A Calgary restaurant was just named as the second best in North America
The list of North America’s best restaurants has just been unveiled, and this year, a Calgary restaurant surpassed dozens of restaurants to snag second place.
Eight, the widely acclaimed restaurant headed by Chef Darran MacLean, was the highest-ranked Canadian restaurant on the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2026, coming in at number two behind Chicago’s Smyth.
The highly elusive spot also received the Highest New Entry and Best Restaurant in West Canada awards.
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The restaurant, which is tucked away inside the lobby of the Alt Hotel East Village, only seats eight people. During their visit, guests are guided through a one-of-a-kind tasting menu, all using hyper-local ingredients inspired by Canada’s cultural heritage, combining storytelling with the culinary arts.
“It’s as thought-provoking as it is delicious; diners can talk to the chef as he prepares each dish, gaining insight into ingredients, sourcing and technique,” the organization said.
While the menu regularly changes, just some of the dishes highlighted were the spring pea purée with geoduck sashimi, buttermilk foam and black garlic, the veal sweetbreads with kohlrabi kimchi, and a chocolate tart infused with roasted mushrooms and smoked whipped cream.
But be warned: grabbing a spot at Eight is no easy feat. Reservations are released quarterly and book up fast, so you’ll need to be quick off the mark.
While Calgary came out on top, restaurants in several other Canadian spots were also recognized on the list, with Lincoln’s Restaurant Pearl Morissette, Montreal’s Mon Lapin, Quetzal in Toronto, and Tanière3 in Quebec City making the top 10.
Eight
Address: 631 Confluence Way SE, Calgary
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