Best Caesars in Calgary

It doesn’t sound like a particularly obvious combination — who would have thought blending vodka, clam-spiked tomato juice and spices, garnished with a celery stick and a celery salt rim would become a symbol of Canada’s national identity? The drink was invented right here in Calgary over 50 years ago and its popularity only seems to be growing.

The Caesar was not, contrary to popular belief, invented at Calgary’s Caesar’s Steakhouse , though that iconic restaurant continues to serve a very nice version of the now-classic cocktail. Rather, in 1969, Walter Chell, the food and beverage manager at the Calgary Inn (now The Westin ) concocted the very first Caesar. It was a more complex play on the Bloody Mary, made all the more savoury with the addition of Mott’s Clamato in place of standard tomato juice.

Address: 320 4 Ave SW

What inspired Chell to create this spicy and surprisingly nourishing clam-flavoured beverage? Some say he wanted to celebrate the opening of the hotel’s new Italian restaurant with a drink that mimicked his favourite pasta dish, Spaghetti Vongole; others claim that he was trying to win a contest being held by Mott’s. Either way, Chell’s stroke of genius wasn’t the first Clamato-based cocktail on the market, but it is the one that stuck and became a Canadian brunch-time standard. In fact, the Caesar is such a favourite across the county that Parliament declared it Canada’s Official Cocktail in 2009.

The Westin still serves a very classic (though, slightly updated) version of the Caesar and if you’re a true Caesar fanatic it’s more than worth popping in to pay homage to its birthplace. That said, many local restaurants offer modernized Caesars, riffing on Chell’s original recipe in weird and wonderful ways.

Below are some top spots to hit if you’re planning your very own Caesar crawl once you’ve tried the original and its birthplace. 

Caesar Bar at The Beltliner

There are Caesars and there are meals that come with a side of boozy spiced Clamato juice. Falling into the latter category, The Beltliner lets customers choose from a base of gin, vodka or tequila with Clamato, hot sauce, and a smoked chili rim before garnishing their Caesars with a range of skewered snacks like bacon, pepperoni, cheese, or a cupcake for a truly ridiculous creation.

Address: 243 12 Ave SW

BBQ King Caesar at Big Sky BBQ

Texas-style meat and cocktails rule at this rustic BBQ joint , but Alberta flavour sneaks in with over a dozen Caesar varieties on the menu. The BBQ King Caesar encompasses everything the restaurant is about in the most over-the-top way, featuring brisket, chicken, sausage, a rib, bacon, and a pulled pork sandwich, along with your standard vodka, Clamato and special house seasoning. This is not a drink — it’s dinner.

 Address: 306016 15 St E

Seaweed Gin Caesar at Blowers and Grafton

Offering a taste of Halifax street food at several locations around Calgary, Blowers and Grafton’s heart may belong to the East Coast, but it still manages to pay proper tribute to Calgary’s drink of choice. Caesars take up an entire section on the Blowers’ menu so there’s plenty to choose from, but you can experience the best of both sides of the country with this concoction, which contains seaweed gin, actual seaweed and a pepperoni stick.

Address: 12650 Symons Valley Rd NW , 2120 4 St SW , or 70 Shawville Blvd SE #500

Caesar Stack at Cleaver

Cleaver built its reputation on fun and whimsical fare, but the restaurant’s Caesar may be its crowning glory. The Caesar Stack is so out-of-control with garnishes, it isn’t even on the restaurant’s cocktail list — it’s listed as an item on the food menu. The drink itself acts as a vehicle for fried chicken with a jalapeno waffle, garlic shrimp, and house bacon.

Address: 524 17 Ave SW #102

Caesar at Diner Deluxe

One of Calgary’s most beloved chain of brunch joints, Diner Deluxe is a top go-to spot for breakfast cocktails of every description, including the mighty Caesar. Horseradish adds some pop to this morning-appropriate Caesar, which begs to be paired with the restaurant’s signature potato rosti or breakfast sandwich.

Address: 2252 33 Ave SW or 106 Mahogany Centre SE

K / H Caesar at Klein/Harris

One of the best places in Calgary to go for cocktails, Klein/Harris has a “True North” section of its drinks menu that is wholly focused on hand-crafted Canadiana cocktails. This naturally includes a Caesar, albeit with a K/H twist. The restaurant makes its own clam and celery broth (sorry, Mott’s) and gives guests the choice of enhancing it with either vodka or gin from the local Eau Claire Distillery .

Address: 110 8 Ave SW

Goro and Gun Caesar at Goro + Gun

This Japanese restaurant is one of the best places in the city to learn about sake, but they also put a unique Japanese spin on the familiar Caesar. Goro + Gun’s Caesar starts with shochu, a Japanese distilled liquor, which is mixed with a special spiced yuzu Clamato and rimmed with togarashi with a small sushi roll as a garnish.

Address: 225 7 Ave SW #245

Rodney’s Caesar at Rodney’s Oyster House

A cocktail made with clam broth practically begs for a seafood garnish — unsurprisingly, the bar at Rodney’s Oyster House is happy to pile it on. Rodney’s Classic Caesar is spiked with fresh horseradish and topped with a spicy bean and a juicy shrimp.

Address: 355 10 Ave SW

Sake Caesar at Sukiyaki House

Sukiyaki House is one of Calgary’s most venerable Japanese restaurants and a true local institution. Another Japanese riff on the classic Caesar, its Sake Caesar starts with a blend of Canadian vodka and sake. From there, bartenders add bonito. kombu (a.k.a. kelp) and a prawn for a true taste of the sea.

Address: 207 9 Ave SW #130

Thomsons Caesar at Thomsons Kitchen and Bar

The restaurant in the downtown Hyatt hotel is known for its phenomenal breakfasts, which means it better have a pretty darn solid Caesar. The Caesar at Thomson’s isn’t nearly as outrageously garnish heavy as some of the other examples on this list, but when it comes to balance, the bar’s classic mix of vodka, hot sauce, Clamato, and Worcestershire is exactly what it should be.

Address: 112 8 Ave SE

Vegan Street

Clamato can make the Caesar a no-go for vegetarians and vegans but Vegan Street , one of Calgary’s best vegan restaurants, makes a plant-based Caesar so that those adhering to a no-seafood diet can get a taste of Calgary’s most famous cocktail. Virgin Caesars are also available or you could go whole hog by adding a plant-based grilled cheese sandwich as a garnish.

Address: 1413 9 Ave SE

If these spots aren’t in your plans, the vast majority of restaurants and bars in Calgary have a bottle of Clamato stashed behind the bar and will happily whip up a Caesar any time of day. Be sure to ask for it extra spicy and don’t forget to eat your garnish!