Blue Star Diner

Blue Star Diner's sandwiches, salads, hamburgers and steak dishes are made with ingredients that are locally sourced, and can be ordered for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A drink list that includes house cocktails, draft beer and wines complements their food offering, and they also host discount events like Taco Tuesday or Burger and Beer Wednesday.

• Web:

  www.bluestardiner.ca

• Address:

  809 1st Avenue Northeast, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 261 9998

• Opening hours:

  Sun & Mon 8am–3pm, Tue–Sat 8am–9pm

Gaga Pizzeria

Whether you stop and have a seat at Gaga Pizzeria or pick from one of their Grab & Go options, you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of topping combinations made with imported goods. Their menu also includes homemade soups, sandwiches and their baklava dessert, a Turkish pastry made with dried fruits.

• Web:

  www.pizzeriagaga.ca

• Address:

  1236 12th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 264 2421

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Fri 10am–8pm, Sat noon–8pm, Sun & Mon closed

Himalayan

The Himalayan is a fine choice for those who want to have a taste of Nepali cuisine. You can start your meal with steamed dumplings called momo, and then order a rice and lentil soup-based 'dal bhat', with your choice of either lamb or chicken meat or paneer cheese. Grilled seafood and vegetarian dishes are available as well, with some options being gluten free.

• Web:

  himalayancuisine.ca

• Address:

  3218 17th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 984 3384

• Opening hours:

  Wed, Thu & Sun 4:30pm–9pm; Fri & Sat 4:30pm–9:30pm; Mon & Tue closed

Jimmy's A&A Deli

Jimmy's A&A Deli has won many awards for their shawarma: chicken meat or beef cut into thin slices and then served in a salad or with pita (a slice of round, thin bread). Their menu is based on Mediterranean cuisine, featuring also falafel, fatayre, which is a Middle Eastern meat pie, and empanadas, turnover pastries filled with beef or vegetables.

• Web:

  jimmysdonair.ca

• Address:

  1401 20th Avenue Northwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 289 1400

• Opening hours:

  Sun–Thu 11:30am–8:30pm, Fri & Sat 11:30am–10pm

John's Breakfast & Lunch

John's Breakfast & Lunch is a fine choice if you feel up to trying out some of what Canada's cuisine has to offer, with the added bonus of being easily accessible thanks to the free parking nearby. They're open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, with food options like poutine made with fries, cheese and gravy, omelettes with ham and eggs Benedict coupled with bacon.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/johnsbreakfastyy

• Address:

  2614 4th Street Northwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 277 0255

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 8am–3:30pm

Minas Brazilian Steakhouse

Minas Brazilian Steakhouse offers rodízio, an all-you-can-eat service featuring skewered cuts of meat that follows the culture of Southeastern Brazil. Dishes are complemented by vegetables like beans, squash and okra, as well as fruits like pineapple and banana. They also offer take-out service if you want to have a taste of Brazilian cuisine in the comfort of your home.

• Web:

  www.minassteakhouse.com

• E-mail:

  info@minassteakhouse.com

• Address:

  136 2nd Street Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 454 2550

• Opening hours:

  Sun & Tue–Thu noon–9pm; Fri & Sat noon–9:30pm; Mon closed

Greta Bar

The neon-lit interiors of Greta contain more than 50 arcade games for you to enjoy, including pinball, air hockey and Donkey Kong, as well as a dance floor. The bar has an assortment of house specials for cocktails and beers, and also serves street food coming from all over the world, from Italian arancini to Jamaican patties. The events hosted here include a happy hour lasting from 3pm to 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday and half-off prices on games from 7pm until closure on Tuesday.

• Web:

  www.gretabar.com/locations/calgary

• E-mail:

  info@gretasbar.com

• Address:

  213 10th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 984 6405

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Sun 3pm–2am, Mon closed

Last Best Brewing & Distilling

The Last Best is a fine spot for those who are passionate about beer. Here you'll be able to taste their in-house There Will Be Porter, a black English Ale, and spirits such as the Afterglow Gin. There's also an ample selection of beer on tap, featured in their daily happy hour from 2 pm to 6 pm. Coupled that with their food options ranging from sandwiches and burgers, to their signature Last Best Bowl with Moroccan Chicken and toasted red quinoa.

• Web:

  lastbestbrewing.com

• Address:

  607 11th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 587 353 7387

• Opening hours:

  Sun–Wed 11:30am–midnight, Thu 11:30am–1am,Fri & Sat 11:30am–2am

Modern Love (formerly Broken City)

Modern Love, was once known as a "social club", aiming to support Calgary's entertainment culture and all of its forms. Today, it's a lively vegan dance bar with regular live music events. You can also enjoy a meal or a cocktail on their rooftop patio, open to guests from April to Thanksgiving.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/modernloveyyc

• Address:

  613 11th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• More info:

  From 2013 to 2023, the venue was known as Broken City

Palomino Smokehouse

The Palomino, or The Pal as the locals call it, is located in the heart of downtown Calgary. The BBQ restaurant equipped with a basement where both local emerging artist and professional musicians entertain the crowd. It is a 18 and up zone where you can enjoy different genres of music, including hip-hop, folk, metal, country and rock n’ roll.

• Web:

  thepalomino.ca

• E-mail:

  booking@thepalomino.ca

• Address:

  109 7th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 532 1911

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Thu 11am–1am, Fri 11am–2am, Sat 10.30am–2am, Sun 10.30am–Midnight

Proof

With multiple lines of bottles decorating its walls, Proof has an ever-changing menu that features drinks whose flavors and names are inspired by works of literature. You'll be able to couple these with snacks like steamed dumplings, vegan or pork steam buns and sugar pies.

• Web:

  proofyyc.com

• E-mail:

  info@proofyyc.com

• Address:

  1302 1st Street Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 246 2414

• Opening hours:

  Daily 2pm–1am

The Blues Can

Located in Inglewood, The Blues Can is a live Blues bar with a monthly calendar featuring events for every day of the week. Both local and well-known performers get on the stage and entertain their audience, who is also able to order dishes like popcorn prawns, sirloin steak and blackened catfish or chicken.

• Web:

  www.thebluescan.com

• E-mail:

  info@thebluescan.com

• Address:

  1429 9th Avenue Southeast, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 262 2666

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Thu 4pm–2am, Fri–Sun noon–2am

Alforno Bakery & Café

Located in the neighborhood of Eau Claire, Alforno offers a menu that includes quick bites like sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and tartines that can be coupled with either hot or cold beverages, as well as more filling meals like pizza and pasta coming in the form of risotto and tagliatelle. They also have a delivery service allowing you to enjoy their food wherever you prefer.

• Web:

  alforno.ca

• E-mail:

  info@alforno.ca

• Address:

  222 7th Street Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 454 0308

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 8am–9pm, Sun 8am–8pm

• More info:

  Second location on 1st Street Southwest

Analog Coffee 17th Ave

Taking the name from the street in which it is located, Analog Coffee 17 Ave couples their cups of latte, espresso and tea with pastries like ham and cheese puffs, blueberry muffins and lemon scones. Their cornered position allows you to enjoy the view of the bustling crossroad, and you can also buy some of their coffee beans to bring back home with you.

• Web:

  www.analogcoffee.ca

• Address:

  740 17th Avenue Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 910 5959

• Opening hours:

  Sun–Thu 7am–8pm, Fri & Sat 7am–9pm

Cafe Gravity (Inglewood)

Gravity's interiors feature dark blue walls contrasting with the bright wooden furniture and lighting, a nice setting in which you'll be able to enjoy their selection of pastries or cheesecake, as well as savory meals like panini, quiche, soups and salads. Their list of hot beverages includes coffee, tea, ciders and wines, and the experience is further improved by the presence of live music.

• Web:

  www.cafegravity.com

• E-mail:

  info@cafegravity.com

• Address:

  909 10th Street Southeast, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 457 0697

• Opening hours:

  Tue & Wed 7am–7pm, Thu & Fri 7am–9pm, Sat 8am–9pm, Sun 8am–6pm, Mon 7am–6pm

Caffe Beano

At Caffe Beano, you can enjoy your meal either sitting beside the counter, in their back room or on their outdoor benches. Their cowboy cookies and muffins are fan favorites, just like their award-winning chocolate espresso milkshake. Their savory options include the Breakfast Sandwich featuring mozzarella cheese, coppa cold cut and sunny side up that can be coupled with their homemade dark espresso.

• Web:

  www.instagram.com/caffebeano

• Address:

  1613 9th Street Southwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 229 1232

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 7am–8pm, Sun 7am–7pm

Cornerstone Music Cafe

You can head to the Cornerstone Music Cafe for either breakfast or lunch, where you'll be able to order gluten-free quinoa bowls, egg wraps and tacos, as well as beef kebab panini and grilled cheese croissants. Your meals can be accompanied by live music events by local artists, and they also offer the chance to join a music lesson for various instruments in their studio.

• Web:

  www.cornerstonemusic.ca

• Address:

  139 Deer Ridge Drive Southeast, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 278 3070

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Thu 9am–9pm, Fri & Sat 9am–3pm, Sun closed

Hexagon Board Game Cafe

More than 100 board games are available at Hexagon, ranging from classics like Jenga! and Clue to the most recent releases. Since the games can also be bought, you can try them out here before you make a purchase, all while sipping from a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and having a bite of their pastries and sandwiches.

• Web:

  thehexcafe.com

• E-mail:

  calgary@thehexcafe.com

• Address:

  200 Kensington Road Northwest, Calgary

• Phone:

  +1 403 209 2881

• Opening hours:

  Sun–Thu 10am–11pm, Fri & Sat 10am–1am