Annie’s Bakery & Cafe

While the food there is really good (soups, salads, sandwiches, cookies, ice cream, and even some gluten free treats) and it is a great place to pop in while biking through Fish Creek Park, the staff can be quite rude. The woman taking orders impatiently sighed and rolled her eyes at me, twice, when I asked her a question regarding the beverages that were offered. VERY unprofessional! I thought the soup nazi was only on the Seinfeld show.

I really like this place. Close to Nature. Coffee is really good and I really like drinking it outside on their patio. Oh and the ice cream is delicious. Hidden gem in Fish Creek Park.

My wife was super excited when she saw the historic building housing this bakery and café. Two stars mostly for price, and limited selection for a spot that bills itself as a bakery. The items on offer were pretty tasty, but neither old fashioned farm style, nor particularly fancy for a shop run by CRMR, and two items cost $ 7+. This price tag would be easier to swallow if the nondescript interior of the shop had a rustic atmosphere, like the heritage building that houses it. Two stars is a bit harsh, I realize it’s tough to make a profitable seasonal business out of such a venture, but I was disappointed after going out of the way to try it out. A more apt name like Annie’s Snack Shack would set expectations appropriately, and adding a few rustic touches would set the mood better.

Can’t beat the location — right in Fish Creek Park — living close by makes it a great spot to walk to for lunch. The building and surroundings are charming and the food is usually ok. However, it’s too pricey for what you get. If the prices were more reasonable I would definitely make this a weekly habit for lunch but, to me, it’s simply not worth it, other than maybe for a token visit each summer.

I remember visiting Annie’s when I was a little girl before the buildings had been bought and refurbished into what they are now. After Annie’s and it’s more sophisticated neigbour, the Ranche Restaurant, opened, it was a favourite summertime hangout with friends.
For anyone living in the neighbourhoods surrounding Fish Creek park in the south end of the city, Annie’s has been a popular seasonal destination for years — ice cream being the biggest draw. It usually opens up in May and closes down by mid-​September every year, so check their website for updated hours of operation
Annie’s has undergone many changes in management over the years, so there is often a new menu and approach taken to the baked goods and lunches served each summer. The food is almost always top notch however, with ingredients and dishes courtesy of the Ranche’s kitchen and made from inspiring combinations of local ingredients and exotic flavours. The honey-​melon dressing on a simple spinach salad used to be my favourite, and the date squares and pear and mascarpone turnovers can’t be missed — if they haven’t already sold out.
For a quick breakfast or morning coffee, the muffins and other baked goods are always good value. However, be sure to bring your credit/​debit with you if you plan to ride your bike down for a lunchtime meal — the prices can be quite high for a family order, and most leisure riders are not prepared for the extra expense with enough change in their pockets.
Annie’s is best visited in the mornings or late afternoons, to avoid the midday rush. With its deep roots in Calgary’s homesteading history, and natural (although not entirely native) setting in Fish Creek Park, it’s worth a visit by bike, car, or foot for any Calgarian or visitor looking for a bite of the past.