Patio season is with us, and St. Albert has a variety of choices to soak up the sun or hide in the shade when temperatures peak.
From cool cocktails and mocktails to beer, wines and versatile pub food, there’s a patio to fit every palate. Here are the three top patio dining spots St. Albertans selected for the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
#1 Central Social Hall
Central Social Hall is a trendy experience wrapped up in a casual atmosphere. The outdoor patio faces St. Albert Trail’s sights and sounds with about a dozen umbrella covered tables to accommodate hungry and thirsty guests.
Bret and Krista Smith are regulars who dine once a month at Central. While Bret loves the wings and mini-donuts, Krista is partial to bowls and the freshly made perogies.
“We come here because we like the service. The managers have been here a long time, and the girls are good,” said Bret.
He adds, “It has beautiful seating and good food. We like to see the setting sun and facing the stretch (trail), it’s nice.
Sitting at a different table, Mars Palmer is on summer break from film studies at Vancouver’s Capilano University munching on birro tacos.
For her, it’s all about the atmosphere.
“It’s lively on the patio. It’s a good place to people watch.”
#2 The Canadian Brewhouse Jensen Lakes
Offering a bird’s eye view of the city, the Canadian Brewhouse North is located on the top floor. The terraced patio decorated with more than 30 tables and couches, pots of flowers, plants and a carpet of grass-like synthetic fibres, suggests an urban meets tropical vibe.
The sports bar and grill encourages lively conversation and when there’s a lull, patrons can catch the latest sports victories on any of the 11 television sets.
Now a regular, Tracey Dalzell-Heise selected the brewhouse because it made her feel comfortable.
“Most patios on the street level face cars and parking lots, and I’m not into parking lots. The vibe on the street level is different. Up here it’s an adventurous vibe,” said Dalzell-Heise whose go-to order is double dill chicken wings.
And she continues to patronize the patio-lounge largely because of the staff.
“They’re friendly, attentive. They get my order right. They’re energetic and they make me feel at home.”
#3 The Canadian Brewhouse South
This bright, contemporary patio is similar in design to Canadian Brewhouse North. Also located on the top floor, it faces St. Albert Trail and is one of the city’s premiere locations for watching the sun set.
Like its Jensen Lakes sister, the brewhouse serves a menu of appetizers, entrees, drinks and daily specials.
