With FREE events all Summer long, and its recent designation as an open area where you can legally consume alcohol within its confines, Tomkins Park, the spacious piece of greenery found in the heart of the Red Mile, is the perfect place for a summer picnic! This city park is also the new home to tons of outdoor seating, and is just a hop, skip and a jump away from some excellent 17th Ave eateries, boutiques and more, so grab your favourite adult beverage and a picnic blanket, fill a basket with supplies from these local spots below and host yourself a picnic on 17th Ave.
Charcuterie and Supplies
Urban Fare
From their selection of chef-prepared eats to a substantial selection of baked goods, dairy, fine meets and cheeses and more, this urban grocery store has all the essentials for a Summer picnic. Plus, it’s located kitty corner to Tomkins Park, so it’s nice and close if you need to restock supplies!
101-906 16 Ave SW, urbanfare.com
Peppinos
This authentic Italian eatery is Calgary-famous for its hearty sandwiches and salads, but they also sell a variety of takeaway products at their 17th Ave location including frozen pastas, gelato, grated cheeses, soups and more. They’re also a hop, skip and jump away from Tomkins Park if you get a hankering for seconds!
1512 7 St SW, peppinogourmet.com
Rustic Sourdough Bakery
For more than 40 years, Rustic Sourdough Bakery has been serving the community handcrafted sourdough bread and other baked goods alongside authetic grocery items imported from Europe. You can find 40 different varieties of cheese and 80 varities of meat, perfect for a picnic charcuterie board in the park!
1305 17 Ave SW, rusticsourdoughbakery.com
Sandwiches and Burgers
Alumni
Grab a sando from this Calgary-favourite eatery before heading into Tomkins Park for the myriad of entertainment and events taking place throughout the summer. You can order online or from your phone for takeout or sit down in their diner-style locale and get one of their classic cocktails.
725 17 Ave SW, alumnisandwiches.com
Saucy Burger
This new 17th Ave burger joint is dishing up their namesake burgers made with natural chuck beef patties, breakfast sandwiches, crispy chicken burgers and saucy fries topped with chili, bacon and cheese. Wash it all down with their selection of soft serve shakes, available in vanilla, chocolate or strawberry, and head down the street to catch some live entertainment in Tomkins Park.
1001 17 Ave SW, saucyburger.ca
V Burger
17th Ave is home to the City’s first completely plant-based burger joint, V Burger. Located across the street from Tomkins Park, V Burger’s 100% vegan menu includes a selection of between bun options like their BBQ bac’n cheezburger, crispy chick’n burger or falafel burger, as well as sides like crispy Buffalo chick’n bites, French fries and tater tots. Be sure to cool off with their plant-based sweet treats which range from ice cream sandwiches to sundaes, shakes, and cones.
819 17 Ave SW, heyvburger.com
South Street Burger
Get stacking at South Street, where you can build your own burger starting with your choice of bun and protein — options include angus beef, veggie burger, or fried chicken — followed by the best part: toppings! We’re talkin’ onion rings, aged cheddar, maple bacon and more. Nothing like a little build your own feast to bring into the park on a warm summer evening.
1103 17 Ave SW Unit 2, southstreetburger.com
Bread and Bakeries
Butterblock
Famous for their buttery croissants and inventive baked goods, Butterblock has been a staple on 17th Ave since their 2018 opening. Located in the historic Devenish building just across the street from Tomkins Park, they sell baked goods ranging from sweet to savoury, and favourites like their pain au chocolat or the ‘breggfast,’ made with egg and ham. These beloved, buttery baked treats are a picnic essential this summer.
908 17 Ave SW suite 111, butterblockyyc.com
Black Sheep
Black Sheep is a French patisserie located just across the street from Tomkins Park, making it all too easy to load up on their selection of famous jam-filled croissants and French treats such as madeleines or Éclair au chocolat, alongside a selection of made-in-house jams and pantry items.
815 17 Ave SW #140, black-sheep.ca
European Bakery
This family-owned Balkan-style bakery has tons of to-go items perfect for a picnic in the park, including their famous burkeks and chevaps, available with your choice of protein, along with numerous baked goods including pastries and bread. They also have a small grocery section where you can find tons of classic European treats.
515 17 Ave SW #160, eurobakerydeli.com
Liquor Stores
Vine Arts
Now that you can legally consume alcohol in Tomkins Park, a stop at Vine Arts is a must before joining in on all the Summer On 17th festivities. This Calgary-favourite wine shop carries everything from crisp and refreshing whites to bold and earthy reds, bubbly, rose and more, along with a selection of cocktail supplies, spirits, sake, beer, glassware and more.
932 17 Ave SW #101, vinearts.ca
Uptown Liqour
Get your favourite vodka sodas or go-to spirit at this 16th Ave liquor store, located right in the heart of 17th Ave across the street from Tomkins Park. Whether you’re looking for a bottle of wine to share on date night, or a beer to enjoy through the many live musical performances happening throughout the summer, you can find it at Uptown Liquor.
856 16 Ave SW, skipthedishes.com/uptown-liquor
Sweets
Modern Jelly Doughnut
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a fresh hand-filled jelly doughnut from Modern Jelly, located just blocks away from 17th Ave and Tomkins Park. This local doughnut shop carries fan favourites such as maple bacon or classic jelly along with seasonal flavours like apple pie or egg nog. Treat yourself to a single, or get a dozen and share with your friends.
1414 8 St SW, jellymoderndoughnuts.com
Ollia Macarons & Tea
No picnic is complete without a few sweets! Ollia Macarons & Tea is located across the street from Tomkins Park, and hand crafts French macarons in flavours like pistachio, early grey, cotton candy, matcha and more. They also change it up with their seasonal flavours and special menu items such as macaron cakes, as well as refreshing teas like their lavendar lemonade, served both hot and cold.
810C 16 Ave SW, byollia.com
Made By Marcus
From scoops of made-from-scratch ice cream in innovative flavours with an Albertan flare — think Chinook Honey Apricot Lavender — to decadent ice cream cakes, sundaes and more, this beloved ice cream shop is a Summer-time essential, and the perfect addition to a picnic in the park.
1013 17 Ave SW #121, madebymarcus.ca