Patios
Patios are a dime a dozen, especially in Northern Alberta, where even the hint of warmth has us out enjoying a beverage or two while it lasts. Restaurants, pubs, and cafes are well aware of our need for fresh air as we imbibe. The best part? With the extra sunlight we enjoy through the summer, we can potentially milk it until as late as we want, hopping from patio to patio in a glorious flaneur fashion.
That doesn’t mean we have to accept any old set of chairs and a table set up on a deck to enjoy ourselves; oh no, there are places-a-plenty across the Edmonton Capital Region that are using a little bit of ingenuity to gather patrons. From back alley spaces to enclosures covered in greenery, we’ve got plenty of choices. Here’s a few of the more interesting places for coffee, wine, snacks or whatever stirs your fancy as you enjoy the outdoor life.
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Baijiu
(10359-104 Street)
Rows of picnic tables, colorful graffiti, strings of lights and firepits set in the middle make Baijiu’s side patio a must-visit, but the downtown cocktail bar next to Rogers Place hasn’t left it at that. They’re also one of the first spots in North America to make use of a Tubbo enclosure, a long tunnel that engulfs the area and keeps patrons warm. Not unlike an elongated igloo, this gerbil tube-like structure only appears in the winter months, but the patio has plenty of urban outdoor charm for visiting in the warmer seasons as well.
Tasty drink options? So many, but let’s focus on the Oh Snap, which features St-Remy signature and Amaro Montenegro, as well as the 20-oz. Baijiu Barbie, with coconut tequila, baijiu, pineapple, and lemon. Wings, beef tartare, baos, dumplings and deviled tea eggs are among the shareables, with Chinese carbonara and Thai-fried pork rice among the larger options.
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Boxcar Coffee Shop
(11926-129 Avenue)
“Northside still alive,” as the Edmonton community just to the south of St. Albert likes to say. That’s true for many reasons, including this cool cafe in Calder, which features a fenced-in patio that looks a little like someone’s backyard. Someone’s back yard if it was designed for 30 or 40 people, that is, with trailing vines, lights that twinkle in the summer evenings, and plenty of room for your pooch to stretch out if you decide to bring it along.
Boxcar is all about the drinks: hot chocolate, lattes, horchata, Italian sodas, and of course standard coffee. There are a few pastries and sandwiches like the croque monsieur and peanut butter and jam (Why don’t more people do this?), but this is definitely a place for a light snack, not for lunch or dinner.
Boxer - Albertan Kitchen & Bar
(10315-83 Avenue)
Next time you’re in Old Strathcona look up, look waaay up and you’ll see Boxer’s new 50-person capacity patio overlooking the Arts Barns. It’s literally elevated dining and drinking while you gaze down on the peons, a weatherproof glass tube holding 24 for when it rains, with a little bar and warming area for the food set to the side. Word is there’s the possibility of music as well, as owner Josh Meachem ponders the idea of bands playing on weekend afternoons.
We mention cocktails several times in this article, so let’s pivot to wine this time, and mention the by-the bottle Decero Tannat, as well as several of the Okanagan Field and Flight varietals by the glass. You’ll find fancy pizzas and burgers on the menu, as well as small-plate items like braised pork belly and crispy cauliflower.
Branches Fresh Food Experience
(23108 AB-16, Sherwood Park)
At heart, the patio experience is about relaxation, lolling at a table and enjoying a coffee or a more adult beverage. What better way to do that than in a space that also holds thousands of plants? Branches Fresh Food Experience in the Greenland Garden Centre complex is perhaps one of the most calming patios you’ll find in the greater Edmonton area, helped out by the outdoor garden centre and water feature on the side.
They don’t take reservations at Branches, so if you want to try the weekend brunch and their breakfast pizza or frittata make sure not to drag your heels when heading over.
Café Bicyclette
(8627-91 Street)
Nestled beside the complex that is La Cité francophone in the French Quarter, the patio of Cafe Bicyclette has a quaint, homemade feel to it with wooden beams, old windows, and, of course, a hanging bicycle. It’s expanded with picnic tables a little beyond where it used to be as more and more people have discovered it, but the best place to sit and chat with a latte or perhaps a French rose are the tables next to the entrance.
That’s where heaters keep you warm when those summer nights get chilly or all winter as you dig into the eatery’s famous poutine, a Salade d'été (summer salad) or pain perdu (French toast.)
Dolly’s Cocktail Bar
(9902-109 Street)
One of the more colourful downtown patios you’ll find in Edmonton, the long backyard of Dolly’s Cocktail Bar is a pink paradise filled with Chinese lanterns and hanging flowers. The other side of the fence that separates it from the neighborhood of Wîhkwêntôwin is against the trolley tracks, so if you close your eyes while sipping one of the restaurant’s house cocktails you can imagine yourself on a boozy adventure into unknown lands.
You’re there for the drinks, so consider trying a Lavender Haze (with butterfly pea flower infused tequila and cointreau), or maybe the Bubblicious, which intrigues with bubblegum-infused rum and passionfruit liqueur as part of its components. Dishes? Lots of shareable plates including wings and mozza sticks, but if you’re feeling real hunger pangs, there’s a flat iron steak and chicken dinner as well.
Little Brick
(10004-90 Street)
A building with a lot of history behind it, Riverdale’s Little Brick has been around since 1903. Originally the home of businessman J.B. Little, the house has now been converted into a cafe, general store, and multi-use space with one of the larger outdoor patios in the city. Set in a large grassy backyard, overlooked by neighboring houses, Little Brick has picnic tables, a large canopy, and greenery spreading over the brick edifice.
Part neighborhood hangout, part destination restaurant, Little Brick is a great place to drop in for brunch. Try the yummy eggs benny, a griddle stack, or for a meatless option, the southwest vegan scramble.
Riverbank Bistro
(8 Mission Ave., St. Albert)
It’s one of St. Albert’s most recognizable buildings, so whether you’ve ever thought of eating at the Riverbank Bistro or not your eyes have likely been drawn to it many times if you live in St. Albert. For summer months, a massive outdoor patio wraps around three-quarters of the building, and the interior boasts a few nooks for cosy dining.
As striking as the Victorian-style house, which sits on the banks of the Sturgeon River is, it’s the food that calls you back. Call it elevated comfort food, with dishes like the Pork Jäger Schnitzel, Vadouvan Ragout, and Beef Tenderloin vying for your stomach's attention. The wine list is well-chosen; close your eyes and try the L'ostal rosé on a summer’s day, and you might well be in Provence.
Riverside Bistro
(1 Thornton Court)
If Edmonton has one selling point, it’s the river valley, but there really aren’t a lot of patios that take advantage of those gorgeous views. One that does is the Riverside Bistro in the Courtyard by Marriott Edmonton Hotel. A half-circle on the north side of the river overlooking the Tawatinâ LRT Bridge, the bistro also boasts heated six-seater dining igloos for those looking for cozy dinner options in the non-patio seasons.
Lunching it? Try the tandoori chicken naanwich slathered in roasted cumin yogurt, or go for the fish and chips. If you’re just pecking at a plate while you slowly drink a glass of wine, there’s always sweet potato fries or shrimp gyoza.
Take Care Cafe
(9621 Whyte Avenue)
We’re trying to avoid using the term “hidden gem” as much as possible, but Take Care’s back alley patio definitely qualifies for the cliche. Walk past the cafe itself and the hair salon it shares a space with and you’re in an oasis of calm with long benches, tables, and a tree that takes up a small corner of the courtyard. They can fit around 30 people in this hidden enclave, making it great for the occasional summer evening dinner from the likes of Vagabond Pop-ups, giving the space something of a funky European vibe.
Otherwise you’ll be snacking on bagels and pastries while sipping from various coffees. Bring a book, and pet the occasional dog you’ll come across, as it’s a pet-friendly space.
Tiramisu Bistro
(10750-124 Street)
This cute little street-side patio was one of the first to pivot to heated geodesic domes during the second winter of Covid, giving exhausted Edmontonians a chance to dine out or sip a drink while complying with the safety laws. The laws have since relaxed, but the igloos still exist as a nice cold weather option for individual dining. But even if you’re not interested in being encased in a bubble as you enjoy your bubbly, Tiramisu’s 50-seat patio in itself is enticing, with wooden pergola, trees, and lights entwined for pure sparkle effect.
Yes, you’ll find tiramisu itself on the dessert menu, but before you get there, you can nosh on pizza, burgers, pasta options, and if you’re feeling fancy, an East Coast lobster dish with smoked paprika cream and a mascarpone sauce.
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