Best Bars & Pubs in Calgary
Where to go in a Calgary for the best bar food, drinks, and atmosphere
Calgary’s pub scene puts a huge emphasis on local beer and live music. Every neighbourhood has its own spot to catch up with friends, meet new ones, or just watch a Calgary Flames game at the bar. To make it easy to find a spot to sip on your next beer, here are the best bars and pubs in Calgary by area.
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Bars & Pubs in Downtown Calgary
As you would expect, Calgary’s downtown is the heartbeat of the city’s pub scene. You can feel the energy on 17th Avenue and Stephen Avenue before fans head to the Scotiabank Saddledome to cheer on the Calgary Flames, Hitmen, or Roughnecks. Even on non-game nights, residents and visitors alike flock to trendy bars in the city’s Beltline neighbourhood.
CRAFT Beer Market – 10th Avenue
Central Restaurants - Beltline
Hudsons Canada's Pub – 12th Avenue
James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant
Jameson’s Pub - 17th Avenue
Last Best Brewing and Distilling
LOCAL – 2 locations
National – 3 locations downtown
National on 17th - Sofia Gauvin
Enjoy food and drink at Trolley 5 on the Red Mile before heading to a Flames game. (Colin Way)
Bars & Pubs in NW Calgary
Many of the pubs in northwest Calgary are centered around two areas, McMahon Stadium and Kensington. As the historic home of the Calgary Stampeders, McMahon Stadium is surrounded by enough sports bars for any fanatic. Having the University of Calgary nearby also keeps local bars full of students letting off steam. Aside from being a shopping and dining hot-spot, Kensington also boasts some iconic neighbourhood pubs including its namesake, Kensington Pub, located in a 1911 residence.
Bars & Pubs in SW Calgary
Marda Loop is at the center of southwest Calgary’s shopping and dining scene. It's home to local institutions like The Trop Bar & Grill and The Garrison Pub, inspired by the nearby Currie Barracks and Military Museum.
Bull & Finch - 2 locations
National - Westhills
Bars & Pubs in NE Calgary
For those that have just arrived, or are flying out of the Calgary International Airport, there are plenty of fantastic bars nearby. Tonic Kitchen & Bar offers up 30 different gins and The Rec Room pairs Canadian-inspired cuisine with endless gaming fun.
Bars & Pubs in SE Calgary
Calgary’s southeast is well-known for its many craft breweries, but it has an impressive list of pubs as well. In addition to its four craft breweries, Inglewood is home to some character-filled bars such as The House & Hound, which is in a 1906 firehall.
CRAFT Beer Market - Southcentre
Hudsons Canada's Pub - Shawnessy
Limericks Traditional Public House
The Station Pub + Grill - River Bend
