Black and yellow modern accents at the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
For the heart-of-the-action location
The Edmonton Walterdale Bridge
Edmonton
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Dubbed Canada’s Festival City for its year–round abundance of events, Edmonton always seems to have a party happening, even during its famously glacial winters. Shiny new attractions, including the ICE District – a multibillion–dollar sports and entertainment hub – and the recently opened Royal Alberta Museum, make the list of must–dos even longer.
Where to Stay
- Cozy window seating at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, EdmontonFairmont Hotel MacdonaldFor the old-school luxury
- A white pattern is overlaid on the blue walls at Corduroy Suites, EdmontonCorduroy SuitesFor the modern-B&B charm
- Brick walls and abstract art decorate the walls of the Metterra Hotel on Whyte's lobbyMetterra Hotel on WhyteFor the trendy neighbourhood
- Bold red accents for the suites of Matrix Hotel, EdmontonMatrix HotelFor the city-meets-nature vibe
Eat & Drink
Pei Pei Chei Ow
Food as culture, history and community are what you will find at this takeout spot, housed in the Indigenous–owned Whiskeyjack Art House. A lemony sandwich of breaded deep–fried Spam (a nod to food rationed in reserves), parsley and horseradish, or another of eggplant, tomato jam, aioli kale, mint and pea shoots vibrate with the energy of the land, inspired by chef Scott Jonathan Iserhoff’s walks through wild–herb–scented forests of his childhood in Ontario. If you’re lucky enough to “picnic” in front of Lana Whiskeyjack’s spirited paintings of powerful Cree women, you will feel the convergence of food and culture all the more. Longlisted as part of Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022.
Baijiu
Designed to resemble a Shanghai speakeasy, this restaurant serves up inventive drinks – like the Baijiu Barbie, made with coconut tequila, baijiu and pineapple – to pair with chef Alexei Boldireff’s creative Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese fusion dishes. Ask nicely and the staff will show you to Little Hong Kong, the hidden bar within the bar.
Fu’s Repair Shop
The glass front door of Fu’s Repair Shop sports the motto “We Fix You,” and in a way, the joint delivers on its promise. Inside, the vibe is Chinese hip hop speakeasy, with an aughts playlist and a red–lantern–hung ceiling that gives the bumping room a vaguely illicit orangish glow. Amped–up riffs on Guangdong dim sum (tender cheung fun rice rolls filled with shellfish or heat–radiating wontons in chili oil) restore, while sharp cocktails (the hot–pepper–spiked Enter the Dragon is a creamy mai tai with a mule’s kick) leave those broken in spirit patched up and satisfyingly sated. Longlisted as part of Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022.
Woodshed Burgers
This is next–level Alberta beef: premium Holstein, cooked to order and served on fresh–baked buns with housemade condiments. The crispy chicken burger deserves a nod, too, as does the hefty Effing Fish Filet, featuring Icelandic cod sourced from Edmonton’s popular (and gregarious) fishmonger, Effing Rob.
Hayloft Steak + Fish
The concept at this high–ceilinged wood– and leather–clad Cameron Heights establishment is simple. To utilize the whole cow and waste nothing, Hayloft takes up the fine–dining side of the operation, offering prime and underutilized cuts like tri–tip or skirt steak, while a branch of Woodshed Burgers takes the ground beef – all of it sourced from nearby Lakeside Farmstead. Exemplary cocktails like a smoked grapefruit margarita rimmed with a secret blend of tongue–tingling spices give way to expletive–worthy oysters, steelhead salmon and more from Effing Seafoods. Longlisted as part of Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022.
Bündok
Owner/chef Ryan Hotchkiss creates dishes full of flavour, texture and interest – and adds little surprises, like partnering pommes dauphine with harissa aioli, or spiking delicate striped–bass crudo with citrus and Thai basil. Don’t miss the chicken–liver tartine, a velvety–smooth thing of beauty. Listed as one of the Top 10 Canada’s Best New Restaurants of 2018.
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What to Do
Royal Alberta Museum
At the new RAM, opened in 2018 and now Western Canada’s largest museum, you’ll find galleries chronicling the history of Alberta’s people, wildlife and landscape, with Indigenous stories woven throughout, as well as 18,000 artifacts of Indigenous origin, some dating to the mid–1800s. (An Indigenous advisory panel gave input on caring for items in a culturally sensitive way.) One gallery showcases just one object: the Manitou Asinîy (Manitou Stone), a sacred and ancient 145–kilogram meteorite.
Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market
Open Saturdays year–round, this indoor market is a local haunt for baked goods, just–picked produce, handmade jewellery, art and textiles. Take home raw honey from Meadow–Sweet Apiaries or try freshly made green–onion cake, Edmonton’s quintessential festival food. Once you’ve browsed the 130 vendors here, you’re a half block to the shops on Whyte Avenue, the main thoroughfare in trendy Old Strathcona.
Edmonton Brewery Tours
The local craft–brew scene has been growing ever since government rules on minimum production were relaxed in 2013, allowing small makers to get into the game. Book a guided tasting with Edmonton Brewery Tours, where you’ll learn Ingredients 101 (all about yeast, malt, hops, water) while sampling suds at popular spots like Situation Brewing, Blind Enthusiasm and Yellowhead Brewing.
Bamboo Ballroom
A destination for the city’s style set since 2005, this Old Strathcona boutique specializes in spotlighting Canadian labels. Find West Coast casual womenswear by Vancouver’s Gentle Fawn, vegan–leather bags by Montreal’s Matt & Nat, and kiddie clothing by Lil’ Rascalz Shop (its own in–house brand).
Art Gallery of Alberta
Contemporary Canadian abstract canvases and sculpture make up a great deal of the AGA’s permanent trove, but fans of historical photography, prints and paintings will have plenty to peruse, too. The three–floor structure is also a work of art: Architect Randall Stout drew inspiration from both the aurora borealis and Edmonton river valley.
Gravitypope
This indie fashion institution has locations in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto, but it’s a native Edmontonian. The original Whyte Avenue space is entirely devoted to shoes – from hipster sneaks to designer heels – from more than 100 brands, including its own made–in–Italy/Portugal label. A sister clothing shop, Gravitypope Tailored Goods, is just a few doors down.
Get Cooking
Along with some of the city’s finest guest chefs, Le Cordon Bleu (London) graduate Kathryn Joel will school you in cooking modern and classic dishes from around the globe. The three– to four–hour classes, from Italian date–night dinners to Mexican taco parties, are always fun, and come with wine or drink pairings included.
Spotlight Cabaret
At this Roaring ’20s–themed venue just off Whyte Avenue in Old Strathcona, comedy, theatre, live bands, burlesque and drag are on show. If you’re ready to take the mic yourself, Sunday nights are for karaoke parties.
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