Bar Chouette  
At this Beltline beauty by Duncan Ly, formerly of Foreign Concept, drinks and food share equal billing. A rosemary brown butter fat-washed bourbon makes for a rich and balanced Old Fashioned, while the gin-based Violette Haze is a lovely sour with a kiss of Crème de Violette. There’s a mini cheese soufflé, a magical rice cake topped with gently smoked side stripe shrimp, and îles flottantes of frozen coconut mousse and cardamom crème anglaise, with warm roasted pineapple. A star is born. Longlisted as part of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2023.

Bar Gigi  
Beyond the hot pink neon sign of this former fish ’n’ chips spot, our convivial server walks us through a menu that playfully steps far past these cozy neighbourhood digs. The 20 seats are all filled with folks keen for more from D.O.P. alum Jaden Kanomata, Alessandro Chinea and Kayla Blomquist. Hamachi crudo lands in Calabrian chili oil with a fine confetti of cilantro and shallot. Cabbage skewers, grilled until their edges curl, bathe in a remarkable sesame vinaigrette, wasabi mustard there for extra oomph. The spaghetti with chicken jus and duck confit is utter comfort without any heaviness. Longlisted as part of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2024.

Cluck N Cleaver  
Former Top Chef Canada contestant Nicole Gomes has partnered with her sister Francine to open Cluck N Cleaver. Choose from quarter, half and full rotisserie chicken dinners, fried chicken sandwiches and several sides, including potato salad, coleslaw and handmade buttermilk biscuits.

Fortuna’s Row  
Am I in Lima? Or Mexico City? Latin America meets the East Village at this 10,000 square foot former textile factory reimagined by Fort Architecture in weathered wood, lush greenery and concrete, glowing amber by night. Time for a little street party. The Jasmine Sour is a beguiling shakeup of pisco, sake, coconut and jasmine. Ceviche sees sole and sweet potato in a rhubarb leche de tigre, while braised beef empanadas have an implausibly tender crust, which we happily swipe through spicy guasacaca sauce. Longlisted as part of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2023.

JinBar  
Right from the start, the glowing neon messages – “cocktails and dreams,” “hello gorgeous” – signpost that no matter why you’re here, it’s going to be a good time. JinBar’s split‑level space matches its dual vibe: sleek, yet unpretentious, with cozy corners for date nights and a convivial bar area. The menu features five flavour twists on Korean‑style fried chicken – the jalapeño‑soy is a lip‑smacking balance of sweet and spicy – and something much less expected: Korean pizza. Listed as one of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2021.

Major Tom  
Forty stories above downtown Calgary, the slowly waning sun sets fire to this sprawling, mid-century modern rocket lounge filled with a dressed-up crowd prepared for joyous liftoff. It’s also a steakhouse reimagined for the modern age, delivering crispy egg halves topped with pepperoni jam, extraterrestrial prime rib, and butter-tender chicken slices wreathed in braised button and oyster mushrooms. We may be far above the Earth, but the menu is firmly rooted in the pastures and farms that surround the city. It’s so seductive up here, we may just cut our connection with ground control a little longer. Listed in the Top 10 of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022.

Milpa  
The room is a wow. Elia Herrera, third-generation Mexican chef, channels her beloved grandmother’s home in Veracruz — all whitewashed arches and terra cotta. Architecture firms BOLD and Sturgess turned her photo inspiration into a matrix of wood and azure. Cocktails are equally stunning – the Saturn is passion fruit heaven – while shared plates include the Tres Marias salsa tasting with guacamole, pumpkin seed and black bean. Look for Herrera’s creamy young coconut ceviche, rajas poblanas and her abuela’s two-toned (blue and yellow masa) tortillas— soft and warm, like a grandma’s love. Longlisted as part of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2023.

Một Tô  
Immigrant kids born in one country and raised in another call themselves the “1.5 generation,” which makes Một Tô the chill, 1.5-gen child of crosstown mom Phô Dâu Bò. “Crunch” could be its own category on the multi-hyphenated menu, judging from the crackly crab pork and taro spring roll and the pho grilled cheese served with a pho broth dipping bowl – an homage to the Western classic and French dip. Not to be missed, the sweet-sour beef carpaccio comes topped with a raw quail egg yolk and a shower of aromatics. And we haven’t even gotten to the pho yet. Listed in the Top 10 of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022.

Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters  
Start your day with a trip to Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters for a single-source-origin espresso and an egg and crispy smoked meat sandwich. This Calgary chain’s latest outpost in the Mission neighbourhood is decked out with white marble countertops, blond walls, original artwork and a state-of-the-art Kees van der Westen “Spirit” espresso machine.

Ricardo’s Hideaway  
Just off 17th Avenue, Ricardo’s is loved for its kitschy island vibe and $13 cocktails. Rum is the house act, with a list that features favourites like mojitos, mai tais, pina coladas and dark ’n’ stormies. Dishes are casual and include a variety of snacks and tapas-style starters, such as plantain chips and cheese empanadas, with jerk chicken and spicy curries rounding out the mains.

Roy’s Korean Kitchen  
Plates of elevated Korean cuisine glide out of the open kitchen on waves of high-energy ’80s pop at Roy Oh’s Mission neighbourhood successor to his late, acclaimed Anju. Anything goes here, from Korean spirits-forward drinks and salty and spicy snacks to elegant shared plates and traditional Korean barbecue – making it a good destination for any occasion. Long-time fans of Oh can devour his signature soy maple brussels sprouts with double-smoked bacon alongside newer dishes like black garlic-steamed Salt Spring Island mussels that deliver a surprising serrano chili punch. Longlisted as part of Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022.