50 Best Cocktail Bars in Calgary

“Excellent food and friendly staff. Great atmosphere.“

“Great food and a lively vibe! We went during live music on a Friday. The service is great, one gal worked the entire floor with the bartender's assistance. Great drinks and the food is fantastic! Pot stickers, tacos, salads, and the doughnuts were all amazing! Great dinner and entertainment!“

“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!“

“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 !!“

“Been here a couple times but recently stopped in for the Halloween popup. The place was over the top decorated, they even had a halloween rinks list. The drinks from their main menu have awesome names and fun presentations. Staff were super friendly and kind. Loved the experience and would come back again. Would recommend going during the week so it's less busy and you can take in all the cool stuff on the walls.“

“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 🥰❤️“

“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!!“

“We didn't eat... but had to leave a food rating. Service was fantastic. Steve was so kind as to go above and beyond when we didn't really appreciate the bottle of wine originally ordered. He made sure we were able to enjoy both our wine and our evening.“

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

“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!“

“We had a fantastic experience at The Park Kitchen & Bar thanks to Maddie! She was attentive and stayed on top of our needs without ever being intrusive. Very friendly and considerate, she clearly knows the menu well and even made sure we were aware of the spicy sauce on the salmon poke bowl. We got the sauce on the side and were glad we did because it was very spicy. All of our food was excellent, especially the Brussels sprout appetizer, which I highly recommend. We come here regularly and Maddie made the last visit even better by adjusting the music volume when we asked. She was very easy and friendly. We’ll definitely keep coming back!“

“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!“

“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 always want to go there >< I starved today to come for chunjang lol It was so delicious ㅠㅠ A really good sweet and sour pork restaurant;;; Red pepper miscellaneous sauce is so delicious!!!! I recommend Jjambbong more than Jjajangmyeon!!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“My husband and I came here and had the best server Brie looking after us, if I could leave 10 stars I would!
A big thank you to her and the kitchen staff for the complimentary desert to celebrate our anniversary
They went above and beyond to make the night and special.
Exceptional service and the food and ambience great!!
Thank you Brie!!!!“

“Delicious food and fast service. Our server was so friendly and helpful and we all loved our food!“

“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!!! 🥰💯💯💯🤠💎💎🍑👨🏼‍🚀🥳“

“Wonderful attentive service with friendly and fun atmosphere.“

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

“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.“

“Another great business lunch at Modern! Warmly welcomed by the ladies when we arrived, it got better from there! Our clients had not been to Modern steak so we just had to take them there! They went away raving about their filets and rib steaks! Our super server, Barb, helped us pair up our sides perfectly! Barb is much more than a server, she has become our trusted advisor when entertaining at Modern steak. Thanks again, Modern team!“

“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.“

“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.“

“My daughter and her friends celebrated her birthday at Model Milk so this is a review from five teenagers. They LOVED the food. Their server was “top tier.” They got a chance to try different foods with unique flavours. The ambience was a like a “cool jazz club”. They had a fabulous experience. So we're definitely coming back to enjoy the restaurant again. Thanks to the wonderful staff at Model Milk!“

“We’ve visited Veranda at The Stables several times, and it consistently delivers—great location, superior service, and a vibrant atmosphere. On our most recent visit, management went above and beyond after a previous double charge was made in error. Amanda, in particular, was incredibly friendly and professional, and our server was excellent throughout. The way the team handled the mistake—promptly and graciously—earned our trust and kept us loyal. Highly recommend.“

“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.“

“5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Modern Steak Southport in Calgary, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience! The steaks were absolutely tender and cooked to perfection - truly impressive. The side dishes were also delicious and complemented the steaks beautifully.

But what truly made our experience stand out was our waiter, Brendan. Brendan was knowledgeable, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure we had an amazing time. He educated us on the wine variety and shared fascinating insights into the grass-fed meat history, which added a whole new layer of appreciation to our meal.

Brendan's exceptional service was the highlight of our visit, and I highly recommend Modern Steak Southport to anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience, whether it's for corporate events or family gatherings. The combination of outstanding food and exceptional service makes it a must-visit destination in Calgary. Well done, Modern Steak Southport, and thank you, Brendan, for making our experience unforgettable!“

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

“One of the best Mexican restaurants in Calgary. An ever changing menu of delicious food makes this a place to return to and it has never disappointed in all the times I have been there. Located perfectly for a meal and a night out. It's atmosphere speaks to the casual but yet can cater to a more up-scale. Perfect for an intimate date night, a casual dinner, a group function, a quick bite or a social meetup.“

“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.“