Beltline Neighbourhood Guide

The Beltline is a bustling, inner-city community, south of the downtown core. Home to some of Canada’s best restaurants, this neighbourhood features a lively nightlife scene, eclectic shopping, and enough bakeries to make a day out of searching for the best croissant. Packed with amenities, Beltline is among the top spots in the city for an urban adventure.

The Beltline’s restaurants are regularly voted some of the best in Canada, so finding somewhere delicious to eat is easy. Visit First Street Market and have your pick from pasta, tacos, pizza, and more. Grab your food to go and have it picnic-style in Haultain Park, just across from the food hall.

Brunch, lunch, and bites to-go

• Maven - A go-to spot for plant lovers and brunch enthusiasts. Indulge in elevated brunch plates in a plant haven.

• Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro - Located in a red brick historical building, Monki dishes up hearty breakfast plates in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

• Galaxie Diner - Offering all-day breakfast with a vintage vibe. Sit in old-school booths or vintage bar stools and watch the cooks flip your eggs in the open kitchen.

• The Beltiner - Named after the streetcar that ran down 12th Avenue in the early 1900s, The Beltliner is a modern interpretation of a classic diner that offers breakfast classics with a playful and innovative twist.

• The Sweatered Hen - Fresh flavours, great coffee, and fun cocktails on 17th Ave.

• Red’s Diner on 4th - Located in the old 1928 Queen’s dressmaker studio, Red’s serves all-day breakfast classics made with farm-fresh ingredients.

• Namo Café Bistro - When the world is served on a plate, there’s something for everyone. Namo’s menu draws inspiration from different global cuisines.

• Wayne’s Bagels - Sample authentic Montreal-style bagels with hand-crafted cream cheese in all different flavours.

• Park by Sidewalk Citizen - Delicious brunch and dinner menus inspired by Mediterranean flavours and Israeli street food that you can enjoy while sitting in a bright and beautiful solarium.

Where to have dinner

• Bridgette Bar- This sleek mid-century modern bar serves great food with culinary twists on old favourites.

• Ten Foot Henry- Offering family-style, veggie-forward dining where you won’t have to decide between what you want to eat and what you should eat. Enjoy shared plates of culinary-crafted vegetables, meats, and pastas.

• The District - Find a variety of different dining experiences at this curated food hall. Have your pick from sushi, burgers, ramen, and more.

• Orchard Restaurant - Discover an upscale, immersive dining experience with Asian Mediterranean culinary dishes.

• Native Tongues Taqueria - Mexican cuisine in a rustic cantina-styled restaurant with an open kitchen and a bar with all the Mezcal you desire.

• Model Milk - Organic and naturally made wines, ingredients from local farms and fisheries, and whole animals butchered on-site with zero waste. Model Milk embraces sustainability and fresh, high-quality food.

• Porch - Replicating the laid-back, summer-porch feeling, Porch offers shared plates and tasty cocktails in a bright oasis.

• Salt & Brick - This restaurant serves inventive small plates and charcuterie with a focus on their Okanagan small-batch wine menu.

• Rodney’s Oyster House - Enjoy fresh seafood and oysters in a lively, maritime-themed setting.

• Bar Chouette - Enjoy a blend of traditional and modern dishes at this French-influenced, contemporary restaurant and cocktail bar.

• Kama - Serving authentic Mediterranean food with a twist, Kama is a multi-sensory experience where each dish is thoughtfully crafted using a mix of tradition and innovation.

Breweries & bars

• CRAFT Beer Market - Craft beers, a rooftop patio with 360-degree city views, shuffleboards, and bocce courts; what more could you ask for?

• Greta Bar - With more than 50 arcade games available, local beers, and late-night eats, Greta Bar is all fun and games.

• Last Best Brewing and Distilling - Find craft beer, spirits, and Alberta-inspired cuisine at this Calgary brewery and distillery.

• National on 10th - From bowling and karaoke to dozens of tapped beer options and a rooftop patio, National has everything you need for a great night out.

• Twisted Element - Dance the night away at this nightclub and queerhall designed to be a safe space for Calgary’s historically marginalized communities.

• Ship & Anchor Pub- A local favourite, this pub is regularly busy, and with good reason. Grab your favourite pint from its wide range of tap beers and sip it on the patio as you take in the great vibe.

• Trolley 5 Brewpub - Named after the historic streetcar that once operated through the Beltline, this brewery brings people together through good atmosphere, craft beer, and locally inspired eats with Asian flair.

• Betty Lou’s Library - Enter through a hidden door into a time of prohibition. Sip on quality cocktails among dimly lit chandeliers and vintage velvet seats.

Not only does Beltline have a wide range of coffee shops to choose from, but there’s also a decadent selection of bakeries to pair your morning brew with a fresh-baked good.

• I Love You Coffee Shop - Record store meets coffee shop at this Japanese jazz bar-influenced café. Browse through vinyl with a coffee and Montreal-style bagel in hand.

• Milano Coffee - This Vancouver-based coffee company and roastery combines Italian coffee traditions with West Coast culture, all in one cup.

• Analog Coffee - Located on 17th Ave., this location was the second Analog to open and has been serving carefully crafted coffees since 2012.

• Philosáfy Coffee - Inspired by the introduction of coffee to the Western world when philosophers would contemplate ideas in cafés. Philosáfy roasts its own coffee once a week in small batches and names them after some of the greatest thinkers.

• Element Café - This all-day café is open late into the evening. Watch for monthly features, including tasting experiences like flights of lattes.

• Caffè Beano - One of Calgary's longest-running coffee shops, this café opened its doors in 1990 and has been serving coffee with a smile ever since.

• Cafe Gravity - Locally owned and family-operated with three cafés in Calgary, Gravity is now roasting its own beans.

• Sucre Patisserie & Café - Pair your morning latte with macarons, croissants, and other yummy pastries here.

• Butter Block Bakery & Cafe - When you walk into the Devenish Building, the smell of the fresh baking from Butter Block will definitely draw you in. Treat yourself to a delicious croissant and cappuccino.

With so much to do and explore in this vibrant neighbourhood, it’s best to stay a night or two to ensure you hit all the stops.

• Hotel Arts - Enjoy an outdoor pool, complimentary parking, and an award-winning restaurant during your stay.

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Calgary Downtown - Sleep well in plush beds and fuel up for the day with a complimentary hot breakfast before exploring the nearby Beltline fun.

• Best Western Plus Suites Downtown - Take advantage of the free parking and complimentary hot breakfast buffet before you hit the town.

From outdoor equipment and second-hand clothing to luxury furniture and organic foods, you’ll find everything you need in Beltline.

• Mountain Equipment Company - Need something for your new outdoor hobby? MEC has running, hiking, camping, and climbing goods and equipment of all sorts.

• Community Natural Foods - An Alberta-based health food store offering more than 2,500 Alberta-made products and goodies you’ll love no matter your dietary restrictions.

• Peacock Boutique - Find brand names and upscale clothing at this high-quality consignment store.

• Steeling Home - Looking for unique salt and pepper shakers or a doormat with a cheeky saying? Steeling Home offers interesting and quirky goods to give your home that extra sparkle of originality.

• Shelf Life Books - This locally owned independent bookstore carries books you haven’t seen anywhere else before.

• HG Vintage - Give your wardrobe a refresh and shop all things vintage here.

• The Source Snowboards and Skateboards - Boasting a huge selection of outerwear, footwear, accessories, and stylish boards, The Source will outfit you whether you’re an urban skater, a mountain enthusiast or both.

• The Bike Shop - A one-stop shop for all your bike needs. Find the latest gear and accessories, get your bike tuned up, or browse through all the bikes in store.

• Chintz & Company - Find high-end furnishings to give your space that extra luxurious touch.

A stroll through the Beltline reveals a dynamic mix of heritage sites, such as the Lougheed House, dynamic public art installations, and welcoming parks and green spaces.

Art

• Chinook Arc - Located in Barb Scott Park, the Chinook Arc is an interactive, illuminated sculpture with a shape that reflects the historic Beltline Streetcar loop.

• BUMP Murals – Each year the BUMP Festival decorates the exterior of Calgary’s Beltline neighbourhood through mural art. With over 120 BUMP murals to date, public art is easy to find & admire in the Beltline neighbourhood.

• Bird of Spring - The Bird of Spring is an Inuit sculpture located in Connaught Park that signifies the relief of spring and the celebration of warmth and new life.

• Calgary Scroll - Positioned above the 8th Street SW underpass, this unique piece of art stretches the length of the underpass and displays various headlines and reportage from 100 years ago as a reminder of Calgary’s railway history.

Parks

• Central Memorial Park - This two-hectare park features green space, pathways, and fountains, and it’s Calgary’s oldest park.

• Beaulieu Gardens - The formal and stunning gardens of the historic Calgary landmark, the Lougheed House, which is now a museum.

• High Park - A rooftop public park and event space where Calgarians can gather on the lawn areas, enjoy the lounge seating, and even play a friendly game of basketball.

• Thomson Family Park - Lace up your skates during the winter for the public rink and slide down the mega slide any time of the year.