Calgary Guide

Sharing my favorite places to eat and things to do in my home city Calgary 🇨🇦. Calgary is a smaller city compared to others in Canada, but is constantly growing and so close to the beautiful Rocky Mountains! Here are my favourite spots and recommendations!

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Places to Stay Downtown

Le Germain Hotel Calgary

@traveleatwander

Features wifi, room service, 24h gym, spa, Nespresso coffee machine, well stocked mini bar and is pet friendly ($). Fantastic rooms and excellent service. This hotel is situated in downtown by many restaurants and bars within walking distance. The LRT is also within walking distance. I especially love the romance package to this hotel for the prestige room. The bathtub and amenities are luxurious for a nice soak. You can ask them to add rose petals around the bathtub for that instagram worthy picture!

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Fairmont Palliser

@traveleatwander

Luxury hotel that features a spa, gym, room service, and an excellent restaurant that also has afternoon tea and weekend brunch. This hotel always makes me feel so luxurious and the rooms are excellent. They offer many packages. Situated at the heart of downtown Calgary they are many restaurants, bars and attractions near by.

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The Dorian, Autograph Collection

@traveleatwander

A newer hotel that features excellent rooms, room service, a gym and the Wilde Restaurant and Prologue Cafe. I love how the cafe downstairs has live music sometimes while you enjoy a some food or drinks, and the Wilde Restaurant is on the 27th floor for a view. The restaurant has brunch every Sunday and is changed depending on the holiday/season.

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Things To Do

Calgary Tower

@traveleatwander

Observation Deck with a 360° view of the bustling city. It has a revolving restaurant at the top however, you'll find better food at Ruth's Chris restaurant at the base of the tower.

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LaunchPad Golf

@traveleatwander

Great place for top golf for all levels of golf players. Also a great social spot with food & drinks.

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Calgary Zoo

@traveleatwander

Home to more than 4,000 animals from around the world, there's plenty to see and do. Check out their websites for events during your visit!

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The Rec Room

@traveleatwander

Features games, topgolf, V/R games, pool, and more. Great for events/nights out with food and drinks!

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Prince's Island Park

@traveleatwander

Must visit park that in downtown Calgary. Host to many festivals and events, picnic areas, playground, pathway and hiking trails, and flower gardens. You can also visit River Cafe within the park.

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Peace Bridge

@traveleatwander

Beautiful bridge landmark located within Prince's Island Park. Connects Downtown Calgary with the community of Kennsington where you can find many restaurants and shops.

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Stampede grounds

@traveleatwander

An annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held at the beginning of July. It has something for everyone of all ages.

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Day/Road Trips from Calgary

Cochrane

@traveleatwander

Cute town just outside north of Calgary. Will be posting a guide for here soon!

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Banff

@traveleatwander

Beautiful place that's part of the Canadian Rockies. Will be posting a guide on Banff soon!

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Lake Louise

@traveleatwander

Beautiful place that's part of the Canadian Rockies. Will be posting a guide on Lake Louise soon!

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Kananaskis

@traveleatwander

Just outside of Calgary and Cochrane with trails & a nordic spa. Will be posting a guide on Kananaskis soon!

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Canmore

@traveleatwander

Town in the Canadian Rockies that is fast-growing. Will be posting a guide on Cochrane soon!

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Places to eat

Casual Resaurants

Ramen Ichinen

@traveleatwander

Authentic Japanese ramen! The dipping ramen is my favorite and the broth's are always rich in flavour.

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Native Tongues Taqueria

@traveleatwander

Contemporary Mexican Restaurant with two locations

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Pho Dau Bo Restaurant

@traveleatwander

My go-to restaurant for Vietnamese food. Their spicy sate pho is the best, and I love the bone marrow appy.

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Mot To Vietnamese Restaurant

@traveleatwander

Sister restaurant to Pho Dau Bo but has more modern Vietnamese dishes including a Pho Grilled Cheese!

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Añejo Restaurant

@traveleatwander

Go-to spot for tequila, mezcal and tacos. Has an excellent happy hour menu!

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Class Clown Hamburgers

@traveleatwander

Very popular Burger Joint and definitely a must try! Every burger is made to perfection and the cheese fries are awesome.

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Brunch

Queens Breakfast Cocktails

@traveleatwander

The name says it all! The Croque Madame and the Brioche French Toast is superb

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Maven

@traveleatwander

A brunch restaurant that redefines brunch with dishes like Singaporean congee and their famous Kaya French Toast.

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OEB Breakfast Co.

@traveleatwander

A popular breakfast/brunch chain restaurant serving elevated brunch with their breakfast bowls, special dishes and more.

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ZCREW Cafe

@traveleatwander

Brunch with an Asian twist. Features dishes like Korean Fried Chicken and Waffles, and Matcha Pancakes. Coffee and lattes are also amazing.

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Namo Cafe Bistro

@traveleatwander

Amazing brunch bowls, bennies and sweet tooth dishes. They also serve brunch cocktails!

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Pretty Restaurants

Orchard Restaurant

@traveleatwander

Very aesthetic Mediterranean restaurant with all the lights and chandeliers, vines and tall shelves.

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Major Tom Bar

@traveleatwander

The best restaurant for a view of the city while on the 40th floor. Vibes are immaculate and food and drinks are amazing.

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Luca Restaurant

@traveleatwander

Chic modern high end Italian restaurant. Very aesthetically pleasing with great decor.

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Teatro Ristorante

@traveleatwander

Another fine dining Italian restaurant with amazing decor. Food and wine list is awesome as well.

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Sushi

Ryuko - Japanese Kitchen + Bar

@traveleatwander

High end sushi restaurant in the south. Offers omakase but a yummy a la carte menu as well.

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Ari Sushi

@traveleatwander

My favorite sushi restaurant! The raw fish is sooo fresh and the prices are fair!

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Big Catch Sushi Bar

@traveleatwander

The sushi here is so aesthetically pleasing and every dish is plated so pretty.

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Honjin Izakaya

@traveleatwander

My favorite for an izakaya sushi spot. Oishi sushi is amazing as well as the appies.

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Satsuki

@traveleatwander

One of Calgary’s newest upscale sushi restaurant that offers omakase and a la carte.

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Date Night/Lunch Dates

Ten Foot Henry

@traveleatwander

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UNA pizza + wine 17th Ave SW

@traveleatwander

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Vero Bistro Moderne

@traveleatwander

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Embarcadero Wine & Oyster Bar

@traveleatwander

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Pat and Betty

@traveleatwander

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Shokunin

@traveleatwander

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Lonely Mouth Bar

@traveleatwander

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Carino "Japanese Italian Kitchen"

@traveleatwander

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Bridgette Bar

@traveleatwander

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Mercato Mission - Restaurant

@traveleatwander

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Pigeonhole

@traveleatwander

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Casual Night Out

Green Bottle Kitchen & Soju

@traveleatwander

Small spot serving Korean food and drinks! Perfect for a casual night with some friends for drinks and some Korean food.

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lulu Bar

@traveleatwander

Serving small plates and cocktails. Food and drinks are so good, with an award winning asian fusion menu

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Paper Lantern

@traveleatwander

Located downstairs of Chinatown, this spot is dark, fun and intimate bar with strong drinks and small Vietnamese sharing plates.

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Lounge Eighteen

@traveleatwander

Great spot with drinks, shisha and some food. Gets super busy on the weekends. The music is awesome.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cat

Welcome! I'm a finance student who spends their free time travelling. I love gaining new experiences and trying out new food! If you love sushi, Asian food, and Italian food like I do, you'll enjoy my recommendations- not limited to these of course. My home, Calgary 🇨🇦, is super close to the Rocky Mountains (Kananaskis, Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise), where I've made many road trips to, and my second home is Vancouver which I visit frequently. Other places I've travelled to in the past year include Los Angeles, New York, Tulum, Las Vegas, Playa del Carmen, Valladolid, Tokyo and Toronto. Planning trips is therapeutic to me and is something I enjoy. I spend hours finding places to eat and things to do, and I'd love to share my guides & itineraries with you too!

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Calgary, AB, Canada