Guide to a Long Weekend in Calgary

Arts & Culture

• Visit a host of contemporary art galleries focused on up-and-coming Canadian artists such as the Esker Foundation, Norberg Hall Gallery and the Contemporary, which opened recently in 2020.

• Walking Street Art & Brewery Tour - Calgary, like many other cities, has had a huge increase in the number of microbreweries in the last few years thanks to deregulation. On this tour, you get to sample flights at two different breweries while also learning about the muralists in the Beltline.

• Calgary Public Library: Take a guided tour or just stroll through and admire the architecture and thoughtful design that represents the uniqueness of Calgary! One design feature to admire is the outdoor archway made from western redwood cedar. The wooden soffit’s design is inspired by the chinook arch cloud formations common to Calgary’s skies.

• Concert at Studio Bell / National Music Centre - Just next door to the Calgary Public Library, you can catch a private tour here, and during the winter, they have matinee concerts. We recommend seeking out the Rolling Stones’ mobile studio where several classic albums were recorded, including Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street and Led Zeppelin III and IV.

Shopping

• Moonstone Creation: A Native art gallery and gift shop in a sweet little house in the Inglewood neighborhood. They feature crafts from many different First Nations artists and have a particularly standout selection of beaded works.

• Calgary is great for vintage sweaters and jackets; there are many shops in town, but Velour is a good one to start at.

• Luke’s Drug Mart - A good spot to pick up local sundries and any toiletries as well in Calgary’s oldest pharmacy. Also, recommend trying their house-made, unique flavors of soft-serve ice cream! They have two locations - one near downtown and another on the west side of town near the golf course.

Day Trips

Highly recommend adding a day trip to Banff - only 90 minutes from Calgary, and the gem of the Canadian Rockies.

Drinks

• Major Tom Bar - A scenic spot for happy hour drinks and snacks (3pm-5pm daily) if you’re roaming around downtown. Located on the 40th floor of the Scotia Center building.

• Queens - Staking their reputation on their breakfast cocktail menu, Queens stands out. They also offer a rich breakfast menu daily.

• Lulu Bar - Perhaps unexpected for Calgary, a tiki bar with tropical fare to take you somewhere warmer!

Before you arrive, you need to be aware of two classic Albertan cocktails. Ordering either of these will endear you to the already-friendly locals.

• The Paralyzer: A spin on a White Russian with the addition of Coca-Cola, and I prefer this local classic as it tastes milkshakey.

• The Caesar: Albertans love a Caesar, and it was invented at the hotel bar for what is today the Westin. There’s even a gift shop devoted to this drink. It’s essentially a Bloody Mary with clam juice, which adds a bit of umami and saltiness, but this is honestly not my cup of tea.

Dining

• River Café - Located on Prince’s Island in Bow River, this is the quintessential Calgary fine-dining experience. Take note of the bar, crafted from an old sailboat. River Café regularly appears on “best of” lists, including Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants and La Liste’s 1000 best global restaurants. They’ve been open since the mid-90s but avoid becoming stale by featuring hyperlocal ingredients and an inventive, ever-changing menu - I recommend the chef’s tasting menu.

• Deane House - Sister restaurant to River Café, this is located in a historic house that was rolled across the Elbow River on a bunch of logs. They serve refined but hearty fare and afternoon high-tea on the weekend.

• Ten Foot Henry - This restaurant, while not strictly vegetarian, is very veggie-forward with solid, family-style meals. It’s a nice break from the steak-and-potatoes Alberta fare.

• Blackfoot Truckstop Diner - Every employee is the sweetest sweetheart, and you’ll be well taken care of. This spot is open 24/7 and equally good for a hearty breakfast and a late-night. Bring change for the tableside jukeboxes because, yes, they work! A train runs on an elevated track throughout the dining room! Their “flapper pie” is piled sky-high with meringue, and their diner coffee somehow doesn’t taste like dirt.