Located on St. George’s Island in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and located on the banks of the Bow River, the Calgary Zoo is one of Canada’s most popular zoos. It’s not only a great place to see wild animals from around the world, but it also hides a lot of surprising food experiences! Imagine enjoying a meal while watching giraffes stroll leisurely or penguins playing near you - such a wild dining experience is not something you can find everywhere. Today, we will reveal the special restaurants and picnic spots in the Calgary Zoo, so that your trip will be both a feast for the eyes and a feast for the mouth!
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1. Kitamba Café: "Giraffe Restaurant" with African grassland style
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Location: Near the African exhibition area (Destination Africa)
Recommended dishes: African-style grilled meat rolls, tropical fruit salad
If you want to experience the most "wild" dining atmosphere, Kitamba Café is definitely the first choice! This restaurant is located next to the giraffe and zebra exhibition area, and the outdoor seating allows you to enjoy your meal while observing these elegant animals. The menu focuses on African flavors, such as spicy grilled meat rolls and refreshing tropical fruit cups, paired with a glass of iced lemonade, as if you are in the Kenyan savannah!
Tips: There are many people during lunch time (11:30-13:30), so it is recommended to eat at off-peak times, or occupy a seat by the fence in advance, and the giraffes will occasionally "peek" over!
2. Grazers: A burger feast from the perspective of polar bears
Location: Canadian Wilds
Recommended dishes: Alberta beef burgers, maple syrup fries
Grazers is the most popular fast-food restaurant in the zoo, specializing in Canadian classics - Alberta beef burgers! The meat is tender and juicy, paired with crispy onion rings and special sauces, which will definitely satisfy your appetite. The most special thing is that the restaurant is close to the polar bear exhibition area. If you are lucky, you can also see polar bears playing in the swimming pool, which is called "the coolest meal show"!
Hidden menu: If you bring your kids, you can try their "Animal Footprints Kids Meal", which comes with a small toy, which kids love!
3. The Cinnamon Spoon: A dream cafe for sweet lovers
Location: Near the main entrance
Recommended dishes: Handmade cinnamon rolls, iced latte
If you like sweets, The Cinnamon Spoon's freshly baked cinnamon rolls will definitely conquer you! This small cafe offers freshly baked snacks and fragrant coffee, perfect for replenishing energy when you are tired of shopping. Their signature cinnamon rolls are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, topped with cream cheese frosting, sweet but not greasy, paired with a cup of iced latte, instantly replenish blood!
Best time to eat: There are fewer people in the morning when the park opens, so you can buy one for breakfast to avoid the peak queue.
The Calgary Zoo allows visitors to bring their own food. If you prefer to have a picnic, the following places have great views and you can observe animals up close:
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Best picnic spot 1: The lawn next to Penguin Plunge
Here you can not only hear the cheerful calls of penguins, but also have parasols and benches, which is suitable for family picnics.
Best picnic spot 2: The rest area outside the Butterfly Garden
Dining in an environment surrounded by green plants, with butterflies flying by occasionally, romantic and healing!
Best picnic spot 3: Near the Prehistoric Park
If you bring children, you can have a picnic next to the "dinosaurs", and the children will be excited!
Suggestions for picnics:
Bring a cooler bag to ensure the freshness of food
Prepare wet wipes, you may have to walk a distance to wash your hands in the zoo
Don't feed the animals, the zoo strictly prohibits feeding
The Calgary Zoo is not only a wildlife tour, but also a food adventure! Whether you're enjoying an African-style barbecue sitting next to a giraffe, munching on a burger under the "watchful eyes" of a polar bear, or picnicking by the butterfly garden, every experience is full of fun. Next time you visit the Calgary Zoo, don't just focus on seeing the animals - take your taste buds on a trip around the world, too!
