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15 Top Calgary Restaurants for Outdoor Dining

A photo of Red logo
by OpenTable
Updated 15 July 2021

As a city with notoriously unpredictable spring and fall weather, Calgary has a tragically short patio season, which is why Calgarians tend to make the most out of any day that’s warm enough to go out for a long and leisurely outdoor meal. The COVID-19 pandemic has given local businesses even more motivation to improve their patios and expand outdoor seating areas while adding in more features for comfort such as heat lamps, overhead coverage, and wind protection. From elegant rooftop dining areas with birds-eye views of the downtown core to quaint lines of tables on sidewalk patios at casual spots, more than ever both restaurants and diners are embracing opportunities for fresh air dining. There’s a fun and interesting place to eat outside around almost every corner in Calgary during the summer months, but these 15 restaurants go the extra mile when it comes to combining good food and the great outdoors.

A photo of Lulu Bar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2300)
CAN$30 and under
Pacific Rim
Downtown
About the restaurant
Hawaii is a long way from Calgary, but this Pacific Rim-themed bar and restaurant offers a taste of the tropics, especially when it’s warm enough to roll open the big garage-style doors at the front of the building that lead out to the sidewalk patio. Fresh and flavourful food dominates the menu, with playful bites such as hot dog bao buns, house-made spam skewers, and loco moco rice, all of which pair nicely with the bar’s over-the-top tiki-style cocktails and a little bit of sunshine.
Top review
Olha
Dined 1 day ago
Yesterday evening, we had a wonderful time at Lulu Bar was warm and inviting, and the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious, with every dish beautifully presented.
A photo of Calavera Cantina restaurant
4.7
4.7 (377)
CAN$30 and under
Latin American
Calgary
About the restaurant
Calavera Cantina’s patio may be located in the parking lot of a large suburban retail development, but the patio is designed to make diners feel like they’ve been whisked away to a beachside taqueria in Mexico, with high walls to block out the fast food joints and big box stores nearby. The food is bright and fresh, with dishes such as tuna crudo tostadas and a melon salad as well as the requisite (but very tasty) tacos and burritos.
Top review
TimVIP
Dined on 24 Aug 2024
Great food, great service. We would definitely return!
A photo of Klein / Harris restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1216)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Canadian
Calgary
About the restaurant
Downtown’s Stephen Avenue is Calgary’s premium place for sitting and watching the world go by. Closed to cars during the daytime and bubbling with energy in the evening, the strip is always full of interesting pedestrian traffic and plenty of action. Klein/Harris’s street-level patio is a lovely place to drink in the Stephen Avenue vibe while eating chef James Waters’s uniquely Canadiana dishes and sipping on one of co-owner Christina Mah’s much-celebrated cocktails.
Top review
Krista
Dined 5 days ago
Only the second time I have been here and it didn't disappoint again! Everything was wonderful - service, ambience, food. This restaurant definitely stands out for quality and value. Will be back again soon!
A photo of The Living Room Restaurant restaurant
4.5
4.5 (955)
CAN$30 and under
Contemporary French / American
Downtown
About the restaurant
The Living Room has been a fixture on 17th Avenue for 20 years and is well-known for its breathtaking patio, which has a secluded backyard feel despite being right on one of Calgary’s busiest commercial streets. The wood-walled space is fit with plenty of lights, gorgeous plant life, and a fireplace to make the restaurant’s contemporary shareable cuisine and much-loved fondue dinners feel even more special.
Top review
Amanda
Dined on 11 Dec 2024
Had a great experience at The Livingroom. Went on a Tuesday, so the restaurant was quiet and not many tables. Drinks were made with premium liquors and were so flavourful and tasty. Food presentation was phenomenal! We shared the burrata and sourdough to start, which was phenomenal. I had the salmon dish and the mix of flavours from the salmon, horseradish and peas and potatoes! Our server as a kind gentleman and the bartender working was approachable with questions. Overall, experience was lovely! My partner and I would definitely like to go back and try more of the dishes on menu.
A photo of Vin Room Mission restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1140)
CAN$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Calgary
About the restaurant
This chic wine bar has two patios, one on the street level and another on the rooftop, and while the upper deck offers great views of the vibrant Mission neighbourhood, the lower area is popular with dog lovers looking to enjoy a nice international meal and a glass or two of premium wine with their pets at their feet. Owner Phoebe Fung is a true dog lover (her dog Dom is practically a local celebrity) and not only allows dogs on the patio but also hosts dog-related events and provides treats and “pawsecco” for canine friends.
Top review
Candace
Dined 7 days ago
Always love this vin room in the front or upstairs. Near the kitchen a bit brighter not my favourite spot. Service is great and food is good too. They’re able to make a few adjustments for gluten-free for sure which is always great.
A photo of Bonterra Trattoria restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3723)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Italian
Calgary
About the restaurant
Bonterra has become a local go-to because of its consistently delicious higher-end Italian fare, but the trattoria’s most powerful asset is its luxurious patio, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Calgary. The outdoor dining area is technically part of an inner-city parking lot, but its clever construction, terracotta tiles, rustic styling, and abundant greenery make it feel like a scene straight out of Tuscany.
Top review
Alex
Dined 5 days ago
Amazing food as always and the restaurant looks beautiful for the holidays.
A photo of Teatro Restaurant restaurant
4.6
4.6 (2925)
CAN$51 and over
Contemporary Italian
Calgary
About the restaurant
Situated in a historic bank building, dining indoors at Teatro is a quintessential Calgary experience, but the venerable restaurant also has a lesser-known outdoor dining space. Sitting just off of Olympic Plaza and steps away from both Calgary’s Municipal Building and Arts Commons theatre complex, this tucked-away corner offers a serene spot to indulge in some Mediterranean-inspired fine dining and a bottle from Teatro’s legendary wine list.
Top review
DW
Dined 2 days ago
Great service with amazing food! 10/10 Lots of amazing gluten free options, and all of them outstanding
A photo of Buchanan's Chop House and Whisky Bar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (390)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Steakhouse
Calgary
About the restaurant
A Calgary institution since 1988, Buchanan’s boasts a dark, wood-lined interior, representing classic chophouse style. Diners looking for the same great steakhouse fare but in sunnier surroundings can opt for a seat on the restaurant’s expansive sidewalk patio, enclosed by glass panels and adorned with flowers and umbrellas. Close to the Bow River, it’s an ideal place to stop for a steak or a glass from the bar’s extensive whiskey collection after a stroll on the riverside pathway.
Top review
Tim
Dined on 14 Dec 2024
Outstanding service! Excellent food! I'll be back.
A photo of MODERN STEAK ROOFTOP restaurant
4.6
4.6 (564)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Steakhouse
Downtown
About the restaurant
Modern Steak’s Downtown location has the same excellent ranch-specific steak menu as the restaurant’s original location in Kensington, with the added bonus of a spectacular rooftop patio that overlooks the heart of Calgary. Diners can take in a full view of the Calgary Tower as they dine on beef that was raised just a few hours away in Alberta cattle country for a truly local experience.
Top review
Grant
Dined on 25 Sept 2024
Overall it was a great night. Food came out slow but they were slammed all at once and the waiter Sunny proved to be a real professional. Without any complaints made about the slow service he took it upon himself to have one of our bottles of wine Comped for the wait. Excellent place to dine at, I highly recommend it.
A photo of The Beltliner restaurant
4.7
4.7 (197)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Comfort Food
Beltline
About the restaurant
Billed as a “modern diner,” The Beltliner is best known as a laid-back brunch spot, but also has a nice happy hour, with wings, burgers, and various cocktails all on offer at a discounted rate. The patio along the side of the building faces a park for great people-watching opportunities and is also dog-friendly, making it a top choice for brunchers who want to while away the day with their pups in tow.
Top review
Chelsea
Dined on 9 Dec 2024
I do love a nice breakfast and the beltliner didn’t disappoint. It has a little bit of that diner feel but the coffee is far better than that. I had a hash brown bowl and my egg was perfectly done-cooked white, runny yolk. Seasonings were balanced, textures just right.
A photo of Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant restaurant
4.6
4.6 (4272)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Canadian
Calgary
About the restaurant
Located way down in the south end of the city in a landmark historical home, it’s hard to beat a special occasion Canadian meal on Bow Valley Ranche’s picturesque outdoor veranda. For a different view of the property, the fine dining restaurant’s parent company, the Great Events Group, also hosts gourmet outdoor private dome dinners in the restaurant’s back garden under its “Foodies in the Park” banner.
Top review
Anne-MarieVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Every part of what we ordered on the set Lunch Menu was wonderful. From the presentation to the taste...it was all amazing. Sarah, our server, was lovely! Can't wait to visit again.
A photo of Connie & John's Rooftop restaurant
4.4
4.4 (281)
CAN$30 and under
Dining Bar
Downtown
About the restaurant
Part of the Charcut/Charbar family of restaurants, this bar on the top of the historic Simmons Mattress factory offers an absolutely unparalleled view of the Bow River, historic Inglewood, or downtown Calgary, depending on which direction you’re facing. Once up top, diners can relax with a drink and a pie from Connie and John’s Pizza, a New York-style pizza project run by Charbar proprietors John Jackson and Connie DeSousa.
Top review
Lily
Dined on 6 Sept 2024
Beautiful views of the bow river while enjoying some pizza. Pizza is extra large with a thin crust.
A photo of Last Best Brewing & Distilling restaurant
4.7
4.7 (595)
CAN$30 and under
Gastro Pub
Downtown
About the restaurant
From the outside, Last Best doesn’t look like it has an outdoor dining area, which makes its courtyard patio feel all the more secretive and magical. Sheltered from the wind and fitted with a firepit to help extend the patio season, it’s a popular fixture in a brewpub that is already much embraced for its excellent line of beers and above-average pub food.
Top review
GRANT
Dined on 29 Oct 2024
I had a business lunch for 7 and they put a mandatory 20% gratuity on the bill. Then, handed me the machine and asked for more. This is overtly presumptuous and greedy. Likely wont eat here again. Food was good. Service was good, but not enough to bring me back.
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