Looking for your next great meal? It’s no secret that Calgary’s food scene has reached another level in recent years. Top restaurants are a mixture of hidden gems, local institutions, and new favourites. Here is a list of new and noteworthy places to eat in Calgary.

New Restaurants

Every month there are plenty of new restaurants to get excited about. These are a few that have received plenty of buzz over the last year. 

Salt & Brick 

The owners of Salt and Brick in Kelowna, BC decided to open their second location in Calgary’s Beltline neighbourhood. The beautifully decorated space is filled with floral wallpaper, exposed brick, and neon signs. No two visits are the same, as the chefs come up with a “fresh sheet” menu every week.

Address: 211 10 Ave. S.W.

Known For: Charlie’s Watch Repair – an art-deco inspired speakeasy hidden inside Salt & Brick that was named “Best New International Cocktail Bar – Canada" for 2024 by Tales of the Cocktail. 

Milpa

You may recognize Milpa’s head chef Elia Herrera from appearances on Top Chef Canada and Top Chef Mexico. After working her way as a pastry chef through some of the top restaurants in Spain, France, Italy, and Belgium she has brought the flavours of her native Mexico to Calgary.  

Address: 1531 5 St. S.W. 

Known For: Chef Herrera’s family recipes, like the coconut ceviche.

Satsuki

This new Kensington restaurant is all about Japanese-style sushi, sake, and more. Wagyu beef and a variety of high-quality fish is flown in fresh from Japan to offer an authentic experience featuring many constantly evolving courses of sushi as well as appetizers and desserts.

Address: 1130 Kensington Rd NW #100

Known For: Chef May's omakase service, essentially the Japanese version of a chef’s tasting menu (the word “omakase” translates to “I’ll leave it up to you”).

Pat & Betty 

Family is at the heart of Pat & Betty, named after the owner’s own mothers. The menu is European-inspired and indulgent. Treat yourself to some seared foie gras or chicken liver mousse. 

Address: 1217 1st St SW

Known For: Their fancy weekend brunch featuring ‘Caviar “Soft Scramble” Eggs’. 

Lonely Mouth Bar 

Calgary’s newest sake bar serves modern Japanese food and cocktails. Lonely Mouth Bar’s interior is simple and elegant with plenty of wood and corduroy features. Diners can expect house-made udon noodles, fresh tempura, and tasty handrolls. 

Address: 528 17th Ave SW

Known For: Having an in-house noodle maker you can see working behind the bar. 

See a full list of new restaurants in Calgary. 

Famous Restaurants

These restaurants have all become iconic within the Calgary food scene. Reservations recommended. 

Rouge 

Rouge has been a fixture in Calgary’s fine dining scene since it opened in 2001. Diners can expect French-inspired meals in a historic setting. The Cross House sits next to the Bow River and features a beautiful backyard garden. Dishes often include ingredients pulled from the garden earlier that day. 

Address: 1240 8th Ave SE

Known For: Continually appearing on Best Restaurant in Calgary lists. 

Caesar’s Steakhouse

You know a restaurant is great when it’s been around for over 50 years. Caesar’s has two locations and both offer remarkable experiences. These are old school steakhouses. The décor drips of opulence and the food is indulgent.  

Address: 512 4th Ave SW and 10816 Macleod Trail #110 

Known For: Being a go-to spot for milestones and special occasions.  

CHARCUT Roast House

When it comes to famous Calgary restaurants, locals visit CHARCUT Roast House for its contemporary and inviting atmosphere that combines award winning local chef-driven cuisine with Italian and Country French accents. Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, CHARCUT’s menu is forever evolving.

Address: 101, 899 Centre Street SW

Known For: Locally sourced ingredients from small, local artisan farmers and ranchers, with herbs harvested daily from their own garden.

River Café 

The location of River Café is hard to beat. It’s surrounded by trees, on a river island, in downtown Calgary. And the food lives up to the setting. The restaurant focuses on sourcing food from small local farms and fishermen. This comes through in its seasonally changing menu. 

Address: 25 Prince’s Island Park SW

Known For: Its picnic baskets, which are perfect for a day spent exploring Prince’s Island Park. 

Teatro 

Teatro is the flagship restaurant of Calgary’s well-known Teatro Group. It opened in 1993 in the historic Dominion Bank building, right across from Arts Commons. The Italian menu is so authentic that the olive oil comes from the owner's family's olive groves. 

Address: 200 8th Ave SE

Known For: It’s 10,000 bottle wine cellar. 

Check out more options for a quintessential Calgary dining experience. 

Hidden Gem Restaurants

There’s nothing better than finding a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that blows you away. These local spots are worth seeking out. 

Paper Lantern 

You’ll have to do a bit of searching to find this Vietnamese hotspot. Paper Lantern sits in a Chinatown basement. Go down the stairs and look for an unmarked door. Your reward is refreshing cocktails and tasty Vietnamese street food. 

Address: 115 2nd Ave SE (basement) 

Known For: Their authentic Bánh Mì (Vietnamese subs). The chicken roti is a must-try. 

Frenchie Wine Bar 

You’ll have to make your way through UNA Pizza to find this intimate wine + fondue bar. Frenchie is only open for dinner and has a fun, moody vibe. The 'Frenchie Fondue' has gruyère cheese, truffle oil, honey, and cracked pepper. 

Address: 616 17th Ave SW (go through UNA Pizza) 

Known For: Being a perfect date night spot. 

Seniore’s Pizza 

Seniore's Pizza is in an unassuming strip mall in Calgary’s Beddington neighbourhood. You’ll notice it right away from the line-up out the door. The owners commit to serving pizza with the best dough and cheese. Come hungry because this pizza is filling. 

Address: 176 Bedford Dr NE #5 

Known For: Being home of “The Original Donair Pizza”. 

Rain Dog  

Like the atmosphere of a wine bar, but prefer to drink beer? That’s the concept of Rain Dog. Craft beer fans will rejoice at the extensive menu. Many of the beers come from breweries down the street. The Northern European-inspired food pairs perfectly with an IPA, porter, or stout.  

Address: 1214 9th Ave SE. 

Known For: Promoting Calgary’s best craft breweries.  

Restaurants With a View

Perfect for a date night, a night out, or a night to remember. You’ll find your attention gets torn between the amazing food and impressive views. 

Charbar

Located in the historical Simmons Building alongside the Bow River, Charbar is known for its incredible view of the river and downtown skyline. Experience the great view during the warmer months from a stunning rooftop patio paired with amazing Argentinian inspired dishes.

Address: 618 Confluence Way SE

Known For: The best waterfront views in the city.

Deane House 

The Deane House sits at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers. This site has been an important meeting place for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The house and the grounds are beautiful and the views of the rivers are even better. Enjoy incredible Canadian regional cuisine in a historic setting. 

Address: 806 9th Ave SE  

Known For: Its support of local farms, gardens, and ranches. 

Major Tom 

Canada's 100 Best named Major Tom ‘Canada’s Best New Restaurant’ in 2022. It’s easy to see why. The restaurant is on the 40th floor of a downtown skyscaper. The Benchmark Angus steaks get broiled at 1800° to ensure a caramelized crust. And the décor is a throwback to 70’s glam.  

Address: 40th Floor – Stephen Avenue Place - 700-2 St SW 

Known For: Its stunning views of downtown Calgary during Golden Hour – 3-5 p.m. 

The Wilde on 27 

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer diners unobstructed views of Calgary’s picturesque downtown. The life and works of Oscar Wilde inspired The Dorian hotel and its restaurant, The Wilde. This is where you can celebrate the finer things in life. The menu is imaginative, and the design is whimsical.  

Address: 27th Floor - The Dorian – 525 5th Ave SW 

Known For: Rooftop cocktails. 

Sky360 

Dine at the top of the Calgary Tower. A rite of passage for locals, eating at Sky360 is also a classic experience for visitors. Families will enjoy the novelty and couples will get caught up in the romance. Everyone will devour the steakhouse fare. 

Address: 101 9th Ave SW (inside the Calgary Tower) 

Known For: Its revolving restaurant floor. 

Cheap Restaurants

You don’t have to comprise on taste with these popular cheap and cheerful eats.  

Tubby’s Bar 

Tubby Dog is legendary among Calgarians. It closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened as Tubby’s Bar. Inventive, gourmet hot dogs draw the crowds. The new location is upscale for a hot dog place and perfect for an inexpensive way to impress friends. 

Address: 100A, 1210 8th St SW 

Known For: The ‘A-Bomb’ hotdog – bacon, cheese sauce, topped with crushed potato chips. 

Peter’s Drive In 

Cars line up around the block to get a burger and shake from Peter’s Drive In. Everything is simple, real, and fresh. Not much has changed at Peter’s since it opened in 1962. Why change when the food is that good? 

Address: 219 16th Ave NE 

Known For: Its thick milkshakes. You can choose up to 3 flavours to create over 4,500 combinations. 

TukTuk Thai 

TukTuk Thai is a local success story. Sam Chanhao opened TukTuk Thai in 2015. People couldn’t get enough of the curries and stir fries. There are now nine locations in Calgary serving up Thai favourites. Make sure to get the candied cauliflower, it’s a game-changer.  

Address: Nine locations across Calgary 

Known For: Its signature Lotus Boxes. 

Cluck N Cleaver 

Enjoy fried chicken at its best. Francine Gomes teamed up with her celebrity chef sister, Nicole, to start Cluck N Cleaver. They make the batter from scratch which results in crispy perfection.  

Address: 1511 14th St SW

Known For: The ‘Mother Clucker’ sandwich – chicken coated in chipotle hot sauce with blue cheese mayo, coleslaw, and pickles. 

Best Dessert

If you’ve had dinner and are looking for something sweet to finish off the evening, these spots are for you. 

Blackfoot Truckstop Diner 

The Blackfoot Truckstop has been a Calgary institution since it opened in 1956. It’s old-school in all the best ways. Slip into one of the retro booths and order some pie and coffee. 

Address: 1840 9 Ave S.E. 

Known For: Their six-inch-high Flapper Pie. 

Y Not Today 

Y Not Today is no ordinary bubble tea spot. They also serve up smoothies and some of Calgary’s best bingsu – Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. Flavours include matcha, taro, and brown sugar with names inspired by your favourite movies.

Address: 4339 Macleod Trail S.W. 

Known For: Having an extensive collection of puzzles, brain teasers, and board games. 

Amato Gelato 

Authenticity is everything at Amato Gelato. It’s a family-run business with over 90 years of gelato-making experience. All the flavours are made from scratch. If you’re looking to really indulge, order the Bomboloni Gelato Panino. 

Address: 7-2104 Kensington Rd N.W. & 602 17 Ave S.W. 

Known For: Their extensive selection of rotating gelato flavours – 72 to be exact. 

Primary Colours 

While most cafes close in the afternoon, Primary Colours prides itself on being an all-day cafe. That means that their delicious danishes, croissants, and cookies are available into the night. 

Address: 802 49 Ave S.W. 

Known For: Their coffee from award-winning roaster and sister company, Monogram Coffee. 

Locals also go crazy for the donas at Native Tongues, the Cinnamon Crunch Crêpe Cake at Hawthorn Dining Room, and the Lemon Curd Blueberry ice cream from Made by Marcus.