Insiders Guidebook for Calgary :)
Food Scene
WURST
2437 4 St SWAmazing modern German food with a great beer hall downstairs!
Awesome brunch food - use the NoWait app if you are coming on the weekend
43 locals recommend
Red's Diner
1415 4 St SWAwesome brunch food - use the NoWait app if you are coming on the weekend
Philosafy Coffee
632 17 Ave SWUnique coffee shop, great for people-watching.
Village Ice Cream
431 10 Ave SEBest ice cream in Calgary.... just sayin...
If you have never tried Poutine.... this is the place to do it!
22 locals recommend
The Big Cheese Poutinerie
738 17 Ave SWIf you have never tried Poutine.... this is the place to do it!
Righteous Gelato
221 19 St SEBest gelato in town with unique flavours!
National on 17th
550 17 Ave SWGreat food, excellent beer at a reasonable price
Excellent sandwiches with extremely fresh ingredients. Just voted Calgary's most interesting new restaurant!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/restaurant-reviews/article-review-alumni-sandwich-liquor-bar-is-calgarys-most-interesting-new/
8 locals recommend
Alumni Sandwiches
725 17 Ave SWExcellent sandwiches with extremely fresh ingredients. Just voted Calgary's most interesting new restaurant!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/restaurant-reviews/article-review-alumni-sandwich-liquor-bar-is-calgarys-most-interesting-new/
MARKET
718 17 Ave SWAmazingly delicious sandwiches with home-made ingredients.
Ogam Chicken
6008 Macleod Trail SWReally really really good fried chicken!!
Paddy's Barbecue & Brewery
3610 Burnsland Rd SEExcellent craft brewery and great food
Trolley 5 Brewpub
728 17 Ave SWDelicious brisket and excellent beer.
UniMarket Latin Food Calgary
128 50 Ave SEAmazing tacos - great prices and very authentic.
Entertainment & Activities
Huge world-class zoo - great for kids and adults. Try to see the Penguin walk and the brand-new Lemur land :)
745 locals recommend
Calgary Zoo
Huge world-class zoo - great for kids and adults. Try to see the Penguin walk and the brand-new Lemur land :)
Awesome science center for adults and kids - lots to do here. Check out the "adults only" evenings - great food and drinks!
362 locals recommend
TELUS Spark
Awesome science center for adults and kids - lots to do here. Check out the "adults only" evenings - great food and drinks!
"Biggest outdoor show on earth" Huge rodeo and amusement park every July. Enjoy meeting all the animals, watching live music, eating crazy food, and riding the rides. https://www.calgarystampede.com/
Also, each day there are free pancake breakfasts hosted all over the city - bring your cowboy hat, boots, and jeans!
307 locals recommend
Calgary Stampede
1410 Olympic Way SE"Biggest outdoor show on earth" Huge rodeo and amusement park every July. Enjoy meeting all the animals, watching live music, eating crazy food, and riding the rides. https://www.calgarystampede.com/
Also, each day there are free pancake breakfasts hosted all over the city - bring your cowboy hat, boots, and jeans!
Shopping
Find your way into the CORE shopping centre - and explore the +15 system in downtown Calgary. The +15 system links most of the downtown buildings through a series of pedways 15 feet above ground level (on the second floor). On a cold or rainy weekday this will give you great access to shopping and restaurants.
310 locals recommend
Core Shopping
324 8 Ave SWFind your way into the CORE shopping centre - and explore the +15 system in downtown Calgary. The +15 system links most of the downtown buildings through a series of pedways 15 feet above ground level (on the second floor). On a cold or rainy weekday this will give you great access to shopping and restaurants.
Modern shopping mall with all the brands you want. Also has many luxury stores - the best in Calgary!
175 locals recommend
CF Chinook Centre
6455 Macleod TrailModern shopping mall with all the brands you want. Also has many luxury stores - the best in Calgary!
Calgary Farmers' Market
510 77 Ave SEGreat farmers market with local foods and produce.
Check out the Christmas Market each weekend in November only. Great local hand-made gifts for everyone, free entertainment, great food! https://www.sprucemeadows.com/christmas_market.jsp
Spruce Meadows Way Southwest
Spruce Meadows Way SouthwestCheck out the Christmas Market each weekend in November only. Great local hand-made gifts for everyone, free entertainment, great food! https://www.sprucemeadows.com/christmas_market.jsp
Best place to go for outdoor gear - good prices (you will have to buy a $5 CAD lifetime membership to shop here :)
29 locals recommend
MEC Calgary
830 10 Ave SWBest place to go for outdoor gear - good prices (you will have to buy a $5 CAD lifetime membership to shop here :)
Parks & Nature
Great open park for walking - nice view of the mountains
29 locals recommend
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
255001 Glenbow RoadGreat open park for walking - nice view of the mountains
Walk along the elbow river through nature trails and then the beautiful neighborhoods of Britannia, Elbow Park, and Stanley Park. On a hot summer day you will see lots of people floating down the river in rafts and inner tubes!
7 locals recommend
Sandy Beach Off-leash River Access
Walk along the elbow river through nature trails and then the beautiful neighborhoods of Britannia, Elbow Park, and Stanley Park. On a hot summer day you will see lots of people floating down the river in rafts and inner tubes!
If you want to get away from all the tourists in Banff and Canmore, Kananaskis is a great option. Tons of hiking trails around the village and lake. Let yourself enjoy nature without the crowds.
54 locals recommend
Kananaskis
If you want to get away from all the tourists in Banff and Canmore, Kananaskis is a great option. Tons of hiking trails around the village and lake. Let yourself enjoy nature without the crowds.
Sightseeing
Calgary Tower
101 9 Ave SWGo up the tower to get a great view of the city!
Gorgeous brand-new library in Calgary - enjoy the architecture and the space for kids to run around
148 locals recommend
Central Library
800 3 St SEGorgeous brand-new library in Calgary - enjoy the architecture and the space for kids to run around
Awesome military museum with tons of exhibits and friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. It covers Canada's army, naval, and air force history for the past couple hundred years with lots of dioramas, models, videos, uniforms, medals, and equipment. We took my two 8-year old nephews on a rainy day and they loved seeing all the real-life tanks, torpedoes, and planes. They have a huge amount if information displayed very nicely and interactively - and don't forget to check out the working submarine periscope! The entry price is very reasonable - a great activity for everyone.
54 locals recommend
The Military Museums
4520 Crowchild Trail SWAwesome military museum with tons of exhibits and friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. It covers Canada's army, naval, and air force history for the past couple hundred years with lots of dioramas, models, videos, uniforms, medals, and equipment. We took my two 8-year old nephews on a rainy day and they loved seeing all the real-life tanks, torpedoes, and planes. They have a huge amount if information displayed very nicely and interactively - and don't forget to check out the working submarine periscope! The entry price is very reasonable - a great activity for everyone.
Amazing music museum with great interactive exhibits!
261 locals recommend
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
850 4 St SEAmazing music museum with great interactive exhibits!