50 Best Cocktail Bars in Calgary

“Excellent food and friendly staff. Great atmosphere.“

“Lovely service and delicious food. We sat on the patio. They have an open mic night every Saturday. Generally adequate space to navigate with my walker, though all the guitars from what I understand was a particularly busy open mic night did get in the way of my walker on the way to the washroom. However, those aren't usually there. They have a good sized accessible washroom on the gallery side. And it was lovely to be able to see their main floor exhibit. We did not look at the basement gallery as there was stairs to access it.“

“This is an amazing place. Some of the best cocktails I've had anywhere. The creativity is out of this world, and the unexpected combinations hang together well. These are thoughtful cocktails, not gimmicks. The food is also amazing. Fresh, excellently crafted with contrasts of flavor, seasoning, and texture. The pork, maple, miso bao is to die for, as is the dessert parfait. The bartenders and servers are friendly and attentive without being intrusive, and have excellent eyes for detail in service. The decor is fun and funky, with a wall of gas masks behind the bar, sandbags piled up as a partition between the bar and table service area, and terrific lighting. Finally, Shelter has some of the best acoustic design for dining and drinking of anywhere I've been. There is a nice ambient sound level, and they've got a great playlist, but the room is not very live, so other folks' conversations don't reverberate. This makes it easy to have a conversation without having to talk loudly or strain to listen, which is a rarity in bustling dining and drinking establishments. Whether you live in Calgary or are just visiting, checking out Shelter should be a priority.“

“Amazing atmosphere, fantastic staff. Great music. Our server, Justin was fantastic. You really made my birthday something special. Definitely recommend this place.“

“Came here with some girlfriends and we had a great time. The place has a really nice vibe, I loved the theme and decor, though it was a bit dark for my taste, but not a big deal. We ordered a couple of drinks; two of us tried the non-alcoholic options which were really good, and our other friend had the corn oil cocktail, which she also enjoyed.

As for the food, we had the green onion bun (it was okay), the fried tofu (pretty good), and my favourite, the fried dumplings. The service was excellent; the staff were very friendly and attentive. Overall, it was a nice experience. We’d definitely come back and would happily recommend it to others.“

“My new favourite lounge in town!“

“Great atmosphere for a speak easy! our hostess, May Rose, was amazing! Celebrated my children's birthdays 18, 24! Establishment, Staff, Atmosphere, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Amazing experience!! Great service, food and drinks!! Highly recommended !!“

“I love the cocktails variety the food is super fresh the look of the lanterns it make it so romantic I love it, great service 🥰❤️“

“When you get over that looming taxidermy, everything else is less overwhelming haha. Really enjoyed that smoky beef tartare and drinks. ✨“

“AMAZING COCKTAILS FOOD IS AWESOME HIGHLY RECOMMEND“

“Absolutely adore this spot. I’ve been many times and it simply never misses. The drinks are always exceptional and the staff are always friendly and accommodating. A Calgary staple that locals and visitors should keep at the top of their lists.“

“My wife and I had an amazing and memorable evening! Ryan and team out done themselves! Amazing atmosphere and food! Already planning our next private event here! Thank you!!“

“When I tell you, jade is the best server you’ve ever had? I’m telling the truth. That gal relates on every level and her personality shines through in every aspect. I don’t ever expect to have a server like her again, and that’s okay - you make up for every other time. Love you <3 - Sonia’s bachelorette party“

“Very cool place and concept! The menu and drinks are all on theme and tasty.

The presentation of all the drinks is so creative, it’s so much fun watching other tables drinks come out and seeing all the different trays. A lot of respect for the team here serving and preparing all the trays!

My only critique would be due to the complexity of the trays, sometimes it can take longer than expected if there is only 1 or 2 people serving, but it is worth the wait!“

“What a cool bar in downtown Calgary!! The drinks are delicious and the ambiance is so cozy with the couches & dim lighting.

I ordered the Father of Sax, all their drinks are works of art 🎷

Already excited to visit Prohibition on my next trip to Calgary!“

“I highly recommend The Park Kitchen & Bar Aspen. My wife and I had dinner there one time with very good friends and I have been there twice for lunch with coworkers. Our dinner was wonderful. A Very relaxed and casual setting in a very friendly environment. Both lunches were awesome as well. A great atmosphere for a casual lunch with friends or a quick lunch meeting. The staff on each visit were all friendly and inviting and always very accommodating.
Parking can be a bit of a challenge because of its location to other shops and stores in that area. But it was not a major issue. At most, we had a short walk to the restaurant.
Definitely a great spot to visit for Lunch or Dinner.
Highly recommend 👍
Paul and Andrea
Calgary“

“My friends and I were there last July 08 for dinner. It was so busy but we were greeted immediately by a server and happened to be our server Raquelle) She is very informative, pleasant, approachable and very friendly, However busy it was she still manage to smile and be friendly. All the cocktails she recommend were very good and we all love it ( Golden Sunset, Whisky me Away, Confluence and the made by Ben) The food were also good. WE also had the Japanese old fashion that se also recommended. (i love it!!) Raquelle is one of the best server we had and we highly recommend this restaurant for her top notch service. We will definitely comeback. Thank you“

“Had a wonderful time with my husband! The drinks were fantastic, and the poolside atmosphere was perfect. Our server, Khadija, was incredibly kind and gave us great recommendations for fun things to do around the city. We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel and to top it all off, breakfast at Yellow Door Bistro on our last morning was absolutely delicious.“

“Best sandwiches in Calgary hands down. We’ve been coming here for years and make sure to bring anyone visiting here! Some of our favourites are the turkey club, ruben and beef dip, make sure to order parm fries for the table. If you’re thinking of stopping by you won’t regret it.“

“I love the decor and the pop ups on top of that are 😍 Aside from the spectacular cocktails with PRESENTATION they have a huge menu and I've enjoyed every single thing I've ordered to date!“

“Great food and service! Highly recommend!“

“Chun Jang delivered a solid and enjoyable meal with several standout dishes. The spicy squid noodle soup was the clear highlight. The broth had a robust pepper-forward profile with a clean heat that did not overwhelm the aromatics, and the portion of squid was notably generous and well prepared. This single dish would justify a return visit.

The fried rice carried the characteristic wok-derived fragrance and paired well with the accompanying black bean sauce, offering a balanced savory element. The black bean noodles were less successful. The sauce leaned toward the sweet end of the spectrum, which limited depth and made it the least preferred item among our group.

The sweet and sour pork met expectations. The coating remained crisp, the sauce was well proportioned, and it functioned as a reliable classic that rounded out the meal.

Overall, Chun Jang offers strong execution on its spicy and savory dishes. The spicy squid noodle soup, in particular, deserves attention for its broth and portion quality.“

“We eat out a fair bit, but this was the best night out I have had in years! Have not been here before, but definitely coming back often. Came here with my wife and one of our friends later on Saturday afternoon for happy hour and got seated at the bar, overlooking the kitchen. The happy hour drinks were very good, and the food was fantastic. We ended up staying for dinner, and every dish was beautifully prepared, tasty and original - not just a variation on something you would get at a restaurant down the street. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Our waiter provided excellent service. He always knew the right time to check up on us and see if we needed more drinks or food. Nice guy too. I originally was a little disappointed to get seated at the bar instead of a table - now I would not want to sit anywhere else. Loved to watch the skills and teamwork of the kitchen staff, who were very friendly and chatted with us when they had time. Loved everything about this place.“

“A must go to Restaurant. Just amazing food and ambiance!“

“My second time in Calgary was nothing short of perfection. Last year I dined here for my birthday and when the thought of what to do rolled around this year, flying to Calgary seemed both extra, and hilarious. But it stuck. Saltlik, you outdid yourself. I’ve been thinking of the Beeswax Old Fashioned for 366 days and it just hits the spot. Victoria B.C. hasn’t latched onto it yet but it’ll come. Dinner was exceptional but the real star or the show was Trevor. Exceptional service is becoming an almost lost art and this guy has it. His energetic read on the table and tailored charisma is what 90s career servers were made of. The kind of server who questions himself “how do I elevate this experience?!” And then executes. His tag team with Chris to make this birthday nothing short of Calgary perfection is exactly why we ended up here. Thank you for making us feel special, our dinner incredible and leaving us with yet another Saltlik memory for the books. Thanks over many thanks. We will see you again!“

“Jan is great, always a killer haircut, and good conversation, i would recommend Cannibale to anyone“

“I love everything Chicken there - Fried Chicken & Creamy Chicken are my favorite. The staff is super friendly and have good recommendations. this place can get loud during Karaoke time, but it's still entertaining.“

“Such a great vibe! I highly recommend Best of Kin Social!“

“Our server was amazing!! There was a table close by to us that was giving her a hard time and she didn’t let it phase her one bit! Very charming and kind! Other staff walking by were always checking in on us and clearing plates or refilling drinks. Love this location of cactus club!“

“Fantastic food. Never dissatisfied once. Service was great“

“They found another table as it was busy and quite loud where we were. Very accommodating . Our server was amazing even tho it was crazy busy. Food was once again unbelievable! The cauliflower, the skewers of different meats, the labneh...all so flavourful“

“I was so happy my friend Caitlin reccomended this bar. This was my first time here and Carter and Mia were so amazing and funny and welcomimg!! I love the menu and attention to detail (probably one of the most intentionally funny and random menus ive ever had the pleasure of chortling several times to* (*see photo update). Easily one of the best bars ive been to in Canada alongside some seasoned favourites back in Vancouver, but this place is a gem!!! 💎💎💎💎💎💎💎 i really enjoyed my Oolong Peach Long Island (delicious... Lychee in there, maybe? 🍑🦚🧋🍐🕊) and the Mighty Moose Vodka was very decently good for a Well. Will definitely be back!!! 🥰💯💯💯🤠💎💎🍑👨🏼‍🚀🥳“

“Some of the best Thai food I've had in Calgary. What beautiful menu. Delicious and fresh. Perfect flavors.“

“Our Modern Steak adult HAPPY MEAL was a melt-in-your-mouth wagyu cheeseburger that felt like it was flirting with us, fries that understood the assignment, and the realization that adulthood is finally paying off by way of a glass of wine instead of a juice box. We left full emotionally supported by beef. 10/10 would eat our feelings here again! 🍔🍟🍷 Love, the Sangria Sisters 👯‍♀️“

“Total hidden gem in south Calgary and probably one of the best places to eat real, good quality food. Chef driven and worth the visit. The quality is insane for the price point. Most everything seems to be handmade like their pasta and sauces. Service was great based on the more casual setting, its fun to watch people climb while you eat.“

“We had a wonderful evening - great vegan options :)“

“We have been to this Cactus Club lots of enjoyable times. We therefore decided to go there for our 54th wedding anniversary last Wednesday. Food was prompt and excellent and the manager arranged for a welcome drink of prosecco. Nice touch. The service by Jackie R was a 10-out-of-10 and we will certainly pay a visit to this restaurant again in the near future. Five stars!!“

“The best culinary experience you could possibly get for the price. The food was prepared with the upmost attention to detail. We did the Yakitori Omakase (15 course meal with drink pairings). The specially reserved seats in front of the kitchen offer a show, not just the meal. Our server Adam provided an 11/10 service, explaining the intricacies of each dish and how the each drink was tied into the given course. They also offer you the option to purchase 3 ounces of the 45 day beeswax aged A5 Waygu (which we also purchased and highly recommend to take in the full experience). You will not leave hungry, or unsatisfied in any way. If you’re in Calgary, you have to visit Shokunin.“

“Wonderful attentive service with friendly and fun atmosphere.“

“Very nice selection of drinks focused on Japanese whiskey, but with a nice variety of other drinks. The Negroni was very tasy. Service is excellent, atmosphere is great, record player on the bar providing a nice back drop.
Didn't have any food so I can't comment on that.“

“Love this place love the live bands and a variety of food to choose from“

“This place in Calgary hit home... For starters the atmosphere brought nostalgia with retro Corona tables & Pedro Infante portraits, etc. The tacos are amazing, the atmosphere is cosmopolitan but traditional Mexican style, super friendly staff, and the mezcal drinks were on point.“

“We were a large group of ten for my bachelorette party on June 1st and we had an AMAZING dinner at Porch. I am so glad we chose to come here. The food was incredible, I had the Wild Mushroom Pappardelle and it was to die for, I am still thinking about it! The drinks were also so refreshing and unique! Our waiter, whose name I forget (sorry!) was attentive, fast and very helpful! The Manager came to our table and gave me and my Mom a complimentary glass of champagne too! 10/10! I can't wait to come back here and try more of the menu! Thank you so much for giving us an unforgettable dining experience!“

“Went to Earls for the Winter Gala event and had the best time ever ! the service by mckara was amazing ! what really stood out to me and my table was the amazing hospitality by the shift leader Emmeline. she was so welcoming and ensured that we had the best experience ever. will be coming back just to see her ! As well, the general manager Arjun was so friendly and helpful! 10/10 experience“

“Great ambience!!! Delicious food.“

“Quality food but comes at a premium but knew that going in. From appetizers to som Alberta Wagyu steak it was a great experience. Friendly staff - very attentive! Was noisy due to Christmas large tables but not annoyingly loud. Will I go back? Indeed but it will be a once a year treat at $350 for two people - 1 drink each, 2 shared appies and Alberta Wagyu fillet and NY Strip. All was perfectly prepared and very tasty indeed.“

“It was great to book a table online and be seated as soon as we arrived at a lovely table for two. We enjoy the exceptional service we get every time we go to Earls. Reese, our server, met our expectations and, overall, we are very happy with our experience at Earls to celebrate our 62nd wedding anniversary. We will definitely go there again.“