A whirlwind food trip to Calgary left me feeling very inspired – and incredibly full! I had no idea the food in this city was SO GOOD. Here are the 6 best places to eat in Calgary, along with the best coffee!
If you’re looking for world-class dining, look no further than Calgary. It’s been so long since I spent more than a few hours exploring the city and was amazed at the quality of the restaurants. While I was technically visiting for meetings, I easily scheduled them for meals. I have only one piece of advice for you: wear your stretchy pants.
Here are my top 6 restaurant picks in Calgary to share with you!
Just Wow that’s all i have to say. The atmosphere was cozy and felt a bit bohemian with hanging plants and cozy wool booths with lots of wood. The tables are small, but you won’t mind once you take the first bite of whatever you order. Seriously, you could choose your dish blindfolded from the menu and be guaranteed happy. I over-ordered (my usual) and Victoria and I split the tomatoes with whipped feta and chopped herbs on sourdough bread, the cauliflower with gochujang, sesame, onion and ginger, the Gigli pasta (kale pesto, pistachio and Grana Padano – crazy fresh) and the spring salmon with horseradish, almond and grapes. I smiled as I walked out of there.
They had me in the name, but as soon as I walked in the door it hit me. High ceilings with a lively atmosphere made me wish I could go there for dinner (but alas, I only had time for lunch).
Don’t miss the fried artichokes – so creative and super tasty drizzled with a delicate honey to make the whole dish scream joy with every bite. The pizza was to die for – that crust…. we tried the ‘Nduja & Eggplant pizza and were not disappointed. Any beet salad is a winner in my books, and their beet salad with hazelnuts, tinned figs and ricotta whipped cream was a 10/10. And since I can’t leave an Italian restaurant without eating pasta (that must be a sin, yes?), we ordered the Spaghetti Limone – thick, perfectly cooked homemade noodles with an incredibly bright lemon sauce that tasted like sunshine on pasta. Oh wait, I almost forgot we also ordered the Crispy Calamari and how could I do that – it was delicious!
Now, I’ve never been a good liar, so I have to tell you that I haven’t visited the next two restaurants yet. BUT I have friends who know their stuff when it comes to food, and the word on the street is that you don’t want to miss this one: I can’t wait to go back to continue my tour! If you want a steak, this is your place. Victoria from our team recommends getting the Crispy Half Chicken (and a martini). It’s all about the vibes at Major Tom – a modern, elevated steakhouse with a retro feel and it’s 40u floor which is cool so you can see the mountains or you are right next to the calgary tower depending on where you sit. The drinks are amazing and don’t skip the dessert: order the Baked Alaska.
The same company that owns Major Tom also owns Barbarella along with Bridgette Bar and Lulu – obviously, they’re all incredible so consider adding them to your list.
I ran out of time to go here and as I write this on the plane home (mainly because I’m getting old and losing my memory – tomorrow it could all be gone lol) I deeply wish I had more time, or stomach capacity, to eat here It’s at the top of my list for next time!
My goodness – possibly the best tacos I have ever had in my entire life! It took all my self-control not to order a margarita, but since I didn’t have room in my schedule for a siesta (it was lunch, after all), I went for the Agua Fresca (try the hibiscus). Start your meal with the Salsa Sampler – watch it, some of it is Spicy but it’s all so flavorful – the home made chips were top notch and such a generous portion. I wanted everything off the menu (Mexican food is my favorite) but I controlled myself and only ordered the Bira taco and the Fish Taco (the fried one). If I die tomorrow, please send me on my way with a huge order of both. The fact that I’m writing this from thousands of feet in the air flying at the speed of sound in a metal tube just crossed my mind. And I can’t even get tacos up here.
Don’t let the size of this tiny Italian joint fool you – it’s nothing short of amazing. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the Whipped Ricotta is a must-order. The crowded, small space, the amazing fresh food and the noisy chatter make you feel like you are right in Italy.
Not a restaurant, but worth mentioning.
It was so cold when I visited that I was begging for any excuse to stop, and since the pet store and nail salon would be inconvenient, luck was in my favor and I went to visit Lina. This little Italian deli/shop is adorable and filled with Italian pastries, beautiful kitchen things (I bought a mini set of adorable pastel latte bowls) and all the specialty Italian ingredients you could imagine!
The best coffee spots in Calgary
We ventured in Monogram Coffee 98% frozen, which made a latte particularly appealing – we ordered the Cardamom Vanilla Latte which was a lovely twist. I think they change their coffees and have a nice little menu which I always respect. Great coffee. While meeting our team in Calgary for lunch, we had a long discussion about the best coffee in town. The girls each had their own favorites which they included Alforno, Devil, Phil + Sebastianwhich shares a location with a furnace, and Citizen sidewalk which is right on the river and is amazing to visit when the weather is nice.
What do you think!? Did I miss your favorite?! Let me know below. xo
