Shelter is an intimate and upscale cocktail bar. Combining elements from high-end hotel bars across the USA and original industrial grunge styles from Berlin and Eastern Europe, Shelter is a juxtaposition of opulent and casual. The atmosphere is often described by guests as cozy, intimate, and unlike another space. With a moody, low-lit backdrop, the location houses several standout design pieces, including an artfully decorated wall of gas masks, and a beautifully crafted light fixture featuring over 5,000 individual bulbs serving as an undulating canopy of light over the main lounge. Shelter is most often visited for the ambiance and cocktails. By far, the most popular drink on the menu is the ‘cellar mix’. Guests tell the staff what they want from a cocktail, from tasting notes and liquor preference to glass type and specific ingredients. The bartending staff use this feedback to create entirely custom cocktails, spins on old classics, and an ever-changing selection of concoctions entirely designed around the palette choices of the guest. Weekends are packed from open to close, go during the week for a more cozy, relaxed atmosphere, or during the weekend for a social vibe. Shelter offers monthly cocktail classes in Calgary, and you can purchase tickets right on their website.