Best fine dining restaurants in Calgary

In the last few years, Calgary's culinary scene, specifically the concept of fine dining, has largely made way for more casual chef-driven restaurants where the music is loud, the food is a little bit cheeky, and guests are encouraged to wear jeans, but there’s still something special about dressing up and splurging on extraordinary food and impeccable service. These top restaurants in Calgary are all worthy of visiting for milestone occasions, be it a birthday, anniversary or just a celebration of expertly prepared food.

Interested in more guides to Calgary's top restaurants? Click here to read more about the best steakhouses, burger joints and signature dishes you have to try in Calgary.

Bow Valley Ranche

Sitting in a heritage home in beautiful Fish Creek Park, Bow Valley Ranche is the perfect location for a special meal. The menu is made up of classically prepared (and often locally sourced) proteins, delectable seafood, and other luxurious ingredients, all accompanied by perfectly prepared seasonal produce.

Address: 15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE

Chairman's Steakhouse

Calgary's downtown is chock-full of excellent steakhouses, but Chairman’s is special enough to be worth a drive out to suburban Mahogany. The Rat Pack-inspired lakeside restaurant is all about old school tradition and service, realized in a smartly modern space. Guests select their cut from boards presented table side and can choose from a wide selection of classic sides, sauces, and cocktails.

Address: 2251 Mahogany Blvd SE

Deane House

Sitting in one of Calgary’s most significant historical homes in the city’s oldest neighbourhood at the confluences of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, Deane House is a Calgary icon. The restaurant offers a fine dining version of locally sourced contemporary Canadian cuisine. The menu changes with the seasons, but always focuses on fresh local produce and Alberta-raised meat.

Address: 806 9 Ave SE

DOPO

A warm Italian restaurant known for its welcoming hospitality, DOPO is simultaneously comfortable and worthy of a special occasion. The downstairs restaurant has the look and feel of a loud Tuscan tavern, while the food is a combination of Italian family recipes and upscale culinary precision. Start with some of the restaurant’s signature breads and spreads and move into sumptuous pasta and large format meat dishes.

Address: 1907 34 Ave SW #10

Eight

Chef Darren MacLean’s Eight restaurant is the very definition of intimacy: there are only eight seats and guests are served a multi-course tasting menu by the chef as each item is prepared. Both the menu — which changes regularly — and the chef tell the story of Canadian cuisine and culture through dishes created with carefully sourced sustainable ingredients and skillful technique. Reservations are released seasonally can be difficult to secure, but those lucky enough to fill one of the eight seats are in for a culinary adventure.

Address: 631 Confluence Way SE

Hy's Steakhouse

Hy’s offers several different levels of succulent steak to please every customer, with selections like luxurious dry-aged beef and high-end Certified Black Angus. The menu is filled out with a selection of seafood, traditional steakhouse sides, surprisingly good vegetarian options, and Hy’s famed (and legitimately irresistible) cheese toast. For a smaller scale celebration, Hy’s also hosts one of Calgary’s most luxurious happy hours.

Address: 8th Avenue & 3rd Street SW

The Lake House

Operated by Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (CRMR), The Lake House sits on the shore of Lake Bonavista, offering a little getaway in the midst of Calgary’s south end.  Its kitchen makes the most of products sourced from CRMR’s signature ranch and Rock Mountain legacy as guests dine on dishes of beautifully prepared elk, bison, other meats and fish while gazing out the restaurant’s picture windows.

Address: 747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE

Luca

The well-appointed Oliver building is home to a number of eateries, with Luca being one of the most formal, thanks to servers dressed in jackets and white tablecloths adding some special occasion ambiance. The pretty dining room drips in art deco elegance and is just steps away from the excellent Fleetwood Lounge and a casual pizzeria. Luca’s open kitchen adds energy as its busy chefs create plates of pasta, bistecca and Italian-style seafood.

Address: 524 10 Ave SW

Major Tom

Sitting 40 floors above busy Stephen Avenue, the glitzy Major Tom boasts unparalleled views of the city and also happens to be Calgary’s top spot to see and be seen. Major Tom’s menu is a contemporary play on steakhouse favourites, with locally sourced meats, gooey cheese toast, wow-factor appetizers, and a birthday-worthy baked Alaska. The restaurant doubles as a debonair bar with its impossibly ice-cold martinis, creative cocktail creations, and a spectacular wine list.

Address: 40th Floor, 700 2 St SW

Modern Steak

Expect hip-hop instead of muzak on the sound system at Modern Steak , where the vibes and food are definitely celebration-worthy. Serving primarily ranch-specific Alberta beef, guests can choose the cut of their choice, cooked on a 1,800-degree infrared grill or non-beef selections like the massive seafood platter, pork belly with scallops, or rich pasta dishes. This is also the spot to get a truly dramatic piece of beef, be it certified Kobe beef from Japan or a massive dry-aged tomahawk.

Address: 100 8 Ave SE , 10606 Southport Rd SW

Nupo

The sister restaurant to Eight (the two restaurants share the same address kitchen despite being distinct entities), Nupo is larger and easier to snag reservations for, but its still got plenty of sparkle. The focus is on sustainable fish and Canadian-grown plants — there is no red meat or poultry on the menu. Which is just fine: between the Japanese-inspired a la carte menu and extraordinary omakase sushi bar (which must be reserved specifically) the food of Nupo always feels like a special occasion.

Address: 631 Confluence Way SE

River Café

The only restaurant on Calgary’s picturesque Prince’s Island Park is also one of the city’s best — a beautifully rustic dining room specializing in creative and intentionally sustainable food, available either a la carte or as a chef’s tasting menu. In addition to an ever-changing seasonal menu, River Café boasts a truly phenomenal wine list. When the weather is nice brunch or lunch on the riverside patio is just as spectacular as a nighttime dinner.

Address: 25 Prince's Island

Rouge

Located the beautiful red heritage Cross House in historic Inglewood, Rouge has earned its reputation as one of the city’s finest dining spots. The impeccable menu is seasonal and French-inspired and often features ingredients from Rouge’s expansive backyard garden, reflecting co-owner Paul Rogalski’s passion for local ingredients and wild foraging. Complete your meal with a special bottle from the restaurant’s extensive wine cellar.

Address: 1240 8 Ave SE

Teatro

A Calgary institution for 30 years, Teatro has long served discerning diners looking for an elegant bite before taking in a performance at Arts Commons, which is located right across the street. The restaurant is situated in an opulent old bank building — the kitchen serves up carefully prepared Italian-inspired dishes to match the grandeur of the luxurious locale. Don’t miss out on Teatro’s mind-boggling wine list — its cellar is one of the best stocked in the city.

Address:  200 8 Ave SE

The Wilde on 27

The Dorian Hotel’s top floor restaurant, The Wilde on 27 , is all about big views and ambitiously opulent food. The boutique hotel’s Oscar Wilde theme is reflected in a menu full of highly technical but whimsical dishes, with an emphasis on high-end seafood and other top-tier ingredients. The artistic desserts are designed to surprise and delight, creating a memorable conclusion for each meal’s story.

Address: 27th Floor, 525 5 Ave SW

If a big night out isn’t in the cards, many of these restaurants offer lunch (and in some cases, brunch) options for a less intense and more affordable gourmet experience. Bon appetit!