Calgary’s culinary scene is constantly in flux. From new restaurants opening and others closing, to new menus and concepts, there’s a lot to keep track of. We’ve got you covered with a weekly recap of what’s new and notable in Calgary’s food scene.

DOPO launches a new line of merch

Fans of DOPO can now purchase T-shirts bearing the fantastic restaurant’s logo. The shirts come in two options, both highlighting DOPO’s famous tiramisu. The t-shirts are available on DOPO’s website and would make great holiday gifts for Calgary foodies.

Sought x Found Coffee Roasters opens a second location

Sought x Found Coffee Roasters was founded in 2017 by Kitty and Caleb Leung. The specialty coffee roaster and café has called Crescent Heights home for eight years, and now, it has a second location that opened this month at Two Park Central (1107 4 St. S.W.) in the Beltline, creating another space for Calgarians to enjoy some delicious coffee.

More Recent Food News

December 2025

Calgary’s newest brewery has opened

Good Cheer Brewing is an exciting new addition to Calgary’s beer scene. Good Cheer focuses on brewing historical beers using old-school techniques (some are based on recipes from more than a thousand years ago), and will take you on a journey through the history of brewing. To go along with the beers, Good Cheer also offers a menu of hearty European dishes to sink your teeth into.

New Italian restaurant La Torino opens in Lake Bonavista

La Torino, which opened in mid-November, is one of Calgary’s newest Italian restaurants. Inside, you’ll find a beautifully designed dining room with a mid-century feel and a variety of comforting Italian dishes, from pizzas and pastas to larger format mains like beef short ribs and Chilean seabass.

November 2025

An elf-themed pop-up bar is opening soon for the holiday season

A new holiday pop-up bar experience in Calgary, The Elf Bar runs from December 4 to 24, 2025 at Limericks Traditional Public House. There will be elf-themed cocktails, games, photo opportunities and lots of festive decor. Tickets can be purchased online.

Soffritto Oil & Vinegar Bar opens new store in Willow Park Village

Soffritto has opened its third Calgary location, bringing its premium oil and vinegar offerings to Willow Park Village. The newest location of this local, family-owned business will offer tasting experiences with more than 60 rotating varieties of imported, extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars on tap, plus pastas, fresh sandwiches, gourmet gifts and more.

Sippin’ Santa is back at Ricardo’s Hideaway

Ricardo’s Hideaway is once again hosting Sippin’ Santa, a tropical-inspired holiday bar experience that is part of the North American Sippin’ Santa holiday pop-up program. Try drinks like the Wreck the Halls or Jingle Bird this year while snacking on bites like cheese empanadas. Sippin’ Santa is on now until December 31, 2025.

Concorde Group launches Holiday Hits campaign in partnership with The Mustard Seed

Concorde Group’s Holiday Hits is an annual campaign where the restaurant group offers a variety of food boxes and meal kits in support of The Mustard Seed. From November 20 to December 31, you can purchase the cookie box, available with six, 12 or 24 cookies, with all proceeds going towards The Mustard Seed. From December 22 to 24, holiday meal kits (a full dinner or just the sides) cooked by Concorde’s chefs are available, with an option to purchase an additional meal kit that will be delivered to The Mustard Seed for a family in need. During the campaign, you can also purchase Major Tom Bar’s ready-to-enjoy gin or vodka martini kits.

The highly anticipated Penny Crown opens in Marda Loop

Penny Crown is a new spot from Tony Migliarese and chef David Leeder of DOPO and Bar Rocca, and it looks like a stunner of a restaurant. Penny Crown is a bit of a divergence from the Italian-focused restaurants Migliarese is known for, with a New York-style tavern atmosphere paired with dishes like scallops with pepperoni butter, mussels cocotte and a highly lauded burger with house-made American cheese. Walk-ins are available, but as with DOPO and Bar Rocca, reservations are recommended — and probably necessary — for this sure-to-be hit restaurant.

Sweet Bella Chocolates and Phil & Sebastian partner on three new chocolate bars

Local chocolate company Sweet Bella Chocolates and local coffee company Phil & Sebastian just launched three new chocolate bar flavours that all feature Phil & Sebastian coffee. The flavours are Sugar Heist, a dark chocolate bar with nougat montélimar and roasted cashews; Honey Haze, a creamy milk chocolate bar with caramelized hazelnuts and apricot; and Smooth Operator, a dark chocolate bar layered with buttery toffee bits and toasted almonds. The chocolate bars are available now at select Phil & Sebastian locations and online.

Cora rebrands with new decor and a breakfast pizza menu

Cora, a popular breakfast spot with multiple Calgary locations, has rebranded. This includes new decor, menu covers, ingredients, dishes, mocktails and more. Most notably, there’s a new menu addition of five breakfast pizzas, which are available for dine-in, take-out and delivery.

River Café has launched a new five-course chef’s tasting menu featuring fall flavours

River Café has launched a new tasting menu, and during the month of November, the restaurant is offering a “Friends and Family” discount for $95 per person — an amazing deal in a beautiful setting (this tasting menu is available the rest of the year for $120 per person).

The menu starts with a shrimp and celeriac beignet, then moves on to an incredible Vital Farms stracciatella dish. Rabbit cappelletti and a grilled duck breast with red cabbage choucroute round out the savoury courses. The meal is capped off with a sweet kabocha squash croquette served with a barley pudding.

In other River Café news, Cassandra Boyce recently joined the team as chef de cuisine. She worked at River Café when she was a culinary student at SAIT, so this is a return of sorts with a 10-year stop at Yellow Door Bistro in between.

Two Calgary women named winners at the Food Industry Award from Skip

For the second year, Skip, in partnership with the Women’s Executive Network (WXN), has honoured women leaders changing the food industry through The Food Industry Awards, presented as part of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards. Two Calgary women are part of the 2025 list: Adebola Esan, founder of Flavours Restaurant, was recognized for her leadership in building community through food by creating a place that celebrates West African culture and cuisines, and Kristen Kayfish, district manager of Costa Vida Canada, is recognized for her leadership in innovation, helping create rapid growth through four locations by building trust, empowerment and belonging in her teams.

An annual holiday pop-up bar is opening soon

Miracle is a pop-up series that opens during the holiday season at bars across Canada. This year, the pop-up is partnering with Proof for Miracle on 1st Street, which is launching on November 14. During the pop-up, Proof will be decorated in Christmas decor and serving holiday-themed drinks in special holiday glasses, like the Candy Cane Lane cocktail served inside of a ceramic unicorn mug.

October 2025

Heavily Redacted, previously invitation-only, is now open to the public

Heavily Redacted, previously a private owners’ lounge underneath FinePrint restaurant, has recently become open to the public — albeit with limited reservations. Guests who would like to visit the lounge, which features rare spirits, cocktails and a no-photos policy (making for a private experience), can now book through the FinePrint website. Reservations are made available each week, and are open Thursday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to late.

New Italian sandwich spot Fenoma Kitchen opens

Sandwich fans can now order pick up or delivery from Fenoma Kitchen, a new spot specializing in sandwiches made with schiacciata bread. Fenoma’s sandwiches include options like the Romana made with porchetta, gorgonzola spread, fresh mozzarella, grilled zucchini and more. Fenoma Kitchen is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and orders can be placed online.

Monogram Coffee’s Benjamin Put competed at the 2025 World Barista Championship

Benjamin Put is co-owner of Mongram Coffee and one of the best baristas in the world — he’s placed among the top competitors at the World Barista Championship (WBC) four times and has won the Canadian National Barista Championships seven times. Put recently took home third place at the 2025 WBC in Milan, marking his fifth championship placement. Put competed against 50 other international champions in a competition that is as much about performance as it is about the coffee. Put’s performance was a reflection on his career, community and those who have helped him become the barista champion he is today.

Chef Nicole Gomes opens a new airport restaurant

Nicole Gomes, known for Calgary’s Cluck N Cleaver restaurants and competing on Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, has opened a new restaurant in YYC Calgary International Airport. Located in Terminal C, Wander Kitchen & Bar brings a globally-inspired menu made with seasonal ingredients, perfect for travellers on the go. Dishes range from quick morning bites like the Breakfast Sammie to larger meals like house-made Italian meatballs, a Green Goddess salad or the Wander burger.

Alloy is hosting Black Fox Distillery for a special cocktail tasting menu

On October 22, Alloy and Black Fox Distillery, a gin and whisky distillery from Saskatchewan, are coming together to host A Journey Through Taste. The event includes a five-course tasting menu from the Alloy team paired with original cocktails showcasing Black Fox’s award-winning spirits.

Eat Indo-Portuguese food at the Dish the Fish event at SunnyCider

Ayo Paixao is an Indo-Portuguese food catering service that opened in 2024. This month, owners and chefs Angie D’souza and Yohann Louis are whipping up a coastal feast to showcase their offerings. Hosted at SunnyCider on October 25, the event features four gluten-free dishes as part of a set menu. For $35, tuck into flavourful curries like green masala prawn curry and Goan fish curry with rice, as well as a Portuguese egg custard for dessert. Only two seatings are available, so act fast to purchase tickets to reserve your spot.

Crave Cupcakes now ships its mini cupcakes across Canada

Snacking on locally baked goods just got even easier. Crave Cupcakes now ships its mini cupcakes to B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, within seven days. With a minimum order of $50, you can mix and match flavours like the iconic “Crave-o-licious” with seasonal picks like apple caramel (only available until November 1) to create a choose-your-own box, or select from pre-prepared flavour boxes like the Craving of the Month, pink minis and more.

Local company Cubbi wins $100,000 at Foodtech Frontier Awards

On October 1, the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) revealed its list of 35 award-winning companies for its inaugural Foodtech Frontier Awards, recognizing companies that are innovating in the areas of sustainability, food security, health and supply chain efficiency. Cubbi, an all-in-one food service platform that helps to manage lunch, catering, snacks and other food benefits for businesses and their employees, was awarded $100,000 to help grow its operations and impact.

Chef Darren MacLean recognized at The Best Chef Awards 2025

Chef Darren MacLean (of Eight, Shokunin and Nupo) was recently recognized as one of the best chefs in the world at The Best Chef 2025 awards in Milan on October 1 and 2. MacLean is among 15 other Canadian chefs recognized and is the only Calgary chef on the list.

A monthly dining series inspired by explorer David Thompson returns

At Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Downtown, newly appointed executive chef Macknel Lawrence leads the second edition of the David Thompson Chef’s Table Culinary Experience. Inspired by explorer David Thompson, the menu combines Canadian regional cuisine, storytelling and cocktails in a five-course immersive dinner featuring dishes like cold water shrimp bisque and confit duck with sweet corn crema. Tickets are currently available for upcoming dinners on October 25 and November 15.

MasterChef Canada’s latest season features a Calgary contestant

Season eight of MasterChef Canada premiered on October 2, and the new season features Calgary’s own Bhu Chana, a local high school teacher and member of Madhuban Performing Arts performing group. After the special premiere, tune in on Tuesday nights starting October 14 on CTV to cheer on the Calgary home chef all the way to the end.

September 2025

Try Halloween-inspired cocktails at Ricardo’s Nightmare Before Christmas pop-up

Ricardo’s Hideaway is getting in the Halloween spirit with the return of its Nightmare Before Christmas pop-up from October 1 to November 2. During the pop-up, the Concorde Entertainment Group restaurant will be decorated in spooky decor and will be serving up Halloween-themed drinks. If you love all things Halloween, this is a great opportunity to don your favourite costume and indulge in some creative cocktails.

YYC Pizza Fest is back with creative pizzas for a good cause

There’s no better time to go out for a pizza than during YYC Pizza Fest. From September 26 to October 13, participating restaurants are offering special pizza creations with part of the proceeds going to support Calgary Meals on Wheels. Check out this year’s list of participating restaurants and the pizzas they’ll be making during the festival.

Calgary is getting a new Latin American-Japanese restaurant

Orijins is a new tapas restaurant helmed by chef Francis Martinez (formerly of FinePrint) that combines Japanese and Latin American food in a style inspired by Nikkei cuisine. Nikkei cuisine originated in Peru and was created by Japanese immigrants. The food at Orijins is inspired by this, combining Japanese sensibilities and techniques with Latin American ingredients and flavours. The restaurant’s grand opening is on September 30.

Untitled Champagne Lounge launches a new menu with Champagne pairings

Untitled Champagne Lounge is going through a bit of a refresh, and has launched some new menu programs and deals to check out. On Thursdays, Untitled offers its “Champagne Fling,” which features a rotating flight of sparkling wines from around the world for $20, with food pairings available for $30. There’s also a new food menu with items like foie gras doughnuts and duck croquettes. Untitled puts a lot of effort into its cocktails, so it’s also added a new QR code menu complete with stories and pictures for all of the cocktails to showcase the extensive offerings.

Globefish opens new location with solo dining booths

Globefish Sushi & Izakaya kicked off the soft opening of its fourth and newest restaurant location in Seton at the beginning of September. The restaurant has tons of booth and table seating options, but its most interesting option is an elevated bar seating area where each seat has been sectioned off on the sides to create individual dining booths. The next time you’re dining solo and craving some ramen, this is the place to try.

Feast on Fourth returns with $10 dining deals

If you love a good dining deal (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t), then this is the event for you. From September 24 to 28, Feast on Fourth highlights $10 dishes from select restaurants located along 4th Street S.W. Snack on donair egg rolls from Blowers & Grafton, butter chicken from Elephant & Castle, a cheese and charcuterie plate from Peasant Cheese and more. Some dishes are only available for dine-in service, some are only available for takeaway and some are available for both.

Pizza Culture Napoletana takes a big international win

Pizza Culture Napoletana is a big player in Calgary’s pizza scene thanks to the quality of its ingredients and commitment to showcasing traditional Napoletana-style pizza. The pizzeria recently took home a big win cementing that status — at the 2025 50 Top Pizza awards, Pizza Culture was ranked 81st in the world (the highest and only Canadian pizzeria that made the list). This huge achievement by founder Jeremy Hube and the restaurant team puts Calgary on the culinary map even more.

State & Main opens its third Calgary location in Uxborough

This Canadian chain restaurant first opened in 2012 and has since expanded across the country with more than 25 locations. The new Uxborough location marks the third in Calgary, with a spacious patio that seats over 100 people. Stop by the new restaurant for a variety of pub-style dishes like burgers, bowls and appies, as well as some excellent happy hour deals.

Way of Normal wins award for design of Calgary’s Blue Rock Swim Club

Calgary interior design studio Way of Normal is behind the look of many popular restaurants including Class Clown Hamburgers, Pat & Betty, Prickett Richard and more. Recently, the studio has been getting lots of attention for its work on Calgary bar Blue Rock Swim Club. The studio won a 2025 INT Interior Design Award in the “Commercial – Hospitality – Bars / Bars” category for its work on the subterranean bar below South Block Barbecue & Brewing Co. The space was also shortlisted for a Restaurant & Bar Design Award in the “Standalone” regional category, with the results to be revealed in late October.

Two new restaurants open in Dragon City Mall

Head to Dragon City Mall in Chinatown to try one of the new dining spots that have recently opened there. Baekban 1988 has been serving tasty Korean fare since mid-July, while Chinese dessert spot Sweet Together launched its soft opening phase at the end of August.

New bakeries are popping up around Calgary

If you love a flaky croissant or decadent slice of cake, you’re not alone. And thankfully, there has been no shortage of new bakeries popping up around the city this summer. Some of the most recent additions include Crave’s new Hillhurst location and Poésie Co on the main Kensington strip. Earlier this summer, the city also welcomed the arrival of Millo Millo in Glenbrook, Sugar Stream in Marda Loop and new downtown locations for Mari Bakeshop and Hey Sugar.

Kinton Ramen opens its third Calgary location

This Toronto-based ramen chain has been expanding into the Calgary market and recently opened its third location in University Heights. Stop by for a variety of chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian ramen options, as well as sides like karaage, takoyaki, donburi and more.

A popular Fresh & Local Market & Kitchens stall closes

The J Spot was a popular stall inside Fresh & Local Market & Kitchens at Avenida Village that served up a bevy of worldly cuisine in the form of burgers, poutines, bowls and more. The J Spot recently shared on social media that its eatery at this location is now closed. Not to worry, though — the owners are also the team behind Aloha Modern Kitchen (which offers tasty bites of Hawaiian cuisine), so you can still get a taste of their food.

August 2025

Prasátko announces a new pop-up date

Held at The Prairie Emporium, Prasátko is a pop-up by cookbook author and local food expert Dan Clapson that features a Czech-inspired menu with a contemporary twist. This iteration runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on September 6 for dinner and 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 7 for lunch. The menu includes new dishes like grilled camembert, tomato and peach salad, a Czech-style beef tartare and open-faced sandwiches, as well as staple dishes like pickled camembert, a sausage platter and a Czech potato salad. Prasátko is also serving homemade lemonades in different flavours (also available in alcoholic versions).

Crave Cupcakes opens a new bakery and café

Crave Cupcakes has been a Calgary staple for a long time, offering cupcakes, cookies and other sweet treats. After recently closing its flagship location on Kensington Road, the local bakery opened a new location in Hillhurst on August 27 that serves all the Crave favourites. The new spot also introduces the company’s new coffee concept called Cece’s Coffee right beside it, which serves Monogram coffee and sweet bites like brioche cinnamon buns, muffins and more.

Prosperity Bar and Francine’s are hosting a tropical pop-up

On August 30 and 31, Prosperity Bar and Francine’s (a former pop-up with a brick-and-mortar spot on the way) are hosting special collaboration dinners. From 5 p.m. until late, head to Prosperity Bar for Club Paradis: A Tropical Soirée, which will feature tropical cocktails, frozen pineapple mugs, late-night happy hour deals and Francine’s’ specialty Château Blanc steam burgers (inspired by White Castle burgers, but much, much better).

Coke Canada Bottling partners with Green Calgary to create rain barrels

The Calgary manufacturing facility for Coke Canada Bottling has partnered with Green Calgary (an urban environmental charity) to help Calgarians save water. Coke Canada has donated more than 400 empty barrels formerly filled with concentrated syrups to be recycled into rain barrels. The rain barrels can be purchased at Golden Acres Home & Garden Centre and will help Calgarians maintain their gardens while saving on water consumption. Those who have purchased rain barrels can further save money by applying for The City’s rain barrel rebate program.

Participating Concorde restaurants are offering summer deals for the rest of August

For Concorde’s Endless Summer event, the restaurant group is offering deals on food and drinks from August 11 to 31. Head to its participating restaurants for deals like $6 ahi tuna crudo and $8 spritzes and highballs at Barbarella Bar, $8 coconut coolers and $5 hot dog baos at Lulu Bar, and $8 martinis and Tom Collins and $15 Hokkaido scallop crudo at Major Tom. Check out the full list of deals on Concorde’s website.

Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. is celebrating its seventh birthday

Eighty-Eight is one of Calgary’s most iconic craft breweries, and on August 23, it’s celebrating its seventh birthday. Mark the occasion by heading to Eighty-Eight for a party in the parking lot from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Share a few pints, grab a pizza from Portland Street Pizza and listen to DJs pumping tunes all day long.

Zero Issue Brewing closes its doors

For eight years, Zero Issue Brewing has been delighting Calgarians as one of the most unique breweries in the city, offering a wide lineup of beers like the Nemesis IPA and Innsmouth Cherry Tangerine Sour. Zero Issue recently shared on social media that it has closed its doors for good, paying homage to its past and present brews through some very clever wordplay. This is a big loss that will surely be felt in Calgary’s beer scene.

The Cultural Chef Exchange brings chef Garam Park to Calgary

The Cultural Chef Exchange dining series is the brainchild of chef Darren MacLean (of Shokunin, Eight and Nupo) in partnership with Food Tourism Strategies. The dining series is back again, bringing one of Seoul’s rising culinary stars, Garam Park from Dresden Green, to Calgary for the collaborative dining series. On August 15 at Shokunin and August 16 at Eight, MacLean and Park will be hosting special dinners that fuse Park’s delicate Korean dishes with MacLean’s Canadian-focused Japanese cuisine.

SAIT celebrates 75 years of hospitality and tourism

SAIT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism is a big part of what makes Calgary’s culinary landscape what it is — the program feeds many of the city’s restaurants with the chefs and food service professionals that will be the industry’s future leaders. The School of Hospitality and Tourism is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and has some big plans in the works. The Highwood Kitchen & Bar, the student-run restaurant, has been under construction for a while, and construction is nearly finished, giving the students a renewed space to practice their skills. Plans have also begun for a Banff Hospitality & Tourism campus.

Alberta on the Plate returns

Alberta on the Plate is one of Alberta’s biggest dining festivals, with participating restaurants offering a multi-course, set menu dining experience or special menu items, all highlighting Alberta’s bountiful ingredients. The festival returns from August 8 to 17, with 39 Calgary area restaurants participating this year including River Café, Bar Chouette and more.

albertaontheplate.com

Dave’s Hot Chicken lands in Calgary with two new locations

L.A. born Dave’s Hot Chicken is a popular spot for Nashville hot chicken across the U.S., and the chain recently made its Calgary debut with two new locations opening here within the last month. The chain opened its first location in East Hills on July 3 and a second Beacon Hill location opened on August 8. Dave’s serves up chicken sandwiches and tenders available in seven heat levels (be forewarned that anything past mild is very hot), as well as sides like fries, mac and cheese and coleslaw. Dave’s is also planning to open another location in Willow Park in 2025.

215 409 E. Hills Blvd., 825-540-9377; 11588 Sarcee Trail N.W., daveshotchicken.com

Correction: This story has been edited to reflect that Orijin’s draws inspiration from Latin American cuisine, not strictly Peruvian.

The post What’s New and Notable in Calgary’s Food Scene appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

Donald McRonald Burger (with Coney Sauce) from Class Clown Hamburgers

This year’s most unforgettable bite for me was the Donald McRonald burger from Class Clown. At first glance, it leans into the classic formula: two patties, two slices of American cheese, ketchup, mustard, raw onion and pickles on a buttered bun. I asked for Coney sauce, a savoury, tangy meat sauce made from crumbled beef simmered with onions and spices, to be added inside the burger. The first bite gives you this bold and savoury punch of flavour that lets you know you’re in for something special. The patties stay juicy, the toppings stay crisp and the sauce pulls it all together in the most satisfying way. It’s the burger that still comes to mind without me even trying. — Sannah Chawdhry, editorial intern, Avenue

Rock n Shrimp from Fuji Ramen & Sushi

 

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I finally got in to try reader favourite Fuji Ramen & Sushi in the city’s south earlier this year, and have since gone a couple more times. Everything we’ve tried is so delicious. From the ramen to the beautifully presented sushi, it’s all tasty and satisfying. But one of my favourites has to be the Rock n Shrimp appetizer. It’s crispy tempura shrimp that has great crunch without being overly greasy, served in an edible deep-fried bowl. It’s drizzled with spicy and Japanese mayos, and topped with aonori, togarashi and chili pepper threads. A definite crowdpleaser. — Colleen Seto, executive editor, Avenue and RPM Content Studio

Salt & Pepper Mushroom from JinBar

When I was growing up, my aunt would buy cheap mushrooms, deep-fry them and serve them to me with a large (probably unhealthy) amount of soya sauce. It was the beginning of my love affair with the vegetable, so imagine my delight at finding a classed-up version of this snack at JinBar! Its salt and pepper mushrooms are lightly cooked and topped with crispy onion and chili flakes, with a bowl of Korean mustard soy for dipping. Pair these deliciously umami flavours with a creative cocktail — I like whatever version of an Old Fashioned it’s currently serving — and savour JinBar’s fusion approach to Korean food. — Nathan Iles, editor, The Scene

Ice Cream Sandwiches from Sunshine Ice Cream

 

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Larissa Costella, the pastry chef at Salt & Brick, is also the genius behind Sunshine Ice Cream, an artisanal ice cream sandwich pop-up that I experienced for the first time this past summer. Most of the flavours change with each pop-up, but on my visit, options ranged from a mango lassi fro-yo with salted lime sugar cookies to ginger sparkler cookies with vanilla bean ice cream in the middle. Besides being incredibly delicious, one of the things I appreciated most about these ice cream sandwiches was how the ice cream didn’t ooze out as you ate, ensuring that you got to enjoy the flavours of the soft cookies and the creamy ice cream in each bite. Follow Sunshine Ice Cream’s Instagram account to stay in the loop about upcoming pop-ups (you’ll probably see me there). — Alana Willerton, digital managing editor, Avenue

The post Staff Picks: Our Favourite Things We Ate This Year appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

Grilled Octopus from Bow & Bend Rooftop

This downtown restaurant is keeping things fresh with a new menu for the fall/winter seasons. Along with three new pasta dishes and some new cocktails, guests can also dive into dishes like the new shareable grilled octopus, which is made with romesco, sago cracker and squid ink potatoes.

833 4 Ave. S.W., 12th floor, 403-300-9858, bowandbendrooftop.com

Brioche Doughnuts from Pâte Sucrée YYC

 

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Pâte Sucrée YYC is known for its fluffy and creative brioche doughnuts, and now you can pick some up from its new downtown storefront. Swing by to support the shop and get a box of doughnuts bursting with fillings in flavours like tiramisu, guava jam and chocolate ganache.

485 8 St. S.W., patesucreeyyc.com

Gingerbread Families from Good Earth Coffeehouse

 

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Every year, Calgary-based chain Good Earth Coffeehouse brings back a special holiday offering for a limited time: Gingerbread Families. These soft cookies with a gingery zing and a bit of sweetness from the icing are not only delicious, but they also give back — $1 goes towards supporting local food banks each time a package of three cookies is sold.

Multiple Calgary locations, goodearthcoffeehouse.com

Braised Beef Rendang from Ibu

 

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Local diners are buzzing about the Asian-inspired cuisine at Ibu, a new restaurant in the South Calgary neighbourhood. We’ve got our eye on dishes like the braised beef rendang, made with Sumatran spices, bird’s eye chili, cinnamon, toasted garlic and coconut milk.

2915 14 St. S.W., 403-899-8894 (text only), ibuyyc.com

Shipnog from Ship & Anchor

 

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Getting a glass of house-made eggnog (a.k.a. Shipnog) at Ship & Anchor pub is a classic holiday tradition for many Calgarians. Guests can sip on a glass in person or pick up a bottle to enjoy at home. Not only is it delicious, but part of the drink sales support local charities and organizations, including the Calgary Drop-In Centre, Calgary Homeless Foundation, Women’s Centre of Calgary and Central Outreach Hub.

534 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-3333, shipandanchor.com

The post 5 Things We’re Excited to Eat and Drink This December appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

A Francophone community centre in Calgary’s Lincoln Park neighbourhood, Cité des Rocheuses is home to a French language school, a theatre, and now, a new restaurant.

Open since September, Café Théâtre brings a new French dining experience to the centre. The restaurant is focused on classic French cuisine, with dishes like blanquette de veau (a veal dish), confit lamb shoulder, salmon clam chowder, burgers, onion soup and more. The restaurant also serves brunch on Saturdays, with all the usual fare including crepes.

Café Théâtre offers a place to gather before and after watching a show or performance at the community centre’s Rocky Mountain City Theatre, where Cité des Rocheuses hosts larger plays, movie nights and more. However, there’s also a small stage in the restaurant for musicians, comedians and other small-scale performances. The restaurant is decked out to look like a retro theatre, creating a link between it and the Rocky Mountain City Theatre.

And while the restaurant and theatre are within a French community centre, the experiences aren’t just for French speakers. Café Théâtre’s menu comes in both French and English, and the community centre events have accommodations for those who don’t speak French, such as English subtitles at movie nights.

“The purpose [of opening Café Théâtre] is to get more Anglophones in and get them more interested in the Francophone culture,” says Cité des Rocheuses CEO Hervé Stéclebout.

4800 Richard Rd. S.W., 587-392-3062, cafetheatre.ca

The post The New Café Théâtre Brings French Fare to the Theatre appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

The holiday spirit will be alive and well at several Calgary restaurants, bars and breweries this year as they transform their spaces and drink lists to create special holiday pop-up bar experiences.

Here’s a look at what you can expect at these holiday pop-ups.

Fa La La La La Lounge at Tops Pizza South

Tops Pizza’s south location has been completely decked out in holiday decorations for the launch of its Fa La La La La Lounge. It’s all complemented by themed drinks like the Merry & Bright Margarita and Mistletoe Martini, as well as bites like Santa’s Tater-tini and the Ho Ho Holiday Dunking Dip.

Where: Tops Pizza South, 9919 Fairmount Dr. S.E., 403-278-1511

When: November 13 to December 23, 2025

topspizzasouth.com, @topspizzasouth

Miracle on First Street at Proof

Calgary’s Miracle pop-up, known as Miracle on First Street, has been taking place at Proof since 2018. The experience is part of the Miracle holiday pop-up bar program, which first launched in New York City and now has pop-ups around the world. Now, Proof is back with another year of Christmas decor and drinks like the Christmapolitan, Dancing Sugarplums and the Blitzen Barrel.

Where: Proof, 1302 1 St. S.W., 403-246-2414

When: November 14 to December 24, 2025

proofyyc.com, @proofyyc

Sippin’ Santa at Ricardo’s Hideaway

While the North American Sippin’ Santa holiday pop-up program has a similar concept to Miracle, you can expect a few key differences. Not only is there a different festive cocktail menu, but the Sippin’ Santa pop-ups incorporate tropical-inspired elements as well. Try drinks like the Wreck the Halls or Jingle Bird this year while snacking on bites like cheese empanadas. This is the only Sippin’ Santa pop-up in the city.

Where: Ricardo’s Hideaway, 1530 5 St. S.W., 403-880-8924 (texts only)

When: November 19 to December 31, 2025

ricardoshideaway.ca, @ricardosyyc

The Green Door Bistro

Yellow Door Bistro (inside Hotel Arts) is behind one of Calgary’s newest holiday pop-up experiences. For one month, a section of the restaurant will become The Green Door Bistro from Fridays to Sundays from 8 p.m. to midnight. Guests can expect green dishes (a nod to the Grinch’s green fur) and special cocktails.

When: Yellow Door Bistro, 119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9585

When: November 21 to December 21, 2025 (Fridays to Sundays)

yellowdoorbistro.ca, @yellowdooryyc

Home Alone at Eighty-Eight Brewing Company

For a fifth year, the Eighty-Eight Brewing Company taproom will pay homage to the popular holiday film Home Alone (and a few other classic films). Expect Harry and Marv feature flights, a scavenger hunt, a Home Alone-inspired drag show, holiday trivia nights and more.

Where: Eighty-Eight Brewing Company, 1070, 2600 Portland St. S.E., 403-452-5880

When: November 25 to December 29, 2025

eightyeightbrewing.ca, @eightyeightbrewco

The Elf Bar at Limericks Traditional Public House

A new holiday pop-up this year, Elf Bar is all about — you guessed it — elves. The elf-themed experience will see Limericks Traditional Public House filled with Christmas music, festive decor featuring lots of elves, interactive games and elf-themed food. Tickets are available online.

Where: Limericks Traditional Public House, 7304 Macleod Trail South, 403-252-9190

When: December 4 to 24, 2025

calgarysbestpubs.com/limericks/, @limericksyyc

The post Holiday Pop-Up Bars in Calgary appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

Ol’Beautiful Enamel Pins

Got a local beer fan in your life? Get them one of these Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Company pins. Choose from three styles that can be stuck on a bag, a hat or wherever you want to proudly display your love for this iconic Calgary brewery. $6 each.

olbeautiful.com

Classic Sea Salt Salted Caramels – 2 Piece Box

Handmade in Killam, Alberta, Salted’s two-piece box of salted caramels is a great stocking stuffer for someone with a sweet tooth. The beautiful pink packaging reveals two pieces of caramel heaven complemented by a sprinkle of coarse sea salt. $6.95.

Available at Calgary retailers like Sunterra Market and online at shopsalted.ca

Shorty’s Hot Honey

For the foodies, Shorty’s Hot Honey will enhance every bite with its perfect balance of raw honey, whole chilis and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Whether you add it to waffles or a charcuterie board, this sweet and spicy sauce is sure to impress. $12.

Available at multiple Calgary retailers, monstersauce.ca

Watermelon Bingsoo Air Freshener

From Kayla creates Asian-inspired air fresheners in playful scents like apple soju, Yakult, Lemon Tea, banana milk, grape soda and melon pan. This sweet watermelon bingsoo version fills your space or car with a refreshing scent for up to two weeks. $12.

fromkayla.ca

Calgary Coffee Print

Calgary’s vibrant coffee scene takes centre stage in this fun print. Created by local printmaker Ritual & Fern, the artwork features takeaway coffee cups from many of Calgary’s most popular coffee shops like Monogram Coffee, Rosso Coffee Roasters and more. $12.49.

ritualandfern.com

Milk Chocolate Dubai Bar – Pistachio & Kataifi

Calgary company Master Chocolat is ready to satisfy your cravings for the popular Dubai chocolate bar with pistachio and kataifi. The bar is 180 grams of velvety chocolate bursting with a crunchy, flavourful filling that’s perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. $24.

Master Chocolat, multiple Calgary locations, masterchocolat.com

Sheep River Tea

Based in Diamond Valley, Tender Living Farm owner Isis Velkova-Andrus forages ingredients from the Sheep River Valley to make its line of teas. Served in the brand’s new tea box packaging, the teas come in flavours like this Sheep River tea featuring spruce tips, nettle, wild mint and wild rose. $25.

Available at Calgary retailers like Our Daily Brett and online at tenderlivingfarm.ca

Spirit Hills Bonfire Wine

From the winery that harvests flowers to create beautiful blends in Millarville comes a warm, sweet wine made from wildfire honey, dandelion honey, water, blackcurrants, cinnamon and cloves. The Bonfire wine is aged for six months in the bottle and is best paired with “warm bread pudding, cold Alberta winters, cool summer nights, and all outdoor winter activities,” according to Spirit Hills. $28.60.

Available at Calgary liquor stores like Willow Park Wines & Spirits and Wine and Beyond and online at spirithillswinery.com

Phil & Sebastian Tasting Set

For the coffee drinkers, Phil & Sebastian offers a tasting set to explore its various coffees. Choose from two sets, each with four varieties: the Classic box, which offers Phil & Sebastian’s core coffees with chocolate and caramel notes, and the Curious box, with more unexpected flavours that lean closer to bright and fruity profiles. $30 or $34.

Phil & Sebastian, multiple Calgary locations, 403-261-1885, philsebastian.com

Salad Lovers Pick6

Spice up salads with this pack of oils and vinegars from Evoolution. The Salad Lovers pack contains six bottles of the company’s most popular salad dressing combinations: basil olive oil and strawberry dark balsamic vinegar; wild dill olive oil and Sicilian lemon white balsamic; and Persian lime olive oil and blackberry ginger dark balsamic. Choose from four box styles including one with a larch tree design by Alberta artist Jason Carter. $41.

Evoolution, CF Market Mall, 3625 Shaganappi Tr. N.W., 587-353-3866, evoolution.ca

414 ml Rambler Stackable Mug

Enjoy a hot cup of coffee while camping or on the go in your everyday life with this Yeti mug. With its stain-resistant ceramic lining and double-wall vacuum insulation, the mug is sure to keep up with all your adventures. Choose from fun colours like rescue red, tropical pink, seafoam and more. $45.

Yeti, CF Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Tr. S.W., 587-651-6808, yeti.ca

Crave Cookbook

Twenty-one years after opening the first Crave bakery in Kensington in 2004 and popularizing its famous buttercream icing cupcakes, sweet-toothed customers can now get their hands on Crave’s first cookbook. The book features recipes for items like cupcakes, cakes and cookies, making it easy to level up your baking with desserts like red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese buttercream frosting. $45.

Available Crave bakeries, at Calgary bookstores like Shelf Life Books and The Next Page and online at cravecupcakes.ca

Tin Tacker – Retro Rainbow

Cabin Brewing Company was just named Brewery of the Year (along with Ol’ Beautiful Brewing Company) at the 2025 Alberta Beer Awards. Add a touch of the brewery’s retro spirit to the walls of your home with this tin plaque. $50.

Cabin Brewing Company, 505 36 Ave. S.E., 403-244-3331, cabinbrewing.ca

Sunnyside Apple Brandy

Confluence Distilling partnered with SunnyCider to create the ideal sip where barrel-aged brandy meets locally made cider. The Sunnyside Apple Brandy is a distinctly Calgary spirit, featuring bright orchard aromatics and oak. $54.99.

Confluence Distilling, 507 36 Ave. S.E., 403-521-4738, confluencedistilling.ca

Sandwich Rug

Calling all sandwich fans! This quirky rug is the perfect statement piece for any room in the house. Its bright colours bring a slice of fun and liveliness to any space. Plus, it’s slip-resistant. $68.

Steeling Home, 1010 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-0777, steelinghome.ca

Salt & Pepper Mills – Set of 2 – Robles and Gmelina Wood

This pair of salt and pepper grinders from local woodworking company Baroy would bring a touch of elegance to any kitchen table or counter. These grinders are made with light and dark wooden bases (so you know which is which), with the actual milling hardware made of long-lasting copper and modelled in an antique style. Choose from five different shapes. $175.97.

baroy.ca

The post 16 Holiday Gift Ideas for Calgary Foodies appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

Got a sweet tooth?

Don’t miss Avenue‘s first Cookie Market, a one-day event in partnership with Oxford Properties, highlighting some of Calgary’s best bakers. On December 4, 2025, shop from more than 20 cookie vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Eau Claire Tower’s lobby (600 3 Ave. S.W.). This is your chance to stock up on some sweet treats for the whole family (or just snag a yummy snack for yourself).

Plus, enter the door prize contest to try and win a special package of gift cards and baked goods.

Here are the Vendors Attending the 2025 Cookie Market

*Vendor list may change*

8 Cakes

 

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Bake Like a Betty

 

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Bake My Day

 

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Biscette Cookie Co.

 

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Canela Vegan Bakery

 

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Cookie Castle

 

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Crumbl

 

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Dolce & Veloce

 

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Edelweiss Village

 

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Heritage Park

 

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Hey Sugar

 

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Lakeview Bakery

 

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Lighthouse Cakes & Pastries

 

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Luxurious Cookie Co

 

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Nookies Bakeshop

 

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O’ My Goodies

 

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A post shared by O’ My Goodies | Calgary custom cakes (@omygoodiesyyc)

Ollia Macarons & Tea

 

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Pretty Sweet Co

 

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Quel Cookies

 

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Sarah’s Cookie Jar

 

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Solodko

 

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Tidbit Cookies

 

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[Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Sugar and Sin, Sunday Dough, Dough Damn Delicious and Lulu Cookies will no longer be attending as vendors.]

The post All the Vendors Coming to Avenue’s 2025 Cookie Market appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

Taber Corn Berbon from Bridgeland Distillery

Made with Taber corn (and Penhold wheat and barley), this whisky has plenty of sweet caramel notes that make it great for cocktails or just sipping on its own.

Available at Willow Park Wines & Spirits, $67, bridgelanddistillery.com

Honey Spiced Rhum from Burwood Distillery

Burwood’s Honey Spiced Rhum (the “h” stands for honey) is a true Alberta creation. Distilled and fermented Alberta honey is aged in second-use bourbon barrels. Burwood then adds 12 spices and herbs before finishing the rum with raw honey for a touch of sweetness.

$42, burwooddistillery.ca

Porter’s Tonic Original Syrup

This tonic syrup elevates the classic G&T with a Canadian-made twist. Porter’s also makes flavours like lemon lavender thyme, hibiscus and grapefruit.

Available at multiple Calgary locations, $16, porterstonic.com

Lessig Ferments Cocktail Cherries

These Edmonton-made cocktail B.C. cherries, a collab with Vine Arts, are infused with gin, cherry bark and aromatics for a uniquely tannic cherry to top off your Old Fashioned.

Available at Vine Arts, $17, lessigferments.com

Parlour Canadian Dry Gin from Eau Claire Distillery

With notes of Alberta-grown saskatoon berries and rose hips, this floral-tinged gin is an all-arounder that makes a perfect gin and tonic.

$50, eauclairedistillery.ca

Brotzeit End-Grain Cutting Board from ChopValue

This cutting board, sustainably made from recycled chopsticks, looks fantastic and makes a great conversation piece.

$129, chopvalue.com

Hazaki Pro Series Kiritsuke Petty 135mm

With a blade forged in Japan and a handle made in Montreal, this knife is sleek and small enough to store on a bar cart, and sharp enough to cut through citrus without losing any of that precious juice.

Available at Knifewear, $190, knifewear.com

Wild Life Distillery Aromatic Bitters

Aromatic bitters are a must for any cocktail kit, and these bitters made by Canmore’s Wild Life Distillery bring notes of sarsaparilla, clove and lemon to your classic cocktails.

$15, wildlifedistillery.ca

Ice Cubes from Craft Ice

Great ice can make or break a cocktail. Impress with these crystal-clear, impurity-free ice cubes in various sizes and shapes to up your beverage game.

Available at Bridgeland Distillery and 5 Vines Mahogany, prices vary, icesculpture.ca

Mandarino Amaro from Confluence Distilling

Inspired by Italian Aperol, this Calgary-made amaro brings bitter herbal and mandarin notes to pump up any cocktail.

$44, confluencedistilling.ca

Professional Series Shaken & Stirred Cocktail Set from Fifth & Vermouth

This cocktail set from Calgary’s Fifth & Vermouth comes with everything you need to craft a great cocktail — plus, the shaker, strainers, crystal mixing glass and long bar spoon just look great.

$125, bartools.ca

Livingston Bar Cart from Metro Element

With a sleek black stainless-steel frame and black tempered-glass top, this stylish bar cart fits in just about any home to conveniently display your collection of spirits and cocktail accoutrements.

$1,415, metroelement.net

The post 12 Products to Build the Perfect Alberta Bar Cart appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

In 2019, Chris and Karen Fodor opened City & Country, a local winery and tasting room that makes its own wine in Calgary.

While Alberta may not be as known for its grape or wine production as Canadian provinces like B.C. or Ontario, City & Country is proof that great wine can be made right here. The Fodors import grapes from all over the world to make a wide variety of wines.

“What’s neat is we can buy grapes from places like California or Oregon in October or buy grapes from the southern hemisphere in South Africa in April or May. So we’re able to spread out our wine-making process throughout the year and pick the best grapes with developed flavours,” says Chris.

Each artisanal wine is made without added flavours, colours or sugars. Made in small batches, the vegan and gluten-free wines offer a fruit-forward taste that celebrates the grapes’ clean flavour.

Each variety of red, white and rosé wine is uniquely aged and fermented to bring out the wine’s best notes and aromas. Popular bottles like the 2020 Okangagan Rosé feature fruity, floral notes with hints of spice, while festive flavours like the seasonal mulled wine offer tastes of cinnamon, orange peel and star anise.

City & Country, 544 38A Ave. S.E., cityandcountrywinery.com

The post Made in Calgary: City & Country Turns Global Grapes Into Local Wines appeared first on Avenue Calgary.

If you love noodles, don’t miss the return of YYC Noodle Festival this month.

Back for a third year, YYC Noodle Festival casts a spotlight on some of the best noodle dishes and restaurants around Calgary. The event is a partnership between Hung’s Noodle Factory, Mach Media and Roots Collective that runs from November 6 to 16 in support of the Leftovers Foundation, a Calgary-based organization whose mission is to reduce food waste.

This year, there are more than 20 participating businesses offering featured noodle dishes during the festival. Between them, there’s a noodle dish for everyone, with options ranging from Stone Bowl Carbonara Udon at Ajito to Okkusu Teru Ramen at Fuji Ramen & Sushi. The Leftovers Foundation will receive part of the proceeds from each featured dish that is purchased during the festival.

Once you’ve tried some of the dishes, you can rate your favourites online to help determine awards like “Most Creative Noodle” and “People’s Choice.” There will also be a “Power Fundraiser” award.

Multiple locations, yycnoodlefestival.com

The post YYC Noodle Festival Returns in November appeared first on Avenue Calgary.