Guidebook for Calgary
Food Scene
Native Tongues Taqueria
235 12 Ave SWDelicious mexican food and cocktails; great vibe.
They have delicious thin crust pizza! Do yourself a favour and get the 4-maggi with added prosciutto. It will change your life.
91 locals recommend
UNA Takeaway
616 17 Ave SWThey have delicious thin crust pizza! Do yourself a favour and get the 4-maggi with added prosciutto. It will change your life.
Amazing and authentic Thai food. It's not very glamorous, but the food more than makes up for it. They don't take reservations and there is always a wait and a line, so don't wait till you're really hungry to go. Cash only.
20 locals recommend
White Elephant Thai Cuisine
1808 19 St NEAmazing and authentic Thai food. It's not very glamorous, but the food more than makes up for it. They don't take reservations and there is always a wait and a line, so don't wait till you're really hungry to go. Cash only.
Ramen. Delicious, delicious ramen. Also very busy, so either go right when they open at 11am or when things are winding down at around 2pm. They usually run out of bowls by about 2:30pm.
62 locals recommend
Shiki Menya
824 1 Ave NERamen. Delicious, delicious ramen. Also very busy, so either go right when they open at 11am or when things are winding down at around 2pm. They usually run out of bowls by about 2:30pm.
My all around favorite sushi place. Food is fresh and tasty, vibe is casual and upbeat, and prices are reasonable. Favorite specialty roll is Crackling Cajun, but even the basics like spicy tuna and yam tempura rolls are great. And since it's an Izakaya, it's open later than most sushi joints!
9 locals recommend
Shibuya Izakaya
449 16 Ave NEMy all around favorite sushi place. Food is fresh and tasty, vibe is casual and upbeat, and prices are reasonable. Favorite specialty roll is Crackling Cajun, but even the basics like spicy tuna and yam tempura rolls are great. And since it's an Izakaya, it's open later than most sushi joints!
So this is technically a bike shop, but they also have locally roasted Fratello coffee here. If you want to support local (rather than the Starbucks down the road), this is a good place to check out.
8 locals recommend
Bike and Brew
921 1 Ave NESo this is technically a bike shop, but they also have locally roasted Fratello coffee here. If you want to support local (rather than the Starbucks down the road), this is a good place to check out.
Rosso is another great local coffee shop with locations all over the city. This one in particular is right underneath the National Music Centre, which is also a treat to check out. My favorites are Rosso's lattes and Americanos, and their chocolate chip cookies.
12 locals recommend
Rosso Coffee Roasters
103 17 Ave SERosso is another great local coffee shop with locations all over the city. This one in particular is right underneath the National Music Centre, which is also a treat to check out. My favorites are Rosso's lattes and Americanos, and their chocolate chip cookies.
These guys also serve Fratello coffee and are in the heart of 17th ave. Great place for people watching if you manage to snag a table outside.
119 locals recommend
Analog Coffee 17 Ave
740 17 Ave SWThese guys also serve Fratello coffee and are in the heart of 17th ave. Great place for people watching if you manage to snag a table outside.
Some people will say that Village Ice Cream is the best, but those people are wrong. Made by Marcus is absolute deliciousness and they have tons of interesting flavours, but also classics for the traditionalists. You can also find them at Bridgeland Market.
69 locals recommend
Morgan's Pub on Seventeenth
1324 17 Ave SWSome people will say that Village Ice Cream is the best, but those people are wrong. Made by Marcus is absolute deliciousness and they have tons of interesting flavours, but also classics for the traditionalists. You can also find them at Bridgeland Market.
This is probably one of the restaurants that I eat at most often. Great for couples, but also groups (tapas-style, sharing menu) with lots of options for vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters. Their menu is always changing, but if they have the goat cheese and herb tomato on sourdough, do yourself a favor and get it!
79 locals recommend
Ten Foot Henry
1209 1 St SWThis is probably one of the restaurants that I eat at most often. Great for couples, but also groups (tapas-style, sharing menu) with lots of options for vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters. Their menu is always changing, but if they have the goat cheese and herb tomato on sourdough, do yourself a favor and get it!
Great breakfast spot with a huge menu. My favorite is the Soul in a Bowl, but everything is delicious. They do tend to get REALLY busy, so download the No Wait app where you can get in line without having to leave the comfort of your bed.
OEB
825 1 Avenue NortheastGreat breakfast spot with a huge menu. My favorite is the Soul in a Bowl, but everything is delicious. They do tend to get REALLY busy, so download the No Wait app where you can get in line without having to leave the comfort of your bed.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great cocktails, cozy patio and indoor seating, and good music.
60 locals recommend
Cannibale Barbershop & Cocktails
813 1 Ave NEGreat cocktails, cozy patio and indoor seating, and good music.
Palomino is great for live music, but also has awesome food. Get the garlic fries, but only if everyone else in your group is also planning on eating them (you'll understand why later).
34 locals recommend
Palomino Smokehouse
109 7 Ave SWPalomino is great for live music, but also has awesome food. Get the garlic fries, but only if everyone else in your group is also planning on eating them (you'll understand why later).
Once a month they have a great 80's/New Wave/Indie night called Hang the DJ...it's an awesome dance party in a dive bar.
9 locals recommend
Dickens
1000 9 Ave SWOnce a month they have a great 80's/New Wave/Indie night called Hang the DJ...it's an awesome dance party in a dive bar.
The roof top patio is great in the summer, the food is tasty, and if you're lucky a sweet band will be playing downstairs.
30 locals recommend
Broken City
613 11 Ave SWThe roof top patio is great in the summer, the food is tasty, and if you're lucky a sweet band will be playing downstairs.
The Ship is kind of a Calgary institution. It's right on 17th ave and has a great patio for people watching when the weather is nice.
147 locals recommend
The Ship & Anchor
534 17 Ave SWThe Ship is kind of a Calgary institution. It's right on 17th ave and has a great patio for people watching when the weather is nice.
Essentials
Midtown Co-op
1130 11 Ave SWLarge grocery store with everything that you need.
Neighborhood grocery store that's stocked with a lot of local products and artisanal options. It's also on the pricier side, so if you're getting a lot of groceries, it's best to go elsewhere.
61 locals recommend
Bridgeland Market
1104 1 Ave NENeighborhood grocery store that's stocked with a lot of local products and artisanal options. It's also on the pricier side, so if you're getting a lot of groceries, it's best to go elsewhere.
This Farmer's market is right beside the Bridgeland Riverside Community Association and runs every Thursday from 3:30-7:30pm (June 15 - September 28).
8 locals recommend
Bridgeland Riverside Community Association
917 Centre Ave NEThis Farmer's market is right beside the Bridgeland Riverside Community Association and runs every Thursday from 3:30-7:30pm (June 15 - September 28).
Lukes has an insane mix of things: great coffee, records, indie beauty supplies and brands, a pharmacy, post office, and a mini grocery store in the basement. Be prepared to waste a lot of time here wandering around!
61 locals recommend
Lukes Drug Mart
112 4 St NELukes has an insane mix of things: great coffee, records, indie beauty supplies and brands, a pharmacy, post office, and a mini grocery store in the basement. Be prepared to waste a lot of time here wandering around!