Calgary restaurants that make you feel like you’re on vacation
It is that time of the year when everyone is starting to make summer vacation plans.
But what if you don’t have to actually get out of Calgary to feel the vacation vibes?
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Calgary is one of Canada’s fastest growing and most vibrant cities, and it never lacks exotic restaurants and bars.
Here’s a list of restaurants that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. Save some money and head to one of those spots for the ultimate vacation vibe.
Ricardo’s Hideaway
Ricardo’s Hideaway is a tropical bar offering authentic Caribbean food and good vibes. It has a great selection of rum, as well as other delicious drinks like piña colada and daiquiri. With those thunderstorm forecasts in Calgary, the tropical cocktails, and lively atmosphere at Ricardo’s will definitely make you feel like you’re on vacation.
Address: 1530 5th Street SW
Phone: 587-349-2585
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Calcutta Cricket Club
Calcutta Cricket Club is a fun Indian restaurant that draws inspiration from the cosmopolitan nature and cuisine of West Bengal, India. Once you walk in, you’ll find some quirky and colourful decor that will brighten up your day. Its large 50-seat veranda has an upscale yet quaint vibe, calling for many cozy nights and mango gin cocktails.
Address: 340 17th Avenue SW
Phone: 403-719-1555
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Two Penny & The Tea House
Two Penny is a Chinese inspired, family-style restaurant specializing in foods like dumplings, buns, and noodles. The restaurant’s decor is modernized while still giving you a feeling of the traditional Chinese culture. If you’re not feeling like getting food, you should head downstairs to the Tea House and enjoy some creative cocktails.
Address: 1213 1st Street SW
Phone: 403-474-7766
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Los Chilitos
Los Chilitos is a family-friendly restaurant serving up authentic Mexican classics, top-notch Margaritas, and a wide selection of Tequila. The restaurant’s rustic interior design and music will bring your mind to Mexico and make you want to dance. Its colourful two-level split patio seats about 80 people and is also one of the most popular patios on 17th Avenue.
Address: 1309 17th Avenue SW
Phone: 403-228-5528
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The Casbah Restaurant
At The Casbah Restaurant, everything is done in a true Moroccan style. The restaurant is decorated with authentic carvings, tiles, paintings, and crafts, which result from twelve centuries of Moroccan art. Following Moroccan tradition, you will also be treated to a rosewater hand wash ceremony before consuming some delicious dishes. Dining here will give you a full-on experience of the Moroccan culture.
Address: 720 11th Avenue SW
Phone: 403-265-9800
Cassis Bistro
If you want to feel like you’re on vacation in South France, Cassis Bistro is where you want to be. It is a quaint restaurant offering South-of-France flavour with a local flair, and it’s got a good selection of drinks. Sip on a glass wine and enjoy some French music and black and white movies playing in the background — you won’t want to leave at the end of your meal.
Address: 2502 17th Avenue SW
Phone: 403-262-0036
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Shokunin
Shokunin is voted as one of Canada’s top 100 restaurants, and it is a proper izakaya(casual Japanese pub for after-work drinking) spot serving up Japanese food with a killer sake selection. It features the kind of food traditionally served at an izakaya back in Japan, and all its skewers are grilled on a charcoal grill. Have a bottle of sake here and enjoy a true Japanese dining experience.
Address: 2016 4th Avenue SW
Phone: 403-229-3444
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Pigeonhole
Pigeonhole sits at the end of 17th Avenue and offers wine and bar snacks. Its charming patio is decorated with green plants and flowers, and it will make you feel like you’re sipping rosé on the streets in Paris. Come in for some patio days and enjoy its $5 happy hour starting at 4 pm.
Address: 306 17th Avenue SW
Phone: 403-452-4694
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Santorini Greek Taverna
Santorini is one of the most established Greek restaurants in Calgary, serving up the traditional warm and fresh Greek cuisine like flaming pan-fried cheese, pristine Moussaka, and chicken Souvlaki. It has the kind of traditional Greek decor that’s clean and refreshing. Try one of its authentic Greek dishes, and you will feel like you are on vacation in Santorini.
Address: 1502 Centre Street NE
Phone: 403-276-8363
Wurst
Wurst is a beer hall that is built in a traditional Hofbräuhaus style. It offers some of the most authentic German dishes in town, and it’s got a stellar German beer list including Paulaner, Erdinger, and Schofferhofer. You won’t have to pay for expensive flights to Munich and can still get a taste of Oktoberfest here.
Address: 2437 4th Street SW
Phone: 403-245-2345