30 Places That Will Pack You a Gourmet Picnic Basket

The art of dining al fresco on the fly is easily mastered by knowing where to get a gourmet basket to-go. Outdoor picnicking prepared for you and your guests oftentimes is a spur of the moment idea, and there are wonderful restaurants and even grocers out there, many of them tied to inns and resort hotels, that can pack you a sumptuous meal. No matter if your final destination is the beach, a local city park or an outdoor concert venue, we have some highly rated recommendations to call upon. Here are a few of our favorite vendors for easy, pre-packaged picnics to-go.

Related: 30 Easy Picnic Staples to Pack for a Day in the Sun

This historic guest house has a fine dining restaurant that serves lobster and haddock, and it also offers "Gourmet Picnic Basket Adventures" featuring their best menu items for your day trip at sea or on land. Options include their basic lunch featuring an Italian grinder, potato salad, fresh seasonal fruit, and strawberry shortcake biscuit. They also offer a Lobster Picnic Pail Lunch featuring Maine lobster rolls, potato salad, plus Maine's popular Whoopie pie. Add white wine, red wine, sparkling cider, soda, beer or water to round out the meal.

The Picnic Basket is a restaurant, caterer, and a purveyor of baskets to-go stuffed with daily soups, specials and homemade from scratch daily, gourmet sandwiches. Choose from Greek Chicken Naanwiches and Cranberry Carved-Turkey Sourdough Panini, assorted wraps, daily grilled specials, soups, healthy salads, and homemade desserts. Serving gourmet baskets to-go for 35+ years, their calling card is artistically packaged baskets, and numerous online reviews rave about their quality and affordability.

In Texas, the gourmet-to-go business Feastivities is a small restaurant and catering company offering delicious packed meals for any occasion and outing. They can pack for a to-go lunch, or one more tailored to snacks, sweets, or even a dinner with seasonal menu offerings. Reviewers rave about their chicken enchiladas, tomato basil soup, spinach strawberry salad, Mexican slaw salad, peach cobbler, and coffee angel food cake. They offer dinner entrees, side dishes, salads, and fresh baked breads.

Portland's Bar Vivant is known for their gourmet summer picnic baskets for two that are stuffed with fresh menu items. They can pack a basket for every occasion. "The Spaniard" has a choice of tapas, while the "First Date" basket is amply filled with truffles and champagne. Their fixed packages are priced at $55, with an $80 deposit for the basket, linens and knives, which must be returned within five days. A 48-hour advanced order is required and based on the reviews, totally worth it. You can customize your own basket.

This well-reviewed cafe and market on the island of Kauai makes gourmet to-go baskets for Hawaiian locals and tourists. They pride themselves on their collaborations with local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to provide the freshest seasonal prepared foods, deli sandwiches, pizzas, daily specials and baked goods. Gourmet picnic or sunset-at-the-beach baskets are packed with their own organic breads, pastries, and cookies. House-roasted coffee from local Kauai coffee farms plus gluten-free and GMO-free selections and 200 wines, beers and spirits from around the globe are available.

Deer Valley's mountain air and great live music scene pair well with custom baskets from this cafe, part of the Deer Valley Resort. They have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free selections. The choices include smoked salmon with marinated cucumber ribbons and a dill caper aioli, chilled petit fillet of beef with caramelized onions and horseradish cream, fresh antipasto of artichokes, and artisan Meadowlark double cream brie. Desserts, vegetarian entrées to-go and even kids' meal baskets are available, too. Baskets are priced at $35, $50, $75, and $100.

Known for their charcuterie boards and gourmet baskets to-go that pack artisan cheese and meats to the brim, the Miami Larder offers an assortment of savory bites packed on small- to medium-size boards and fuller table-size spreads of cheese, meats, veggies, and fruit. All boards can be packed for picnics and will come with a selection of pickles, chutneys, fruits, crackers, and olives. They also offer delivery seven days a week and require a 48-hour advance notice for delivery.

Whether you order the Light Lunch Basket for two or the Full Lunch for two, the array of menu items runs from sandwiches and wraps to smoked salmon rillettes and chilled Thai noodle salads with drinks and desserts available to stuff in the basket, too. Bistro in the Park picnic basket packages boast handcrafted sandwiches, salads, spreads, and desserts from the restaurant's chef. Add-ons like wine are available, too.

Idaho's big secret is the cultural and gourmet foodie scene that percolates under the national radar in Boise. The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is an annual event where the Bard's work can be enjoyed outdoors with a custom gourmet basket of locally sourced goodies. The Café Shakespeare picnic basket runs $43 before tip and drinks. Some menu offerings include grilled citrus chicken, roasted garlic hummus, crostini, spring mix salad with French mustard vinaigrette, house-pickled vegetables, pasta salad, clusters of red and green grapes, sliced baguette, fudgy brownies, and chocolates.

At Cheesetique, check out the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese and the creamy tomato soup that are raved about in online reviews. This cafe offers in-house dining and to-go custom orders for picnickers. You can choose from cheese boxes, cold sandwich boxes, gourmet salads and combos that include the works for as many people as you need to order for. Don't forget to add their fermented and marinated starters, desserts, and "Macs," a selection of gourmet macaroni-and-cheese dishes.

Scenic Newport offers a well-reviewed cafe that specializes in baskets-to-go of gourmet treats. Picnic Bakery + Cafe is a true small-town spot with an unpretentious New England atmosphere. Their curated menu is designed so your order can easily be prepared to explore Newport, the perfect place for a seaside lunchtime harbor cruise. Try their homemade sandwiches, salads and bakery treats as well as a full beverage menu too. They do custom and premade baskets daily for tourists and locals alike.

Chicago's Pastoral restaurants offer several picnic baskets ready to complete your day by the lake or riverwalk or visiting the Bean at Millennium Park. The customizable gourmet goody baskets start at $25 and focus on fresh, sweet or savory ingredients you can special order. Seasonal and imported cheeses, fermented and pickled sides, wine, fresh sandwiches, charcuterie, and baked sweets can be mixed up for a memorable moving feast. Large groups can be accommodated, too, for picnics to-go.

The name says it all: This cafe does nothing but pack imaginative fancy gourmet baskets to-go for anyone in the city, whether heading to a park or the Hamptons. The price range runs from $15 to many thousands of dollars depending on people served and extent of the basket menu, which can include baguettes stuffed with charcuterie, fresh Maine lobster rolls, locally sourced fresh salads and marinated olives, custom desserts, and countless kinds of sandwiches. Add-ons include wines and assorted beverages.

This bakery-café with locations in Century City and Beverly Hills can whip up your Hollywood Bowl picnic basket in a flash. They offer a range of seasonal menus for two to four people. Their Build-Your-Own-Picnic ($18-$32) has two side salads plus a choice main entrée such as shrimp, steak, chicken, wild king salmon, cold meatloaf, or quiche. There are also more affordable boxes with sandwiches, salads, and cookies. Specialty packs can include Spanish tapas, "Grand Aioli" (vegetables, potatoes, eggs, marinated artichokes, olives, aioli, and more), deviled eggs, and more. They need 24-hour advance notice on orders.

Everything served from GB is farm-to-table. They even raise their own livestock. They offer a gourmet picnic basket to-go for the warmer months with dishes that can include griddled salmon filet, mushroom and zucchini ragout, wild mushroom polenta cakes, roasted carrots, farm squash, and fresh herbs. Their seasonal menu changes constantly, so check in to see what's available.

This local favorite offers a wide variety of American and Chinese goodies to-go that can be packed for a day of adventure. This mom-and-pop establishment is well-known for succulent bao (steamed pork buns), homemade noodle soup and other delectables that make lunch or dinner on the go a treat. Dim sum, traditional sandwiches, and the in-house bakery can fill a basket with delectable choices. Their online and published reviews are excellent.

A one-stop shop dedicated to providing the excellent gourmet baskets and even helping people discover scenic spots to enjoy them, Omaha Picnic Pros' offerings range from hot dog and hamburger baskets to whiskey marinated sirloin steaks, roasted chicken quarters, grilled citrus glazed salmon with all the sides and condiments to-go. Don't overlook their popular barbecue sauces and ready-made sides like grilled corn, Aussie potato salad, buttermilk biscuits and honey butter, peach cobbler, and brownies.

Hold the Mystic pizza, this cafe and deli will pack a gourmet goodie basket to-go filled with French brie, fresh hearth baked bread, olives, pate, Italian bread sticks, dry salami, sparkling water, designer paper plates and napkins, and an assortment of chocolates. Specialty gift baskets are available, too, and they have four locations within the state.

The Rhu packs up customizable sandwich and salad baskets with gluten-free and organic offerings. Options include French Countryside baskets with artisan cheeses, fruit mostarda and wine; a Ploughman's Basket with charcuterie and house pickled vegetables; and a Farmers Market basket brimming with the best of local bakers, farmers, and chefs. The Rhu earns high marks from online reviews.

Brix Bottleshop  boasts hundreds of craft beers, fine wines and hard-to-find gourmet foods, and their gift items always follow the seasons. They specialize in customizable gourmet baskets of food to-go. So choose from gourmet cheeses, seasonal goodies, cold salads, and locally made bakery items to accompany their vast selection of wine and beers all made to be taken to enjoy elsewhere up in Big Sky Country.

Amish and Dutch country excursions are more delicious with custom-packed gourmet baskets of food to-go. The inn's restaurant will prepare a feast of delicious gourmet picnic items during your visit to the Pennsylvania countryside. At Annville Inn, all menu items are seasonal and change frequently. Locally sourced cheeses, meats, baked goodies, and chocolates are always on hand as are wines and custom menu items ready to be transported to your destination.

The gourmet deli at Current Cuisine in Yellow Springs is near the popular tourist spots of Glen Helen Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park and has service from breakfast to dinner. Their famous picnic to-go offerings include overstuffed sandwiches, salads and side dishes, and they have fresh baked bread and vegetarian options with house-made hummus and a wide variety of dessert options and drinks to add to your customizable basket.

This inn is replete with a bistro that can prepare a moveable feast with fresh produce grown on-site and high-quality locally sourced ingredients. Dancing Bear's Gourmet Mountainside Picnic Basket can be made for two or more and includes a delicious seasonal meal from the bistro chef's kitchen, plus a waterproof-backed blanket, china, cutlery, and wine glasses for an additional bottle of wine if requested. The basket requires 48-hour notice and costs $40 per person.

A perfect neighborhood deli and high-end grocery, Martha's Vineyard also packs custom gourmet picnic baskets to-go with their deli items, wines, grab-and-go packs of cherries, grapes, and a fresh mix of fruit or vegetables. For picnic basket options, Martha's Mediterranean Picnic Tote has two specialty cheeses, hummus, grape leaves, mozzarella and tomato skewers, mixed olives, seasonal fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, and half of a baguette or crackers. Napkins and utensils are also included.

Passion and quality abound with this family-owned restaurant that does a picnic basket to-go business, too. The shop focuses on cheeses, charcuterie and assorted cured meats, plus pickled and fermented olives and vegetables and chocolates, too. Wine and cheese lovers will appreciate the selection from all over the world at this popular Texas landmark.

Nejaime's picnics to-go all include plates, cutlery, napkins, and cups. Unwind with the Berkshire Summer Classic stuffed with fresh local chevre, eggplant salad, hummus, grilled salmon, and local pastries. They offer a vegetarian picnic box and French country basket loaded with classics like paté, fruit, cheeses, and homemade pie. Customizable picnic baskets can be ordered, and gluten-free options are available, too.

The Short Line Deli boasts overstuffed sandwiches, sweet and salty snacks, imported cheeses, wines and spirits, and beverages of every stripe. They're known for their gourmet baskets that can range from a sandwich, sweet and savory snacks to more fancy options like salami, smoked locally caught fish, and cheese platters with Ballard Family Dairy cheeses, an Idaho artisanal institution. Locals and tourists rave online about their quality.

Simple good food that's easy and can travel well is the calling card for Muss & Turner's, where a bottle of rosé and cheeses, meats, olives and a loaf of bread can be customized for a to-go picnic basket. The menu changes seasonally, and they proudly support local farmers and businesses. Their catering and basic menu can be ordered from to plan the perfect gourmet picnic basket of treats to-go. 

A neighborhood deli and charcuterie spot, Il Porcellino Salumi has a few themed picnic baskets for those heading to an outdoor concert at Red Rocks. Their Colorado picnic pack includes summer sausage, sliced coppa, MouCo cheese, Denver-based 34 Degrees crackers, Il Porcellino's homemade pickled vegetables, and CBD-infused sparkling waters from Dram. You can also request compostable plates and utensils.

This privately owned grocery offers a robust picnic basket business in the spring and summer, with fresh made-to-order boxes filled with fresh lobster salad rolls, grilled salmon, shrimp salad wraps and buttermilk fried chicken to name some of the selections. Sweet, savory and gourmet items are packed in easy-to-carry picnic boxes come with your choice of entrees, sides and rolls, a dessert and a beverage as well as utensils.