Open Aera

What is Open Aera? Perched atop The Well at 8 Spadina Avenue on the 39th floor, Open Aera is the seasonal open-air rooftop terrace floating directly above Oliver & Bonacini’s flagship steakhouse, Aera. Led by corporate executive chef Anthony Walsh and executive chef Binit Pandey, the 4,500-square-foot space leans into a sun-soaked aesthetic of cream textiles, warm teak, and high-altitude lounge seating paired with sweeping 360-degree panoramas of the downtown core and Lake Ontario.

Open Aera Menu & What to Order While the moody dining room below specializes in heavy cuts and full multi-course steak dinners, the rooftop pivots to sharp raw-bar selections, elevated finger foods, and refreshing patio cocktails. Kick things off with the house aged cheddar cornbread, pristine salmon and bluefin tuna nigiri, or the indulgent wagyu sliders. Drinkers flock to the terrace for chilled agave cocktails and frozen sips like the "Blue Sky" Frosé, while weekend daytime crowds settle in for towering brunch plates high above King West.

Know Before You Go Bookings open up to six weeks in advance online, though walk-ins can periodically score standing room or high-top bar perches during early golden hour. Rooftop evening reservations do not carry an indoor weather guarantee if rain rolls through, so monitor the forecast before heading up. Paid underground parking is accessible off Front and Wellington streets directly under The Well, while the 510 Spadina and 504 King streetcars drop steps from the complex entrance.