A (/ˈpæti.oʊ/, from Spanish: patio [ˈpatjo]; "courtyard", "forecourt", "yard") is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a residence and is typically paved.
Patios are most commonly paved with concrete or stone slabs (also known as paving flags). Patios can also be created using bricks, block paving, tiles or cobbles.
Patio is also a general term used for outdoor seating at restaurants, especially in Canadian English. While common in Europe, eating outdoors at restaurants in North America was exotic until the late 20th century. The Hotel St. Moritz in New York in the 1950s advertised itself as having the first true continental cafe with outdoor seating. The Toronto Star welcomed that city's first patio in the 1960s.