A great picnic starts with two things: a beautiful place to spread out a blanket and something delicious to eat.
From riverside parks and urban green spaces to sandwiches, tacos and fried chicken, these Calgary pairings make it easy to take your next meal outdoors.
Image: River Cafe
Savour Calgary pairs parks and packed lunches.
Carburn Park and The Park Kitchen and Bar
Carburn Park in Riverbend is one of our favourite places to enjoy the Bow River. With walking paths, wide, rocky beaches and picturesque panoramas, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic. Order ahead at the nearby Park Kitchen and Bar in Quarry Park and enjoy some of their great finger foods, including: gochujang cauliflower bites, Brussels sprouts and their dip trio.
Victoria Park and the First Street Market
Quaint Victoria Park is handily located right behind the First Street Market where delicious picnic options abound. Spread out your picnic blanket on the ample green lawn and enjoy a pizza from Actually Pretty Good Pizza (try the grease wheel for the classic experience), a coffee and something sweet from Al Forno (we love the cinnamon buns!), and a fresh-pressed juice from Raw by Robin.
St. Patrick’s Island and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery
If you’re an early riser, head to Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and grab a couple of breakfast sandwiches at Sidewalk Citizen and coffee at Phil & Sebastian before strolling down to St. Patrick’s Island for a breakfast picnic. With gorgeous trails and plenty of ways to safely enjoy the Bow River, this is a great spot for the family too.
Sien Lok Park and Banh Mi Thi Thi
Grab a Vietnamese sub from Banh Mi Thi Thi, a Calgary institution. The tiny storefront close to the Harry Hays building has been around for 32 years and has an assortment of subs, like saté beef and saté chicken. Then pop over to Sien Lok Park, Chinatown’s only green space, where you can enjoy statuary, seating areas and a playground.
Scotsman’s Hill and Apprentice Cafe
Scotsman’s Hill provides one of Calgary’s most epic views, and these days provides a front-row seat to the developments at and near Stampede Park. If you’re a morning person, grab a focaccia breakfast sandwich at Apprentice Cafe. Later in the day, you’ll want to partake of the house-made ice cream and frozen treats. We love the Biscoff Cookies and Caramel.
Scotsman’s Hill, top of Ramsay Park via Salisbury St. S.E.
The Apprentice Café
Rotary Park/McHugh Bluff and K-Town Fried Chicken
The absolute best photos of the Calgary skyline are taken from Crescent Heights and the best takeout Korean fried chicken happens to be steps away. Stroll along Crescent Road, cross Centre St. into Rotary Park and enjoy golden, crispy chicken done the way you like it! Don’t forget to grab a bubble tea from Macao Imperial Tea right across the street from K-Town.
Rotary Park/McHugh Bluff, 617 1st St. N.E. and K-Town Fried Chicken
Nose Hill Park and Don Taco
The glorious Mexican food at Don Taco can be found just a hop, skip and a jump from Nose Hill Park’s Parking Lot 64 on the east side of the park. Grab yourself a taco trio and a Jarrito’s soda and head to one of Canada’s largest urban parks. For a cultural experience, download the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) IndigiTRAILS app to experience a 15-minute augmented reality (AR) journey through time to specific
moments in history that impacted Indigenous people.
Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Super Variety
Nothing makes for a classic picnic better than than a good sandwich and Super Variety has them in spades. We love the Dilly Dilly and Uncle Phil. Add some fries with their delicious garlic aioli, then stop at the Blackfoot Diner for a milkshake before making your way to the peaceful, sprawling Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for a walk and a picnic to remember.
Fish Creek Park and Annie’s Cafe
It doesn’t get much easier than this. This beautiful provincial park offers exceptional access to the natural landscape of Southern Alberta while Annie’s Cafe is right on site with what you need to fuel your picnic adventure. With a variety of delicious panini (easy to walk with!) and other grab-and-go options, you can walk and munch, or fill your basket with hot takes like beef stew and mac & cheese. Top it off with a fruit smoothie and all you have to do is find the perfect picnic spot … it won’t be hard.
Devonian Gardens and The Tastemarket by SAIT
Even in the sunniest city in Canada, the occasional rainy day settles in. Fear not, Devonian Gardens to the rescue. Renovated in 2012, Devonian Gardens is an urban oasis that offers one hectare of botanical gardens including over 500 trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900 sq. ft. living wall, fountains, fish ponds and a playground to climb and explore. Across the street, you’ll find The Tastemarket Canadian Kitchen by SAIT where SAIT culinary students strut their stuff with gourmet options for the perfect picnic.
PRE-PREPPED BASKETS
The River Café at Prince’s Island Park. Order a picnic for two or build your own picnic from a curated menu.
River Café Picnic Basket for Two | $55 | river-cafe.com/picnic-menu
Rouge Picnic in the Garden includes chef-prepared seasonal dishes, house-baked breads, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit and dessert. Can be enjoyed in the beautiful historic gardens of the A.E. Cross House or taken to go.
Rouge Picnic Basket for Two | $75 ($160 with the basket) rougecalgary.com/picnics
PRE-PREPPED BASKETS
Graze Picnic Package near Bowness Park.
Four-place setting wicker picnic basket featuring an isolated section to keep your Graze mini boxes cold. Four mini boxes, wine and desert!
Graze Picnic Package for four $225 including basket
Butter Block near Tomkins Parki includes two croissant sandwiches, two sweet croissants, two fruit salads,
two drinks plus small sweet treats sweet treats.
Butter Block Picnic Basket for Two |$35
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