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.“

“First time visitor. Love the ambiance , decor and space. The friendliness and service were impeccable. The food and drink were delicious and unique. I will be back. Loovveee“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“My new favourite lounge in town!“

“Absolutely loved this place. Everything on the menu is vegan, which is already amazing, but what really stood out was the quality of the cocktails. Honestly, some of the best cocktails I’ve had not just in Calgary, but in Canada. Every drink was beautifully balanced and clearly made with a lot of care and creativity.

Josh, the bartender and owner, is incredibly talented and passionate about what he does. You can really tell he puts a lot of thought into every drink. Katie, our server, was also wonderful, super friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better.

Whether you’re vegan or not, this place is 100% worth visiting. If you enjoy creative, well-crafted cocktails, I can’t recommend it enough. I’ll definitely be coming back.“

“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“

“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!!“

“10/10 service and ambience with high quality drinks. My only complaint is the time limit on the tables. 90 minutes felt too short. Not to mention it took 15-20 mins to make each round of drinks we had (for 2 people). It felt short and rushed. Provided we had a reservation booked, a 2 hour time limit would have felt more fair. Other than that the overall experience was great. Would recommend.“

“This place reminds me of a camp you’d find in Burning Man. In the absolute best way. Creative and fun decor, awesome sheesha, incredibly fun and unique drink presentations. We love it here! Love that they decorate for every season. Vidhu is incredible.“

“I had Will as my server and had a wonderful time. It was valentines days and very busy. Our server made sure not only us but I could see his others tables too were very well taken care of. He knew everything about absolutely everything, as a server myself I am very jealous of his knowledge/skill. He helped up pick food and well paired drinks. He knew every ingredient and origins of every liquor in them. From the welcome to our good bye at proof we felt we had an amazing server, friend and guide. I truly have not experienced such an amazing service. I hope his managers are well aware of them gem they have on their team. Will be going back on weekends only cause that’s when he works!“

“Best cocktail bar in town 🤫.
The presentation is unique, the service is amazing, and the atmosphere is breathtaking.
One of the not many places that has comfortable couches to relax in. I absolutely love this place and bring everyone of my family and friends for a drink when they come to town.
Keep it up guys 🥂🎆🥂“

“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“

“Came here to celebrate my birthday with some friends, our server Skye took great care of us. So friendly with the most welcoming energy. Recommended great hangout spots in Calgary for us. Food was amazing, we ordered the chicken burger, club sandwich and a couple cocktails. Beautiful place. 10/10 would come back again!“

“Came here with my significant other, I got the dagwood, she got the turkey and brie. Food was great, quick, and super tasty. The vibe was amazing, no pressure from the servers, and the vibe was immaculate. Big thanks to our server Jadyn! Worth every dollar!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“A heaven for Burgundy lovers. And for Champagne lovers. And for German Riesling lovers. And Rhône lovers. And Jerez lovers !

I wouldn’t choose any other place in Edmonton for my next meeting with Jasper Morris, Anne Krebiehl and Peter Liem lol

Meursault villages to the most coveted 1ers & Grands Crus in white and red:

Puligny, St. Aubin, Volnay, Pommard, Vosne-Romanee, Gevrey Chambertin, … Lafarge, Hubert Lamy, Leflaive, Mugneret-Gibourg, …

The Champagne section reads like a grower champagne social club: Agrapart, Roses de Jeanne, Delamotte, Roederer (practically a grower).

Quite a lot of rare wines here, including a Suenen Robarts - how did this rarity travel all the way from France without anyone having drunk or stolen it?

Cold cuts, sardines and cheese served, the place is full of young young, smiling people listening to unobtrusive music.
Make sure you find the stairs from the street level to get here.“

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

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

“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“

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

“Had a great experience at Dalhousie. The food was excellent, the service was friendly and attentive, and everything came out quickly and fresh. The atmosphere was welcoming and made for a really enjoyable visit. Would definitely recommend and will be back again.“

“Our server Thea was amazing! She helped us celebrate our anniversary and valentines day. She was very attentive and took the extra time to ensure our food and drinks were to our preference. We did their February Wagyu Four Course Menu and it was splendid! Will come back again.“

“Just when you think they can't raise their game any higher Hy's manages to find a way. We attended the Calgary locations 10th Anniversary Celebration on Sept 26th and it was spectacular. The event was flawlessly organized and orchestrated by the Hy's team, the food was next level even by Hy's standards and the service exceeded anything we have experienced anywhere in North America even in the finest hotels. Bryant Olender added a classic background with piano and vocal stylings that perfectly suited the atmosphere. It was certainly the best evening we have at Hy's over the last decade, and I don't think I'm overstating it to say it was a "Once in a Lifetime" experience. A huge thankyou to Barb and the entire Hy's team!“

“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 👯‍♀️“

“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!!“

“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.“

“Fun atmosphere, great drinks and service!

We stopped by for a quick drink and snacks. Our server was very friendly and accommodating. Drinks were tasty and the food was excellent. It’s a nice little spot to hang out and chat. Although we didn’t stay for very long, I’ll definitely come back to try more items on the menu.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Amazing lunch and service. Just wow“