Inglewood food guide: eating and drinking in Calgary's oldest neighbourhood

Inglewood is Calgary's oldest neighbourhood, just east of downtown where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. Its main street, 9th Avenue SE, is lined with heritage brick storefronts that now hold restaurants, cafés, vintage shops, record stores and live music venues. Add a cluster of craft breweries and some of the city's most interesting restaurants, and Inglewood is one of the best places in Calgary to eat with a bit of character.

Where is Inglewood in Calgary?

Inglewood is east of downtown and the East Village, across the Elbow River. The main street is 9th Avenue SE, roughly between 8th and 14th streets SE. It is a short drive or bike ride from downtown, and several bus routes serve it. The neighbourhood is next to the Bow River pathway and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

What is Inglewood known for?

Inglewood is known for its independent spirit. It has:

• A heritage main street, with buildings dating back to the early twentieth century.
• Chef-driven restaurants, often in small rooms, that many Calgarians consider among the city's best.
• Craft breweries and a distillery, in the area sometimes called Brewery Flats.
• Live music venues and pubs.
• Vintage, antique and independent shops.
• Cafés and bakeries.

What should you eat in Inglewood?

What	Why
Dinner at a chef-run restaurant	Inglewood has some of Calgary's most creative kitchens
Brunch	A popular weekend outing on 9th Avenue
Craft beer and pub food	At breweries and pubs along and around the main street
Pizza	A favourite casual dinner in the neighbourhood
Coffee and pastries	At independent cafés

Inglewood's restaurant scene changes often; look at what is busy when you visit and book ahead for dinner on weekends.

Are there breweries in Inglewood?

Yes. Inglewood has its own cluster of craft breweries, sometimes called Brewery Flats, within walking distance of 9th Avenue. Several have tasting rooms with food or food trucks outside. Just to the south, in the Manchester industrial area, the Barley Belt has another group of breweries. Many Calgarians combine dinner on 9th Avenue with a brewery stop or two. In Alberta, the legal drinking age is 18.

Is Inglewood good for a date night?

Very. The main street has an old-town feel, the restaurants are often small and intimate, and there is live music most nights somewhere nearby. A walk by the river before or after dinner rounds it out. Book ahead at the best-known restaurants, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

What else is there to do in Inglewood?

• The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, a quiet nature reserve by the Bow River.
• The Bow River pathway, for walks and bike rides.
• The Calgary Zoo, just north across the river.
• Live music, at long-running venues on 9th Avenue.
• Vintage and record shopping.

Why is Inglewood called Calgary's oldest neighbourhood?

Inglewood grew up beside the spot where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, where the North-West Mounted Police built Fort Calgary in 1875. When the railway arrived in the 1880s, the first businesses and homes clustered nearby, and 9th Avenue SE became one of the city's first main streets.

Many of the brick buildings on 9th Avenue date from the early 1900s, and the neighbourhood kept its character through decades when other parts of the city were rebuilt. Today those old storefronts hold restaurants, cafés, bars and shops, which is a large part of why Inglewood feels different from the newer parts of Calgary. The site of Fort Calgary, at the confluence, is a short walk west and worth a visit before or after a meal.

Is Inglewood good for brunch and coffee?

Yes. Weekend brunch on 9th Avenue is a popular outing, and the neighbourhood has independent cafés and bakeries that are worth a stop on their own. Brunch spots get busy from mid-morning on Saturdays and Sundays, so arrive early or plan a later lunch instead. The cafés make good bases for a slow morning before you browse the shops, and a few double as places to sit with a laptop on a quiet weekday.

How much does eating in Inglewood cost?

Inglewood covers the range, from affordable pizza and pub meals to tasting menus. Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so a restaurant bill only adds the 5 percent GST. At table service, tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount.

When is the best time to visit Inglewood?

Weekend afternoons are lively, with shoppers and brunch crowds. Evenings are best for dinner and music. In summer, the neighbourhood often hosts street events and festivals; check local listings for what is on. In winter, Inglewood's pubs, cafés and breweries are cozy places to wait out a cold snap.

How to spend a day in Inglewood

1. Start with coffee on 9th Avenue.
2. Walk to the Bird Sanctuary or along the river pathway.
3. Browse the vintage and record shops.
4. Visit a brewery in the afternoon.
5. Book dinner at one of the neighbourhood's restaurants, and stay for live music.

Inglewood rewards people who explore. On Mosey, you can rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, see where friends you follow went, and keep a list of Inglewood restaurants and breweries to come back to.

More guides to read next:

• A food day trip from Calgary to Canmore and Banff
• International Avenue in Calgary: a food guide to 17th Avenue SE
• Kensington food guide: cafés, brunch and dinner in Calgary's village by the river

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