The Calgary Flames Jersey is the best jersey in the NHL. The flaming red C on the front of a black jersey with a horse breathing fire on the sleeve is way more communist and metal looking than anything else in that or almost any other pro sports league. Historically Calgary has been an economically stable city in an economically stable province, thanks to oil and beef. This means that for decades there has been a level of drinking and dining in Alberta’s biggest city that may be surprising to new visitors. Much like how we are sure you are surprised to learn about the Flames jersey if you aren’t already a hockey fan.
Many of the long running steakhouses and cigar lounges have taken a hit since pandemic lockdowns and so the city’s bar and restaurant scene feels new and lively, despite having a long history of providing some of the best service in the world. In the last 5 years or so places like Shelter, Business & Pleasure, Charlie’s Watch Repair and Paper Lantern have won us over. Proof has become a landmark and The Ship & Anchor might be our favourite bar in Canada*. We were in Calgary recently for Espolon Cocktail Fights and took an extra few days to see some new places… and one old favourite.
TRUE WILD DISTILLING. An important fact about Calgary to keep in mind is that it is a car city. You have to drive everywhere, mostly. So when you get a ride to True Wild, don’t freak out – the route will feel like you are being taken to an abandoned area of the city. Once you arrive, you will know that you are in the right place. True Wild has been built inside an old power plant turned mechanic shop and touches of that industrial past show up throughout the space. Jess fell in love with this space because of the light and design. There are just too many places to take pictures here! With Jeff Wong at the helm of the cocktail program, you can trust that any modifications made to the spirits they produce here (all stellar) are thoughtful. Josh even had a variation on a Dirty Martini that he liked (smoke is the key). We especially like their Roper’s Hold 8 Year Straight Rye Whisky. It has enough guts to stand up to any cocktail ingredient you throw at it and goes down easy on its own as well.
PALI ROOM. The changing face of Calgary, in this case, involves a tropical-inspired space with, again, so many spaces for photos. Truly, this room feels like an escape even in the summer so we can’t imagine how warm it will feel in January. A variety of textures and patterns adorn all the furniture in this space which matches the drinks on the menu well. A variety of drinks, some straight tropical classics, some small variations of some familiar Trader Vic and Donn Beach tipples and some house specials …one of which was a herbal Sake heavy Collins. Justin Dziadyk has spent the last few years honing his skills at the above mentioned Business & Pleasure and True Wild and this is his chance to show everything he’s learned. The result is stunning. While here, maybe pop downstairs to Stable Club, which has the same level of care but a slightly different vibe. As of writing this, there is a third venue in the basement being built and we cannot wait to see how it comes out.
MISSY’S THIS THAT. Maybe after the straight spirits at True Wild and some slobberknockers of tropical drinks at Pali Room, you will want to take a half hour long walk to one of Calgary’s shining stars of bars, Missy’s. We love Missy’s for a lot of reasons. Here are some of them:
• While the drinks list is very carefully considered, it is clear that the staff and owners do not take themselves too seriously. Everyone here is trained to tell you all about their house made syrups and the natural ferment wines they have but they will do so while wearing a XXL Lil Kim t-shirt from 1998.
• So many newer bars put too much time and energy into having a space that looks like…well…every other bar built in the last few years. Missy’s lives upstairs from a convenience store and feels like it might have had a previous life as a diner or pool hall. While obviously the owners have curated the space to feel casual and comfortable, the intentionality of the space pervades.
• The variety of guests at Missy’s is so varied. 22 year olds with stick and poke tattoos sit next to 45 year old oil and beef guys having post-meeting cocktails and there are always cute dates happening. Appealing to a wide variety of the population is more and more rare as bars open with such specific concepts. Missy’s is for everybody.
As you can tell, we love it here.
MOUNT PLEASANT VINTAGE. MPV in Vancouver has really caught lightning in a bottle. The high-low concept works well in a city like Vancouver and replicating this concept in Calgary is a gamble. From what we can tell, it paid off! The space is somehow even bigger feeling than the Vancouver outpost but with all the for sale vintage furniture and decor, it still feels cozy. They have a street front patio and also a rooftop patio, perfect for catching some of the 14+ hours of sunlight Calgary gets in the summer. The drinks list is a mix of local and global in the beers, wines and cocktails sections. Josh had a drink with an ingredient called “double duck” which is brave for someone that was vegan for 13 years. Most of the cocktail list is made of appropriate twists on the familiar but with ingredients that feel at home next to the food menu. We actually visited MPV twice on this trip. Once as the after party for the Espolon Cocktail Fights and then once to see it in real service. What we learned is that Mount Pleasant Vintage in Calgary is poised to take on any kind of challenge…er…service with grace.
*- Ranking things like this is for wieners
Last updated August 30th, 2026
