Calgary’s nightlife brings the perfect balance of big-city rush and community comfort. When the sun goes down, Calgary’s diverse nightclubs offer pumping dance floors, intimate live music, and boot-stomping fun.  

Best Nightclubs for Dancing in Calgary

Back Alley Calgary 

Back Alley Calgary is the place to go for events, concerts or shows where you can dance until you drop. It spans 12,000 square feet featuring four themed bars, a massive dance floor and major ambience. The Jameson-themed bar serves Back Alley’s custom-made draft beer alongside a selection of other craft delights. 

Address: 4630 Macleod Trail 

Twisted Element 

This hopping LGBTQ+ club combines a celebration of diversity with a unique nightlife experience. With the goal to promote quality by creating a safe space, Twisted Element ensures an environment where everyone can enjoy the same rights and a night of fun. Each night brings something new to enjoy from karaoke, drag shows, dancing, billiards, and plenty of good food and drinks. 

Address: 1006 – 11 Ave SW

Rated Ultra Lounge 

The newest addition to Calgary’s nightlife scene, Rated Ultra Lounge features talented local DJs, curated drink and bottle menus, and an electronic experience designed to fuel your dancing spirit. 

Address: 314 3 St SE  

Best Nightclubs for Live Music in Calgary

Commonwealth Bar and Stage  

Born from a shared passion for music, Commonwealth Bar and Stage transformed an old warehouse into a celebrated nightclub destination. As the only venue in Calgary with two distinct floors of music, the club presents a fashionable local favourite for music lovers and partiers alike. From club weeklies to a full lineup of events to attend, there are always options to get out and support the local music scene.  

Address: 731 10 Ave SW 

The Palomino 

Love a barbecue paired with great live music? The Palomino is Calgary’s favourite smokehouse offering meats that are smoked low and slow in the largest smoker in Western Canada. While dining and drinking, enjoy the live music showcased here, spanning genres from all around the world. Pop by for a night of folk, garage, blues, punk, country, or hip-hop. 

Address: 109 7 Ave SW 

Modern Love YYC 

The team behind The Buckingham in Edmonton brings a new venue to Calgary, that pairs vegan cuisine with punk music. Modern Love YYC will fill the gap left by the much-loved Broken City. 

Address: 613 11 Ave SW  

Best Cowboy Bars & Nightclubs

Whiskey Rose Saloon 

The Whiskey Rose Saloon is a place to come together, listen to all kinds of music, knock back a few bourbons, and enjoy a night of true cowboy fun. Weekly specials offer a range of drinks and food to enjoy in a venue that brings the Stampede feeling every day of the year. 

Address: 1012 17 Ave SW  

Ranchman’s  

For the last 50 years, Ranchman’s has been a favourite country nightclub destination. If you are new to country dance or interested in honing your skills, Ranchman’s provides free dance lessons so you can be a part of the action at this favourite Stampede hotspot. 

Address: 710 13 Ave SW

Cowboy’s Nightclub 

Since 1996 this iconic club offers “the most fun you can have with your boots on”. As Calgary’s biggest nightclub spanning a 70,000 square foot dance hall, Cowboy’s Nightclub features the best of country and top 40 music through its regular live shows. Weekly events include lip sync battles, an annual wing-eating challenge, drag shows and more. 

Address: 421 12 Ave SE 

Honky Tonk 

This saloon-style bar brings a dedicated dance floor where you can Jitterbug, Honky Tonk, or two-step the night away with boot-tapping live music. Honky Tonk adds country themed-cocktails, local craft beer, aged whiskeys, and rustic wood décor to pull together a straight-out-of-the-Old West feel. 

Address: 219 10 Ave SW  

Best High-End Nightclubs in Calgary

Please Don’t Tell 

This underground nightclub, nestled in the heart of downtown Calgary, offers an upscale nightlife experience. A bar and nightclub for ages 21 and over only, Please Don’t Tell recommends dressing to the nines to really embrace the vibe. Taqueria El Chefe is the team behind the kitchen, offering an impressive selection of crafted cocktails and modern Mexican-style food. 

Address: 811 1 St SW  

Papi  

This one-of-a-kind House of Tequila and Margarita Dance Club comes together with exceptional experiences for a high-end night out. Papi really gets going at 9 p.m. with dazzling lights and a wide variety of entertainment, from dance parties to live performances. Papi has three rooms with four different atmospheres to enjoy, such as Pablo’s Secret Taqueria, offering Mexican-inspired street food and an open-concept kitchen to watch the chefs at work.  

Address: 630 8 Ave SW 

Sub Rosa 

Escape from the ordinary and indulge in the extraordinary at Sub Rosa. This elevated lounge is located below a heritage building just off Stephen Ave. Its vintage-style furniture and century-old brick walls will transport you back in time for the evening.  

Address: Lower level, 200 – 8 Ave SW 

Best Nightclubs to Play Games in Calgary

CRAFT 

Now in six cities across Canada, the original CRAFT is in the Beltline neighbourhood on 10th Ave. SW. What sets this location of CRAFT apart is the three-season rooftop patio providing 360-degree views of Calgary’s skyline. There is plenty of fun inside too with bocce courts and shuffleboard. 

Address: 345 10 Ave SW and 100 Anderson Rd SE 

Greta Bar 

Over 50 arcade games will bring out the kid in everyone at Greta Bar. In between playing Donkey Kong and Air Hockey, grab some street food like arancini cheese balls or ginger beef bao buns.   

Address: 213 10 Ave SW 

National 

National has become a local institution with four locations, including three downtown. They are the perfect place to meet friends for a beer or two and on weekends they are buzzing. National on 10th has a stylish bowling alley that makes a fun time even better. Local tip - bowling is free every Friday from 3 - 5 p.m.  

Address: 341 10 Ave SW, 550 17 Ave SW, 225 8 Ave SW #360, and 180 Stewart Green SW