Picnic weather came early in Toronto. Like a well-received consolation prize for months of lockdown, Mother Nature has blessed the people of Toronto with sunny skies and warm temperatures to kick off spring. And it feels pretty amazing to know we have a solid four to five months of “balmy” weather ahead of us.
It’s safe to say that there’s a collective craving for outdoor space and a fresh air fix – perhaps like never before in the city’s history. That’s where the beloved picnic comes into play. Whether you go the good, old-fashioned route with homemade snacks and sandwiches, or pickup a goodness-packed gourmet picnic basket from a Toronto restaurant, the city has no shortage of spots to picnic. Here are 16 of the best picnic spots in Toronto.
16 Best Picnic Spots in Toronto
1. Riverdale Park East (550 Broadview Ave.) – At Riverdale Park East, your picnic can come with a side of some of the best views of the Toronto skyline – especially at sunset. The 44-acre park features draws like a swimming pool, tennis court, and sports fields, but the in-the-know picnickers are found on a blanket on the park’s west-facing hill to take in the breezy views.
2. Sugar Beach (11 Dockside Dr.) – With its soft sand, white Muskoka chairs, permanent pink umbrellas, and breezy lake views, Sugar Beach is a summertime gem. Once a parking lot in an uninspiring and industrial area, the playful urban beach reliably bustles with activity on its sand, granite rocks, or tree-lined promenade.
3. Toronto Music Garden (479 Queens Quay West) – Located steps from the boat-filled harbour, the enchanting Toronto Music Garden is inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello and often features live classical music. The scenic and serene, tree-filled garden and park space is tucked away from the street and offers multiple grassy spots for picnics and play.
4. Toronto Island Park – Once you make it across the water via ferry or water taxi, countless picnic opportunities await on the Toronto Island Park. From its multiple beaches, to sprawling green spaces throughout – many with barbecue pits and picnic tables – the iconic island and “picnic” are pretty much synonymous.
5. Trinity Bellwoods Park (790 Queen St. W) – For an eclectic and bustling Queen West vibe that attracts Toronto’s 20 and 30-something weekend park revelers, pack a picnic and hit Trinity Bellwoods Park. Here, you can enjoy a picnic via blanket on no shortage of real estate in the sprawling park, or opt for one of its many picnic tables (and countless people-watching opportunities).
6. High Park (1873 Bloor St. W) – As the decided star of the show on theToronto parks front, the sprawling High Park has attracted city picnickers for almost 150 years. Recognized as one of the most significant natural sites in Toronto, the 399-acre park features peaceful nature trails, a pond, an adventure playground, and a small zoo.
7. Berczy Park (35 Wellington St. E) – Best known for its famous ‘dog fountain’ and views of the iconic Flatiron Building mural, Berczy Park is a small but solid option for a downtown Toronto picnic. Though it functions more as a central square, at less than an acre in size, the grassy mounds on the west end often fill with picnic blankets.
8. Corktown Common (155 Bayview Ave.) – As a relatively new park that was built as part of the revitalization of the West Don Lands, the impressively designed Corktown Common reimagined an underutilized brownfield into a space of large lawns, marshland, urban prairies, stylish playgrounds, and communal picnic areas.
9. Christie Pits (750 Bloor St. W) – Conveniently located across from Christie TTC station, Christie Pits is a no-fail picnic spot, especially for families. In addition to ample grass for picnics, the multi-faceted park features multiple sports facilities, a swimming pool, a children’s playground and labyrinth, a splash pad, a wading pool, and a community garden.
10. Dufferin Grove Park (875 Dufferin St.) – A west-end go-to for picnickers of all ages, Dufferin Grove Park is a multifaceted park with a large mature forest canopy. A great option for families, the park features a multipurpose sports field, basketball court, picnic area, wading pool, children’s playground, and reflexology footpath.
11. Grange Park (26 Grange Rd. W) – The recently revamped Grange Park is somewhat of a hidden gem in the city core. Tucked away behind the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and steps to Queen West, the 4.4-acre park offers both sun and shade for the picnicking set, a wading pool, and a modern children’s adventure playground.
12. Ramsden Park (1020 Yonge St) – Just north of Yorkville, Ramsden Park is surprisingly much larger than it appears from the street. The peaceful, tree-filled park is a go-to for neighbourhood families, and features a large off-leash dog area, two playgrounds, a basketball court, tennis courts, a wading pool, and a choice of many shady spots to picnic.
13. Withrow Park (725 Logan Ave.) – In the east end, the family and dog-filled Withrow Park offers nearly 20 acres of outdoor space, housing ball diamonds and sports fields, two tennis courts, a volleyball court, a dog off-leash area, a wading pool, a children’s playground, and grassy picnic spots.
14. Colonel Sam Smith Park (3145 Lakeshore Blvd. W.) – For a nature fix, pack the picnic and head to Colonel Sam Smith Park. Located along a stretch of wooded shoreline, the popular park is home to a variety of plants, trees, birds, and other wildlife. Thanks to its lakeside location, the park is a popular picnic spot, one made more attractive with an off-leash dog area, playground, and picnic shelter.
15. Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens (2091 Yonge St.) – Uptown near Yonge and Lawrence is the peaceful and pristine – and forever photo-worthy –Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens. The perfect option for a romantic picnic for two, these stunning and multi-layer gardens feature fresh flowers and herbs, stone balconies and walls, well-kept grass, and a surrounding network of ravine trails.
16. Ashbridges Bay Park (1561 Lakeshore Blvd. E) – For a quintessential Toronto summer picnic, hit Ashbridges Bay Park. Here, you’ll find no shortage of grassy park space, portions of the Martin Goodman and Waterfront trails, the city’s famous boardwalk, and the vast and sandy (and always bustling) Woodbine beach.
* Please abide by public health rules and visit the City of Toronto website for Covid-19 updates*
2 Comments
Jennifer
July 8, 2021 at 10:17 pmThe article’s first photo is of the old McClain house at Rosetta McClain’s gardens, where I also enjoy going to picnic, yet this spot failed to make the list. Seems strange.
Solmaz
July 15, 2021 at 2:10 pmGood eye! You’re very right. We didn’t include it because a few of our readers were asked not to picnic there by park staff. It’s a beautiful spot in my opinion, but didn’t want to send people to a spot where they’d be asked to leave – Solmaz (the girl in the photo)