Best restaurants Calgary: 50 exceptional places to eat
Looking for the best places to eat in Calgary?
It can be difficult, not because there are so few but because there are so many.
The Calgary dining scene is in a fantastic place right now, with new openings every week. So depending on what you’re looking for, there will be incredible options. You just need to know where to look.
That’s where we come in to help.
We’ve compiled a thorough list of the best spots in town, whether you’re looking for brunch, share plates and cocktails, ramen bowls and homemade gyoza, a fancy steak dinner, or a quick slice of pizza, and everything in between.
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These are our picks for the best places to eat in Calgary.
Rustic-Chic: Model Milk
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Located on Calgary’s famed 17th Avenue, Model Milk has a rustic-chic vibe featuring fun and inventive dishes like mortadella and cheddar donuts, fried buffalo sweetbreads, and apple pie with a cheddar cheese crust.
Address: 308 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Bright and Cozy: Donna Mac
Offering a far-reaching menu for both lunch and dinner (with vegan options, for those so inclined), Donna Mac is a bright and spacious food lover’s dream.
Address: 1002 9th Street SW, Calgary
Veggie Forward: Ten Foot Henry
Ten Foot Henry offers a range of mostly plant-forward menus, family-style dining, fair-trade organic coffee, and a solid cocktail list.
Address: 1209 1st Street SW, Calgary
Globally Inspired: Alloy
Alloy opened in 2007 and is still serving fine-dining dishes that are globally inspired, all set in a casual space.
Address: 220 42nd Avenue SE, Calgary
Sky High Glam: Major Tom
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Major Tom’s menu boasts a pretty fantastic-looking beef program along with a selection of hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, veggie dishes, pasta, and desserts.
Address: 40th floor of Stephen Avenue Place — 700 2nd Street SW, Calgary
Asian Fusion: Foreign Concept
Serving dinner as well as a bar menu, Foreign Concept spans a range of eats from charcuterie boards to numerous small and large plates representing a broad swath of Asian flavours and techniques.
Address: 1011 1st Street SW, Calgary
Stylish Japanese: Shokunin
Shokunin, which made its debut in 2017, offers a range of modern Japanese tapas eats, composed of seasonally and locally harvested ingredients.
Address: 2016 4th Street SW, Calgary
Decadent Brunch: Queen’s Breakfast
Serving brunch staples and dinner classics, this restaurant adds a French flair to many of its dishes. The food here is extremely rich and decadent and the service always feels like a luxurious experience.
Address: 3927 Edmonton Trail, Calgary
Tropical Speakeasy: Paper Lantern
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The Vietnamese-inspired cocktail bar is located in YYC’s Chinatown, a true speakeasy in a tropical environment serving salty snacks and delicious drinks. It’s one of the best places to eat in Calgary, even though it’s known for cocktails.
Address: 115 2nd Avenue SE Basement, Calgary
Lush and Luxe: Orchard Restaurant
Orchard Restaurant offers patrons a modern Mediterranean dining experience and food with Asian flair from Chef Jenny Kang (Shokunin Izakaya, The Bow Valley Ranch). It’s also one of the most visually striking rooms in YYC.
Address: 134, 610 – 10th Avenue SW, Calgary
Nepali Dining: Momo House
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The cozy vibes and cultural atmosphere enhance the wonderful authentic Nepali dining experience offered here at Calgary’s Momo House.
Address: 4310 104th Avenue NE #2150, Calgary
Latin American: Fortuna’s Row
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From the team that brought YYC Orchard Restaurant and Shelter Cocktail Bar, this new concept offers modern and elevated Latin American food and drinks.
Address: 421 Riverfront Avenue SE, Calgary
Mexican Street: Native Tongues
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Native Tongues Taqueria is dedicated to the traditional methods of Mexican cuisine, with a focus on Central Mexico, Aztec, and Mayan periods. The Tacos Al Carbon are made in-house from scratch on an open-fire grill, crafting extraordinary flavours.
Address: 235 12th Avenue SW, Calgary
Address: 829 – 49th Avenue SW, Calgary
Great Pizza: Actually Pretty Good
Some of the best pizza in the city, this spot has interesting classics as well as one-of-a-kind feature pie specials.
Address: 2509 14th Street SW, Calgary
Address: 1327 1st Street SW, Calgary
Top Rated Riverside: River Cafe
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River Cafe is an upscale Calgary restaurant built inside a chic restored park concession building.
Address: 25 Prince’s Island Park SW, Calgary
Cozy Italian: Posto Pizzeria & Bar
Not only does Posto have some of the best pizza in YYC, but also other Italian dishes like salad, pasta, and apps, including the arancini with saffron.
Address: 1014 8th Street SW, Calgary
Hip Ramen Spot: Shikki Menya
One of the trendiest spots in Calgary, this Japanese eatery serves up scratch-made ramen bowls, creative sides, beer, and fun cocktails in a hip space.
Address: 824 1st Avenue NE, Calgary
Amalfi Coast: Barbarella Bar
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Like other restaurants from the Concorde team, the food menu has snacks, pasta, pizza, vegetables, and small plates. The space is massive, with a different vibe in every section of the room.
Address: #110, 700 2nd Street SW, Calgary
Asian Comfort: JinBar
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The concept specializes in Korean-influenced cuisine but in bold and exciting ways. Korean fried chicken is a must-have, but there are also pizzas, snacks, and more.
Address: 24 4th Street NE, Calgary
Cozy Cocktails: Pigeonhole
Pigeonhole is a genre-bending restaurant that is a spot you can order caviar for hundreds of dollars, a hot dog, and plenty in between.
Address: 306 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Romantic Pizza Spot: Una
A Calgary institution, Una Pizza is known for its signature thin-crust pizzas, salads, sides, and uniquely vibrant (and romantic) dining rooms.
Address: Various locations
Chef-Driven: Bridgette Bar
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This “chef-driven” bar concept in Calgary’s Design District was built inside a former furniture shop. Bridgette Bar will boast a rustic-chic mid-century vibe, complete with exposed beam ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and open-flame cooking.
Address: 739 10th Avenue SW, Calgary
Imported Japanese: Ryuko
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The room is spotless and sharp, made warm with plenty of plants, smiling faces, and colourful Japanese dishes, many of which are made with imported ingredients flown in.
Address: 13200 Macleod Trail, Calgary
Modern Vietnamese: Pure Kitchen and Bar
Offering a fresh and modern take on traditional Asian cuisine, this menu is truly filled with unique dishes, like the savoury sesame donuts with different fillings and sauces.
Address: 815 8th Avenue SW #100, Calgary
Authentic Mexican: Tacos Mexico
This is a no-frills, low-key, but highly delicious authentic Mexican restaurant serving nachos, tacos, beer, and tequila drinks.
Address: 3725 Memorial Drive Southeast, Calgary
Brooklyn Style Pizza: Noble Pie
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There are eight different massive 18-inch pies on the menu here, all made with fresh ingredients and homemade dough that crisps perfectly by the time it comes out.
Address: 720 11th Avenue SW, Calgary
Lebanese Street Food: Beirut Street Food
One of the best-hidden gem Lebanese spots in YYC, this counter-service spot serves house-made falafel, salads, charcoal-grilled beef and chicken, and pits made to order.
Address: Bay C – 7220 Fairmount Drive SE, Calgary
Upscale Italian: Mercato
With every authentic Italian dish prepared from scratch using ingredients fresh from the connected market, this is unlike any restaurant in Calgary.
The energy here every single night is intoxicatingly vibrant, especially with the open kitchen concept in the centre of the dining room.
Address: 2224 4th Street SW, Calgary
Italian Japanese Fusion: Carino
Italian and Japanese fusion might seem like an odd gimmick for a restaurant, but this spot takes it very seriously and does it incredibly well.
Address: 2210 4th Street SW, Calgary
Upbeat Island Food: Simply Irie Caribbean Cuisine
This family restaurant is an upbeat but cozy space serving authentic Jamaican patties and other delicious Caribbean fares.
Address: 1510 6th Street SW, Calgary
Intimate Italian: Cardinale
Located over by the Stampede grounds, this intimate spot for amazing traditional Italian cooking is the best choice before a concert or hockey game.
Address: 401 12th Avenue SE, Calgary
Creative Vietnamese: Mot To
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From the team behind Pho Dau Bo, this is a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant featuring a menu made up of classic dishes with modern twists.
Address: Centre Street and 16th Avenue, Calgary
Top Notch Sandwiches: Alumni Sandwiches
This is THE spot for a sandwich in Calgary and one of the best places to eat in the city in general.
Address: 725 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Elevated Pub Food: Free House
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One of the coolest spots in the city, this menu feels like a fine dining chef decided to chase their passion of running a pub. It also has one of the coolest rooftop and street patios in the summer.
Address: 1153 Kensington Crescent NW, Calgary
Hawaiian-Themed: Lulu Bar
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Surfboards on the walls, plants in the corners, and hanging lantern-style lights are a few touches that perfectly complement the Asian fusion food and cocktail menu at Lulu Bar.
Address: 510 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Canadian Cuisine: The Nash
This stylish restaurant is a wonderful culinary celebration of Canadian dishes and cocktails. Sometimes underrated, this is certainly one of the best places to eat in Calgary.
Address: 925 11th Street SE, Calgary
Modern Indian: Calcutta Cricket Club
With made-from-scratch dishes like paper chaat made with spiced potatoes and chickpeas, sweet yogurt, tamarind chutney, fresh pineapple, pomegranate, and mint, this stylish spot is packed with bold flavours.
Address: 340 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Sushi Bar: Sukiyaki House
Sukiyaki House in downtown YYC is a minimalist restaurant with a top-notch sushi bar and many different Japanese entrees, like hotpot and tempura.
Address: 207 9th Avenue SW #130, Calgary
Brunch and Market: Our Daily Brett
With a Mediterranean feel, this brunch, lunch, cafe, and market spot is a great idea at any time of the day.
Address: 1507 29th Avenue SW, Calgary
Japanese Sake Bar: Lonely Mouth
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The room is beautiful, the sake list is likely the best in the city, and the food is inventive and delicious.
Address: 528 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Authentic Indian: Moti Mahal
Yes, this is an intimate bar that feels like refined dining, but it’s also one of the best spots you’ll find in the city for an extensively authentic Indian menu.
Address: 1805 14th Street SW, Calgary
Burger Joint: Lil’ Empire
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Known for its elite menu of burgers, fries, and hot dogs, this is simple burgers done perfectly.
Address: 1105 1st Avenue NE, Calgary
Address: 4321 1st Street SE, Calgary
Hip Steakhouse: Charcut
This is the classic steakhouse you want, but in a modern setting with contemporary sides and add-ons you always hope for. If you’re looking for fun sides, this is one of the best places to eat in Calgary.
Address: 899 Centre Street S, Calgary
Italian/Mediterranean: Teatro Restaurant
This modern Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is a comfortable, fine-dining atmosphere and is one of the most reputable spots in YYC.
Address: 200 8th Avenue SE, Calgary
Homemade Italian: DOP
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This intimate Italian joint has superb antipasti options, pasta made in-house, family meatballs, and massive veal chops, but it’s the enormous raviolo that’s the most eye-catching.
Address: 1005A 1st Street SW, Calgary
Authentically Texas: Big Sky BBQ Pit
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Technically in Okotoks, it feels in the middle and we feel like counting it anyways because it’s probably the best BBQ in the area.
Besides offering tons of TVs, merch, good Caesars, and great service, Big Sky has a massive menu of eats that are all made the old school BBQ way, AKA no fryers, freezers, or grills.
Address: 306016 – 15 Street E, Okotoks
Hip Sake Bar: Sensei Bar
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Sensei Bar is a hip chef-driven bar specializing in fun Asian eats like shareable platters, inspired appetizers, and a wild assortment of different bao buns.
Address:Â 1520 14th Street SW, Calgary
NY-Style Pizzeria: Pizza Face
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There are currently 10 different pizzas on the menu here, with an additional feature menu that’s also a creative spin on our favourite food wheel.
Some of the mainstays include a burger pizza, classic pepperoni, and a French onion soup-inspired pizza made with beef bone broth, garlic cream, caramelized onion, mozzarella, fresh thyme, and black pepper.
Address: 515 17th Avenue SW #140, Calgary
Plant Store and Resto: Maven
The food here is incredible, with decedent brunch items like brown sugar and buttermilk pancakes served with cultured butter, and well-travelled comfort food, like Kaya Jam French Toast and German Pork Schnitzel.
Address: 1006 17th Avenue SW, Calgary
Elevated Cafe Dining: Primary Colours
Located in Calgary’s growing Brittania community, Primary Colours is a spot for brunch and dinner and both menus are bigger and way better than any cafe in the city. You could go here 10 different times and have an entirely new experience but each one will be fantastic.
Address: 802 49th Avenue SW, Calgary
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