Amelie CameronOne of the fondest memories I have of my childhood were the picnics we used to have in our neighborhood park.
Fortunately, Toronto is filled with great places to recreate those memories. Whether you’re a local seeking a hidden haven or a visitor wanting to spend a sunny day outdoors, our guide has some of the most captivating picnic spots in the Toronto area.
So, pack your basket, gather your favorite treats, and let’s discover Toronto’s best-kept picnic secrets.
- Relax with Snacks at the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens
- Get Lakeside Views at the Ashbridges Bay Park
- Enjoy the Woodlands at the Colonel Sam Smith Park
- Stay Active and Try the Amenities at the Christie Pits Park
- Go on a European Style Picnic at the Craigleigh Gardens
- Enjoy the Warmth of the Bonfire at the Dufferin Grove Park
- Let the Kids Run Wild at the Grange Park
- Enjoy a Picnic at High Park, One of the City’s Oldest
- Get a Picnic with a View at the Riverdale Park East
- Have a Seaside Day in the Sun at the Sugar Beach Park
- Get Serenaded While You Eat at the Toronto Music Garden
- Go on a One of a Kind Picnic at the Toronto Island Park
- Meet a New Friend at the Trinity Bellwoods Park
- Discover a New Picnic Spot at the Withrow Park
Relax with Snacks at the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens
– Media Credit: laleahlee
Address: 2901 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 3N8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 338 4386
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
If you’re looking for a spot to have your next picnic and you want that fairytale feel, then the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens is the place to be. This park has all the classic features like fresh green grass and tall trees, but it offers so much more.
There are flower gardens and herb beds within the park that you can walk around in to work up an appetite before you set your blanket down for a picnic. There are plenty of open spaces where you can set up and enjoy your meal.
| Pro Tip: Because of the park’s unique elements, it’s a popular place to get photographs taken, whether casually or for more formal ones like wedding pictures. If you want to avoid those, it’s best to visit the park in the late afternoon when they’ve left already. |
Get Lakeside Views at the Ashbridges Bay Park
– Media Credit: ripleyjong
Address: 1561 Lake Shore Blvd E, Toronto, ON M4L
Phone Number: +1 416 392 8186
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Ashbridges Bay Park is one of the many waterfront parks in Toronto. This spot is perfect if you need something more than just green grass and blue skies to look at while you snack on some picnic essentials.
A picnic here on the expansive grassy areas is picture perfect with views of the water. If you prefer to sit on wood, then you can set up a small picnic on the Woodbine Beach Boardwalk too.
Plus, the Ashbridges Bay Park acts as one of the access points to Lake Ontario, so you can pack a swimsuit with you and take a dip after your picnic.
| Pro Tip: The Martin Goodman and Waterfront trails wind through the northern parts of Ashbridges Bay Park. If you want to avoid foot traffic, it’s best to avoid this area. But, if you’re parking there, these trails are the access points to the car lot. |
Enjoy the Woodlands at the Colonel Sam Smith Park
– Media Credit: alina.barinova
Address: 3145 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 4B6, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 2489
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Nature enthusiasts will find solace in Colonel Sam Smith Park. Along the wooded shoreline, this park is a sanctuary for many plants, trees, and wildlife. You can view the forests from afar while you sit and enjoy some refreshments and snacks.
If you prefer to be up close and personal to the woods, you can set up under one of the trees for shade. Just be aware of the squirrels running around the area because they aren’t afraid of people anymore!
There are also several hiking trails in the area that you can go on if you’re feeling energized from your picnic.
| Pro Tip: The Colonel Sam Smith Park is a popular venue for local events. One of the best ones is the Brass in the Grass where you can enjoy jazz and blues as bands play music live at the park. You can time your picnics on this day for free entertainment. |
Stay Active and Try the Amenities at the Christie Pits Park
– Media Credit: queermuslimnetwork
Address: 750 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 3K4, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 338 4386
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Christie Pits Park is a green space that’s a bustling hub of activities. For those of you who can’t sit still for too long, but still want to enjoy a picnic outdoors, then a visit to this park will be a blast. Spanning almost 9 hectares, it’s more than just a place to relax.
In between bites, you can play around at the skatepark, the splash pad, and the wading pool. There’s an artificial skating rink that’s open for everyone. Kids can run around the playground and test their skills at the small maze they have there too.
| Pro Tip: If you’re more of a sports person, then you can grab a few friends and use the baseball diamonds, table tennis area, fields for soccer and rugby, and the courts for basketball and volleyball. Just bring your own equipment when you go. |
Go on a European Style Picnic at the Craigleigh Gardens
– Media Credit: shelbnewton
Address: 160 South Dr, Toronto, ON M4W 1S2, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 338 4386
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Tucked away in a less known place, the Craigleigh Gardens is the perfect spot to have a picnic if you prefer the peace and quiet of more secluded spaces.
Even before you enter, the Victorian style houses in the neighborhood and the gardens’ ornamental gates greet you and set the stage for the old European vibes of the area.
Once you get inside, the cobblestone paths, street lights and fences complete the view.
You can set up your picnic under the canopy of the tall trees in the gardens that will shade you from the sun on extra warm days. There are also benches and picnic tables in a sectioned area if you prefer not to risk sitting on wet grass.
| Pro Tip: Right next to Craigleigh Gardens just off of South Drive, you’ll find the Milkman’s Lane trail. This trail is relatively short and makes for a great stroll among the trees. If you want to walk further, it connects to the Beltline Trail towards the Moore Park Ravine. |
Enjoy the Warmth of the Bonfire at the Dufferin Grove Park
– Media Credit: sarahkeenleyside
Address: 875 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON M6H 3K8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 0913
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Dufferin Grove Park is positioned over 2 blocks of city space that’s filled with green spaces and mature trees. The shade from the canopy and the open areas make for the perfect setting for a picnic. On colder nights, there’s a bonfire you can sit nearby.
Easily accessible from UP Express Bloor Subway Station, getting here won’t be an issue either. But, finding the willpower to leave might be with a huge playground and wading pool for the kids, a basketball court, and an ice skating rink.
During the summer, they open up the volleyball court and the ping pong tables near the clubhouse on the south end of the park.
| Pro Tip: The Dufferin Grove Park is the venue for the annual Farmers Market from May to October. It opens every Thursday from 3 pm to 7 pm, so try to avoid planning your picnics at this time. There are too many people walking around to enjoy yourself. |
Let the Kids Run Wild at the Grange Park
– Media Credit: janicewongg
Address: Beverley St & McCaul Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2W7, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 8188
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
The recently renovated Grange Park stands as a hidden gem in the city core, nestled behind the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) near Queen West. This 1.8 hectare park offers both sunlit and shaded areas where you can enjoy your picnic.
The kids can have a blast at the wading pool, the modern children’s playground, and the Weston family fountain. Furry friends are also welcome here, with off leash areas for dogs to roam freely as you enjoy your food and drinks.
| Pro Tip: You can turn your picnic into an art appreciation day by looking for the iconic Large Two Forms art installation by Henry Moore near the entrance. After enjoying Grange Park, you can also go on a visit to the AGO, just steps away. |
Enjoy a Picnic at High Park, One of the City’s Oldest
– Media Credit: tbotoronto
Address: 1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 338 0338
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
High Park, with its rich history spanning nearly 150 years, is one of the biggest public parks in the city. It’s an all around location with a variety of features and amenities within its 400-acre expanse.
The park features many picnic areas with open grass fields, picnic tables, and benches, plus a collection of trees to keep you cool.
It’s advisable to spend the entire day here because of the sheer number of things you can enjoy. There is a children’s playground, fields dedicated for various sports, and even walking trails under the trees.
| Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on dropping by the High Park Zoo which has been there since the 1900s. Admission is free and it’s open everyday from 9 am to 7 pm. You’ll find enclosed areas for llamas, deer, peacocks, highland cows and bison there. |
Get a Picnic with a View at the Riverdale Park East
– Media Credit: slankster_g
Address: 550 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2N6, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 2489
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
The bustling Riverdale Park East draws those who are always looking for the next spot to have a picnic with matching scenery. The huge park has grassy areas with a flat field towards the center, but there are also hilly areas for more elevated seating.
If you sit higher up the hills, you get a panoramic view of the Toronto skyline. Sitting here during the sunset is one of the best backgrounds to any picnic.
The park also offers a range of amenities, including a huge outdoor swimming pool and areas for table tennis and baseball. There are bike trails that will lead you to the Lower Don River Trail.
| Pro Tip: There’s a small marsh that the city government placed near the bottom of the hill to store rainwater, but animal life has made a home out of it. You can go and check out the frogs, dragonflies, and other insects living in the area. |
Have a Seaside Day in the Sun at the Sugar Beach Park
– Media Credit: camilav1
Address: 11 Dockside Dr, Toronto and East York, ON, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 2489
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Transformed from a boring parking lot in a highly urbanized area, Sugar Beach is now one of the most popular summer hangout spots in the city. You’ll recognize the iconic big pink umbrellas and white lounge chairs from the many social posts dedicated to it.
Having a picnic here means access to sand and granite rocks that cover the ground. Trees also dot the premises that provide much needed shade especially during extra sunny days. The sound of the waves crashing adds a layer of relaxation to your picnic.
The many boats that are parked at the dock nearby and the ones passing by on the water creates extra entertainment as you watch them drift by.
| Pro Tip: Look for the park’s iconic candy striped rocks where you can sit and set up your picnic without getting sand in places you don’t want it to be. Plus, these double as stages for small performances from local artists. |
Get Serenaded While You Eat at the Toronto Music Garden
– Media Credit:jgazze
Address: 479 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M8, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 973 4000
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
If you’re tired of the same old picnic experience in Toronto, then the Toronto Music Garden should be on the top of the next spots to try. Nestled just a short ways away from the harbor, this garden offers views of the water and the boats passing by.
But what really sets it apart is its design. The entire garden is made so that as you walk, visual cues from the plants, rocks, and landscaping play out like Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. It was designed with help from world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
You can choose from the granite boulders near the south edge of the garden, the forest grove, or the iconic grass steps to have your picnic.
| Pro Tip: Tree and flower lovers will have a blast here at the Toronto Music Garden. Check out the Hackberry trees that greet you near the entrance, the wild flower meadow of perennials complete with butterflies, and the collection of conifer trees. |
Go on a One of a Kind Picnic at the Toronto Island Park
– Media Credit: vanshikaa_3
Address: 9 Queens Quay West Bay Street, Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, Toronto, Canada
Hours: Open everyday from 9 am to 5 pm
Easily accessible by ferry or water taxi, the Toronto Island Park is a great spot for a picnic especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion. There are so many spots here to unfurl your blanket and enjoy an entire day of fun with friends, family or special ones.
Our go to spots are Hanlan’s Point, the Olympic Island, and the Centre Island. Choosing where to go really depends on what you prefer. Hanlan’s Point gives you access to the beach while Olympic Island grants you access to the Franklin Children’s Garden.
Centre Island is usually where we have our picnic with the kids and then we make a day of it by heading to the Centreville Amusement Park.
| Pro Tip: You’re allowed to bring food and even barbecue at all 3 of these spots. Just make sure to bring your own charcoal and utensils. But, if you prefer not to prep the day before, there are also lots of places nearby to buy food from for your picnic. |
Meet a New Friend at the Trinity Bellwoods Park
– Media Credit: queercrybaby
Address: 790 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G3, Canada
Hours: Open everyday 24/7
Trinity Bellwoods Park stands out as one of the city’s most popular picnic destinations largely because it’s one of the biggest parks in the center of downtown Toronto. Plus, the collection of 400 trees adds an extra layer of charm to the place.
Attracting a diverse crowd of locals and visitors alike, the park has a lot of amenities to keep you occupied during your day there. You can choose to kill time at the many sports areas for baseball, tennis, volleyball, and ball hockey.
The best spot to set up your picnic if you’re with the kids is at the grassy area next to the playground. This way, you can watch them play while you relax under the trees.
| Pro Tip: You can visit the Trinity Community Recreation center towards the southwest area of the park. You’ll find an indoor pool there that you can use or join in on the regular events by the Toronto local government. |
Discover a New Picnic Spot at the Withrow Park
– Media Credit: renaefarough
Address: 725 Logan Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 3B9, Canada
Phone Number: +1 416 392 2489
Hours: Open everyday from 10 am to 10 pm
Withrow Park is the least known spot on this list. We wanted to keep it that way, but there are things too good not to share. This park exudes tranquility and serenity, partly because of the smaller crowds and because of the sectioned off area near the trees.
This is where we love to have our picnics, far away from the sports venues on site and the occasional farmers market hosted near the clubhouse.
If you need more stimulation after an early morning picnic, the park is also known to host an annual dance fest in the summer filled with all sorts of dances.
| Pro Tip: Withrow Park might be a bit tricky to find. To get there, make your way to Bloor Street East which turns into Danforth Road after the bridge. Make a right turn to Hampton Street, then a left at Grandview, then a left at Logan Ave. |
