Guidebook for Calgary
Food Scene
Rosso Coffee Roasters
103 17 Ave SEA great (usually quiet) space, ideal for working. They also have a stellar matcha latte.
11 locals recommend
Philosafy Coffee
632 17 Ave SWA great (usually quiet) space, ideal for working. They also have a stellar matcha latte.
Fantastic, lighter roast coffee with delicious pastries. Always bustling.
119 locals recommend
Analog Coffee 17 Ave
740 17 Ave SWFantastic, lighter roast coffee with delicious pastries. Always bustling.
The most delicious waffles. Toppings range from classic whipped cream and fruit to Hawaiin pizza.
7 locals recommend
Buttermilk Fine Waffles
431 10 Avenue SoutheastThe most delicious waffles. Toppings range from classic whipped cream and fruit to Hawaiin pizza.
Classic diner food. Always delicious. Avoid going at 11 am on the weekend unless you like lines. The early bird gets the worm.
43 locals recommend
Red's Diner
1415 4 St SWClassic diner food. Always delicious. Avoid going at 11 am on the weekend unless you like lines. The early bird gets the worm.
The Beltliner
243 12 Ave SWDiner food with a modern twist. Try the Merguez n' Eggs!
Anju
French-Asian fusion. Everything is exquisite.
Fantastic tapa style menu. Vegan friendly. Also offer an adjacent take-out location with delicious sandwiches and coffee.
79 locals recommend
Ten Foot Henry
1209 1 St SWFantastic tapa style menu. Vegan friendly. Also offer an adjacent take-out location with delicious sandwiches and coffee.
Situated in an iconic building (formerly a dairy plant), MM offers modern uses of classic ingredients. Highly recommend their Sunday dinners. Great cocktails, too!
89 locals recommend
Model Citizen
308 17 Ave SWSituated in an iconic building (formerly a dairy plant), MM offers modern uses of classic ingredients. Highly recommend their Sunday dinners. Great cocktails, too!
Fantastic happy hour food/drink specials, and protein-focused menu. Try the full cock/chicken!
34 locals recommend
Cleaver
524 17 Ave SWFantastic happy hour food/drink specials, and protein-focused menu. Try the full cock/chicken!
The best ice cream in the city. No exceptions. Try their toasted coconut, salted caramel, or one of their seasonal features. They also offer sorbet and a coconut milk options should dairy not be a friend of yours.
165 locals recommend
Village Ice Cream
431 10 Ave SEThe best ice cream in the city. No exceptions. Try their toasted coconut, salted caramel, or one of their seasonal features. They also offer sorbet and a coconut milk options should dairy not be a friend of yours.
Drinks & Nightlife
Good all-around pub/restaurant, serving reliable eats, beer, and cocktails. Great patio, too. Try the Pimm's Cup on a hot summer's day!
88 locals recommend
National on 17th
550 17 Ave SWGood all-around pub/restaurant, serving reliable eats, beer, and cocktails. Great patio, too. Try the Pimm's Cup on a hot summer's day!
The best cocktails in the city. Worth the wait. Trendy, trendy, trendy. Try their mezcal cocktails and steam buns.
78 locals recommend
Proof
1302 1 St SWThe best cocktails in the city. Worth the wait. Trendy, trendy, trendy. Try their mezcal cocktails and steam buns.
Rum-focused cocktails in a Carribean-inspired atmosphere. Try the plantain chips for a snack.
8 locals recommend
Ricardo's Hideaway
1530 5 St SWRum-focused cocktails in a Carribean-inspired atmosphere. Try the plantain chips for a snack.
This tiny place located behind UNA features a closely curated wine list and an atmosphere that will make you feel too-cool-for-school.
6 locals recommend
Frenchie Wine Bar
616 17 Avenue SouthwestThis tiny place located behind UNA features a closely curated wine list and an atmosphere that will make you feel too-cool-for-school.
Parks & Nature
A lovely inner-city parkette. Great for people watching and enjoying a latte. A nice war memorial, too.
31 locals recommend
Central Memorial Park
1221 2 St SWA lovely inner-city parkette. Great for people watching and enjoying a latte. A nice war memorial, too.
A beautiful park along the Bow River. Ideal for a casual stroll. Easy to stop off at Eau Claire for a bite to eat or a drink on one of the patios. Live theatre (Shakespeare on the Bow) makes summer evenings a surprise delight!
419 locals recommend
Prince's Island Park
698 Eau Claire Ave SWA beautiful park along the Bow River. Ideal for a casual stroll. Easy to stop off at Eau Claire for a bite to eat or a drink on one of the patios. Live theatre (Shakespeare on the Bow) makes summer evenings a surprise delight!
Arts & Culture
The best place to learn about Southern Alberta history. Some amazing indigenous art, as well as rotating contemporary exhibitions ranging from sculpture to fairy-tale worlds.
492 locals recommend
Glenbow Museum
130 9 Ave SEThe best place to learn about Southern Alberta history. Some amazing indigenous art, as well as rotating contemporary exhibitions ranging from sculpture to fairy-tale worlds.
This is the cultural hub of the city. You will find the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and a host of notable theatre companies including Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, and One Yellow Rabbit. Highly recommended. Check out the Arts Commons website for the current programming.
92 locals recommend
Arts Commons
205 8 Ave SEThis is the cultural hub of the city. You will find the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and a host of notable theatre companies including Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, and One Yellow Rabbit. Highly recommended. Check out the Arts Commons website for the current programming.
Essentials
A higher-end grocer that covers all the basics. Try the cafeteria on the second-level for some quick and delicious food.
91 locals recommend
Sunterra Market, Keynote
200 12 Ave SEA higher-end grocer that covers all the basics. Try the cafeteria on the second-level for some quick and delicious food.
Midtown Co-op
1130 11 Ave SWEverything you need. Excellent artisanal cheese selection!
GoodLife Fitness Calgary Stephen Avenue
140 8 Ave SWIf you are a yoga enthusiast, this is your place. They offer classes in a variety of styles and feature a cafe and rooftop studio space.
Junction 9 Yoga & Pilates
919 9 Ave SEIf you are a yoga enthusiast, this is your place. They offer classes in a variety of styles and feature a cafe and rooftop studio space.
Getting Around
City Hall LRT STation (NB Macleod TR @ 7 AV SE)
616 Macleod Trail SEEnterprise Rent-A-Car
Shopping
Anchored by Holt Renfew and the newly opened Simons, this mall covers all the bases from restaurants, to shopping, to indoor botanical gardens.
310 locals recommend
Core Shopping
324 8 Ave SWAnchored by Holt Renfew and the newly opened Simons, this mall covers all the bases from restaurants, to shopping, to indoor botanical gardens.