A Weekend in Calgary
Cowboy boots and Flames jerseys are optional, though highly recommended.
When you think of Calgary, maybe you picture Stampede: the city’s annual, ten-day rodeo, which garnered 1.4 million visitors this summer alone.
Or, perhaps you’re reminded of Alberta’s spirited hockey rivalry between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. Some people may know the city best by its surroundings — Banff and the Canadian Rockies sit less than two hours west — while others likely recall the 1988 Olympic Village.
Yet while Calgary has made many a name for itself, Alberta’s largest city has as much depth as it does breadth. Nothing better exemplifies Calgary’s attention to detail than its food scene, which fuses the culinary variety of any major city with the charm and flair of Western Canada. Sure, Calgary may also be known for Alberta beef, but it’s everything but a meat and potatoes kind of place.
Below are suggestions for where to eat, drink, and stay to sample Calgary's scope. Cowboy boots and Flames jerseys are optional, though highly recommended.
Where to Stay
Not far from Prince’s Island Park, The Westley is the perfect launch point for any Calgary adventure, whether taking a Rocky Mountain sidecar tour or strolling to the Central Library. The Westley opened in 2021, transforming a 1970s-era office building into a modern hotel. The lobby’s bright Mexican restaurant, Fonda Fora, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but especially thrives on either end of the day; in the morning, a breakfast burrito pairs best with a horchatta latte, while an evening margarita necessitates chips and guac.
You can’t mention a stay in any of Canada’s major cities without a reference to the Fairmont. The popular hospitality chain operates hotels across the country, which, in Calgary, materialize via the luxe Palisser, mere steps from the Calgary Tower. The four-star hotel includes both an onsite restaurant and an afternoon tea perfect for a leisurely Saturday.
Also in the heart of Calgary’s Downtown, the Dorian will appeal to anyone hungry for a story. The whimsical, Dorian Gray-inspired hotel pays homage to Oscar Wilde, but its most unique dining option caters to children; Bistro Novelle Restaurant operates a digitized, 3-D meal through immersive dining trend, Le Petit Chef.
Where to Eat
For a classic breakfast with a twist
Named after a Calgary streetcar, this restaurant straddles the line between an old-school diner and a trendy brunch joint. You can choose between chicken and waffles, sandwiches, and even breakfast poutine, though The Beltliner really shines in its eggs benedict variations. “Benny”s range from a truffle and mushroom iteration to poached eggs topped with maple balsamic bacon jam and a brown butter hollandaise. There’s no rush on finishing your breakfast, either; the restaurant is open until 4 p.m., so you can have the most important meal of the day, all day.
For food worth sharing
At first glance, Orchard resembles a garden. Hanging and potted plants fill the dining room with snaking, overflowing leaves. Look closer, however, and the restaurant will begin to sparkle, as chandeliers create an atmosphere that’s both lush and opulent. Such duality extends to Orchard’s lunch and dinner menus, where chef Jenny Kang fuses Asian and Mediterranean cuisine across small and large plates. Highlights include the roasted broccoli with gochujang; bulgogi grilled cheese; and grilled romaine with feta and tahini.
For dinner with a view
On the 40th floor of a Calgary office tower, Major Tom sheds the corporate fabric of the building’s lower levels for a light-filled dining room overlooking the city. On a clear day, you can catch the sunset at golden hour. While not technically a shared-plates restaurant, Major Tom serves a slew of must-tries in potato donuts, smoked sturgeon tots, oyster mushroom cavatelli, and a beef program to savor Alberta’s trademark dish. You don’t have to order plates for the table, but you may want to mix-and-match your entrees as the meal progresses.
For dinner with an experience
If you want to taste a little bit of everything — or don’t feel like agonizing over a menu of choices — sit kitchen-side for Shokunin’s elaborate omakase dinner. As Calgary’s first yakitori restaurant, Shokunin has created an extensive chef’s choice experience that includes scallops, five rounds of skewers, and a wagyu course, among other Japanese-inspired specialties. End the night with a Yuzu sidecar as you await your final course: a sake kasu tiramisu.
For a taste of old-school Calgary
Most well-trafficked, historic restaurants have at least one claim-to-fame menu item. But Caesar’s — a 1972 institution with two Calgary locations — has a must-have for every course. Start with the Classic Caesar cocktail, a Bloody Mary made with clamato juice, and the Caesar salad prepared tableside. Then, watch the restaurant's chefs sear your 28-day aged steak on an open flame from behind the dining room’s glass panel. Even if you’re someone who always chooses chocolate on a dessert menu, end this meal with the Cherries Jubilee; it’s flambéed tableside and will round off your dinner with just the right amount of fanfare.
For seasonal, riverside fare
Adjacent to the Bow River, the River Cafe serves Canadian cuisine using herbs, vegetables, berries, and even flowers from its exterior garden. For a sampling of the cafe’s best options, opt for the fish and game board and red lentil hummus. If, by now, you still haven’t tried Alberta beef — or, honestly, even if you have — now’s the time to order steak. River Cafe’s beef tenderloin comes with lion's mane mushrooms, kale chips, and saskatoon berries foraged just outside the restaurant’s doors.
Where to Drink
For a chic night out
Even Calgary has its secrets. If you’re looking for an upscale, fun-to-discover speakeasy, you’ll find Charlie’s Watch Repair in the city center, while, closer to the Bow River, you can’t beat Paper Lantern. The drinks come pricier than what you’d find at a more casual bar, but you’re paying for the bars’ atmospheres. Trust us: They’re worth it.
For a casual drink or a dive bar crawl
Whether you want to nurse a quick after-dinner beer or have something of a night, you’ll find no shortage of liveliness on Calgary’s 17th Avenue. Start your evening with whatever’s on tap at One Night Stan’s before making your way down the street. If you own a cowboy hat — or have your eye on any from the Inglewood neighborhood’s boutiques — now’s the time to break it out.
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