CALGARY
Calgary (sometimes, awfully, called “Cow-Town”), home of the maybe-world-famous Calgary Stampede and my hometown! Calgary is in an unique and beautiful spot between the rockies and the foothills. A city of over a million, it’s spread out and quartered into four quadrants: NW, NE, SW, SE. While Calgary gets approximately 9 months of winter and snow (beginning October and through to April), they get some of the highest sunlight hours in Canada. Blue skies and minus 30, baby. From a born and bred prairie girl, a prairie sunset cannot be beat. Calgary is an oil-and-gas town so downtown gets quite deserted after 5 pm, when the suits go home.
To Drink
Caffeinated
Higher Ground
A lovely cafe in the heart of Kensington (the higher-end shopping district of the city), with large mugs, a great chai latte, and live music.
Good Earth
A solid chain around the city, if you’re looking for one.
Phil & Sebastian Roasters
One of my favourites in the city; in a beautiful brick building downtown.
Monogram Coffee Roasters
One of my favourites in the city; there’s a few spots to choose from.
Boozy
Ship & Anchor Pub
A local favourite and beloved by all. It gets busy so get there early on their amazing patio to catch a table in the sunshine.
Milk Tiger
Bougie cocktails in a small out-of-the-way spot.
Mill Street Brewery
All the craft beer on tap you could dream of.
Ol’ Beautiful Brewing
Craft brewery.
Eighty-Eight Brewing Company
Craft brewery (are you sensing a theme?)
Last Best Brewing & Distillery
Craft brewery with snacks.
Cold Garden
Microbrewery in Inglewood.
Craft Brewery
An assortment of different craft beers.
to Eat
Brunch & Lunch
OEB
Brunch brunch brunch brunch.
Blue Star Diner
There will be a line if you’re late! (Because all the locals know.) Worth the wait but get there early.
The Beltliner
Brunch again. Their hash browns are especially good. Plus they bring your bill in a board book which stole my heart immediately.
Dinner
Una Pizza + Wine
The pizza spot in town. I’m also told their bacon-wrapped, almond-stuffed dates are amazing.
The Big Cheese Poutinerie
I really don’t think this needs an explaination.
Native Tongues Taqueria
Some of the best tacos in town!
Karma Fine Indian Cusine
Dreamy.
Dessert & Snacks
Village Ice Cream
Yuuuuuuum. The locals know.
Made By Marcus
Pls see above.
Peter’s Drive-In Milkshakes
A local institution, the burgers aren’t the best but the milkshakes, and the variety in which they come, are phenomenal.
To See & Do
The Calgary Tower
Iconic Calgary: the red-topped Calgary Tower. You can take an elevator to the top for observation or to the rotating restaurant.
Heritage Park
There is nothing more iconic to my Calgary childhood than a Heritage Park summer day. A historic village filled with a midway, steam train, and old houses from around Alberta this is a one-of-a-kind and truly wholesome day. Don’t miss the sweet shop, the bakery, and the flying swings. Fun fact: also my first job as a ticket gal.
Glenmore Reservoir
Heritage Park looks out onto the reservoir. It’s a great spot for a walk (hot tip: park at Glenmore landing, get a coffee from Good Earth, and go for a stroll). You can also rent a canoe or kayak from the Canoe Club on the reservoir (a oft-spent childhood afternoon for me).
Princes Island Park
A beautiful park in town! Go for a walk or a picnic. In the summer, Shakespeare on the Bow is performed here. These are free Shakespeare plays performed in the evenings—truly delightful.
Central Library
The newest addition to the library system in the city, and truly beautiful architecture both inside and out. Worth a peek around if you’re near.
Canada Olympic Square
If you’re here in the winter, go skating at Canada Olympic Square (where the ‘89 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies were performed). They put up twinkly lights to skate by.
Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar
A great cafe with regular local performances (keep your eyes peeled for my friend and local music-staple, Kate Stevens).
Peace Bridge
A controversial structure when it was built, and to this day. But a cool piece of architecture and worth a walk to see.
Glenbow Museum
A great museum in town with now-free admission! I grew up going there on school trips.
Scotsmans Hill
An iconic Calgary viewpoint (where all the high schoolers get grad-photos).
Sunset / Northern Lights
As I said above, I truly believe a prairie sunset has no rivals (although I may be biased). You can also see the northern lights from Calgary (!). One night, even if the lights aren’t visible, I recommend driving out of the city so you can get a sunset without the light pollution.
Local Music
Calgary has a great local music scene, so check out what’s playing around the bars! The Ship & Anchor is a good spot for this, or Gravity Cafe. Inglewood is a hub for music.
To Hike
Fish Creek Provincial Park
A beautiful park to bike or walk through.
Canmore
A closer alternative to Banff and one you don’t need a park pass to get into.
To Shop
Owls Nest Books
My favourite indie bookshop in town.
Malls Include:
Chinook Mall, Southcentre, Market Mall, The Core
Kensington
Our boutique neighbourhood in town.
communities of note
Kensington
The place to shop in town.
17th Avenue
The street for nightlife.
Inglewood
An artsy community filled with great bars, restaurants, and live music.
To Day trip
Drumheller
If you have time, drive south to Drumheller for the Royal Tyrell Museum (dinos!!). Check out Writing on Stone Provincial Park for the Hoodoos, too!
The Rockies
If you’re in Calgary, you need to get out into the Rockies. You need a Provincial Park Pass to get into the park—you can buy a day ticket or one for the summer if you’re going to be in and out. Rockies recommendations for you: