City & Country Urban Winery
As I aged out of my twenties, going to a winery became this quintessential rite of passage amongst my group of girlfriends, so the patio at City & Country was a nice discovery for me at a time when we can’t travel. The patio is small and intimate, and it’s kid- and pet-friendly, which is hard to beat. At the front of the winery, you can sit on the patio in the sun on tall bar stools. It then wraps around the side of the building with tables and picnic benches so there’s a mix of sunny and shady spots. The wine is all made in Calgary (bonus) and I personally enjoy the 2017 Similkameen Rosé. —Tsering Asha, editorial assistant, Made in Alberta Awards & Top 40 Under 40
544 38A Ave. S.E., 403-245-0449, cityandcountrywinery.com
Leopold’s Tavern
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It was a very good day when Leopold’s Tavern opened in Bowness in 2018. Sure, the community has a handful of other restaurants with patios, but Leo’s offers a perfect mix of what Bowness had been missing: a kid- and dog-friendly place to sit outside with a pint of local beer and tasty pub food. Leo’s has two patio spaces featuring safely distanced bright red picnic tables, black umbrellas and plenty of space heaters. On sunny afternoons, expect a fun and eclectic crew of 20-somethings, boomers and young families noshing on fried pickles and sipping brews. — Meredith Bailey, manager, Custom Publishing
6512 Bowness Rd. N.W., leopoldstavern.com
River Café
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River Café is an oasis within an oasis. Located inside Prince’s Island Park, its main patio is dotted with dining tables and generous umbrellas overlooking the Bow River and adjacent pathway. I like to sit in the southeast corner where there are views of park goers and a cordoned-off section of picnic tables that’s been added due to gathering restrictions. Brunch, lunch or dinner, the hyper-local, sustainable, Canadian fine-dining cuisine never disappoints. During my last visit, I had the fish and game board, chicken liver parfait and a decadent asparagus dish. If both dining areas are full, consider a picnic basket to go. — Colin Gallant, associate editor
25 Prince’s Island, 403-261-7670, river-cafe.com
Avenue’s writers and editors are occasionally invited to experience dining or adventure experiences as a guest, including some of the experiences in this story. Neither complimentary experiences nor advertising are required for coverage in Avenue. Neither companies that advertise nor those that provide other incentives are promised editorial coverage, nor do they have the opportunity to review or approve stories before publication.