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Where To Eat & Drink In Calgary, Alberta: 15 Best Restaurants in Calgary

Looking for where to eat in Calgary? In this food guide, I’m dishing out some of the best restaurants and places to eat in Calgary!

Calgary’s food scene is indeed growing with food trends and new restaurants increasing the diversity in cuisines.

In fact, 16 best restaurants in Calgary were listed in Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants.

For my trip to the Canadian Rockies, I decided to stay in Calgary for a few days to do a bit of food tripping!

And here are some of the best restaurants in Calgary that I found to give you an idea on where to eat and drink.

Calgary Tower at the Olympic Plaza in Calgary, Alberta
Olympic Plaza

I liked the fact that most of the restaurants are local to Calgary which makes them extra special since you can’t find them in other places.

I can’t wait to see how the food scene continues to grow in the years to come!

Did you know? Alberta only has 5% sales tax from GST instead of the 13% HST.

Framing Peace Bridge at Prince's Island Park in Calgary, Alberta

When I visit a new destination as a Travelling Foodie, I try to get gauge the overall food scene by trying a range of cuisines in different areas and price points.

Deciding where to eat in Calgary was tough but someone’s got to do it.

In this food guide are 15 places I enjoyed which include some of the best restaurants, cafes and breweries in Calgary.

Tree Sculptures at Stephen Avenue Walk in Calgary, Alberta

Travelling Foodie Tip: If you only have a short time in the city and want to food trip, the best area to visit in Calgary is 17th Avenue in downtown which is the street for foodies.

It has the most restaurants and bars along one street in Calgary.

Also Read: Top Restaurants in Toronto


Best Restaurants in Calgary

Here are the best places to eat and drink in Calgary.

The Lake House

Perched directly above Lake Bonavista with large glass windows overlooking the lake, The Lake House offers great food with awesome views!

Lake Bonavista at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta

Chef Thomas Neukom and Chef Gareth Colville offer a locally inspired menu with what they call “Rocky Mountain Cuisine”, complimented by an extensive wine list by Wine Director Brad Royale.

Peach Sorbet Bellini at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Peach Sorbet Bellini ($11) – 5oz, Canella Prosecco & House Made Peach Sorbet

The rustic interior is very nice as well.

It’s intimately illuminated with ornate elk antler chandeliers and accessorized with a grand stone fireplace, a 130 square foot glass encased wine cellar, and a refurbished 21 foot bar from the 1800’s, previously housed in a mercantile shop in Montana.

View from inside The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Interior at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta

This is definitely one of the best restaurants in Calgary.

I pretty much enjoyed everything we ordered here with favourites including the Dungeness crab cakes, Rocky Mountain Charcuterie Board, Grilled Wild Boar Chop and Bison Striploin.

I was very surprised with the game meat they offer.

Charcuterie Board and Fish Plank at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
On the table:
– Rocky Mountain Charcuterie Board ($21/small) – A Selection of Regionally & House Made Charcuterie, House Made Accompaniments & Rye Bread
– Lake House Fish Plank ($21/small) – Assortment of House Cured & Smoked Seafood & Fish, Marinated Olives, Pickled Red Onions, Citrus Crackers
Dungeness Crab Cakes at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Dungeness Crab Cakes ($19) – Lime & Ginger Jam, Fennel & Radish Salad, Mango Mayo
Oysters at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Fresh Shucked East Coast Oysters ($19/6 pcs) – Daily Mignonette, Grilled Lemon & Horseradish
Icelandic Cod at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Icelandic Cod ($37) – Proscuitto & Salt Cod Croquette, Tomato-Caper Tapenade, Green Beans, Parsley Cream
Bison Striploin at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Bison Striploin ($42) – Lobster & Pea Rice Pilaf, Kale, Roasted Apple Pico de Gallo, Chipotle Adobo Sauce
Grilled Wild Boar Chop at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Grilled Wild Boar Chop ($41) – Boar Sausage, Herb Spaetzle, Broccolini & Kohlrabi Slaw, Cherry Barbecue Sauce

For desserts, the Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar is a must-try, especially if you love peanut butter.

It has a nice mix of salty, bitter, and sweet!

I’m honestly not a fan of peanut butter in general, but I loved it!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar ($11) – Dark Chocolate Ganache, Peanut Butter Mousse, Salted Peanut Chewy Caramel

If you’re looking for a more innovative dessert, go with the Lemon Sugar Churro Cake.

Lemon Sugar Churro Cake at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Lemon Sugar Churro Cake ($11) – Orange Creamsicle Semifreddo, Blueberry Whip Cream Macerated Berries
Housemade Ice Creams & Sorbets at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta
Housemade Ice Creams & Sorbets ($11) – Daily Selection, Three Scoops

Website / Address: 747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE, Calgary, Alberta T2J 2M2
Accolades: Narcity’s 8 Calgary Restaurants With Breathtaking Views by Narcity, OpenTable’s 20 best neighbourhood gems in Calgary, Culinaire Magazine’s Alberta’s Finest Drinks List Awards, OpenTable’s 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in Canada 2017


Broken Plate Greek Restaurant

Located in Willow Park Village for 15 years, Broken Plate Greek Restaurant serves some legit Greek food by Chef Ervin Bushi who lived in Greece for 5 years to understand Greek culture, language and cuisine.

This is one of the hidden gem restaurants in the burbs of Calgary!

Calamari, Grilled Octopus and Greek Fries at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Rack of Lamb, Lamb Souvlaki and Angus Striploin at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta

What are your go-to dishes for Greek food?

My typical go-to dishes for Greek food are saganaki, lamb souvlaki, lamb rack and calamari, and they all delivered here.

Lamb Souvlaki at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Lamb Souvlaki ($27) – Marinated lamb sirloin, lemon roasted fingerling potatoes, brocolinni, roasted carrots, tzatziki

The calamari had the strong squid taste and a light crunch that I love.

Calamari at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Calamari ($14) – Buttermilk marinated calamari, topped with cherry tomato, green chilies and olive salsa & tzatziki

The lamb rack is good to share as it is a big rack and very tender.

Rack of Lamb at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Rack of Lamb ($42) – Rack of lamb, rosemary reduction, lemon roasted fingerling potatoes, sautéed brocolinni

A definite must-order here is the saganaki which was highly addicting.

You’ll notice almost everyone in the restaurant ordering one.

I could’ve eaten one by myself!

Saganaki at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Saganaki ($15) – Greek Kefalotiri, flambeed table-side, Metaxa brandy

Keep a lookout for their off-menu specials.

We had the certified Angus striploin special which was so good – perfectly cooked, consistently tender and flavourful!

Daily Special Steak at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Daily Special: Certified Angus Striploin

They also have Daily Happy Hour from 3-6PM with drink and appetizer specials.

Baklava at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Baklava ($9) – layered phyllo pastry, honey, walnuts, mint stracatella
Creme Brule at Broken Plate in Calgary, Alberta
Creme brule ($8) – caramelized vanilla & creme de cacao custard

Website / Address: 10816 Macleod Trail SE #590, Calgary, Alberta T2J 5N8


Bill’s Peking House

Another hidden gem in the burbs for Chinese food is Bill’s Peking House, serving Chinese food since 1988!

When I told my friends I had so-so dim sum at the popular Silver Dragon, they took me to Bill’s Peking House as one of the best dim sum restaurants in Calgary.

The must-order here is the steamed shrimp and scallop dumpling, which is rare to find even in Toronto.

It’s like an open sleeved har gaw topped with scallop and roe.

Four pockets of heaven!

Steamed Shrimp and Scallop Dumpling at Bill's Peking House in Calgary, Alberta
Steamed Shrimp and Scallop Dumpling ($6.25)

Their e-fu noodles (Yi Mein) are simple but so delicious as well.

One thing about Calgary’s dim sum scene is it’s super pricey!

Dim sum prices tend to start at $4 and go as high as $7.

My cousin and I spent a total of $60+ for two people.

They don’t really have the Dim Sum Happy Hour that Torontonians are used to that offers dim sum at around $2.50-$3.50 before 11am.

Website / Address: 380 Canyon Meadows Dr SE, Calgary, Alberta T2J 7C3
Accolades: Daily Hive’s 9 must-try Chinese restaurants in Calgary


Sushi Bar Zipang

Opened since 2004, Sushi Bar Zipang offers an extensive selection of sushi and sashimi with fish from Japan, East Coast and West Coast Canada, and Mexico.

Owner Chef Naoya Umino learned from Chef Hiro Hyakutake of Sushi Hiro.

Did you know? Sushi Bar Zipang is No. 1 in TripAdvisor for Japanese Restaurants in Calgary.

Deluxe Matsu Sushi Platter at Sushi Bar Zipang in Calgary, Alberta
Matsu Sushi Platter ($31.50) – Deluxe Assorted Sushi – 9 Nigiri and 1 Sushi Roll: Sockeye Salmon, Scallop, Special Scallop, Tobiko, Unagi, Tuna, Salmon, Hamachi, Botan-Ebi, Tuna Roll

Be sure to sit at the sushi bar where you can watch the sushi chefs, including Chef Naoya himself, in action.

Chef Naoya is very friendly and, on my visit, I noticed most customers are regulars who had built a rapport with the chefs already.

You can’t go wrong with their seasonal fishes for something interesting and guaranteed fresh including Kinmedai/Alfonsino, Isaki/Grunt and Sanma/Saury.

Seasonal Sushi at Sushi Bar Zipang in Calgary, Alberta
Seasonal Sushi: Kinmedai/Alfonsino ($6), Isaki/Grunt ($6), Sanma/Saury ($6)

It’s a great place to get your sushi fix.

Pricing is reasonable and the fishes are sliced bigger than normal so you are getting more.

Sashimi Platter at Sushi Bar Zipang in Calgary, Alberta
Deluxe Assorted Sashimi ($38) – 18pcs

For hot food, the grilled black cod is a must!

It’s grilled to perfection that the cod is flavourful and tender, not mushy nor falling apart.

Black Cod at Sushi Bar Zipang in Calgary, Alberta
Tara no Kazuke ($9.50) – Grilled Seasonal Black Cod

Website / Address: 1010 1 Ave NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 4K1
Accolades: Foursquare’s 15 Best Places for Sushi in Calgary, Culture Trip’s Best Sushi Spots In Calgary, Avenue Magazine’s Best Sushi Restaurants

Also Read: Zen Japanese Restaurant, Best Sushi in Toronto


Shiki Menya

Calgary is known for being cold so a nice bowl of ramen really hits the spot.

Ask locals where to eat ramen in Calgary and, for sure, they’ll say Shiki Manya.

Shiki Manya serves fresh in-house noodles and soups made from scratch using pork from local farms.

I highly recommend Shiki Menya, which is one of the best restaurants in Calgary for ramen.

Did you know? Shiki Menya means “four seasons noodle house” in Japanese.

This small ramen joint run by father-son team of Tsukasa and Koki Aihara is only open for lunch and serves only 150 bowls of ramen per day so make sure you come early to beat the line!

When you arrive, put your name down on the waitlist pad on top of the chair outside the door right away.

Since it’s ramen, turnover is quite fast but I still had to wait 30 minutes to get a seat.

The tonkotsu black was so flavourful, and elevated with the black squid ink garlic bomb.

A heads up that the overall ramen taste isn’t the traditional one you’d expect, but it’s damn good!

I loved the texture of the in-house noodles.

The 2 pcs of char siu was well marbled and tender, and had an amazing taste!

It also came with a perfectly cooked half egg.

Tonkotsu Black at Shiki Menya in Calgary, Alberta
Tonkotsu Black ($16) – Tokyo negi, soft tamago, menma, wakame, char siu, black garlic oil, black squid ink garlic bomb

Website / Address: 827 1 Ave NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 0C3
Accolades: FLARE’s Best Ramen Restaurants in Calgary, Foursquare’s 15 Best Places for Noodle Soup in Calgary, Narcity’s Best Of YYC: This Is The Noodle Spot You Need To Try In Calgary If You Freaking Love Ramen, Daily Hive’s 14 slurp-worthy Calgary ramen bowls on Instagram


Bike and Brew

A unique concept created by two local bike guys, Bike and Brew is Calgary’s original caffeinated Bicycle and Repair shop to bring the communities of cycling and coffee together.

I randomly stumbled upon this gem when I was walking from Sushi Bar Zipang to Shiki Menya, and thought it was too cool not to check out.

I love businesses that strive to support local.

At Bike and Brew, their offerings are all from locally owned and operated businesses, including:

  • Roasted beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters
  • Freshly baked pastries from Corbeaux Bakehouse
  • Sandwiches from Peppino Gourmet Foods.

Website / Address: 921 1 Ave NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 2L3


Calcutta Cricket Club

My most memorable meal during the trip was at Calcutta Cricket Club.

Since I’m generally not into brunch, it says a lot when a restaurant gets me excited about it.

Calcutta Cricket Club and Chef Rene Bhullar definitely did just that!

The interior is very unique too compared to traditional Indian restaurants.

The design is described as “1960’s Indian social club meets The Golden Girls”.

Bar Area of Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta
Bar Seating

I was impressed with their Indian take on traditional brunch bringing amazing Indian flavours inspired from West Bengal that make you coming back for more!

Though I’ve been to India, I have not been to West Bengal and look forward to visiting to see if it would have similar aesthetics.

GOGO #2 Cocktail at Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta
GOGO #2 Cocktail ($14) – 2.5oz, Pisco, Aperol, Grapefruit Liquer, Grapefruit Cordial, Hopped Grapefruit Bitters, Lemon

Calcutta Cricket Club is one restaurant I wish we had something similar in Toronto.

It’s definitely one of the best restaurants in Calgary.

Chips & Curry at Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta
Chips & Curry ($11) – Classic British chips with fenugreek cream curry and a 62 degree egg
Tandoori Fried Chicken at Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta
Tandoori Fried Chicken ($18) – Buttermilk, ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, chili – marinated chicken fried in chickpea flour, topped with coconut.
Chai-Ovaltine Pancakes and Mango Lassi at Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta
On the table: – Chai-Ovaltine Pancakes ($13) – With blueberry compote, saffron chantilly, candied walnuts – Mango Lassi

Their Chips & Curry was an exciting take on poutine, using curry instead of gravy, and a poached egg instead of curds to denote brunch.

You can’t help but keep smothering the fries with the fenogreek curry.

It’s great for sharing too.

Chips & Curry and GOGO #2 Cocktail at Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta

You must ask about their Featured Benny.

I had their pork keema benedict with coconut-based malai curry on naan with peas and side salad.

It had a bit of spice and a lot of deliciousness.

A must-try if you see it on the menu again!

Hand in Frame: Pork Keema Benny at Calcutta Cricket Club in Calgary, Alberta
Weekly Feature Benny: Pork Keema Benny ($16) – coconut-based malai curry (coconut based) on house-made, peas and side salad Poached eggs & hollandaise, served on house-made naan.

Even their cocktails are Indian fusion!

The brunch pineapple mimosa had star anise and cardamom to give that spicy kick.

Website / Address: 340 17 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2S 0A8
Accolades: No. 70 in Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants 2018, Avenue Magazine’s 25 Best Restaurants in Calgary, CBC’s best 20 new restaurants in and around Calgary, Avenue Magazine’s Best Indian Restaurants in Calgary, Best of Calgary’s Best New Restaurant 2018

Also Read: 4 Day Trip in Kerala, India


Bridgette Bar

Bridgette Bar is a chef-driven bar located in a 1922 brick building in Calgary’s Design District.

Did you know? Bridgette Bar draws inspiration from French model and actress, Bridgette Bardot.

Opera Cake at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Charred Marshmallow Opera Cake ($11) – Graham Cracker Sponge, Smoked Vanilla, Chocolate, Gold Leaf
Vegan Cheesecake at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Vegan Cheesecake ($10) – Blueberry and Fig

Chef JP Pedhirney menu specializing on wood-fired cuisine as seen from the open kitchen showing wood-burning grill and a wood-and-gas pizza oven.

Therefore, you’ll definitely want to try their wood-fired dishes.

Oysters at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Raspberry Point Oysters ($3.5 each) – Dill Pickle Granita

But first, make sure to start with some delicious french fries with garlic aioli.

It was so good even my friend’s 3-year-old wanted seconds!

Top picks at Bridgette Bar were the Grilled Octopus, Lamb Sausage, Wood Roasted Half Duck and Pici All’Amatriciana!

The duck was perfectly cooked medium rare, and had a flavourful smokey taste from the wood.

Lamb Sausage at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Lamb Sausage ($15) – Cilantro Vinaigrette, Labneh, Fried Egg
Half Duck at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Wood Roasted Half Duck ($40) – Creamed Corn, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Honey Glaze
Grilled Octopus at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Grilled Octopus ($15) – Orange, Fennel, Sherry Vinaigrette

It was actually my first time trying Pici All’Amatriciana, which is a thick hand-rolled pasta like a fat spaghetti with udon bite.

Noodle lovers would love this!

Pici All’Amatriciana at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Pici All’Amatriciana ($19) – Cured Pork, Tomato, Pecorino Cheese

To end on a sweet note, be sure to get the Banana Fosters Cream Pie which has a mix of sweet, salty, creamy and crunchy all-in-one. Yum!

Banana Fosters Cream Pie at Bridgette Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Banana Fosters Cream Pie ($10) – Pretzel Crust, Rum Caramel, Spiced Custard, Pretzel

Website / Address: 739 10 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0B3
Accolades: No. 71 in Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants 2018, OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants in Canada, Avenue Magazine’s 25 Best Restaurants in Calgary, Eater’s The 18 Essential Calgary Restaurants, Where.ca’s Calgary’s Best Restaurants 2017


Made By Marcus

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

One of the best places to eat ice cream in Calgary is Made By Marcus literally by Marcus Purtzki who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in food science and nutrition.

This small batch handcrafted ice creamery offers ice cream, sundaes, soft serve, ice cream cakes.

Travelling Foodie Tip: You can actually get two flavours in their single scoop!

They are very known for having some of the most interesting flavours like peach jalapeno yogurt, pumpkin cashew coconut, toasted hay and lemon curd blueberry.

Matcha and Whskey Hazelnut Ice Cream at Made By Marcus in Calgary, Alberta
Mr. Fujioka’s Matcha Tea and Whiskey Hazelnut Praline Ice Cream Cup ($4)

Aside from the classic flavours, about a half dozen seasonally changing flavours make people line up to try them because once they run out, they’re out.

Now you know where to eat ice cream in Calgary!

Website / Address: 1013 17 Ave SW #121, Calgary, Alberta T2T 0A7
Accolades: Avenue Magazine’s 12 Ice Cream Shops in Calgary, FLARE’s Coolest Ice Cream Shops in Calgary, Narcity’s Best Ice Cream Spots In Calgary, Chatelaine’s Best Ice Cream Shops Across Canada, Gusto TV’s The best places in Canada to get the ultimate


Una Pizza + Wine

Opened by husband and wife Kelly Black and Jayme MacFayden after their pizza experiences from trips to San Francisco, UNA Pizza + Wine serves Californian inspired, thin-crust pizza on stone deck ovens.

I really enjoyed their thin crust pizza which was crispy on the bottom and chewy in the middle.

I tried the Beltline Pizza because I found the use of maple syrup as sauce was quite interesting.

Travelling Foodie Tip: If you find the pizza sweet, I found adding chili oil helped neutralize it.

Beltline Pizza at Una Pizza and Wine Bar in Calgary, Alberta
Beltline Pizza ($23) – double smoked bacon, fennel sausage, smoked mozzarella, maple syrup

Travelling Foodie Tip: Be sure to specifically ask for tap water if you don’t want to go with their $2/person filtered (still or sparkling water) that uses a filtering system they use called Q Water.

Website / Address: 618 17 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2S 0B4
Accolades: Avenue Magazine’s 25 Best Restaurants in Calgary, Narcity’s 43 Bucket List Restaurants Every True Calgarian Needs To Try, Avenue Magazine’s Best Pizza in Calgary, Best Of Calgary’s Best Pizza 2018


Native Tongues Taqueria

Perhaps the most popular Mexican restaurant in Calgary and No. 1 in TripAdvisor for it is Native Tongues Taqueria.

This rustic cantina taqueria offers a fun casual dining atmosphere with a bar program centered around Mezcal, a Mexican spirit made from agave.

As the name implies, Native Tongues primarily focuses on tacos having street style versions of individual servings, but also Mercado style (family style) version called Tacos Al Carbon which are grilled over chacoal.

The tortillas are all homemade.

Owner Chef Cody Willis uses a process called nixtamalization in the corn for their tortillas.

Did you know? In nixtamalization, the corn (white, heirloom Bolita corn from Mexico for Native Tongues Taqueria) is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, washed, and then hulled.

Suadero, Carnitas, Chorizo and Feature Tacos at Native Tongues Taqueria in Calgary, Alberta
On the table: – Suadero ($3.95) – beef brisket, white onion, cilantro – Carnitas ($3.95) – confit pork, white onion, cilantro – Chorizo Con Papas ($3.95) – chorizo rojo, potatoes, white onion, cilantro – Feature Taco ($3.95)

Website / Address: 235 12 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 1H7
Accolades: Avenue Magazine’s 25 Best Restaurants in Calgary, Eater’s The 18 Essential Calgary Restaurants, Narcity’s 43 Bucket List Restaurants Every True Calgarian Needs To Try, Avenue Magazine’s Best Mexican Restaurants in Calgary, Best of Calgary’s Best of Mexican 2018


Philosafy Coffee

For a coffee break from food tripping along 17th Avenue, go to Philosafy.

I love the name of the cafe, a play on words from philosophy, and philosophers who hang out in cafes to think.

Even their locally roasted custom blend is called Socrates Espresso, which is a blend from Colombia, Costa Rica and Ethiopia.

The atmosphere is very cozy with wide-open windows, gold accents and 100-year-old reclaimed wood.

It has the perfect coffee shop vibes to coffice, which I did during my visit.

Website / Address: 632 17 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T2S 0B4
Accolades: Narcity’s Best of YYC: 9 Cute Calgary Coffee Shops You Should Go To At Least Once In Your Life, Daily Hive’s 14 best coffee shops in Calgary for studying and working, FLARE’s Best Coffee Shops in Calgary

Also Read: Anchor Coffee House in Windsor, Ontario


Alforno Bakery & Cafe

Situated in the heart of Eau Claire, Alforno Bakery & Cafe is one of the best places to eat in Calgary for freshly baked goods while having a nice cup of coffee.

This hybrid cafe, bakery and restaurant offers freshly baked, house-made pastries & bread alongside a sustainable coffee programme.

Mocha Hazelnut Cake and Cappuccino at Alforno Cafe and Bakery in Calgary, Alberta
Mocha Hazelnut Cake and Latte

Alforno Bakery & Cafe is a perfect meeting spot as it has all kinds of seating from the restaurant dining, to cafe high chairs to a bar area, and a big outdoor patio seating.

I tried the mocha hazelnut cake, which was not overly sweet and had the stuff I like: dark chocolate, hazelnut and coffee.

Mocha Hazelnut Cake at Alforno Bakery & Cafe in Calgery, Alberta
Mocha Hazelnut Cake ($6.50) – dark chocolate, hazelnut sponge, coffee cremeux, salted chocolate crust

Website / Address: 222 7 St SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0E4
Accolades: Eater’s The 18 Essential Calgary Restaurants, Daily Hive’s 14 best coffee shops in Calgary for studying and working


Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters

If you’re a coffeeholic in Canada, you’ve probably heard of Phil & Sebastian Coffee since it’s one of the most popular coffee beans in Canada.

Even the coffee we had at Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Ontario was theirs.

Since it’s distinctly Alberta and Calgary, Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters is definitely one of the best cafes to visit in Calgary.

I highly recommend going to the beautiful historic Simmons Building location.

This is not only their headquarters but also a training lab, cafe and roasting facility where you can see their custom-built 45kg coffee roaster designed by Phil.

The building overlooks the Bow River and is shared along with Charbar (and Alley Burger) and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery.

Website / Address: 618 Confluence Way SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 0G1
Accolades: Narcity’s Best of YYC: 9 Cute Calgary Coffee Shops You Should Go To At Least Once In Your Life, Daily Hive’s 14 best coffee shops in Calgary for studying and working, Foursquare’s 15 Best Places for Coffee in Calgary, FLARE’s Best Coffee Shops in Calgary


Cold Garden Beverage Company

If you’re looking for where to drink in Calgary to enjoy beer, and especially craft beer, check out Cold Garden Beverage Company.

This microbrewery in Inglewood community is such a beautiful hangout place with a cozy hippie vibe.

Cold Garden’s approximately 2,000 square feet tasting room has pool noodles, random couches with blankets, and a big funky pineapple-shaped disco ball.

Tasting Room at Cold Garden Brewery in Calgary, Alberta

Travelling Foodie Tip: Since they don’t serve food, you can bring your own, or even have restaurants deliver to the brewery which is common practice.

They offer about 10 beers on tap, and you can do 5oz samples for just $1.50!

Be sure to try some of the eccentric flavours like The All-Nighter Vanilla Cappuccino Porter, I Believe In A Thing Called Lager, Easy Come Easy Gose, and Cakeface.

I Believe In A Thing Called Lager is a black tea lager that has a strong tea taste.

And I was particularly mindblown by Cakeface because it really tasted like a birthday cake!

If you’re feeling daring, try the Easy Come Easy Gose which is a mix of mango and green cardamom.

Beer Flight at Cold Garden Brewery in Calgary, Alberta

Website / Address: 1100 11 St SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 4T3
Accolades: Narcity’s Best of YYC: 17 Calgary Craft Breweries To Bring The Gang This Summer, Foursquare’s 15 Best Places for Beer and Craft Beer in Calgary, Avenue Magazine’s 2018 Alberta Beer Awards Winners for Canadian Cereal Ale, Farmhouse Ale, IPA and Stout


Where To Stay in Calgary on Your Food Trip

Looking for where to stay in Calgary for checking out best restaurants? Here are some of the best hotels in Calgary that I’ve found.

I’ve included Booking.com and Agoda links so you can check for pricing and availability.


MAP: Best Calgary Restaurants

Here’s a map of all the best restaurants in Calgary covered in this food guide.


Hope this food guide gives you an idea on where to eat and drink in Calgary!

I’m always looking to add more places to eat and drink in Calgary for my next visit.

Please let me know what you find are the best restaurants in Calgary including fine dining, fast food, cafes and bars.


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