Kensington Neighbourhood Guide

Spend a Day in Kensington, Calgary’s Village in the City
Spend a Day in Kensington, Calgary’s Village in the City
A Local’s Perspective

Kensington Neighbourhood Guide

Spend a Day in Kensington, Calgary’s Village in the City

Kensington has been my home away from home since I first moved here from the East Coast in 1981.

Kensington is a small business district, about four blocks by four blocks shaped like two sides of a square, so it’s easy to walk around and see it all.
Don’t be fooled by the neighbourhood’s size though. This areas punches above its weight with about 255 shops and services. There are some cool historic buildings combined with modern architecture, but all in all, the feeling is of a small village. It has a cool and often whimsical take in the variety of shops and public art.

The Kensington district is more than 100 years old and continues to be a great inner city shopping district for tourists and is a popular destination for locals for dates and hanging out.

Here are my tips for exploring the neighbourhood.

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Kensington Calgary

Kensington is a walkable neighbourhood that can be accessed on foot.

How to get to Kensington

There is a C-Train stop right in Kensington called Sunnyside (named after one of the two adjacent communities). This station is one stop out of the west end of downtown. If you are staying at the west end of downtown, Kensington is an easy walk across the Louise Bridge. If you are staying in the east end of downtown near Chinatown, Kensington is an easy bike ride or about a 20 minute walk from the east end and Chinatown along the river. If you want to stay nearby, Hotel Arts Kensington is a lovely boutique hotel. In their seventeen beautiful rooms, you’ll enjoy fireplaces and balconies as well as Oxbow - an excellent restaurant with a great patio for before and after dinner drinks and a great view of the river and downtown.
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Where to get breakfast

If you are early riser like me, then hoof it to Kensington for great breakfast choices. Red’s Diner is where I go for a casual breakfast. If I want a more leisurely or a romantic breakfast with my husband, then I head to Hotel Arts Kensington. They also do a Sunday brunch and will pack you a picnic lunch if you want to go for a bike ride along the river.
 
Looking for more great dining spots in Kensington? Take a self-guided food tour with the Alberta Food Finder game and solve clues as you savour the food scene, get free samples, discounts, and promos, while you discover hidden gems and the history of Kensington.
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The patio at Hotel Arts Kensington.

The patio at Hotel Arts Kensington.

Shopping in Kensington 

Shopping in Kensington (Photo credit: @iambeccagould on Instagram).

Let’s Shop for clothes!

Now that you’re fortified, it’s time to shop.

For beautiful women’s clothing, I go to Kismet and Splash of Fashion. My daughter favours Purr, which also has fantastic choices for women. All three have wonderful clothing and attentive staff to help me choose something awesome.

My favourite recent choice from Kismet is a black moto jacket embellished with floral embroidery. At Splash, I had a painless experience being fitted with a pair of skinny jeans that make me feel my best self (and possibly a slightly younger looking self in the right light!).

On a day of shopping, I’ll also take a look in Kensington’s wonderful consignment shops – Peacock Boutique, Trend Fashion, and Kensington Konsignment. All three shops have lots of great deals for mostly designer labels.
There are also excellent men’s clothing stores in the area like Sole to Soul Fashion Mix, if your feet need a little loving.
If you are shopping for kids, be sure to go to Purr Petite for impossible to resist, wonderful children’s shopping.
If you’re looking for household items or gifts to bring home, Kensington still has you covered. For all things tea (including beautiful tea pots and cups, locally made tea flavoured chocolate bars, artisan teas, and stroopwaffles) go to the Naked Leaf Tea Shop. Metro Element is your stop for lovely home décor and furniture. Stroll on down to Beehive, a Kensington institution - a tiny bright yellow house you can’t miss for deliriously wonderful smelling body products and candles made from honey and beeswax.
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Coffee in Kensington Calgary

Take a coffee or tea break in Kensington.

Where to take a coffee or tea break

Kensington has so many to choose from when you need to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

For independent coffee shops, check out The Roasterie or Higher Ground. For artisan tea, go to the Naked Leaf Tea Shop. If you have a favorite coffee shop there is Deville Coffee and Tim Hortons all in the main area you’ll be exploring.

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Kensington has a great collection of lunch spots.

Kensington has a great collection of lunch spots.

Lunch spots in Kensington

If you want to relax and have a well-deserved drink with lunch, then consider Vero Bistro. Some other excellent choices are Hayden Block if you’re up for barbeque and a gazillion types of whisky. Or, if you are in the mood for Italian, check out either Cotto or Niko’s Bistro. If you want to walk and eat or sit and people watch, check out Pie Junkie for sweet and savoury individual pies. Be sure and grab a salted caramel brownie (my favourite). 
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Container Bar in Kensington

Container Bar in Kensington (Photo credit: @notfinediningatall on Instagram).

Container Bar in Kensington

Cheers at Container Bar (Photo credit: @sassydharrison on Instagram).

Unwind, relax, and treat yourself

If you need an energizing group activity, check out Trapped – an escape room in the heart of Kensington. If you love to relax in bookstores, Pages of Kensington is an old school small independent shop with a wonderful selection. If you’re looking for art supplies to relax and create masterpieces at home, then Sunnyside Art Supplies is a must.
 
When it’s time to relax with a well-deserved drink, head over to Winebar Kensington. If the weather is nice, Container Bar (a cute patio beside Winebar between two buildings) may be open and is a great place to enjoy the sunshine. If you’re thinking more along the lines of beer, then Kensington Pub is a classic with a great selection. Finish it all off with a delicious Chunk'd cookie, with wild flavours like The Nutjob, Bunny Dream, and the Canela, a cinnamon roll cookie with layers of creamy iced topping. Lineup early, these popular cookies sell out fast.
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Calgary Origami Horse

The Origami Horse at the corner of 10th Street NW and Memorial Drive.

Insider tip for exploring hidden Kensington

If your phone battery is running low, go meet Dale the origami horse on the corner of 10th Street NW and Memorial Drive. Dale has a variety of cords to plug in your phone and you peddle to charge up your phone. Once your phone is charged, check out the charming fairy lane mural between two buildings on the east side of 1118 Kensington Road. If you’re up for a little more walking, head over to the east side of 10th Street NW to see a cool graffiti mural and then continue into the alley for lots more spectacular murals.

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The Hexagon Board Game Café

The Hexagon Board Game Café is a great place to spend the night with friends.

The Hexagon Board Game Café

Play your favourite board game at Hexagon Board Game Café in Kensington.

What to do at night in Kensington

Choose from one of the great restaurants mentioned above for supper and hop across the street to Hexagon Board Game Café and spend the evening playing your favourite board game.

If you want to indulge in an Alberta steak (we’re famous for our beef), then Modern Steak is your go to. If you are thinking something lighter, Tenshi Sushi is small and intimate. Ikeman Ramen Bar is also brilliant.

Kensington has so much to offer that, after spending a day wandering through the ‘hood, you’ll be ready for a good night’s sleep dreaming of all the unique experiences you had during the day. Enjoy exploring!

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By
Annie MacInnis
July 16th, 2021

Annie loves family, friends, dogs, reading, writing, desserts, walking and Kensington.

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