When people think of Calgary,
many conjure up an image of cowboy boots and thoughts of western hospitality.
While this spirit remains alive and well, Calgary has also grown into a dynamic,
metropolitan city, with a booming oil and gas industry leading the way. The
restaurant and food business has taken off, giving rise to new and
exciting eateries, many concentrated in some of the city's main districts:
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Rose
and Crown Pub 1 |
These districts all have
a unique atmosphere and offer a variety of restaurants, shops and services.
From cowboy cuisine, with an emphasis on Alberta
beef, to international delights, Calgary’s restaurant scene has expanded to
include a diverse mix of cultures and cuisines such as Chinese,
French, Greek,
Italian, Japanese,
just to name a few. This diversity is also a reflection of the multi-cultural
make-up of Calgary’s growing population.
As in any large city, restaurants
come and go in Calgary. Word of mouth and
reviews help boost a restaurant's reputation and some spots have
endured the changing trends, keeping a regular and loyal clientele base. All
Calgary restaurants have gone smoke-free as of January 2007, including patio
dining. In general, most inexpensive and moderately priced restaurants in the
city have a casual dress code with a few upscale and expensive venues requiring
formal wear. Leaving a 10 to 15 per cent tip is customary, usually double the
Goods and Service Tax (GST) shown separately at the bottom of the receipt. Tips
may be included in bills for larger groups, so be sure to ask the server for
details.
DOWNTOWN
Calgary's downtown dining
scene is concentrated in three areas: the historic
Stephen Avenue, riverside Eau
Claire Market and exotic Chinatown.
Stephen Avenue
A blend of modern architecture and historic sandstone buildings line Stephen
Avenue, located along Eighth Avenue SW and spanning from First Street SE to
Fourth Street SW. On warm, sunny days, the pedestrian-friendly boulevard is
a bustle of energy, as business people and locals make their way along the strip,
lined with restaurants, pubs,
specialty shops and art galleries. Many of the restaurants and pubs along Stephen
Avenue attract a lunch and after-work crowd, especially during the summer, when
patio seating is a popular dining option. Tables and chairs are set up all along
the street, allowing patrons to partake in interesting people-watching while
enjoying a meal or sipping a drink. Pubs are busy during the weekend nights
and can fill up quickly.
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| The
Catch on Stephen Avenue 2 |
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Several large hotels
including the Hyatt
Regency Hotel and Marriott
are found nearby, supplying a large portion of out-of-towners to Stephen
Avenue, most notably during the high tourist season starting in June and escalating
in July during the Calgary
Stampede. The Telus
Convention Centre is also centrally located and during major conventions,
Stephen Avenue and its restaurants pack up fast. A Calgary landmark, the Calgary
Tower is a short walk away from Eighth Avenue, situated on Ninth Avenue
and Centre Street. Enjoy a unique dining experience at the revolving Panorama
Dining Room in the tower, while taking-in a broad view of the city from
high above.
Parking is limited directly
on Stephen Avenue, with vehicle access only allowed after 6pm. Other parking
options include nearby parkades or street metres along Centre Street and First
Street SW. As with many large cities, visitors should be aware that many pan-handlers
frequent the area.
Eau Claire Market
Located along the scenic Prince's
Island Park, with its tree-lined walkways following the Bow
River, Eau Claire Market contains unique shops, a food court, a movie
theatre and several restaurants. A central hub for the neighbourhood of the
same name, Eau Claire also features an outdoor plaza. Whether its for pasta,
sushi or wings, Eau Claire has eight fully-licensed casual eateries and two
coffee houses, making it a perfect stop to grab a bite before or after a show.
Nearby, Prince’s Island Park’s River
Cafe offers some of the finest dining in Calgary, with an emphasis on
organic products and seasonal Canadian
cuisine. A parkade and metered parking are found all around the market, providing
easy access.
Chinatown
South of the Centre
Street Bridge brings visitors to Calgary's Chinatown, situated between
Riverside and Third Avenues in the northeast sector of Calgary’s downtown. Many
inexpensive Chinese restaurants are found in this area as well as other Asian
cuisine options such as Vietnamese
and Thai.
Dim sum, a type of Chinese brunch buffet featuring various filled dumplings,
is a popular attraction in Chinatown, with several restaurants hosting full
tables. Weekends are particularly busy here, with an influx of people visiting
the merchants, fresh food markets and shops, filled with delectable Chinese
food products and prepared meals such as glistening, whole roasted ducks. Events
such as Chinese New Year celebrations also see this area filled with crowds
and excitement. Asian influenced shops and restaurants also extend several blocks
outside of downtown along Centre Street North.
KENSINGTON
With over 100 shops, restaurants
and services, Kensington
is a self-described urban village, offering cosy coffee houses, exclusive boutiques
and delectable dining. Located at the junction of 10th Street and Kensington
Road NW, Kensington is easy to get to and easy to navigate. The Calgary LRT
Sunnyside station stop is minutes away by foot and several Calgary
Transit bus routes access the district including numbers 1 (Bowness),
9 (Varsity), 4 (Huntington) and community shuttles 405 and 419. During warm
days, many use the Bow River Bicycle Pathway that takes cyclists to the Louise
Bridge Crossing and into Kensington. For those making their way to Kensington
via automobile, many shops provide free customer parking at the rear. Several
parking lots and parkades are also found throughout the district. Metered parking
is also available, with free on-street parking available evenings and all day
Sundays.
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Dancers
at the Sun and Salsa Festival 3 |
A popular weekend destination,
Kensington offers a number of gourmet shops and casual eateries. Fresh baked
goods including artisan breads, frosted cupcakes, Montreal-style bagels and
other tempting bites are found at several bakeries
in Kensington. Wine and cheese aficionados will find their fill at local shops
and delis here too, carrying imported fine cheeses and earthy reds and crisp
whites. Those in search of a jolt of java or a calming cup of tea can stop in
at the many coffee bars and tea houses found along the street.
In July, Kensington hosts
the
Sun and Salsa Festival, featuring Latin music and dancing, which
fills the streets and nearby restaurants. A salsa tasting contest is one of
the main highlights of this festival. Kensington Road and 10th Street are closed
down for the day, ensuring a pedestrian-friendly event.
Summer also features patio
dining at Kensington’s restaurants and is prime-time for people-watching. Christmas
in Kensington is greeted with carollers, bands, light displays, choirs and elves
handing out candy canes in the streets on every Saturday in December.
17TH AVENUE SW
Anything goes on 17th
Avenue SW, with a mix of posh and trendy and young and alternative clientele
frequenting the 200-plus businesses, ranging from boutiques to professional
services to restaurants. From 14th to Second Street on 17th Avenue SW, a number
of eateries serve up a global assortment of cuisine from California,
India, Japan, Morocco and other international destinations. A vibrant nightlife,
with live music, cocktail bars and coffee shops rounds out the street experience,
all found within walking distance of each other. Sit back and enjoy the scenery
and eccentric people that frequent the area while relaxing in Tomkins Park or
at one of the many restaurant patios that line the street.
Several bus routes provide
access to the area, including numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 13, 94, 106, 107, 412,
and 417. Parking lots and meters are found throughout with free two-hour parking
available on some streets and during the evenings.
Where many of Calgary's
districts see the most activity on weekends, 17th is busy all of the time. Many
bars and lounges are found on the strip, including the popular Melrose
Cafe and Bar and the well-known Ship
and Anchor Pub, which, along with other venues, played host to a conglomeration
of fans gathering to cheer on the local NHL hockey team, the Calgary
Flames during playoffs. The street became known as the Red Mile, serving
as Flames fans central. A number of coffee houses are also found here, providing
an alternate venue to the bar scene, as well as casual dining and trendy fast
food places, offering all types of culinary meals including vegetarian
fare.
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Out of Town Dining
Calgary is conveniently located a short drive away from the Canadian
Rocky Mountains and the scenic resort towns of Canmore
and Banff.
Many locals and visitors make day-trips to such towns to take advantage
of the scenic beauty of the mountains and take in a good meal. An assortment
of casual and pub-style establishments, along with fine-dining restaurants
can be found in these locations.
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FOURTH STREET
Just off 17th Avenue SW,
stretching from 12th Avenue to Elbow Drive, the Fourth
Street district also sees a lot of activity throughout the week. Located
in the communities of Mission and Cliff Bungalow, Fourth Street is referred
to as Calgary's restaurant row, featuring over 35 dining establishments. The
atmosphere is very casual with many pubs also found along the street including
the established
Rose and Crown Pub. Several sushi bars are cropping up along Fourth,
attracting a young and in-vogue crowd, adding to the trendy, urban feel of the
district.
The annual, one-day Fourth
Street Lilac Festival in the springtime kicks off with a parade, attracting
people to the streets to enjoy live entertainment and visit the many local businesses
that also set up food and craft vendors along 13 blocks.
Another unique attraction
on Fourth Street is the various sculptures that line its streets, sponsored
by the Public Art Society and other organizations. These pieces foster an artistic
vibe in the community and welcome visitors to experience the sights and people
of Fourth Street.
INTERNATIONAL AVENUE
Not to be confused with
17th Avenue SW, International
Avenue is on the southeast side of 17th Avenue in the neighbourhood
of Forest Lawn. International Avenue is accessible via Deerfoot
Trail, Blackfoot Trail and Memorial
Drive as well as public transportation including city bus route 1 (Forest
Lawn/Bowness), and the Marlborough and Franklin LRT stations. Parking is available
throughout the district.
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Nellie's
on Fourth 4 |
As the name implies, visitors
can find a variety of ethnic restaurants and places for take-out, many situated
in strip malls. Asian influences including Vietnamese, Chinese and Indian
restaurants are found here, including Mediterranean
and Middle
Eastern flavours. In addition to restaurants, visitors will find a selection
of grocery stores along with retail shops and services. A local community bus
tour is available taking people around 35 blocks of global treasures.
Reflecting the rich cultural
diversity of the area are several murals painted along 17th Avenue SE, portraying
historical scenes and community spirit and pride. Another major draw to the
district is GlobalFest,
showcasing an international fireworks competition at Erlton Park along with
cultural pavilions throughout the city celebrating ethnic diversity and traditions.
INGLEWOOD
Well-known for its antique
shopping, Inglewood
features many established restaurants and local eateries. Kane's
Harley Diner is a star attraction, with a motorcycle-theme creating
a fun and relaxed atmosphere and a menu filled with comfort foods. Another hot
spot includes Spolumbo's,
an Italian, deli-style
venue famous for its thick sandwiches, overflowing with savoury Italian cold
cuts and cheeses.
Inglewood is a weekend destination
for the most part, with many patrons venturing through after a day of shopping
or visiting the popular family attractions nearby including the Inglewood
Bird Sanctuary, Fort
Calgary and the Calgary
Zoo. Most of Inglewood's businesses are centred on Ninth Avenue (formerly
Atlantic Avenue), east of downtown. Established in 1875, Inglewood is Calgary's
first community, formed following the construction of Fort Calgary.
Today, the district continues
to showcase its heritage with restored buildings and attractions including the
Deane
House, designated as a registered historic resource in 1978 and featuring
a cafe
overlooking the Elbow River. Many shops and services are located here, specializing
in home furnishings and decor, clothing, jewellery and antiques.
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| Safety
Boss Building in Inglewood 5 |
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MACLEOD TRAIL
Providing a link to Calgary
south, Macleod
Trail features many popular chain-type and Canadian and American
franchise restaurants including East
Side Mario's, Earl's,
Moxie's
and tons of fast food joints. Two major shopping centres are also found along
Macleod Trail including Southcentre
Mall and Chinook
Centre. Some of Calgary’s popular nightclubs such as Outlaws,
Ranchman’s and the Back
Alley are also located in this area. Macleod Trail continues to be a
popular and convenient dining option for Calgarians and tourists due to its
central location and the variety of eateries found here.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- c/o 4th Street BRZ; Rose and Crown Pub; Calgary, AB, Canada
- c/o WorldWeb.com; The Catch on Stephen Avenue; Calgary, AB, Canada
- c/o Kensington BRZ; Dancers at the Sun and Salsa Festival; Calgary, AB,
Canada
- c/o 4th Street BRZ; Nellie's on Fourth; Calgary, AB, Canada
- c/o Inglewood BRZ; Safety Boss Building in Inglewood; Calgary, AB, Canada
