Guidebook for Calgary
Food Scene
My favourite pizza. They don't take reservations (it's usually busy), but you can reserve a spot in line using the Nowait app. All of their pizza is good, but my go-tos are: Kale caesar salad, 4-maggi pizza, and mushroom pizza (with extra truffle honey on the side!)
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Una Pizza + Wine 17th Ave SW
618 17 Ave SWMy favourite pizza. They don't take reservations (it's usually busy), but you can reserve a spot in line using the Nowait app. All of their pizza is good, but my go-tos are: Kale caesar salad, 4-maggi pizza, and mushroom pizza (with extra truffle honey on the side!)
One of the best brunch spots in the city! They don't take reservations, and the wait can be pretty long on the weekends, but you can reserve a spot in line on the Nowait app!
27 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
OEB Breakfast Co. Mission
2207 4 St SWOne of the best brunch spots in the city! They don't take reservations, and the wait can be pretty long on the weekends, but you can reserve a spot in line on the Nowait app!
There's a cafeteria at the back of the grocery store, the tacos and burritos are the real deal.
UniMarket Latin Food Calgary
128 50 Ave SEThere's a cafeteria at the back of the grocery store, the tacos and burritos are the real deal.
A charming Italian restaurant that's perfect for a romantic date night on 4th street. Be sure to order the bistecca!
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Mercato
2224 4 St SWA charming Italian restaurant that's perfect for a romantic date night on 4th street. Be sure to order the bistecca!
One of my favourite spots for pastries and crepes. It feels like Paris in Calgary. Lots of buttery treats to choose from, you won't be disappointed.
38 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
La Boulangerie Bakery Cafe
2435 4 St SWOne of my favourite spots for pastries and crepes. It feels like Paris in Calgary. Lots of buttery treats to choose from, you won't be disappointed.
To be honest, the food is mediocre here (you can find better tacos elsewhere! Ask me for suggestions!) but you should go there for their chips and guac (they make it fresh in front of you), margaritas (lots to choose from), and churros (so good!)
96 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Anejo
2116 4 St SWTo be honest, the food is mediocre here (you can find better tacos elsewhere! Ask me for suggestions!) but you should go there for their chips and guac (they make it fresh in front of you), margaritas (lots to choose from), and churros (so good!)
Another one of my hands down of my favourite restaurants in the city. It's a modern Taqueria rooted in the traditional street and market foods of Mexico. Definitely get the tacos (my fave are the mushroom tacos), but also you MUST try their hamburguesa al carbon, and donuts.
101 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Native Tongues Taqueria
235 12 Ave SWAnother one of my hands down of my favourite restaurants in the city. It's a modern Taqueria rooted in the traditional street and market foods of Mexico. Definitely get the tacos (my fave are the mushroom tacos), but also you MUST try their hamburguesa al carbon, and donuts.
My favourite coffee shop in the neighbourhood - great place to people watch or read a book.
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Purple Perk The
2212 4 St SWMy favourite coffee shop in the neighbourhood - great place to people watch or read a book.
Iconic restaurant in Calgary. The menu changes frequently so it's hard to recommend a specific dish (they usually keep the calamari on every iteration of the menu) - but if you're here on a Sunday, you've got to go there for their "Sunday Supper". It's a fixed menu, served family style, and a great way to sample a variety of dishes from the restaurant.
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Model Citizen
308 17 Ave SWIconic restaurant in Calgary. The menu changes frequently so it's hard to recommend a specific dish (they usually keep the calamari on every iteration of the menu) - but if you're here on a Sunday, you've got to go there for their "Sunday Supper". It's a fixed menu, served family style, and a great way to sample a variety of dishes from the restaurant.
This little yellow house in the neighbourhood serves up an amazing selection of French pastries (macarons galore and more!)
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Yann Haute Patisserie
329 23 Ave SWThis little yellow house in the neighbourhood serves up an amazing selection of French pastries (macarons galore and more!)
Another one of my hands-down favourite restaurants in Calgary! Come here for lunch or dinner, and come with an appetite. Highly recommend the whipped feta and tomato with toast to start. Save room for dessert! You'll want the coconut cake AND the butterscotch pudding (they taste even better when eaten together).
79 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Ten Foot Henry
1209 1 St SWAnother one of my hands-down favourite restaurants in Calgary! Come here for lunch or dinner, and come with an appetite. Highly recommend the whipped feta and tomato with toast to start. Save room for dessert! You'll want the coconut cake AND the butterscotch pudding (they taste even better when eaten together).
I dream about the short rib massaman curry and coconut ice cream from this place! It's a no fuss Thai restaurant if you're looking for a straightforward restaurant with non-pretentious delicious food.
9 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Khao San Thai Kitchen
1314 17 Ave SWI dream about the short rib massaman curry and coconut ice cream from this place! It's a no fuss Thai restaurant if you're looking for a straightforward restaurant with non-pretentious delicious food.
Quality ice cream, you'll find classic flavours and some cool innovative ones as well. Their sundaes are both picture perfect and delicious. You'll often find a line out the door to get ice cream at this place!
69 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Morgan's Pub on Seventeenth
1324 17 Ave SWQuality ice cream, you'll find classic flavours and some cool innovative ones as well. Their sundaes are both picture perfect and delicious. You'll often find a line out the door to get ice cream at this place!
The Simmons Building is a must-visit food destination! You'll find local favourites: Sidewalk Citizen Bakery, Phil & Sebastian coffee shop, the Rooftop Bar @ Simmons, and Charbar.
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Simmons Building
618 Confluence Way SoutheastThe Simmons Building is a must-visit food destination! You'll find local favourites: Sidewalk Citizen Bakery, Phil & Sebastian coffee shop, the Rooftop Bar @ Simmons, and Charbar.
Shokunin is one of the most creative and authentic Japanese restaurants in the world, including in Japan. As examples, wasabi is made in-house from real wasabi root, no colours, mustard, or horseradish. The charcoal for the brazier is imported from Japan at tremendous expense.
Their yakitori is delish (as well as their other small plates) -- ask to get seated at the bar!
24 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Shokunin Izakaya
2016 4 St SWShokunin is one of the most creative and authentic Japanese restaurants in the world, including in Japan. As examples, wasabi is made in-house from real wasabi root, no colours, mustard, or horseradish. The charcoal for the brazier is imported from Japan at tremendous expense.
Their yakitori is delish (as well as their other small plates) -- ask to get seated at the bar!
An icon in Calgary's Chinatown, Silver Dragon is the OG for dim sum in the city.
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Silver Dragon Restaurant
106 3 Ave SEAn icon in Calgary's Chinatown, Silver Dragon is the OG for dim sum in the city.
Drinks & Nightlife
A small little craft cocktail bar with an extensive drink menu - great for drinks with friends or date night.
78 lokale inwoners bevelen aan
Proof
1302 1 St SWA small little craft cocktail bar with an extensive drink menu - great for drinks with friends or date night.
Essentials
This is the closest grocery store to the apartment
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Safeway Mission Calgary
524 Elbow Dr SWThis is the closest grocery store to the apartment
If you're looking for an organic market, this one is a 10-15 minute walk from the apartment.
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Amaranth 4th Street Market
1407 4 St SWIf you're looking for an organic market, this one is a 10-15 minute walk from the apartment.
Arts & Culture
The National Music Centre aims to be a bold multi-purpose monument to Canadian music – part museum, part education centre, part concert venue. The architecture is so unique!
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Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
850 4 St SEThe National Music Centre aims to be a bold multi-purpose monument to Canadian music – part museum, part education centre, part concert venue. The architecture is so unique!
Sightseeing
Panoramic views of downtown Calgary's skyline including the Saddledome. Local fave to watch the fireworks during the Calgary Stampede!
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Scotsman's Hill
Panoramic views of downtown Calgary's skyline including the Saddledome. Local fave to watch the fireworks during the Calgary Stampede!
You've probably seen pictures of this sculpture on Instagram -- did you really go to Calgary if you didn't get a photo with the Wonderland Sculpture in front of The Bow building?
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Wonderland Sculpture
110 6 Ave SEYou've probably seen pictures of this sculpture on Instagram -- did you really go to Calgary if you didn't get a photo with the Wonderland Sculpture in front of The Bow building?
Quirky Inglewood is home to shops selling vintage furniture, indie fashion, boutiques, live music, and rare vinyl, and offers an eclectic dining scene. Walking down 9th ave in Inglewood definitely reminds me of South Congress in Austin.
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Inglewood
Quirky Inglewood is home to shops selling vintage furniture, indie fashion, boutiques, live music, and rare vinyl, and offers an eclectic dining scene. Walking down 9th ave in Inglewood definitely reminds me of South Congress in Austin.
If this is your first time in Calgary, you can't NOT go to the Calgary Tower!
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Calgary Tower
101 9 Ave SWIf this is your first time in Calgary, you can't NOT go to the Calgary Tower!
Calgary's historic pedestrian mall. You'll find shops, an indoor mall, and lots of restaurants. If it's raining, you can also explore downtown Calgary through the +15 walkway system.
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Stephen Avenue Walk
340 8 Ave SWCalgary's historic pedestrian mall. You'll find shops, an indoor mall, and lots of restaurants. If it's raining, you can also explore downtown Calgary through the +15 walkway system.
Lots of arts and culture in East Village. There's a new Central Library under construction, Studio Bell is here, and there are lots of public art installations throughout the neighbourhood.
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East Village
Lots of arts and culture in East Village. There's a new Central Library under construction, Studio Bell is here, and there are lots of public art installations throughout the neighbourhood.
Parks & Nature
An urban oasis north of downtown Calgary. It's home to local festivals and events like the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Shakespeare in the park. You can rent a bike at the nearby Eau Claire market and explore the shared pathways; you could pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic in this lush green space. There's lots to do here!
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Prince's Island Park
698 Eau Claire Ave SWAn urban oasis north of downtown Calgary. It's home to local festivals and events like the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Shakespeare in the park. You can rent a bike at the nearby Eau Claire market and explore the shared pathways; you could pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic in this lush green space. There's lots to do here!
St. Patrick’s Island Park opened in the summer of 2015 after undergoing a major restoration and redevelopment. The island park lies in the Bow River between the East Village to the south, and the community of Bridgeland to the north. The park boasts hiking and biking trails, a public plaza and amphitheatre, children’s play area, public washrooms, a small hill, and restored river channels.
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St. Patrick's Island
1300 Zoo Rd NESt. Patrick’s Island Park opened in the summer of 2015 after undergoing a major restoration and redevelopment. The island park lies in the Bow River between the East Village to the south, and the community of Bridgeland to the north. The park boasts hiking and biking trails, a public plaza and amphitheatre, children’s play area, public washrooms, a small hill, and restored river channels.
Shopping
If you *MUST* shop, you'll find (almost) everything you need at CF Chinook Centre. It's the largest shopping centre in Calgary and accessible via C-Train. There's a Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as hundreds of other stores.
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CF Chinook Centre
6455 Macleod TrailIf you *MUST* shop, you'll find (almost) everything you need at CF Chinook Centre. It's the largest shopping centre in Calgary and accessible via C-Train. There's a Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as hundreds of other stores.
My favourite store in the city! It's a gorgeous boutique located in a rustic red barn. Get yourself some jewelry from CoutuKitsch or a cozy sweater by CAMP Brand Goods.
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The Livery Shop
1119 10 Ave SEMy favourite store in the city! It's a gorgeous boutique located in a rustic red barn. Get yourself some jewelry from CoutuKitsch or a cozy sweater by CAMP Brand Goods.