11 Calgary restaurants that will make you feel like you're on vacation
If you’re looking for some respite from the dark and dreary winter months in Calgary, look no further than the city’s restaurant scene.
While sadly, snow, ice and cold conditions are part and parcel of living in Calgary, so many restaurants and bars are serving up vacation vibes aplenty, with drinks, food, and decor that will transport you to warmer climates without the hefty price tag.
Whether you’re looking to escape to a Greek Island, the South of France, or Hawaii, here are some of the best eateries to visit in Calgary if you want to feel like you’re on vacation.
Paper Lantern
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This Vietnamese-inspired cocktail bar is tucked away in Calgary’s Chinatown, and once you find it, you won’t want to leave. The bar offers a stacked menu of tropical cocktails and highballs, as well as dishes such as spring rolls, banh mi, and chicken wings.
Address: 115 2nd Ave. SE Basement, Calgary
Ricardo’s Hideaway
Ricardo’s Hideaway is a tropical bar offering delicious Caribbean food and a great selection of rum. For the ultimate vacay vibes, take a seat, order a pina colada, and watch the world go by.
Address: 1530 5th St. SW, Calgary
Calcutta Cricket Club
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Calcutta Cricket Club is a fun Indian restaurant that draws inspiration from the cosmopolitan nature and cuisine of India. Once you walk in, you’ll find some quirky and colourful decor that will brighten up your day.
Address: 1213 1st St. SW, Calgary
Lulu Bar
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Lulu Bar’s epic food and drink menu takes inspiration from spots across Asia and Hawaii. With fried coconut squid, housemade spam skewers, and beef tataki, to name a few, you don’t get much more tropical than this.
Address: 510 17th Ave. SW, Calgary
Prosperity Bar
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Prosperity Bar is a must-visit if you want to escape the cold of winter. The bar, which has been brought to life by the team behind Paper Lantern, offers a wide range of beach-appropriate cocktails and small plates such as Shrimp Rangoons and Big Mac Egg Rolls.
Address: 107 2nd Ave. SE, Calgary
Pho Pham
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With decor and dishes that will transport you directly to Vietnam, Pho Pham is the perfect place to warm up. This spot serves up classic Vietnamese fare such as salad rolls, vermicelli noodles, and, of course, heapings of pho.
Address: 5683 Signal Hill Center SW, Calgary
Address: 3908 University Ave. NW, Calgary
The Casbah Restaurant
At The Casbah Restaurant, everything is done in a true Moroccan style. The restaurant is decorated with authentic carvings, tiles, paintings, and crafts. Following Moroccan tradition, you will also be treated to a rosewater hand wash ceremony before consuming some delicious dishes.
Address:Â 720 11th Ave. SW, Calgary
Cassis Bistro
If you want to feel like you’re on vacation in Southern France, Cassis Bistro is the place to be. The quaint restaurant offers South-of-France flavour with a local flair, and it’s got a great selection of wines.
Address: 2502 17th Ave. SW, Calgary
Santorini Greek Taverna
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Santorini is one of the most established Greek restaurants in Calgary, serving up traditional warm and fresh Greek cuisine like flaming pan-fried cheese, moussaka, and chicken souvlaki. One taste of the authentic Greek dishes, and you will feel like you are vacationing on a Greek island.
Address: 1502 Centre Street N, Calgary
Aloha Modern Kitchen
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Aloha Modern Kitchen, the new venture from the team behind The J Spot, offers Hawaiian-inspired eats and favourites from the existing J Spot menu, such as Huli Huli chicken, Maui ribs, garlic shrimp and its Loco Moco with smashed beef, rice, mushroom gravy and a fried egg.
Address: #100 – 5920 Macleod Tr. SW, Calgary
Fortuna’s Row
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With Latin American-inspired flavours and one of the most stunning dining rooms in the city, a visit to Fortuna’s Row may just be the next best thing to a vacation. The spot offers a wide selection of small and sharing plates, as well as brunch on weekends.
Address: 421 Riverfront Ave. SE, Calgary
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