50 Best Cocktail Bars in Calgary

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

“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!“

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

“My new favourite lounge in town!“

“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.“

“And the hunt continues, for Canada’s best Tiki bar…and we have a new leader….Prosperity Bar in Calgary. They do their drinks right here, establishing right out of the gate that while imagination in Tiki drinks is important, you need to have a solid foundation of the classics, and they have mastered those! And like any top shelf Tiki bar, they take pride in incorporating their own syrups, tinctures, and garnishes, with unique touches and add ons. And while the food menu is not huge, what they serve is pure Tiki bliss. Try the Bahn Mi, as it’s a unique spin on a classic, and don’t miss out on the egg rolls, but I’ll leave that one to surprise you….oh and the staff here is AMAZING!“

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

“I've been here multiple times, and it never disappoints! The consistency is impressive—from the food quality to the service and the ambiance. Whether it's a first-time visit or your tenth, you're guaranteed a great experience“

“Sabina was amazing, we had such a good time, everything was on point. The staff here always take care of us, the cocktails are amazing, timely, and delicious. She was so fun for us (there was 9 of us) and we were entertained the entire time. The vibe is amazing and the quality of cocktails is exceptional. Will obviously be back!“

“I love this place, i discovered them even before they began selling cocktails. The food is really tasty and always crispy. The drinks are unique and refreshing. The food is a little in the higher price l, but well worth it.

Just give it a try...“

“AMAZING COCKTAILS FOOD IS AWESOME HIGHLY RECOMMEND“

“I recently hosted my son's first birthday at Freestyle Social Club, and I can confidently say that the experience was nothing short of fantastic. From the moment we arrived, Chad and his team provided impeccable service that truly made our event memorable.

Every detail was handled seamlessly, allowing us to focus on enjoying the occasion rather than worrying about logistics. The staff was attentive and genuinely committed to ensuring that everything went perfectly. They went above and beyond, anticipating our needs and making thoughtful suggestions that enhanced the overall experience.

If you're looking for a venue that offers both a vibrant atmosphere and exceptional service, look no further than Freestyle Social Club.“

“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!“

“I always make sure to drop by proof when I'm in Calgary for some AMAZING cocktails. The atmosphere is spot on, and the drinks are quite reasonably priced for how fancy they are. We were also pleasantly surprised this time as they have great Monday specials with heavily discounted drinks all night long, and deals on gourmet hotdogs and bao buns!“

“AMAZING drinks and AMAZING service. My one complaint is that my friend and I both fell off our stools several times—they were really wobbly wicker things that slid out from under me if i leaned back too fast. Lovely music choices and a good energy overall.“

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

“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!!“

“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“

“Great joint to grab a bite, the food came out quickly and was delicious. We enjoyed a basket of Parm fries, charred broccoli and I had the Tuna melt. Will definitely be coming back to try out their other dishes, everything looked great on their menu.“

“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!!“

“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.“

“Great food and service! Highly recommend!“

“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!“

“We dropped in for a quick bite. I expected the food to be good (since it's connected to Linas) and it was delicious and very reasonably priced. The service is warm and professional. They were featuring some lovely live accoustic bluesy musicians, that was a perfect touch of unexpected. The volume of the live music was perfect, you could hear them well but it wasn't intrusive. Everything was very pleasant and thoughtful, they did an excellent job creating a satisfying experience. Definitely recommend.“

“maybe just the time we came(saturday night) but the wine by the glass selection was poor. And the cocktail i tried was boring…not worth but maybe just a non-representative first insight we had, who knows…
Update 2nd stay:
way better, less crowded, friendly staff and good wine and cocktail selections this time! As anticipated, the first time was not representative of the potential of Missy‘s and I gladly revise my conclusion!“

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

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

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

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

“I chose the lamb meatballs and cauliflower. Totally superb food. See pics. We were a table of 8 and my only complaint was that they added 20% automatically to the bill (which I kinda get) but our server did not point that out. I find it bordering on unethical that she wouldn't mention it, because a couple of people added a further tip because they weren't aware. Hey management, it left a sour taste when you added 20% like that, so you should change your practice to at least mention it out of respect and courtesy. However I gave you 5 because the food and ambience were superb. Take a look at the pics of the dry aged lamb, yummy!“

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

“Wonderful attentive service with friendly and fun atmosphere.“

“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!!“

“Went with my husband for our first anniversary, I cannot say enough good things about this place! We were given a hand signed card, complimentary bubbly upon arrival, incredible service by all the staff (shout out to our server Tess, you were awesome), delicious food (get the mashed potatoes) and a complimentary dessert. The DJ set the perfect mood too. Everything here was incredible!“

“Cactus is a staple in the Calgary food industry, the service you get is pretty standard across the board. We did notice the food does have a bit of a heavy salt undertone, it could possibly come down to dishes and personal preference but we did have two people we were with mention something similar. The service was a high point however it’s always a on point but this specific location is a bit cramped and loud I find. Could be due to the size of the location parking is a similar problem. Overall it’s not bad and not great just overage at best“

“WONDERFUL! Andrea made our day - from start to end, the friendliest service and food, honestly, all 5 stars. Our egg bennys were delicious, could not forget about how quick I drank my mocha, also interesting view. Do not hesitate and overlook this hidden gem!“

“It's a cozy Korean bar/ restaurant that everyone is friendly and foods are great. We had seafood jjigae and slow cooked pork belly with some drinks. Everything is good but my favourite is jjigae. I would love to go back when I am in the area.“

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

“We had the most amazing experience at Earls, thanks to Fadi—an absolute gem of a host! From the moment we walked in, his energy was warm, professional, and effortlessly attentive. He made us feel so welcomed and taken care of, like VIPs without even trying.

We ordered the Sarah wine (highly recommend!) and some perfectly crisp calamari to start—both were divine. But honestly, it was Fadi’s charisma and genuine hospitality that stole the show. He’s the kind of person who elevates the entire dining experience just by being himself.

If you're lucky enough to be seated in his section—you’re in for a treat. Cheers to an unforgettable evening, thanks to Fadi!“

“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!“

“I celebrated my friend and I's double birthdays at Earl's. The customer service was amazing including the birthday cards, balloons and complimentary cake. The seating was perfect and I loved the atmosphere. Isabella greeted me with a warm welcome and offered me some suggestions to start with. I would highly recommend going here for a perfect dinner.“

“Came for a quick meal and business meeting on Friday at 5:30pm. We were sat in the back of the dining room where it was a bit less noisy. Moon our server was great. He was on top of everything, very friendly and efficient. Quality service. Both the appetizers, drinks and entrees were on point. Overall great experience.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“