When it comes to gastronomic adventures around Canada, Calgary has plenty to offer. Alberta’s largest city is home to some of the best restaurants in the entire country, and you’ll want to sample something from all of them. From brunch hotspots to refined fine dining gems, romantic date night destinations, and perfect tables for family-friendly gatherings, the best restaurants in Calgary await.
There’s a Californian-inspired stunner serving Mediterranean sharing plates and killer cocktails. An all-day neighbourhood bistro serves a vegetarian-friendly menu and a weekend brunch loved by locals and visitors alike. In Banff, a charming Italian gem serves mouthwatering pizza and fun and lively aperitivos. Check the best Calgary restaurants to book today and get your dining experience off to the best start.
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The best Calgary restaurants to book right now – read on for a guide
For one of the best Indian restaurants in Calgary – book a table at Calcutta Cricket Club in Downtown
Calcutta Cricket Club is one of Calgary’s best Indian restaurants. The interior design of the dining room oozes with sophistication, earning it an award for the best-designed restaurant in Canada back in 2018. You can admire the stylish interior while enjoying a great menu that also expertly caters to vegetarians as well as meat eaters. The West Bengal-style menu with a modern take on classic Indian dishes, provides tantalising all-day dining with Brunch menus, the express lunch thali, as well as small plates and grill offerings. Check out brunch options like the unique chai spiced earthy pancakes with aromatic Bengali spiced granola as well as the balanced buttermilk & chili brined fried chicken. Moving down the menu, try the Kati rolls, wraps of juicy grilled meats or paneer wrapped in a fresh paratha. If you’re after the traditional curry, you’re spoilt for choice with mouth-watering murgh makani, creamy butter paneer and complex lamb biryani amongst other great dishes.
For Mediterranean tapas and killer cocktails – visit Porch in Beltline
If you’re looking for some of the best Mediterranean cuisine in town, then look no further than Porch on 17th Avenue SW. Here you can enjoy a lively atmosphere in a place that’s great for celebrating special occasions and catering to group bookings. Porch specialises in a mix of Mediterranean favourites. Snack on crispy Spanish patatas bravas or smooth roasted garlic and harissa hummus. Move on to starters like the Humboldt calamari and falafel sharing plates. Tasty main options like smokey Greek pork souvlaki with oregano, lemon and tzatziki in a warm pita and tender Moroccan chicken marinated in harissa, cilantro and tomato tabbouleh are great options to appease your hunger. If you’re looking for something more, larger dishes include the grilled fillet of sirloin with truffle parm fries and chimichurri sauce as well as flaky crusted salmon with squash noodles. To accompany your meal, check out the extensive cocktail menu that specialises in drinks perfect for sunny days and lively nights.
For one of the best brunch restaurants in Calgary – check out Ten Foot Henry on 1st Street SW
Ten Foot Henry is Calgary’s premier restaurant for Canadian cuisine with a touch of class. This neighbourhood gem, loved by locals brings a modern touch to one of the best brunch menus in town. Named after the 1930 iconic comic strip character from Calgary, Henry, this place pays homage to one of the city’s most famous boys, with plenty of classic imagery on the restaurant’s slick white walls. Once you’re sat down and ready to order, you’ll find attractive and healthy options on the menu such as marinated beets with mama ghanoush, seed brittle and orange as well as other vegetarian dishes like the mushroom medley with pea puree, mint, shallot and gremolata. Moving onto fish and meat dishes, try the refreshing tuna crudo with chimichurri, sesame and crispy caper or the tender strip sirloin steak with truffle dijon. If that’s not enough, check out the Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, offering your favourite classic brunch options between 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Calgary – book your table at LUPO Italian Ristorante & Patio in Banff
LUPO Italian Ristorante & Patio in Banff is well worth the hour-and-a-half drive from Calgary. Here you can make a day of it in one of Canada’s most beautiful regions and sign off with some of the finest traditional Italian cuisine in the country. Ranked 6th in Canada’s 100 top 10 new restaurants of 2023, LUPO Italian Ristorante & Patio provides a charming setting for your favourite Italian dishes amidst the beauty of Banff. Here you can enjoy the feeling of a traditional Italian marketplace amongst mountain views, fresh cocktails and indulgent pasta. Check out the Italian happy hour offer, with pizza and pasta deals with drinks between 4-5 pm each day. From the menu, start off with antipasti dishes like 24-month-old prosciutto charred with sweet vidalia onions or the spicy Lupo meatballs. Try tasty pasta dishes like spaghetti cacio e pepe, pesto campanelle and aromatic saffron bucatini. Enjoy classic pizza options like margherita, pepperoni and diavola or try an adventurous slice of the Uncle Morty, a white sauce pizza with pork mortadella, pistachios and truffle honey.
For a special occasions with steak and fine wines and special occasions – try Chairman’s Steakhouse in Mahogany
Chairman’s Steakhouse is a great neighbourhood gem in Mahogany, where you can sink your teeth into some of the juiciest steaks in the city, coupled with fine wines and expertly made cocktails. The menu offers up some tantalizing starters such as bone marrow flambee, with red onion jam and chimichurri and baguette while tuna tartare, Spanish octopus and pan-seared scallops are perfect warmers prior to the main show. The steakhouse’s signature dish menu includes a range of steaks cooked just how you like them. Try the petit filet, a 6oz steak with mashed potato and broccoli and a bacon jus as well as the New York steak Sinatra, with white prawns, sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms. In addition, prime cuts like a 35-day aged ribeye or a 36oz Canada prime porterhouse for two people are perfect for date night. Pair your steaks with a fine red wine from various regions around the world, and you’re all set.
For one of the best steak restaurants in Calgary – visit Earls Kitchen + Bar in Southcentre Mall, Bankers Hall, Dalhousie, 16th Avenue, Calgary Tin Palace, Barlow Trail, Red Deer and Westhills
Earls Kitchen + Bar in Southcentre Mall, Bankers Hall, Dalhousie, 16th Avenue, Calgary Tin Palace, Barlow Trail, Red Deer, and Westhills is Calgary’s home for a great family restaurant with top American and international cuisine, an inviting atmosphere and diverse menu. Whichever location you visit, the friendly staff will be ready to welcome large groups looking to celebrate. If you’re dining with the family, consider the sharing plates options like chicken lettuce wraps, roast beef sliders and crispy truffle fries. Other standout dishes include cajun blackened chicken, BBQ back ribs as well as classic steaks, like juicy Canadian prime sirloin, filet mignon and surf + turf. The drinks menu is equally impressive, featuring handcrafted cocktails like the Earls Old Fashioned and the White Peach Whiskey Sour. With its stylish decor, attentive service, and a menu catering to all tastes, Earls Kitchen + Bar is a go-to spot for families and group events.
📍 Southcentre Mall — Check availability
📍 Bankers Hall — Check availability
📍 Dalhousie — Check availability
📍 16th Avenue — Check availability
📍 Calgary Tin Palace — Check availability
📍 Barlow Trail — Check availability
📍 Red Deer — Check availability
📍 Westhills — Check availability
For one of the best restaurants in Calgary for 2024 – Don’t miss Hy’s Steakhouse in Downtown
Hy’s Steakhouse – Calgary in downtown Calgary, offers an upscale dining experience renowned for its exceptional cuts of meat and sophisticated ambience. This restaurant is ideal for special occasions, with a menu that features some of the finest steaks in the city, with 28-day aged beef. Top choices include the perfectly marbled bone-in rib steak, the tender porterhouse, and the robust New York striploin, all expertly grilled to your preference. House classics include beef wellington, with fois gras and oyster mushroom duxelles, as well as the Gorgonzola filet, with port wine jus. Beyond steaks, the menu includes other meat and seafood options such as prawns and scallops, and a roasted rack of lamb. You’ve also got plenty to choose from on the drink menu. Pair your dish with a fine wine or a beautifully crafted cocktail, like a Hy’s old-fashioned or a negroni. And if you fancy a bit of happy hour, then make sure to book between 3-6 pm and after 9 pm on weekdays, and 4-6 pm and after 9 pm on weekends.
For one of the best Calgary restaurants boasting scenic views – check out MAJOR TOM in Downtown
MAJOR TOM on 2 St SW in the downtown area of Calgary is one of best bar restaurants in the city, providing fantastic views from its lofty position at Stephen Place Avenue and being a perfect place for special celebrations. This trendy spot offers a unique and sophisticated dining experience, boasting a chic atmosphere and a vibrant yet refined vibe. Diners can indulge in attractive starters like yellowfin tuna crudo, steak tartare and oysters on the half shell, while moving onto mains with notable dishes such as flaky Icelandic cod with crispy potato pave, mushrooms and leeks or juicy the roasted Alberta lamb. Major Tom also prides itself on the MT Beef Program, with outstanding Alberta beef and NY striploin, prime rib and butcher’s cut options and Japanese Wagyu beef striploin and filet that are up there with the best you’ll ever taste. To go with your food, indulge in a zesty cocktail like a Major Tom Collins 3.0, an apple Vodka old fashioned, or a classic Manhattan.
For one of the best restaurants in Calgary Downtown – don’t miss Charcut on Centre Street S
Downtown Calgary’s Charcut boasts one of the finest menus of contemporary Canadian fare, with a focus on roast meats. The interior gives off chic steakhouse vibes and the dishes include fresh, farm-to-table produce. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as well as a butcher’s shop, so if you’re impressed with the meat on offer, you can buy some of your own. Check out great small plates for sharing to start such as shaved zucchini salad, Tuscan truffle putine, charred octopus and grilled Portuguese linguica sausage. These small plates set you up nicely for the main show with succulent options like tender pork back ribs and belly, and the Alberta beef strip steak. And while you get through all of that, you can accompany your meal with some cracking cocktail choices, with the popular CHAR Gin Martini and Smoked Strawberry Negroni being standout performers.
For a fun night out with a group – book your table at Barbarella in Downtown
Inspired by the coasts of Southern Italy, Barbarella boasts a lively and stylish setting that’s perfect for any occasion. The menu features standout dishes that reflect traditional Italian flavours with a modern twist, with must-try dishes like the spicy coppa calzoni with whipped ricotta and salsa verde alongside piping-hot French fries. Other notable options include the Calabrese sausage pizza, with fior di latter, tomato sauce, parmesan and honey, creating a sweet-and-savoury explosion for your tastebuds. Check out the expert cocktails to go with your food, like the Sorrento Sunshine, with house-spiced limoncello and vodka, or the classic Martini Olivia. Alternatively, peruse the wine list for crisp Italian white wines that pair pe
Calgary can take pride in the fabulous gastronomic options available in every corner of the city. Whether you live close by or are just visiting you’ve got plenty to keep your appetite interested and ultimately satisfied, with cuisine from all around the world that’s cooked to perfection. So, whether it’s contemporary Canadian cuisine, flamboyant Italian food or some of the finest steakhouses north of the border, OpenTable has got your food cravings in mind.
