Unique dining experiences in Calgary

Over the last decade or so, Calgary has really become a city that’s embraced its independent restaurants. There are a handful of places that really scream “Calgary” and naturally fall onto the “must taste” list for many visitors. When first visitors to Calgary ask me for restaurant recommendations, I weigh not only the deliciousness of my favourite spots, but also how unique they are, the level of innovation the chefs put into the dishes, and how representative they are of Calgary’s larger culinary culture. This list could easily be twice as long, but these 14 restaurants are all places to try if you’re looking to get a taste of quintessentially Calgarian cuisine.

Deane House

If Calgary has a geographical heart, it is probably at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers — which is exactly where Deane House sits. The house itself is a historic gem, built in 1908 as the private residence of NWMP Superintendent Captain Richard Deane. The fully restored building has a relaxed modern feel, with a back patio that looks out on that crossing point of the two rivers. The food matches the location with high-level Canadian cuisine celebrating the historic local with a modern fine-dining twist.

Address: 806 9 Ave SE

CHARCUT Roast House

When it comes to the growth of Calgary’s independent restaurant industry, the folks behind Charcut have been some of the city’s greatest ambassadors. Owned and operated by co-chefs John Jackson and Connie DeSousa, Charcut showed Calgarians that high quality restaurants don’t have to be stuffy or formal. Best known for its house-made charcuterie (hence the restaurant’s name) and the pig’s head mortadella in particular, the menu is actually fairly diverse, with pastas, salads and delicate fish dishes balancing out the cured meats and infamous duck fat poutine. And, if you’re around either location at lunchtime, the “Lunch All At Once” is highly recommended for a quick hit.

Address: 899 Centre St S or 4150 University Ave NW

Jinbar

Run by Jinhee Lee, one of Calgary’s most beloved chefs, Jinbar serves fun casual food with an experienced chef’s touch, which seems emblematic of Calgary’s spirit. The marquee items here are impossibly crispy Korean fried chicken (which can be ordered at a “dragon breath” level of spiciness, should you choose) and whimsically-topped Korean-inspired pizzas. Lee has a lot of fun with her menu, bringing together playful Korean recipes with Canadian ingredients.

Address: 24 4 St NE

Rouge

Another fine dining spot in a historic home in Inglewood, Rouge is the gold standard when it comes to fine dining in Calgary. This is the place to go for a special occasion, or just an opportunity to really treat yourself in an elegant setting with highly professional service. The menu is French-inspired, with a strong element of Canadiana, and fresh and local ingredients leading the way. The setting is Rouge’s other selling point. Located right on the river near the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo , the restaurant also boasts a large yard with a private garden.

Address: 1240 8 Ave SE

River Café

There are plenty of restaurants that build their menus with local ingredients, but nobody goes quite as far as Calgary’s iconic River Café . The only restaurant on Calgary’s picturesque Prince’s Island Park , a beautiful island park right downtown in the middle of the Bow River, River Café is dedicated to regional food, with the exception of a few things like coffee and chocolate, everything is sourced in Canada, that is always fresh, exquisitely plated and, above all, unbelievably delicious. With a patio overlooking the river and picnic baskets available in the summer, there’s good reason why this special fine dining restaurant has been a leader in Calgary for more than 20 years.

Address: 25 Prince's Island

Caesar’s Steakhouse

If you’re looking for a bit of old school style and a taste of Calgary’s history, this classic steak house is just the ticket. Established in 1972, the Caesar’s Steakhouse downtown location is a beautiful time capsule, capturing the days when Calgary’s business was conducted around plates of cut-to-order steaks served with loaded baked potatoes and a couple rounds of martinis. Caesar’s even still offers “traditional service,” with Caesar salads mixed tableside. Contrary to popular belief, Caesar’s is not the birthplace of the Caesar cocktail, but they do make a good one!

Address: 512 4 Ave SW or 10816 Macleod Trail #110

Masa Mama

Like many places, Calgary developed a number of food pop-ups during the pandemic years and one of the most celebrated was an operation called Con Mi Taco. The chef-driven taco shop evolved into a bricks and mortar restaurant called Masa Mama that continues Con Mi’s dedication to excellent tortillas (both house-made masa corn tortillas and duck fat flour tortillas are available) filled with fusion-inspired combinations. Yes, you can get Mexican-style fillings, but don’t miss the spicy Korean fish tacos or smash burger Mac Mama.

Address: 3429 22 St SW

Maven

A brunch-dedicated restaurant with a unique perspective, Maven serves up the requisite eggs bennies, French toasts, pancakes and other Western breakfast specialties with a side of personal storytelling. The menu changes to match the current chef’s own personal background and breadth of experience, be it through dishes with Filipino, Singaporean, or European influences.

Address: 1006 17 Ave SW

Modern Steak

Calgary is famous for its steakhouses and there are so many good ones but Modern Steak is on this list because of its dedication to serving local ranch specific beef. The restaurant serves cuts from a number of different Alberta ranches, but the biggest draw is its Modern Benchmark Black Angus, sourced from the offspring of a bull that is owned by the restaurant itself. Fitted with modern décor (hence the name) but fully immersed in Alberta cattle culture, Modern Steak represents both Calgary’s history and our future.

Address: 100 8 Ave SE or 10606 Southport Rd SW

National

The chain of National is a huge Calgary success story. Locally owned, the four different locations all have their own flavour, catering specifically to their specific neighbourhood. What the all have in common is a relaxed atmosphere, communal tables, good food and a great selection of beer. Calgary has really become a beer town in recent years and in addition to some international favourites, National does a good job of representing many of Calgary’s best breweries.

Address: 341 10 Ave SW , 550 17 Ave SW , 180 Stewart Green SW , 225 8 Ave SW #360

OEB Breakfast Co.

We Calgarians love our brunch places and there are countless places in the city to get a good brunch. OEB Breakfast Co. (the name stands for “over easy breakfast”) is a favourite with both locals and visitors. With four locations in the city , this Calgary-based chain is all about ultra-rich chef-driven breakfast concoctions made with the very best farm fresh eggs and other local ingredients.

Address: 825 1 Ave NE , 4132 University Ave NW , 2207 4 St SW , or 222 5 Ave SW #110

Pigeonhole

A vibrant contemporary restaurant, Pigeonhole is the pinnacle of modern Calgary cuisine. Billed as a “wine and snack bar,” the menu changes regularly based on seasonality and the whims of the kitchen, but you can always count on creative flavour combinations, opulently dressed vegetables, and some kind of tartar. For something a bit heartier, their sister restaurant, Model Milk , is located right next door, making this block of 17th Avenue SW a favourite for Calgary food enthusiasts. Pigeonhole also now has a second downtown location, next to the Pineapple Hall food hall in Stephen Avenue Place.

Address: 306 17 Ave SW or 225 7 Ave SW #205

Sidewalk Citizen Bakery

No trip to Calgary is complete without a stop at the Simmons Building , a hub in the East Village that is home to Phil & Sebastian , Charbar , and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery . Founded by Aviv Fried, an artisanal sourdough baker who started his business by delivering loaves of bread via bicycle. Sidewalk Citizen still sells those glorious loaves, but you can now also pop into the Simmons location for a full lunch. If you only get one thing, make it a sticky bun, those things are truly divine.

Address: 618 Confluence Way SE

Sky 360

There is absolutely no better way to see Calgary than from on top the Calgary Tower . Even longtime residents tend to see new things from that bird’s eye view and the rotating Sky 360 restaurant gives you a chance to see it all from a plushy seat as you rotate around the circumference of the tower. While the view is obviously the main attraction, the food is also pretty great. Look for regional favourites made with bison, Canadian beef, local cheese and other Calgary-specific ingredients.

Address: 101 9 Ave SW

Teatro Ristorante

One of Calgary’s grand fine dining restaurants, Teatro’s location in an old bank building just off of Olympic Plaza is only part of what makes it so remarkable. The refined Italian-inspired fare is always delicious and comes with special touches like olive oil from the owner’s family grove in Italy. Teatro is a particular treat for wine lovers. The old bank vault serves as the wine cellar, full of wines amassed over the 25 years that the restaurant has been in business.

Address:  200 8 Ave SE

Village Ice Cream

As long as the sun is shining, it’s ice cream season in Calgary. Village Ice Cream is one of the city’s best local scoop shops. It’s community focused and the ice cream itself is hand crafted and incredibly creamy. There’s often a line-up on warm days, but that just gives you a chance to chat with other ice cream lovers and take time to decide what flavour you want in your cone.

Address: 431 10 Ave SE , 69 7a St NE , 4019 University Ave NW , 2406 34 Ave SW , or 820 49 Ave SW

These are just a few of the must-try spots in Calgary, but there are plenty of others that speak to the quality of food in the city. No matter what you end up trying, you’re bound to find some great meals in town, especially since the bar is continuously being raised.

About the author:

Elizabeth Chorney-Booth is a local food writer, cookbook author, radio columnist and a lifelong Calgarian.