Finally the light seems to be appearing at the end of a very long lockdown tunnel. The weather is perfect and picnics in the park are the most exciting thing to happen since Kerry Chant broke her glasses at an 11am media conference.

Once again, our Inner West cafes and restaurants are pivoting with the times and treating us to some fancier than usual picnic packs to get us through the next couple of (and hopefully final) weeks.

So if you’re dusting off that tartan rug here’s where you can pick yourself up something delicious to share with your party of 5, no matter what corner of the Inner West you’re picnicking in.

Enmore

Picnic Spot: Enmore Park

Grab a picnic pack from Osteria di Russo and Russo or The Stinking Bishops

Yes you heard it right, this has to be one of the most delectable picnic packs on offer right now. I can just imagine sucking down these four oysters with yuzu mignonette and it even includes tiramisu or a cheese plate. Better still add a bottle of Pino’s famous limoncello or arancello and you will forget all about those lock down blues!

Just up the road, The Stinking Bishops is also serving up a fabulous cheesy pack complete with olives, antipasto and wine. Order through their website by clicking on either of their names above.

Images: Russo and Russo, Stinking Bishops

Marrickville

Picnic spot: Marrickville Park

Grab a picnic pack from The Great Club in Marrickville

A perfect picnic pack that includes quiche, sparkling wine, arancini, garden salad and a delicious slice of either winkle pie or chocolate mousse cake can be pre-ordered over the weekend from The Great Club, just down the road from Marrickville Park.

Image: The Great Club

Newtown

Picnic Spot: Sydney Park or Camperdown Memorial Park

Grab a picnic pack from Bloodwood Newtown, Continental Deli or La Favola.

If fried chicken and potato salad is more your thing and perhaps even a negroni to spice things up a bit, give Bloodwood a call and order one of their pop up picnic packs available from Thursday to Saturday from 2pm.

Continental Deli also has a takeaway feast of fine meats and cheese in easy to grab takeaway packs and La Favola has gone all out with an antipasto picnic that you can also add salad, wine or cocktails to.

Images: Bloodwood, Continental Deli, La Favola (image by Cass @hungrycookie)

Ashfield

Picnic spot: Yeo Park

Grab a picnic pack from Outfield Cafe (located in the park)

If there is a local joint that knows how to put on a picnic it has to be Outfield Cafe. These guys have a range of eight different packs to suit everyone’s buds. Choose from a Picnic Revival (pictured here), to a Group Grazer (either vegetarian or charcuterie) and everything in between. Forgot where you have that rug stored? Outfield has you sorted with rugs you can purchase on site. There really is no excuse.

Image: Outfield Cafe

Forest Lodge / Glebe

Picnic spot: Jubilee

Grab a picnic pack from Flour Eggs Water at Tramsheds

How about a picnic by the water? This has to be one of our favourite picnic spots and Flour Eggs Water at the Tramsheds is putting on a picnic pack with all the trimmings. You can even add an Aperol Spritz or two or three to this one. Vegetarian options also available.

Image: Flour Eggs Water

Annandale

Picnic spot: Hinsby Park

Grab a picnic pack from Cornersmith

No need to pre-order if you like the look of these scrumptious packs from Cornersmith, they’ll put one together for you on the spot. Head directly across the road to Hinsby Park, what could be easier than that?

Image: Cornersmith

Petersham

Picnic Spot: Petersham Park

Grab a picnic pack from Noi Petersham, or Sweet Belem

Noi Petersham is getting ready to treat us to a picnic pack of delicious bread and pate of the week, pasta or fregola salad and a dessert of fruit and chocolate. You can also add on oysters, wine and juice and can pre-order 24 hours in advance.

Just around the corner, Sweet Belem, who put Portugese Tarts well and truly on the Inner West foodie circuit, is serving up picnic packs full of both their sweet and savoury goods which you can pre-order through their website.

Image: Noi Petersham, Sweet Belem

Stanmore

Picnic Spot: Weekley Park

Grab a picnic pack from Mrs Underwood

A firm Stanmore favourite, Bec and the team at Mrs Underwood have put together a delightful picnic pack full of our favourite goodies. Boxes are made to order so if they look tantalising to you give them a call during business hours.

Image: Mrs Underwood

Camperdown

Picnic Spot: Camperdown Oval or O’dea Reserve

Grab your picnic pack from Camperdown Commons

Camperdown Commons has added picnic packs to their takeaway menu that include a trio of finger sandwiches with chicken and avocado, cucumber and dill and smoked salmon and cream cheese – this assortment screams picnic to me! Also included is an antipasto selection and a deliciously soft brie cheese. Pre-orders are required.

Image: Camperdown Commons

Dulwich Hill

Picnic Spot: Johnson Park

Picnic Packs from The Larder, Sideways Cafe or Rosa Cienfuegos Mexican Tamaleria

The Dulwich Hill locals clearly know how to picnic. Choose a grazing box to share with your favourite friends from The Larder (you can add wine to these ones too) and pre-order by 2pm for next day pick up.

Sideways Cafe has a picnic box that is certain to be a crowd pleaser, think mini pies, sausage rolls, antipasto and scones. The kids will also go crazy for the mini tea set bickies that are synonymous with this Inner West fav.

How about a mexican feast instead? Rosa Cienfuegos is where you need to order yours from and they’ll even deliver for free. Enjoy chicken tinga tostadas and a fruit grazing box. Ordering details via their instagram.

Images: The Larder, Sideways Cafe, Rosa Cienfuegos

Hang in there. It won’t be long before we’re able to dine in at our favourite places. In the mean time we hope to see you out in the sunshine enjoying one of these packs soon.

Annika and Blake