Alberta’s biggest city, Calgary is known for its proximity to the Canadian Rockies, wonderful biking paths, green spaces and thriving art scene. But in a relatively big city, how do you determine the best neighbourhoods in Calgary? Each district has its own unique character and hidden gems to be discovered.
Downtown is often seen as the beating heart of the city while Kensington is a paradise for foodies. Inglewood is one of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods and East Village is home to some breath-taking architecture. But Bridgeland is great for breakfast and family attractions. So where should you stay? What are the best neighbourhoods in Calgary?
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Downtown
The city’s vibrant hub
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Downtown Calgary has it all: top-class restaurants, incredible theatre performances, art galleries and museums and some of the best shopping in the city. To get a view of the whole city, head up the Calgary Tower, which offers a 360-degree bird’s eye view all the way to the Rocky Mountains.
Downtown is one of the most vibrant areas of the city with Stephen Avenue Walk at its heart. Here you’ll find some of the best restaurants and cafes as well as historical facts about the city. This area is also known for its art and culture including the Glenbow Museum, Wonderland Sculpture and the Arts Commons. If you’re a shopper, head to the CORE Shopping Centre.
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Beltline
A quirky shopping and arts district
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Beltline is an urban adventure packed with high-end restaurants including the Bridgette Bar and Ten Foot Henry, which have both featured in Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. The bar scene is equally lively with the CRAFT Beer Market offering a rooftop patio and local beer while Twisted Element regularly hosts drag and burlesque nights.
Located south of the Downtown district, Beltline is also known for its public art and parks. Chinook Arc is a particularly spectacular sculpture with changing colours providing cool photo opportunities. On the other hand, Central Memorial Park is Calgary’s oldest park and a peaceful spot for a picnic. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll want to shop here as specialist shops for biking and snowboarding are available.
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Kensington
A paradise for foodies and shoppers alike
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If you describe yourself as a foodie, head to Kensington. Its brunch spots are particularly well known, with restaurants such as Red’s Diner and Fuwa Fuwa offering both classic and innovate brunch dishes. The food scene here is so good that Alberta Food Tours has designed an app where you solve puzzles to taste your way around the neighbourhood.
Just north of Downtown and with C-train access, Kensington is also known for its unique range of local shops. Book lovers will want to visit Pages, featuring 3 floors of new and used books, while Canary is great for those wanting to live more sustainably. Take a break from shopping in Riley Park, one of Calgary’s most prized parks.
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17th Ave SW
The retail and entertainment district
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17th Ave SW has been reinvented as Calgary’s entertainment and retail district with over 700 local businesses to discover. The shopping options range from local boutiques to luxury, high-end stores. Whether you’re looking for a gift or to reinvent your wardrobe, there’s a shop for you. The food and drink scene here is also outstanding and includes local bakeries, award-winning restaurants and lively bars.
Located between 17th Ave SW and 2nd Street SW, it also hosts some of the BUMP street murals, allowing you to combine shopping and culture. If you’re visiting in summer, make sure you keep an eye on the Summer on 17th events including 18 outdoor movies, 80 live performances and lots of free events.
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Inglewood
Calgary’s oldest and coolest neighbourhood
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Inglewood is one Calgary’s coolest neighbourhoods, full of gorgeous restaurants, boutiques, art and culture. It’s also at the heart of Calgary’s Music Mile, regularly hosting festivals and live music events. One must-visit is the Inglewood Night Market, a free outdoor market featuring curated local vendors, food trucks, live music and beer gardens.
Located at the point where Elbow and Bow River meet, Inglewood is also perfect for nature lovers. The Inglewood Bird Sanctury is home to over 270 species of birds. For those looking to burn off some energy, Harvie Passage is great for water sports such as kayaking, surfing, paddleboarding and swimming.
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International Avenue
Calgary’s culinary and culture capital
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International Avenue is well known for its vibrant street art, which gives the district its character. You can use the Art Walk Map to take a self-guided tour, exploring 45 pieces and learning fun facts along the way. There are also several green spaces to discover, such as Unity Park and the family-friendly Elliston Park.
East of the Deerfoot Trail on 17th Avenue, shopping in International Avenue is like a trip around the world. Here you can find spices from the Middle East, authentic Latin American street food, African fabrics, vintage bikes and more. International Avenue regularly hosts festivals and events so keep an eye out for special events.
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East Village
An urban neighbourhood offering the best of city life
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East Village is an urban district marked by its innovative architecture, cool restaurants and pretty pathways. Some of the must-see architectural sites are the Central Library, named one of the Top 52 Places to Visit by the New York Times, and Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre.
Located to the east of Calgary’s Downtown, this area is designed to be incredibly accessible for pedestrians and cyclists as well as having good public transport links. Cycling along the River Walk is a great way to take in the Calgary skyline. To get the best shot of a sunset in Calgary, head to the rooftop bar of charbar in the iconic Simmons building.
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Eau Claire
Calgary’s festival district
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Known as the home of Calgary’s festivals, there is a real buzz around Eau Claire. The festivals hosted here include the Calgary International Film Festival, Canada Day celebrations for the whole family, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival and the Pet-A-Palooza. It’s well worth checking the calendar events to see what fun you can join in with.
Sitting on the banks of the Bow River, north of Downtown, you can enjoy a stroll across the river to Prince’s Island Park which includes the educational Chevron Learning Pathway, cross-country skiing and ice skating in the winter and the charming River Café. After a day exploring, head to JOEY for one of the hottest happy hour deals in the city.
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Bridgeland
The ideal spot for breakfast lovers
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While not often a celebrated meal, Bridgeland is known for its incredible breakfasts. We recommend grabbing an Eggs Benny or breakfast poutine from OEB Breakfast Co., a small Calgary chain, or pick up a crop-to-cup coffee from Baya Rica Café. If you fancy picking up fresh ingredients, head to the Bridgeland Marker for locally sourced delicacies.
Located northeast of Downtown, Bridgeland is also home to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo which often hosts events suitable for the whole family. Another great option for kids is the Telus Spark Science Centre, a creative and interactive look at how science changes lives. There’s even science-themed food at the café, including astronaut ice cream, so even lunch time can include learning.
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4th Street
One street, a thousand avenues
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The historic French neighbourhood of Calgary, 4th Street is a unique blend of international brands, boutique stores, much-loved restaurants and intriguing art installations. We recommend stopping by Rajdoot for an Indian feast and popping into DUER for sustainable clothing that can take you from the bike land to the boardroom.
Found in the middle of Mission, Cliff Bungalow and Beltline, 4th Street is also home to several events and festivals. If you’re visiting in spring, make sure you check out the Lilac Festival, an opportunity to shake off the winter blues as the area is pedestrianised to accommodate outdoor eating and dining, bands and kids’ activities.