Calgary on Any Budget
From Olympic bobsledding to all-you-can-eat steak, here’s how to balance your pocketbook in the city.
Reminiscent of a Palm Springs bungalow, Alloy offers fine dining without the pretension, as well as the best patio in town. Signature dishes... Read more
Restaurants
Tucked away on 10th Street in downtown Calgary, Anju serves up seasonal, modern-day Korean cuisine. Best to follow the lead of most diners... Read more
Restaurants
After a high-powered workout or a very long night on the town, many flock to the Belmont Diner for an unpretentious chow-down. It’s... Read more
Restaurants
This comfortable bistro has a relaxed atmosphere and a terrific menu. Mains include seafood hotpots, several surf-and-turf items – including... Read more
Restaurants
This shop caters to cycling enthusiasts who want more from their ride than a spin on the pathways. Daily commuters, and folks who haul their... Read more
Shops
Head to Calgary’s Mission district for a French-Canadian-inspired brunch. Order the breakfast poutine – hand-cut pommes frites... Read more
Restaurants
Chef Andrew Richardson, formerly of Araxi in Whistler, offers solid interpretations of the classics here. From a list of appetizers comes... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Chef Brian Plunkett, the man behind the North Sea Fish Market in Willow Park Village, is back after several years of honing his skills internationally... Read more
Shops
The gaucho chefs at this Brazilian steakhouse bring meat-skewered swords (top sirloin with sea salt, anyone?) right to your table –... Read more
Restaurants
Borgo hustles from day to dark with the clatter of espresso cups and shared plates of the cuisine’s greatest hits – golden arancini,... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Located in a gorgeous hand-tooled, woodsy space, Boxwood is completely café-style. You order at the front counter next to the tiny... Read more
Restaurants | Bakeries / Cafés
With its chic but casual atmosphere, Brava Bistro’s bar is a hit with the urban set. Wines by the glass include homegrown options (B.C.’s... Read more
Restaurants
Boasting a large cadre of dedicated baristas, great lunch options like paninis, homemade soups and chili and a cozy atmosphere, this is a... Read more
Restaurants
Calgary is known for its java joints, and Caffe Beano never disappoints with its signature beverage, the Beano Buzz – a high-test espresso... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
For 10 solid days in July, Calgary celebrates all things western with what is billed as the greatest outdoor show on earth. Pancake breakfasts,... Read more
Arts & Culture
The folk fest unites hippies, hipsters and plain old music lovers on Prince’s Island Park for a four-day, family-friendly event that... Read more
Arts & Culture
The venue for the Olympic ski jumping, bobsled and luge in 1988, COP is still used by high-performance athletes for training. However, fun... Read more
Landmarks
This charming spot is a neighbourhood favourite with locals who crave French bistro classics that make good use of fresh, seasonal and local... Read more
Restaurants
Flying in fresh fish daily and sourcing oysters from both coasts, Catch will more than satisfy seafood lovers. Featuring both an oyster bar... Read more
Restaurants
Pronounced char-cut (as in custom-built charbroiler and retro-modelled meat cutter), this award-wining eatery, home of Top Chef Canada finalist... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Understated luxury defines this slate-grey room tucked into one corner of the Kensington Riverside Inn. Widely spaced tables provide a view... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
They take their puffs quite seriously at Cruffs: Shells are baked daily for ultimate freshness, the custard filling comes in flavours like... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
All decked out in ’50s café retro finery, this is a small space with a big menu, and everything’s made from scratch. In... Read more
Restaurants
The in-depth wine menu here stretches over 31 pages, meaning you can order champagne by the half-bottle, or go big with a magnum-size 2000... Read more
Restaurants | Bars
Once upon a time, a post-doc engineering student found that he favoured whipped cream over cement, so he opened his own bakery. Your efforts... Read more
Restaurants
This aptly named eyewear store looks like it was designed to house fine art. Eye Candy carries strong lines that will earn you cool points... Read more
Shops
The Palliser’s restrained Edwardian Commercial style, emphasizing what architect Lawrence Gotch called a “Chicago look,”... Read more
A no-frills pizza joint with delicious pies that are ready before you know it. The menu offers everything from the classics (quattro formaggi,... Read more
Restaurants
Occupying the niche between fine dining and cheap, cheerful family restaurant, “cheese lady” Janice Beaton’s Farm restaurant... Read more
Restaurants
Potato heads will go for the gluten-free brown-sugar-and-cinnamon-coated cumin sweet potato fries from Calgary’s hot pink Fries &... Read more
Restaurants
A number of downtown hotels run airport shuttles – call your hotel in advance for details. Meanwhile, a taxi from Calgary International Airport to the city centre shouldn’t cost you much more than $50. A new express bus now brings passengers to and from the airport every 30 minutes and costs only 8$.
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After the great success of the owners’ prior temples of Japanese cuisine, they managed to open a third and even larger place, this one... Read more
Restaurants
Albertans have been flocking to Gravity Pope for the latest noteworthy styles for years. Leave it to store owner Louise Dirks to stock her... Read more
Shops
Occupying a gorgeous heritage space on Stephen Avenue, this eatery serves food designed to share. Start off the evening with a glass of the... Read more
Restaurants
Located just minutes away from the fairgrounds of the Calgary Stampede, the boutique Hotel Arts is the perfect place to lean back and wash... Read more
Surrounded by the gleaming skyscrapers of downtown, this hotel aims to impress, from its champagne bar to its rooftop garden. The property... Read more
The guestrooms of this downtown hotel, which were renovated in 2009, feature the chain’s Grand Hyatt mattresses, for a truly restful... Read more
This welcoming, authentic African restaurant combines the culinary traditions of two neighbouring countries: Ethiopia and Eritrea. Forget... Read more
Restaurants
This hip little spot on busy 17th Avenue oozes urban chic with burnished wood tables, cozy banquettes and show-stopping photographs of Sable... Read more
Restaurants | Bars
The forward-thinking entrepreneurs and foodies behind this doughnut shop have seriously revitalized the city’s pastry scene. Freshly... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
Thirty years after closing up his Edmonton shop, cobbler John Fluevog returned to Alberta, this time to Calgary’s Stephen Avenue shopping... Read more
Shops
Who knew some of the best baristas in Canada worked on Calgary’s 8th Street? Espresso lovers take note: The aromatic brew is prepared... Read more
Bars | Bakeries / Cafés
This intimate boutique inn on the Bow River is the ideal jumping-off point for exploring Calgary. With just 19 guest rooms, including three... Read more
This wine lovers’ hotspot, located in the très chic Kensington district, is brought to you by the owners of famed restaurant... Read more
Restaurants | Bars
While the new-found abundance of farmers’ markets in Calgary has people scrambling to snatch up every last baby carrot, the laid-back... Read more
Shops
If you like rolling your own (sushi, that is), head to Kevin Kent’s knife store, featuring kitchen tools, hard-to-find cookbooks, handmade... Read more
Shops
At Hôtel Le Germain Calgary, Lounge Central 899 takes the sunken living room to wonderful new lows with couches set below sidewalk level.... Read more
Restaurants
This gourmet grocery store stocks hard-to-find goodies imported from France, like freshly made pâtés, as well as all kinds of... Read more
Shops
Just north of 17th and round the corner on 1st S.E. is this sinful bakery, which can’t be beat for baguettes, tarte au citron, quiche... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
A combination small plate, martini and dessert bar, Meet a second offering from the people who brought us The Coup, the popular vegetarian... Read more
Bars
Mercato is packed nightly with in-the-know patrons. It’s one part gourmet grocery – an ideal place to stock up on homemade pasta... Read more
Restaurants
This chic Mediterranean-style wine shop boasts a separate tasting room and an Enomatic sampling system that allows you to try before you buy.... Read more
Shops
Originally designed for cows and trucks, the stunning multilevel brick room – formerly the milking room of this 1930s dairy –... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
This smart, casual restaurant features modern cuisine with a Canadian twist, an extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff. The complimentary... Read more
Restaurants | Canada's Best New Restaurants
Photo: Bryce Meyer
Chef Michael Noble is best known (among Calgary foodies) as the man responsible for upgrading the menu at the Earls restaurant chain. NOtaBLE,... Read more
Restaurants
After years of personally outfitting Calgary’s trend-conscious women, designer Paul Hardy has gone retail. This intimate combination... Read more
Shops
Reborn in a space with increased seating, the reincarnated Petite (the original was destroyed in a fire) is no longer so petite – with... Read more
Restaurants
A beautifully crafted cappuccino is something you might crave after a successful day of shopping, but who wants to drink a cup of food-court... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
Fitness buffs rock, roll and sweat it out at the Pro Bodies TKO Sports Conditioning class. Run by former Golden Gloves boxing champion Pete... Read more
There’s no subway system in Calgary, but if you’re going too far to hoof it on the city’s many enclosed walkways and skyways, a city bus or the above-ground Light Rail Transit system should get you where you need to go.
calgarytransit.comThis elegant little resto specializes in the flavours of the Indian subcontinent. Take a moment to breathe in the heady aroma of traditional... Read more
Restaurants
This brightly coloured room, with its wavy ceiling and oversize chairs, is more Wonderland than Cowtown. The art of flair bartending –... Read more
Restaurants
The Eco Store sells products made from recycled or durable materials, created by local or international designers. The savvy owners know that... Read more
Shops
Photo: Paul Rogalski
Located in the 1891 home of A.E. Cross (one of the “Big Four” who founded the Calgary Stampede), this French-influenced restaurant’s... Read more
Restaurants
Trying to pick just one item from Rubaiyat Gallery is nearly impossible. Co-owner Pam Haight imports all sorts of contemporary artisanal goodies,... Read more
Shops
The dining room, with its upholstered ceiling, black velvet lampshades, gold-trimmed mirrors and undulating glass wall, is a little modern... Read more
Restaurants | Bars | Canada's Best New Restaurants
As discreet as the hotel itself, Santé Spa has so little signage, you barely notice it’s there. Treatments target the fatigued traveller... Read more
Health & Wellness
With its focus on literature, you won’t find stacks of Dan Brown novels in this small, independent bookshop. But when Anna Karenina... Read more
Shops
This revolving restaurant at the top of the 190-metre-high Calgary Tower should charm even those who think fine dining and high altitudes... Read more
Restaurants
What started out as a feedlot in 1975 has grown to be one of the world’s top-ranked show jumping institutions. But Spruce Meadows isn’t... Read more
Landmarks
To a trained esthetician like Rebecca of Stillwater Spa, the face is a crystal ball – and the seemingly poreless Natalie Portman look-alike... Read more
Health & Wellness
Classic, comforting and familiar Italian fare dominates the menu at this cozy neighbourhood spot. The focus is on simple local ingredients... Read more
Restaurants
Cabs can be fairly easily hailed from most downtown streets, and most hotels will have a few waiting outside.
Mayfair Taxi: 403-255-6555
The Checker Group: 403-299-9999
Black Top Taxi: 403-767-2586
Whether you’re four or 94, Canada’s first purpose-built science centre in over 25 years has enough sophistication to appeal to... Read more
Landmarks
A bright shopping mecca with an enormous skylight framed by soaring office towers, the Core is a result of ambitious investment in Calgary’s... Read more
Shops
It isn’t easy being green, especially in Calgary where beef reigns supreme. However, for native Calgarian and vegan chef Tabitha Archer... Read more
Restaurants
You’ll find unique streetwear from L.A., New York as well as local designers at this hip shop on Calgary’s busy 17th Avenue. Be... Read more
Shops
Now housed in the former Garry Theatre, this Calgary institution is the go-to place in the city for live blues and folk music. When the bands... Read more
Arts & Culture
Specializing in organic varieties, this trendy tea shop also offers a wide array of tea accessories from around the world. Case in point:... Read more
Shops
Photo: Arno Hoogveld
You’ll be in good company when you lace up at “the fastest ice in the world.” In addition to tourists, the facility where... Read more
Landmarks
When it’s time for some pampering, hit this 7,000-square-foot retreat in Calgary’s northwest, where a menu of Asian-inspired treatments... Read more
When it’s time for some pampering, hit this 7,000-square-foot retreat in Calgary’s northwest, where a menu of Asian-inspired treatments... Read more
Landmarks
For a thoughtful melding of contemporary and 19th-century art, head over to the design district on 11th Avenue S.W. The Weiss Gallery is a... Read more
Arts & Culture
For the impatient, there’s the hot dog emporium Tubby Dog, where you can order the famous Cap’ns Dog, a frank slathered with peanut... Read more
Restaurants
It’s hard not to be seduced by the comfortable but party-like atmosphere of this hopping little pizza joint. Always busy (and they don’t... Read more
Restaurants
Great news for vodka lovers: The popular Earls restaurant chain brings us Calgary’s first vodka bar. Featuring rare vodka brands from... Read more
Restaurants
No trip to Alberta would be complete without some authentic beef. Start with a classic Caesar salad followed by beef tartare or escargots.... Read more
Restaurants | Bars
What’s the best thing since sliced artisan bread? Freshly baked artisan bread, of course. Wilde Grainz’s wholesome loaves, which... Read more
Bakeries / Cafés
Those in search of a traditional Bavarian experience, look no further. A spacious upstairs dining room, a rowdy downstairs beer hall and a... Read more
Restaurants | Bars
From Olympic bobsledding to all-you-can-eat steak, here’s how to balance your pocketbook in the city.
Thanks to some rocking venues and a new band of indie musicians, the Alberta city is hitting a high note.
Nineteen good reasons to grab a drink at these Canadian hotels bars.
