La Boulangerie
This is a classic sidewalk cafe patio. Order a latte and French pastry — think brioche, eclairs, tarts and meringues — and then settle under an umbrella at one of the tables and watch the people walk by.
2435 4 St. S.W., 403-984-9294, la-boulangerie-calgary.com
Rajdoot
The entrance to Rajdoot is set a little back from the sidewalk, making room for a small patio on either side. The Indian restaurant has been here for 25 years and is a local favourite. The regular lunch and dinner buffets aren’t currently being offered, though you can still order the curries, tandoori, breads and chutneys a la carte.
2424 4 St. S.W., 403-245-0181, rajdoot.ca
Earls Tin Palace
This is one of Mission’s most iconic patios and it has undergone renovations over the past few seasons. The patio out front is for the lounge and is a sunny spot for sipping margaritas (go on Monday when the margaritas are $5). The main patio wraps around the side and the back of the restaurant and is walled in with huge planters and a pergola.
2401 4 St. S.W., 403-228-4141, earls.ca
Joyce on Fourth
This patio was built for people watching, with bar height tables along the patio fence so you can pull up a stool and watch people walk by as you drink your beer (there are 72 beers on tap to choose from). Go on Wednesdays for $7 personal pizzas or Sundays for brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
506 24 Ave. S.W., 403-541-9168, calgarysbestpubs.com
Vin Room
Vin Room has two patios. The street-level patio is pet-friendly, which means you can bring your dog onto the patio and there are treats and amenities just for them. The rooftop patio is just for people. It has big umbrellas and comfy furniture looking out into the trees.
2310 4 St. S.W., 403-457-5522, vinroom.com
Mercato
Just like inside, the patio of this Italian restaurant can get lively. The dishes here are best served family style and there is a communal sense about dining here, especially if you take advantage of the wine list and order a bottle or two.
2224 4 St. S.W., 403-263-5535, mercatogourmet.com
Phil &Â Sebastian
When the weather is warm, the coffee drinkers spill out onto the street to take up the collection of tables out front of Phil & Sebastian’s Mission location. You can also get sandwiches, soups and salads here using ingredients that are either made in-house or brought in from local producers.
2207 4 St. S.W., 403-245-1111, philsebastian.com
Purple Perk
The tables lining the front of this cafe are almost always full. Your experience here can be as simple as sipping on a cup of coffee or you can scale it up with a slice of cake, a Nanaimo bar, the soup of the day, a club sandwich or pot roast.
2212 4 St. S.W., 403-244-1300, purpleperk.com
OEB
This is the only one of OEB’s three locations that has a patio. Relish in the opportunity to try a breakfast poutine or cold-smoked salmon eggs Benedict while enjoying some fresh air. The patio is tucked off to the side, mostly in the shade.
110, 2207 4 St. S.W., 587-356-6323, eatoeb.com
Bar Bincho
Boasting one of the largest Japanese sake selections in Calgary, Bar Bincho’s patio is a great place to post up on a warm evening. Nestled in the shade and serving up Japanese food all-day, you can take time to try the Korean spicy wings or snack on wagyu oil popcorn
2204 4 St. S.W., 403-457-8887, opentable.ca
Anejo
This Mexican restaurant’s patio is small but mighty, located behind the stone wall that is still short enough to see over onto the sidewalk. Get tableside guacamole here as well as margaritas, tacos, churros and more.
2, 2116 4 St. S.W., 587-353-2656, anejo.ca
Western Coffee Shop
You may know this as the place where you can order bacon and eggs, a reuben sandwich, a roast beef dinner, ginger beef, chow mein and egg foo yung all off the same menu. It also has a patio.
2100 4 St. S.W., 403-229-1505, westerncoffeeshopcalgary.com
Marlow Floralworks
This flower shop has a delightful tea garden where you can order specialty teas, cold drinks and small snacks from the outdoor canteen. Afterward, take time to peruse the indoor shop or explore the outdoor secret garden.
2101 4 St. S.W., 403-228-6335, marlowfloralworks.com/
Shokunin
Shokunin’s patio features a few tables out front, which is all the better for people to glance over and wonder what you are eating. Your best bet is to go with a small group and order a bunch of yakitori and small plates to share. And definitely order a cocktail. They are inventive and a little different than what you would find at other restaurants in Calgary.
2016 4 St. S.W., 403-229-3444, shokuninyyc.ca
Seed n Salt
It’s where to go for salads, grain bowls, smoothies, smoothie bowls and avocado toast. In the summer, it stays open a little later so you can grab one of their infamous smoothie bowls and watch all of the Mission passersby.
2008 4 St. S.W., 403-460-9904, seednsalt.com
Pinbar
This bar is technically on 17th Avenue, but the patio is on the 4th Street side so it makes this list. The main attraction at Pinbar is the pinball machines inside, but the patio is a good place to dig into the snacks and drinks when you need some fresh air. The food menu includes pizza pops, Cubano sandwiches, mac and cheese and cauliflower wings. There’s a pretty extensive cocktail list and plenty of beer on tap or in bottles.
501 17 Ave. S.W., 403-930-8175, pinbaryyc.com