The best neighbourhoods for food in Calgary, and what to eat in each

Calgary is known for beef, cowboy boots and the Stampede, but its food scene has grown far beyond steakhouses. Independent places, cocktail bars, brunch spots and a wide range of global cooking are spread across a handful of walkable neighbourhoods. Here is where to start.

Where is the best food in Calgary?

Neighbourhood	Go for	Good to know
17th Avenue SW	Restaurants, cocktail bars, patios	Calgary's busiest dining and nightlife strip
Inglewood	Independent places, breweries, coffee	One of the city's oldest neighbourhoods, east of downtown
Kensington	Brunch, cafés, casual dining	Across the Bow River from downtown, very walkable
Bridgeland-Riverside	Brunch, ramen, neighbourhood bistros	Relaxed, with views over downtown
Downtown and the Beltline	Business dining, steakhouses, bars	Busy on weekdays
Chinatown	Chinese restaurants and bakeries	Near downtown along Centre Street

What is 17th Avenue in Calgary known for?

17th Avenue SW, in the Beltline, is Calgary's best-known restaurant and nightlife street. It has hundreds of local businesses, including restaurants, bakeries, cocktail bars hidden behind unmarked doors, and patios that fill up in summer. It is lively in the evenings and on weekends, and a good place to wander until something looks right.

Calgary summers are short and sunny. When the weather is good, locals head straight for the patios on 17th Avenue.

What is Inglewood known for?

Inglewood, east of downtown, is one of Calgary's oldest neighbourhoods. It has a strong independent streak, with restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, vintage stores and art spaces along 9th Avenue SE. In summer, the Inglewood Night Market brings local vendors, food trucks and live music.

Where should you go for brunch in Calgary?

Kensington and Bridgeland-Riverside are both popular brunch neighbourhoods, with cafés and restaurants serving everything from classic eggs Benedict to inventive plates. Weekend lines are common, so arrive early.

What foods is Calgary known for?

• Alberta beef, from steakhouses to burgers.
• Ginger beef, crispy beef in a sweet, gingery sauce, created in Calgary in the 1970s.
• The Caesar, Canada's favourite cocktail, invented in Calgary in 1969.
• Stampede food, including the famous free pancake breakfasts every July.

Where can you find global food in Calgary?

Calgary's communities bring a wide range of cuisines, from Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean to Indian, Filipino, Ethiopian, Mexican and Lebanese. Many of the best spots are in strip malls across the city, especially in the northeast and south, rather than in the trendy central neighbourhoods. Do not be put off by a plain storefront.

How do you plan a food day in Calgary?

1. Morning: brunch in Kensington or Bridgeland.
2. Midday: walk along the Bow River, then coffee in Inglewood.
3. Afternoon: a brewery or patio in Inglewood or on 17th Avenue.
4. Evening: dinner on 17th Avenue, followed by cocktails.

What should you know about eating out in Calgary?

• Tax: Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so restaurant bills only carry the 5 percent GST.
• Tipping: 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down restaurant.
• Drinking age: 18 in Alberta.
• Bookings: popular places fill up on weekends, especially during the Stampede in July.

How do you get around Calgary for food?

Downtown, the Beltline and 17th Avenue are walkable. Kensington is across the river, reachable on foot via bridges or by CTrain to Sunnyside. Inglewood and Bridgeland are a short drive or transit ride away. Calgary's river pathways are excellent for walking or cycling between neighbourhoods in good weather.

Where can you eat steak in Calgary?

Alberta beef is a point of pride, and Calgary has plenty of steakhouses, from old-school dining rooms downtown to modern places on 17th Avenue. Many menus name the ranch or region the beef comes from, and some offer dry-aged cuts. If you are not up for a full steak dinner, a burger made with Alberta beef, or a beef dip sandwich, is a more casual way to taste it. Ask how the beef is aged and which cut the kitchen recommends.

Is Calgary a good food city?

Yes, and it is getting better. It has a strong independent restaurant scene, great beef, a lively cocktail culture and a surprising variety of global food. It is also less expensive than Vancouver or Toronto in many ways, partly because there is no provincial sales tax.

Mosey is built around the places people actually ate at, dish by dish. In a city where some of the best food is in unassuming strip malls, specific recommendations make all the difference.

More guides to read next:

• A food day trip from Calgary to Canmore and Banff
• Brunch in Calgary: best neighbourhoods and how to skip the wait
• Calgary Stampede food guide: free pancake breakfasts and midway eats

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.