Dazzle out-of-town visitors at these restaurants in Calgary

With Calgary’s food scene punching well above its weight, your out-of-town visitors may well arrive hungrily brandishing a list of acclaimed city eateries. Whether your guests have done their homework or not, impress them with your own list of must-visit restaurants.

Dazzle out-of-town visitors at these restaurants in Calgary
Ian Doig By

Raw Bar

1
119 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8

Absolutely take your guests to Hotel Arts for drinks and a Viet-modern meal at Raw Bar by Duncan Ly. One of the city’s most decorated chefs, Ly serves contemporary Asian dishes with European touches that are both delicious and gorgeous to look at. Crazy-good entrees include crab and coconut fried rice, pad Thai with beef and prawns as well as beef short rib steamed buns. Also visit the oyster bar and order a selection from the cocktail menu — one of the city’s finest.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

CHARCUT Roast House

2
101-303 Centre St SW, Calgary, AB T2G 2B9

This meat-centric downtown restaurant has been on everyone’s recommended list since it opened a few years ago, and with good reason. Chef-owners Connie DeSousa and John Jackson are always on their game, serving an evolving menu of rustic fine-dining fare. Central to the savouriness are house-made sausage, rotisserie meats and well-chosen seafood items, plus the hamburger is a juicy crowd pleaser. And don miss the great beer and cocktail selection.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Sky 360

3
101 9 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1J9

An elevator ride up the Calgary Tower ought to be mandatory for Calgary visitors. Also a must, is enjoying its sprawling city view over a meal at Sky 360, the rotating restaurant at the top of this well-known architectural landmark. Its contemporary Canadian cuisine features Italian touches and includes dishes such as Alberta bison flank steak, Arctic char with crab risotto as well as fusilli Bolognese. For guests with children, this fine eatery in the clouds serves a crowd-pleasing kids’ menu.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Selkirk Grille

4
1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary, AB T2V 2X3

Family-friendly and lightly upscale, Calgary visitors ought to combine a visit to Heritage Park Historical Village with a meal at The Selkirk Grille. Decked out like a vintage Canuck resort hotel, the restaurant’s menu updates classic Canadian dishes using the best Western-Canadian ingredients. Try wild British Columbia mushrooms on toast, Alberta Angus beef tenderloin as well as scallop and prawn risotto. The family-style Sunday supper is highly recommended.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Ian Doig Ian Doig
Ian Doig’s week may include dim sum lunch with friends, rummaging through indie bookstore shelves as well as scribbling in his notepad at Calgary shops and farmers’ markets. It most often concludes with a relaxing Friday evening pint of locally brewed craft beer.
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