7pm; hours vary seasonally so check ahead, and the patio seats fill up fast on warm days, so arriving early is a good call. New Westminster Station is a five-minute walk, which makes this one of the easiest patios in the city to get to without a car.
Downtown Patios Above the Street
Downtown New Westminster has a couple of patios that catch you off guard, and that’s a big part of what makes them worth knowing about. Kelly O’Bryan’s has a street-level patio right in front of the historic Canadian Pacific Railway Station on Columbia Street; it gets full afternoon sun, works well for groups, and the food is straightforward pub fare with their signature Pachos; waffle-cut fries loaded like nachos; being the thing most tables seem to order. A short walk away, The Met Bar & Grill sits on the second floor of the historic Burr Block; a building that dates to 1892 and is one of only two downtown structures to survive the 1898 Great Fire; and the garden patio up there is one of the better-kept secrets in the city; you’d never know it was there from street level. Both spots are within easy walking distance of Columbia Station, though the table below can help you decide which one suits your afternoon.
| Patio | Sun Exposure | Best Time to Visit | Transit Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly O’Bryan’s (Columbia St) | Full afternoon sun; open street | Weekday lunch or early evening | 3-min walk from Columbia Station |
| The Met Bar & Grill (Columbia St) | Shaded garden feel; warm late afternoon | Weekday afternoons; quieter on weeknights | 4-min walk from Columbia Station |
Steel & Oak Brewing Co.
Steel & Oak is the brewery that brought craft beer back to New Westminster, and it’s been a neighbourhood staple since 2014. The tap room sits at the end of the Westminster Quay Boardwalk on 3rd Avenue, which means you can walk there directly from New West Station along the river on a sunny day; a walk that’s worth doing in its own right. Inside, the tasting room has a cool industrial feel with vinyl playing in the background. Outside, they have two patios and a garden bar, along with a rotating food truck program for evening and weekend service; the schedule varies by day, so it’s worth checking ahead to see who’s out.
The beer selection runs from German-inspired classics like their Red Pilsner and Dark Lager to newer North American releases; the Shiny Things Hazy IPA and Royal City Ale are good starting points if you’re not sure where to begin. Everything is unfiltered and unpasteurized, brewed on-site. The patios are dog-friendly, and the smaller covered section works even if the weather turns. It’s one of the most relaxed ways to spend a sunny afternoon in the city; just show up, find a seat, and let the afternoon go where it wants.
The Notorious Grey Fox
Housed in the historic former B.C. Penitentiary gatehouse building at 319 Governors Court in Sapperton, The Notorious Grey Fox is the kind of patio that tells a story before you even sit down. The building itself is one of the most recognizable in Sapperton, and the patio out front is a genuinely good place to spend an afternoon in the sun. Here’s what makes it worth the trip:
- The heritage building gives the space real character; it’s not just another patio on a strip mall
- East Columbia gets good afternoon sun, making it a strong pick from around 2:00 pm onward
- The menu is full pub fare with local craft beers on tap; a solid combination for a long afternoon
- Street parking is available along East Columbia, and Sapperton Station is a short walk away
- It draws a local Sapperton crowd, which keeps the atmosphere easy and unpretentious
Frankie G’s Pub
Queensborough operates at its own pace, and Frankie G’s Pub at 305 Ewen Avenue fits that energy well. It’s been a community gathering spot for over 25 years, serving scratch-made meals and cold pints to a neighbourhood that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves from the rest of the city. The patio is a solid spot for a relaxed afternoon; it’s the kind of place where nobody’s rushing you out, and you can catch a game or just sit back and enjoy being across the bridge from the rest of New West.
Getting there requires a bit of planning since Queensborough isn’t on the SkyTrain line; driving is the most practical option, and parking is available on-site. If you’re already heading over for a walk along the riverside trails or the Queensborough Community Market (seasonal; confirm current dates before you go), Frankie G’s is a natural stop to fold into the afternoon. Under current management, it’s been adding new events and menu updates while keeping the neighbourhood pub feel that made it a local staple in the first place.
Questions Often Asked
Which New Westminster patio has the best Fraser River view?
For a true waterfront view with the river right in front of you, the Longtail Kitchen boardwalk deck at River Market is hard to beat. It sits directly on the Fraser, with nothing blocking the sightline. The Boathouse Restaurant at 900 Quayside Drive is another strong option if you’re after a sit-down meal with river views and a south-facing deck.
Are any of these patios dog-friendly?
Yes, Steel & Oak Brewing Co. is dog-friendly and one of the more popular spots in the city for people who want to bring their dog along for a pint. It’s worth confirming with individual restaurants before you arrive, as policies can change seasonally.
Which patios are best for larger groups?
Kelly O’Bryan’s on Columbia Street is a good call for groups since the street-level patio has room and the pub menu travels well across different tastes. The Notorious Grey Fox in Sapperton also has patio capacity for groups and a casual atmosphere that works for bigger gatherings. For a brewery experience, Steel & Oak can accommodate groups across its two patios and garden bar, though you may want to call ahead on busy summer weekends.
Do any of these patios take reservations, or is it first-come, first-served?
Policies vary. Longtail Kitchen is generally first-come, first-served for patio seating. The Met Bar & Grill and Kelly O’Bryan’s in Downtown are typically walk-ins for patio spots. For a spot like The Boathouse, where patio tables fill up on sunny days, calling ahead or booking through their reservations line and requesting patio or river-view seating is a smart move.
What’s the best time of day to visit a New West patio in the summer?
It depends on what you’re after. The Quay patios, like Longtail Kitchen, get great afternoon light and are nicest from late morning through mid-afternoon. Downtown spots like Kelly O’Bryan’s and The Met catch good sun from midday onward. If you’re heading to Steel & Oak for the food truck program, check ahead to see which days trucks are scheduled; evenings and weekends are your best bet but it varies. For any patio on a warm Friday or Saturday, arriving before 5:00 pm gives you the best chance at a table without a long wait.
