Calgary City Centre refers to the most urban and dense area of Calgary. The area is best known as the location of the Downtown Commercial Core.

See

Landmarks

• 1 Calgary Tower, 101 9th Ave SW (corner of 9 Ave SW & Centre St), ☏ +1 403-266-7171. Jun-Aug 9AM-10PM, Sept-May 9AM-9PM. The Calgary Tower may not be quite as impressive as the CN Tower in Toronto, but it still commands a great view over the city and the surroundings. On a clear day you can see the Rockies to the west. It features a revolving gourmet restaurant, a bar, and an observation deck. The tower is best approached from 9th Avenue, as the 10th Avenue side is dominated by railway tracks, parking lots, & parkades. $18/adult, $16/senior, $9/child. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 Saddledome. On the Stampede Grounds, Calgary's largest hockey arena plays host to the Calgary Flames (ice hockey), the Calgary Hitmen (junior ice hockey), the Calgary Roughnecks (box lacrosse), and many concerts.  
• 3 Stampede Grounds, 1410 Olympic Way SE (from the C-Train Rte 201, get off at either Victoria Park/Stampede Station (N end of Stampede grounds) or Erlton/Stampede Station (S end of Stampede grounds)). The site of Calgary's world-famous exhibition and rodeo, the Calgary Stampede grounds are east of the Beltline in Victoria Park. Not only are the grounds the site of the excitement of every July's Calgary Stampede, they also house a conference and exhibition centre (the BMO Centre) and a casino.  

Museums & educational attractions

• 4 Calgary Central Library (New Calgary Central Library), 800 3 St SE (3 St SE between 7 Ave SE and 9 Ave SE; SE of the City Hall LRT station). M-Th 9AM-8PM; F 9AM-6PM; Sa 9AM-5PM; Su noon-5PM. Flagship branch of the Calgary Public Library, opened on November 1, 2018. 240,000-square-foot (22,000 m²) interior centres around a four-storey central atrium topped by a skylight. The lower floors contain the library's meeting spaces and activity centres, while the upper floors feature book stacks with space for 450,000 titles and a reading room. Also features a 340-seat theatre, conference rooms, and small café. Named one of the 12 Most Anticipated Buildings of 2018 by Architectural Digest. free. (updated Mar 2019)
• 5 Fort Calgary, 750 9th Ave SE, ☏ +1 403-290-1875. 9AM-5PM. Fort Calgary, a Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP, now RCMP) fort was built in 1875 at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers (near modern Inglewood). It became the nucleus around which Calgary grew. The original fort was destroyed decades ago. Today's Fort Calgary is a museum and historic site focusing on the history of the city and of the RCMP. $12/adult, $11/concession, $7/youth, $5/child. (updated Oct 2018)
• 6 Glenbow Museum, 130 9th Ave SE, ☏ +1 403-268-4100. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Western Canada's largest museum, with over 93,000 ft² (8,600 m²) of exhibition space on three floors. More than 20 galleries are filled with artifacts from Glenbow's collection of over a million objects, emphasizing local history. Permanent exhibitions include Indigenous Cultures, Western Canadian History, Asian Art, West African Art, and Military History. The Glenbow has changed focus to be more of an art gallery, and this is reflected in the temporary exhibitions. Free on the first Thursday of the month 5PM-9PM. $16/adult, $11/concession, $10/child, $40/family, +5% GST. (updated Oct 2018)

Parks

• 7 Devonian Gardens, 317 7 Ave SW (4th floor of TD Square), ☏ +1 780-987-3054. The Devonian Gardens is a large indoor urban park in TD Square, above the shopping area. After closing for several years for extensive renovations, Calgary's Devonian Gardens reopened for visitors in 2012. Free. 
• 8 Olympic Plaza, 800 block of Macleod Trail SE (corner of 8 Ave SE and Macleod Trail). This public square was built as the site of medal presentations during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. It continues to host free public events and festivals. During the summer, waders can enjoy the water-filled plaza, while winter visitors can go skating. Also the site of Calgary's "Women are Persons!" sculpture, celebrating a landmark achievement in the status of women in Canada. Calgary's quaint old City Hall is across the street from the north-east corner of Olympic Park. 
• 9 Prince's Island Park, immediately north of Eau Claire in the Bow River (from downtown, there are bridges to the park near the end of 2 St SW, 3 St SW and 6 St SW). Calgary's largest inner city park is an island with a number of pleasant trails for walking and relaxing. In the summer, it plays host to Shakespeare by the Bow and it is also the site of one of the city's largest annual festivals: the Calgary Folk Music Festival. 

Sports complexes

• 10 Talisman Centre, 2225 Macleod Trail S, ☏ +1 403-233-8393. M-F 5AM-11PM, Sa 6AM-10PM, Su 7AM-10PM. Near the Stampede Grounds and just south of downtown, Talisman Centre is a multi-sport centre used by both recreational and Olympic-level athletes. Facilities include two 8-lane 50 m long Olympic-size swimming pools, a dive tank with spring boards and platforms for 3 m, 5 m, 7 m, and 10 m dives, shallow teaching pool, 5 full-size gyms, 2 running tracks, fitness centre for cardio & weight training, basketball and volleyball courts, classes. $14 adult/$8.75 youth. 

Walk & shop

• 11 Barclay Parade (3 St SW between Eau Claire Ave SW and 8/Stephen Ave SW). Barclay Parade (3 St SW) is a pedestrian-friendly section of downtown street that runs from Eau Claire Market in the north to Stephen Avenue (8 Ave S) in the south. It is home to a number of high end shops. 
• 12 Chinatown (Area around Centre St S and 2 Ave S). Canada's third largest Chinatown is in the northeast portion of downtown Calgary. It is the heart of Calgary's Asian diaspora, although much of northeast Calgary has a Pacific Rim influence. The area of about a half-dozen blocks is along Centre Street S, from 4 Ave S (on the south) to the Bow River (on the north). Calgary's Chinatown packs in a dense network of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asian restaurants, shops, housing and cultural facilities. The area along Centre Street on the north side of the river almost functions as a loosely organized "second Chinatown" with Chinese-oriented businesses stretching for 20 or more blocks. 
• 13 Stephen Avenue Walk (Stephen/8 Ave between Macleod Trail and 3 St SW). One of Calgary's most famous streets, Stephen Avenue was declared a National Historic District by the Canadian government. The street is lined with many attractive older buildings. It is a major venue for boutique shopping, bars, pubs and restaurants. The mall is closed to vehicle traffic from 6AM-6PM daily. 

Do

Performing arts

• 1 Arts Commons, 205 8 Ave SE (adjacent to Olympic Plaza), ☏ +1 403-294-7455, info@artscommons.org. Ats Commons hosts the three best-known professional theatre groups; the conservative Theatre Calgary, the more adventurous Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP), and the downright avant-garde One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre (OYR). The facility has two additional theatres, so other companies often produce shows here. Of special note is OYR's High Performance Rodeo festival, which runs for January and provides a wildly eclectic mix of performing arts (and performance art). Arts Commons is also home to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra which presents everything from buttoned-down traditional classical music to pops to symphonies for children. Finally, Arts Commons is the venue for many other concerts and events throughout the year. $10–99. 
• 2 Vertigo Theatre, 161, 115-9 Ave SE (at the base of the Calgary Tower), ☏ +1 403-221-3708. is dedicated to producing mystery plays, ranging from musicals to straight-up whodunnits. A second studio theatre frequently hosts other companies. 
• 3 Theatre Junction, 608 1 St SW, ☏ +1 403-205-2922. Offers a slate of highly contemporary theatre and performing arts, and the venue also hosts music and other events. $20-30. 
• 4 Pumphouse Theatre, 2140 Pumphouse Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-263-0079. Two theatres in a historic brick waterworks building play host to a large part of Calgary's semi-pro and community theatre scene, with new productions here every week. $20-40. 
• 5 Lunchbox Theatre, 160, 115 9 Ave SW (in the Calgary Tower), ☏ +1 403-265-4292. Shows M-Sa at 12:10PM and F at 6:10PM. This unique theatre company produces exclusively one-act plays, during the weekday noon lunch hour. Typically lighter fare suitable for a downtown corporate crowd. $22. 
• 6 Yuk Yuks (Mark Breslin's Yuk Yuks), 218 18 Ave SE (Elbow River Casino), ☏ +1 403-258-2028, calgary@yukyuks.com. Stand-up comedy. $12-39. 
• 7 Calgary Opera, 1315 – 7 St SW (Arrata Opera Centre), ☏ +1 403-262-7286, info@calgaryopera.com. Calgary's oldest opera company presents several operas each year at their Arrata Opera Centre and the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. $37-163. 
• 8 National Music Centre (Studio Bell), 850 4 Street SE, ☏ +1 403-543-5115, toll-free: +1 800-213-9750, info@nmc.ca. W–Su 10AM–5PM, Tours 11AM, 12:30PM, and 2PM, open all of July and Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A collection of antique and notable musical instruments is available to the public by guided tour. The collection includes the Elton John songwriting piano and the famous TONTO synthesizer, as well as many antique pianos and organs, and the artifacts of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Housed in Studio Bell, a $191-million building designed by the Portland architect Brad Cloepfil. $0-18. 

Buy

• 1 Eau Claire Market, 200 Barclay Parade (corner of 2 St and 2 Ave SW), ☏ +1 403-264-6450. M-W Sa 10AM-6PM, Th-F 10AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5PM. A unique market-style mall with interesting shops, restaurants and cinemas. 
• 2 Stephen Avenue Walk, 8 Ave S between 1 St SE and 4 St SW. Stephen Avenue Walk is a pedestrianized section of 8 Ave SW in the heart of Calgary's downtown core. It is home mostly to restaurants and some bars, but you will still find some major retail shops fronting it. Stephen Avenue is also home to most of the downtown mall called the Core. Stephen Avenue is also a Canadian National Historic District. A downloadable self-guided walking tour is available. 
• 3 The Core Shopping Centre (The Core - TD Square), 333 7 Ave SW (between 2 St SW and 2 St SW and between 7 Ave SW and 8 Ave SW. Accessed from the 3rd Street SW (eastbound) and 4th Street SW (westbound) LRT stations). The Core consists of TD Square, the Holt Renfrew building, and the former Calgary Eaton Centre, is the dominant enclosed shopping complex in the downtown core. It spans three city blocks and contains approximately 160 retailers on four levels. (updated Mar 2019)
• 4 17th Ave (Uptown 17). Calgary's best-known urban business street is home to chains like Best Buy and Pet Planet, and independent businesses like Gravity Pope. If you're dropping from all the shopping, the heart of the strip is little Tomkins Park at 17th Ave near 8th St, filled with nice shade and cozy benches. 

Eat

Budget

• 1 The Big Cheese Poutinerie, 738 17 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-457-2873. M–W 11AM–9PM; Th 11AM – 11PM; F Sa 11AM – 3:30AM; Su 11AM – 9PM. Basic indoor seating, lots of options on those poutine fries. Mains $7–10. (updated Nov 2018)
• 2 Clive Burger, 736 17 Avenue SW, ☏ +1-403-229-9224. Su-Th 11AM-10PM; F Sa 11AM-2AM. All-natural burgers with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Offers craft beer and house-made custard shakes. (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Falafel King, 225 8 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-269-5464. M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 11AM-5PM. Middle Eastern food, falafel, chicken and beef shawarma, and the best hummus in the city. Fresh-squeezed juice on tap. $8–15. (updated Nov 2018)
• 4 Pho Pasteur Saigon, 207 1 St SE (Chinatown), ☏ +1 403-233-0477. M-F 10:30AM-7:30PM. Pho Pasteur Saigon is a favourite Vietnamese noodle joint. Filling and tasty and all for around $8. If they're busy, try Pho Hoai, inside the mall. $11-25. (updated Nov 2018)
• 5 Tubby Dog, 1022 17 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-244-0694. Tu-Th 11:30AM-10PM; F Sa 11:30AM-midnight; Su 11:30AM-8PM. Tubby Dog is a hot dog restaurant right on 17th Avenue, close to many of the bars. They offer huge hotdogs with toppings like nacho cheese, bacon bits, peanut butter and jelly, breakfast cereal, fried eggs, sausage, and potato chips. Some nights they have a DJ spinning in the corner, and other nights they have video game tournaments. Expect to wait in line if planning on going on a Friday or Saturday after partying on 17th. Second location at 731 10 Ave SW. $7-10 per dog. (updated Nov 2018)

Mid-range

• 6 Charbar, 618 Confluence Way SE (Simmons Building), ☏ + 1 403-452-3115. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM; F 11:30AM-midnight; Sa 10AM-midnight; Su 10AM-10PM. Sophisticated outpost featuring seafood, wood-fired steaks & craft cocktails, plus a rooftop patio. (updated May 2019)
• 7 The Coup, 924B 17 Ave SW (door off a railed-in sidewalk area), ☏ +1 403-541-1041, info@thecoup.ca. Lunch: M-F 11AM-3PM; brunch: Sa Su 9AM-3PM; dinner: M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM, Su 5-9PM. This all-vegetarian restaurant serves a variety of interesting flavours from largely organic and local ingredients. You may have to wait to get a seat in the cozy 32-seat dining room, since they take no reservations and seat at most six per table, but ask for a drink from their bar (called "Meet") as you wait. Try the yam fries as a side to the El Taco grilled tortilla wrap with shredded beets, or the War and Peas soba noodle salad. Plenty of vegan options. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. dinner entrée $11-15 plus drinks and tax. (updated Jun 2015)
• 8 James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant, 114 8 Ave SW (between 1 St SW & Centre St S), ☏ +1 403-262-0708. 11AM to 2AM or midnight Sundays. The pub is in a historic building and its interior has a nice vintage decor. Mixed review on food: Jalapeño & bacon burger was nice; Atlantic Salmon was overcooked. (updated Jul 2016)
• 9 Grumans Delicatessen, 230 11 Avenue SE, ☏ +1 403-261-9003. 9AM-4PM daily. Jewish-inspired (mostly) traditional deli featuring knishes, latkes, and Montreal smoked meat. $12-18. (updated May 2019)
• 10 N9NA (formerly Naina’s Kitchen), 121 17 Avenue SE (Beltline), ☏ +1 403-263-6355. M-W 11AM-9PM; Th-Su 11AM-11PM. Canadian comfort food featuring stuffed burgers and poutine. $11-19. (updated May 2019)
• 11 Moti Mahal, 1805 14 St SW, ☏ +1 403-228-9990. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-1:30PM; dinner: Su-Tu 5:30-9PM; W Th 5:30-9:30PM, F Sa 5:30-10:30PM. Excellent Kashmiri Indian restaurant. Second location in Midnapore Mall. Main dishes $10-17. (updated Jun 2015)
• 12 Orchid Room Fusion Cuisine, 513 8 Ave SW (Bankers Hall – 2nd floor), ☏ +1 403-263-4457. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-5:30PM, Su closed. A fusion of Vietnamese, Thai, and French cuisine with dishes like seafood phó soup, caramelized salmon, coconut prawn soup, and salad rolls stuffed with mango and shrimp. $18-24 per main dish. 
• 13 OEB Breakfast Co., 2207 4 Street SW (Mission), ☏ +1 587 356-6323. 7AM-2:45PM daily. Second location at #110 222 5 Ave SW (updated May 2019)
• 14 The Beltliner, 243 12 Avenue SW (Beltline), ☏ +1 587 955-1555. Su M 7AM-3PM; Tu-Sa 7AM-10PM. Modern and casual interpretation of the classic diner (updated May 2019)
• 15 Ten Foot Henry, 1209 1 Street SW (Beltline), ☏ +1 403-475-5537. 11AM-11PM daily. Vegetable-anchored menu. (updated May 2019)
• 16 Una Pizza + Wine, 618 17 Ave SW, contact@unapizzeria.com. Daily 11:30AM-1AM. Very popular creative pizzas. No reservations, so go early, order take out, or line up. $17-20 per pizza. 

Splurge

• 17 Blink, 111 8 Avenue SW (Stephen Avenue Walk), ☏ +1 403-263-5330, info@blinkcalgary.com. Lunch: M-F 11AM-2PM; dinner: M-Sa 5-11PM. Canadian cuisine. (updated May 2019)
• 18 Caesar's (Julius Caesar's Steakhouse and Lounge), 512 4 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-264-1222. Lunch: M-F 11AM-2PM; dinner: M-Sa 4:30-10PM. A downtown Calgary institution since 1972, some say that Caesar's is a classic steakhouse, while others feel it's outdated & tacky. Second location in south Calgary. 
• 19 CharCUT, #101, 899 Centre St SW (Across from the Calgary Tower, in Hotel Le Germain), ☏ +1 403-984-2180. M Tu 11AM-11PM, W-F 11AM-1AM, Sa 5PM-1AM, Su 5-10PM. An great place for lunch or dinner if you're looking for meat; very few options for vegetarians. The slow roasted prime rib and chicken are their specialties, as well as the made-in-house cured meats. The wine list is varied and there is a selection of microbrews from across Canada. Mains $20-35. 
• 20 La Chaumière, 139 17 Ave SW (Next to Rouleauville Square), ☏ +1 403-228-5690. M-F 11:45AM-2:30PM, 5:45PM-midnight, Sa 5:30PM-midnight, Su closed. French haute cuisine, local Alberta meats, game, and produce, excellent wine cellar. Banquet rooms for 14-100 people, patio in summer, business casual dress code. Reservations required. $26-40 per dinner main dish per person. 
• 21 Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, #294, 115 9 Ave SE (base of the Calgary Tower), ☏ +1 403-246-3636, calgary@ruthschris.com. Lunch: M-F 11AM-2PM; dinner: M-Sa 4-10PM, Su 4-9PM. Carnivorous delight, with your choice of Alberta or US beef. $42-59 per main dish; main dish does not include side dishes (potatoes, vegs, etc.). (updated Jun 2015)
• 22 Saltlik Steakhouse, 101 8 Ave SW (Stephen Avenue Walk), ☏ +1 403-537-1160. A high-end steakhouse in the core of downtown, extremely popular with the people working in the core for good reason. Food and service are generally excellent with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Steak is, as expected, quite good. More extravagant steak houses exist, but tend to be for the expense account crowd. $16-37 per main dish (dinner). 
• 23 Model Milk, 308 17 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-265-7343, info@modelmilk.ca. Lactophobes need not fear a dairy-heavy menu. The restaurant's name is taken from the name of the dairy which occupied this building from 1932 until 1965. The restaurant's very popular fixed-menu Sunday supper ($35) is served until 10PM. $20-75. 
• 24 Q Haute Cuisine (formerly La Caille), 100 La Caille Pl SW, ☏ +1 403-262-5554. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-1:30PM; dinner: M-Sa 5:30-9PM. An epicurean journey of discovery that will make your tastebuds very happy. (updated Jun 2015)
• 25 River Café, 25 Prince's Island Park (Prince's Island Park), ☏ +1 403-261-7670. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-10PM; open until 11PM nightly during summer. One of Calgary's first locavore restaurants, River Cafe is in the middle of Prince's Island Park (see map). It's right on the lagoon where the Bow River passes though downtown, thus has no parking. Nearest parking lot is not far, but this can cause problems in bad weather or for diners with mobility issues. $32-52 per main dish (dinner). 
• 26 Sky 360, 101 9 Ave SW (top of the Calgary Tower), ☏ +1 403-532-7966, info@sky360.ca. Lunch: M-Sa 11AM-2PM; brunch: Su 10AM-2PM; dinner: Su-Th 5-9PM, F Sa 5-10PM. Revolving restaurant with a view. Ride up the Calgary Tower to restaurant is free with purchase of main dish. $25-43 per main dish (dinner). (updated Jun 2015)
• 27 Teatro, 200 8 Ave SE (on Stephen Avenue Walk, next to Olympic Plaza), ☏ +1 403-290-1012. M-W 11:30AM-10PM, Th 11:30AM-10:30PM, F 11:30AM-11PM, Sa 5-11PM, Su 5-10PM. Italian fine cuisine in a magnificent heritage building. Tasting menu available. $24-50 per person for main dish (dinner). (updated Jun 2015)

International

• 28 Aňejo, #2 2116 4 Street SW (Mission), ☏ +1 587-353-2656, info@anejo.ca. Su-Th 11AM-11PM; F Sa 11AM-1AM. Mexican cuisine with 200+ tequilas. (updated May 2019)
• 29 Japanese Village, 317 10 Avenue SW (Beltline), ☏ +1 403-262-2738. M-Th 11:45AM-2PM, 5-8:30PM; F 11:45AM-2PM, 5-9:30PM; Sa 3:45-9:30PM; Su 4:30-8:45PM. A teppan and steak house, they offer meals cooked with flair in front of your eyes. Tends to rush diners through. (updated May 2019)
• 30 Rajdoot Restaurant, 2424 4 Street SW (Mission), ☏ +1 403-245-0181. Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-2PM; Dinner: M-Th, Su 5-10PM F Sa 5-11PM. One of the city's long-standing Indian restaurants, Rajdoot has operated from its 4th Street S.W. location for 25 years. $13+. (updated May 2019)
• 31 Regency Palace, 328 Centre St SE (inside Dragon City Mall), ☏ + 1 403-777-2288. 10AM-10PM daily. Chinese cuisine. (updated May 2019)

Take-out only restaurants

• 32 Cluck N Cleaver, 1511 14 Street SW, ☏ +1 403 266 2067, squawk@cluckncleaver.com. 11AM-10PM daily. Serving fried and rotisserie chicken. $8-29. (updated May 2019)

Drink

• 1 Ceili's Modern Irish Pub, 803 8 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-265-1200. M-F 11AM-Late, Sa 6PM-Late, Su closed. Three other locations in Calgary: Royal Oak, Southland, & 4th Avenue downtown. 
• 2 CRAFT Beer Market, 345 10 Avenue SW, ☏ +1 403-514-2337. M 11AM-midnight; Tu W 11-1AM; Th F 11-2AM; Sa 10-2AM; Su 10AM-midnight. 100 local and international beers, including a one-of-a-kind weekly cask brew, and an extensive list of wine, cocktails and spirits. (updated May 2019)
• 3 HiFi Club, 219 10 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-263-5222. Live music venue, dance club and art gallery for those who aren't cowboys/cowgirls and want some different, alternative music. 
• 4 Morgan's, 1324 17 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-244-6670. A great live music pub with cheaper drinks than most places on 17th Ave. Tuesdays host the must-see Broken Toyz, an exceptionally talented glam-rock band who have become local legends. Get there before 9PM to avoid long line-ups. Often has a slightly older crowd than other establishments on 17th Ave, with more late 30s and 40s drinkers. 
• National (National Fine Food, Beer & Spirits). Restaurant & entertainment venue inspired by North American tastes, with games and events, extraordinary food, and select craft beers. (updated May 2019)
  • 5 National on 8th, 360 240 8 Avenue SW (+30 level, Scotia Centre), ☏ +1 403-237-5556. M 11AM-7PM; Tu 11AM-8PM; W 11AM-9PM; Th 11AM-10PM; F 11AM-midnight; Sa 5PM-midnight. (updated May 2019)
  • 6 National on 10th, 341 10 Avenue SW, ☏ +1 403-474-2739. M-W 11AM-11PM; Th 11AM-midnight; F Sa 11-2AM; Su 11AM-11PM. (updated May 2019)
  • 7 National on 17th, 550 17 Avenue SW, ☏ +1 403-474-2739. M-W 11AM-midnight; Th 11-1AM; F Sa 11-2AM; Su 11AM-midnight. (updated May 2019)
• 8 The Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club, 109 7 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-532-1911. Upstairs is a BBQ restaurant featuring various meats smoked over apple and cherry wood along with an expansive selection of bourbon, tequila and whisky. Fridays feature live rock-a-billy from 5-9PM while the downstairs bar features live music every Friday and Saturday evening. 
• 9 Rose & Crown Pub, 1503 4 St SW, ☏ +1 403-244-7757. M-W 11AM-midnight, Th-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 11AM-11PM. Two level pub with a large wood fireplace during the winter. Live music, large beer selection. Once a funeral home, it is rumoured to be haunted. 
• 10 Ship and Anchor Pub, 534 17 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-245-3333. M-F 11AM-2AM, Sa-Su 10AM-2AM. An excellent place for live music, a lively young crowd, and cheap eats. 
• 11 The Twisted Element (Twisted), 1006 11 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-802-0230. W 7PM–3AM, Th-Sa 9PM-3AM, Su 8PM–3AM, M-Tu closed. Calgary's only gay nightclub (although there is a leather bar with a heavy gay presence), Twisted has an incredible variety of clientèle. Mostly gay and bisexual men and a variety of lesbian, bisexual, and straight women. Wednesdays and Thursdays feature amateur strip contests (among a number of themes) and good drink specials. (updated Jun 2015)
• 12 Wurst, 2437 4 Street SW (Mission), ☏ +1 403-245-2345. M-W 11:30AM-11PM; Th 11:30-12AM Fr 11:30-2AM Sa 10-2AM Su 10AM-11PM. German gastropub. (updated May 2019)

Cafés

Starbucks and Tim Horton's are everywhere in Calgary. If you're looking for something different, try one of these.

• 13 Analog Cafe, 740 17 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-910-5959. Daily 6am-11pm. Local coffee chain serving Fratello coffee (sister company). Six additional locations in Calgary. (updated Mar 2019)
• 14 Bumpy's Cafe, 1040 8 St SW, ☏ +1 403-265-0244, info@bumpyscafe.com. M-F 6:30AM-5PM, Sa-Su 7:30AM-4PM. Great espresso in a retro-fifties setting. Two-time winner of the Krups Kup of Excellence. 
• 15 Caffe Artigiano, #103, 400 4 Ave SW (Shell Oil building). M-F 6AM-6PM, Sa-Su 7:30AM-5PM. Calgary outlet of Vancouver-based artisan coffee chain. 
• 16 DeVille Luxury Coffee and Pastries, 807 1 St SW (Fashion Central), ☏ +1 403-452-7777, info@devillecoffee.ca. M-W 7AM-6PM, Th-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su closed. 
• 17 Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters, 618 Confluence Way SE (Simmons Building), ☏ +1 587-353-2268. M-F 6:30AM-9PM, Sa 7:30AM-9PM, Su 7:30AM-6PM. Phil & Sebastian buy green coffee and operate their own roasterie. Three additional City Centre locations. 
• 18 Purple Perk Coffee Market, 2212 4 St SW (Mission / Rouleauville), ☏ +1 403-244-1300. Good place for coffee and cake or a meal. 
• 19 Rosso Coffee Roasters, 140 8 Ave SE (Telus Convention Centre), ☏ +1-403-264-7900. Roasterie location and original cafe. Four additional City Centre locations. (updated Mar 2019)
• 20 Waves Coffee House, #205, 400 5 Ave SW (Roslyn), ☏ +1 403-930-1009. "Waves" refers both to the Vancouver origin of this coffee chain, and also to the fact that every location has free wi-fi. Three additional City Centre locations. 

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Hostelling International-Calgary City Centre (HI Calgary Hostel), 520 7 Ave SE, ☏ +1 403-269-8239, fax: +1 403-266-6227. On the edge of the East Village district, near bars, restaurants, shopping centres and transit. Free breakfast and wifi. Very clean and friendly, lots of space inside and outside. There are no age restrictions, so be prepared for the possibility of sharing a room with a retiree and an 18 year old! Dorm beds and private rooms available. $38-54/dormitory bed, $96-138 for private room with ensuite (prices depend on season). 
• 2 Wicked Hostels, 1505 MacLeod Tr SE, ☏ +1 403-265-8777, bookings@wickedhostel.com. 63 bed independently-owned boutique backpacker/international youth hostel. Free amenities include breakfast, wifi, long-distance calling, parking, golf clubs, and bicycles. Rooms are quite small and crowded; a party atmosphere is prevalent (even encouraged) on weekends. Across from the Calgary Stampede grounds and the Victoria Park/Stampede LRT (tram) station. It is also near the 17th Ave entertainment district. $32.50/8-bed dorm, $34.50/6-bed dorm, $36.50/4-bed dorm, $90 private double room plus tax. 

Mid-range

• 3 Hotel Arts, 119 12 Avenue SW, ☏ +1 403-266-4611, info@hotelarts.ca. $101+. (updated May 2019)
• 4 Hotel Elan, 1122 16 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-229-2040, toll-free: +1-855-666-6612, reservations@hotelelan.ca. $149+. 
• 5 International Hotel, 220 4 Avenue SW, ☏ +1 403-265-9600, fax: +1 587-352-2002, contactus@internationalhotel.ca. $119+. (updated May 2019)
• 6 Nuvo Hotel Suites, 827 12 Ave SW, ☏ +1 403-452-6789, toll-free: +1-866-436-6568, fax: +1 403-764-0902. Modern suites in the heart of the Beltine, furnished kitchen, free wi-fi and local phone. Weekly and monthly rate available. $150+/night. 
• 7 Ramada Calgary Downtown, 708 8th Ave SW (At 6th St SW near 7th Ave SW CTrain Stn), ☏ +1 403-879-1781. Near airport bus 300 stop; 1 block from CTrain; close to Stephen Ave Walk; 15 minutes walk from Calgary Tower. The hotel's buffet breakfast ($15/person) is available from 6:30am. (updated Jul 2016)

Splurge

• 8 Calgary Marriott Hotel, 110 9 Ave SE (across from the Calgary Tower), ☏ +1 403-266-7331, toll-free: +1-800-896-6878. Downtown hotel with city's largest rooms, indoor pool, whirlpool and outdoor patio. $136+/night. 
• 9 Delta Calgary Downtown, 209 4 Avenue SE, ☏ +1 403-266-1980, toll-free: +1 800-665-8571, fax: +1 403-205-5460. (updated May 2019)
• 10 Fairmont Palliser, 133 9 Ave SW (300 m from C-Train 1 St/Centre St stations), ☏ +1 403-262-1234, fax: +1 403-260-1260, palliserhotel@fairmont.com. The landmark hotel in downtown Calgary was built in 1914 by the Canadian Pacific. Along with the other former CP hotels (the Banff Springs Hotel, the Empress, the Chateau Frontenac, Hotel York, etc.), this is one of the grand old dames. $180+. 
• 11 Hotel Le Germain, 899 Centre St SW, toll-free: +1-877-362-8990, reservations@germaincalgary.com. 
• 12 Hyatt Regency, 700 Centre St SE (Stephen Avenue Walk), ☏ +1 403-717-1234, salescalrc@hyatt.com. Pet-friendly. Spa. $250+. 
• 13 Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire, 255 Barclay Parade SW, ☏ +1 403-266-7200, toll-free: +1-888-236-2427, fax: +1 403-266-1300. 4 Star, 4 Diamond, all suite hotel in downtown Calgary, located near Prince's Island Park. (updated May 2019)
• 14 Westin Calgary, 320 4 Ave SW (500 m from C-Train 3 St/4 St stations), ☏ +1 403-266-1611, toll-free: +1-888-627-8417. Modern 4-star hotel tower with 27 sqm rooms, in one of the more pleasant sections of central Calgary. Wireless internet free in lobby, available in-room for $13/daily. Formerly the Calgary Inn, this is where Calgary's famous Caesar cocktail was first poured by Chell. $200+.