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Where Food Meets Elegance: 10 Fine Dining Restaurants in Calgary
There’s nothing quite like the experience of dining in a high-end restaurant. The service is outstanding, the drinks are superior, the ingredients are high-quality, and the food is impeccable!
I’ve been to a lot since I’ve taken my wife out for anniversaries, birthdays, and date nights. So you could say I’m a fine-dining connoisseur—okay, maybe not that kind of expert—but hey, I know the good places!
If you want to indulge in a culinary adventure where every bite tells a story, Calgary’s fine dining restaurants are the places to go. Here are the spots that we come back to where food is all about passion and creativity!
Be on your best behaviour and grab the right fork!
River Café
Media credit: rivercafeyyc
Website: https://www.river-cafe.com/
Address: 25 Prince’s Island Park, SW
Contact: 403-261-7670
Operating Hours:
- Lunch – Monday to Friday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Afternoon Menu -Monday to Sunday: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Dinner – Monday to Sunday: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Weekend Brunch – Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Prices: $20 – $68
River Café is located on Prince’s Island Park. This rustic yet chic establishment provides a relaxed dining experience with lush greenery and a serene ambiance.
Experience the best Alberta has to offer at this high-end restaurant. It uses local ingredients free from pesticides and supports the community by working with local farmers.
Each plate they serve is colourful and pleasing to the eye. Try the rich and tender Pan Seared Yukon Arctic Char nestled in mixed greens and green goddess dressing.
Pro Tip:
We recommend dining at the picnic garden for a relaxed but upscale dining experience. The restaurant has an outdoor picnic area where you can enjoy your wine or cocktail.
Fortuna’s Row
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Website: https://fortunasrow.com/
Address: 421 Riverfront Ave SE
Contact: 403-243-0069, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Friday: 5:00 pm – 1:00 am
- Saturday: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 1:00 am
- Sunday: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Prices: $20 – $80
Indulge yourself in delicious contemporary Latin American food right by the riverfront. Fortuna’s Row is one of those unpretentious luxury dining experiences in Calgary.
The atmosphere brings you to a different world—almost like you’re not in Calgary anymore. The exposed concrete bones, brick walls, wooden accents, and good music make it feel like a Mexican beachfront restaurant.
Chef Mikko Tamarra brings a personal touch to the menu, inspired by his travels across Latin America—he elevates his dishes by using different techniques he learned from other countries. The Bandeja Paisa, a chicharron pork belly, is a must-eat at brunch.
Pro Tips:
If you have allergies or specific food preferences, we suggest skipping the 15-course Taco Omakase. They don’t make alterations to the menu here since they adhere to a particular style and format.
If you’re bringing minors, they’re only allowed during brunch on the patio. Don’t take them for dinner because children aren’t allowed.
Model Milk
Media credit: modelmilk
Website: https://www.modelmilk.ca/
Address: 308 17 Ave SW
Contact: 403-265-7343, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Sunday: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Prices: $15 – $120
Model Milk is a rustic chic restaurant that sticks to sustainability practices. They work with local farmers, use local ingredients, source regional products, and utilize every single part of the animal.
This eatery has a relaxed and casual vibe, but the luxurious feel of the place doesn’t go away. It’s fairly simple to order as well since there’s not a lot of choices to confuse you. Still, the menu is very creative and offers meat-focused meals.
Start with the small plates, like the popular East Coast Oysters served with chilli and red pepper hot sauce. For the main, the Charcoal Grilled Alberta Striploin is flavourful and tender—definitely the highlight of our dinner!
Pro Tips:
We suggest skipping this if you’re a vegan or vegetarian. Most meals have meat in them, and the only dishes without meat are the salads.
Instead, you can visit their sister restaurant, Pigeonhole, which has more vegetarian-friendly meals. It’s just a skip and a hop away.
NOtaBLE the Restaurant
Media credit: notablecalgary
Website: https://www.notabletherestaurant.ca/
Address: 4611 Bowness Rd NW #133
Contact: 403-288-4372, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
- Friday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:30 am – 10:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:30 am – 9:00 pm
- Happy Hour, Monday – Sunday: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Prices: $16 – $135
Chef Michael Noble’s brainchild, NOtaBLE the Restaurant, focuses on providing gourmet casual. Even though the setting is more relaxed, the menu remains sophisticated with artistic plating.
The food is made from fresh, local ingredients. The chefs offer delightful seasonal cuisine that is bursting with flavours—if you’re lucky, they might bring back the popular Crispy Potato Rolls for a limited time.
There’s still a good selection of dishes on a regular day. The signature wood-fired NOtaBLE Rotisserie Chicken is tender and flavourful, complete with a side of mashed potatoes and delicious brown butter sauce.
Pro Tip:
If you forgot to make a reservation or the place is full, you can order for takeout instead! NOtaBLE is one of the fine dining restaurants that accept takeout orders. However, keep in mind the experience won’t be the same dining in.
Rouge Restaurant
Media credit: rougerestaurant
Website: https://rougecalgary.com/
Address: 1240 8 Ave SE
Contact: 403-531-2767, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Sunday: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Prices: $16 – $54
This 1890s modern farmhouse in Inglewood brings a forage-to-table dining experience. Each plate is elegantly crafted using herbs harvested from their very own garden.
The chef’s creativity shines through in the sophisticated menu. An example is the Gathered & Foraged Chef’s Menu (a tasting menu), a 6-course meal using a nice variety of dishes for a truly unique experience—perfect for a romantic date.
If you prefer ala carte, start with the Foie Gras Parfait and move to the mouthwatering Spinach & Mushroom Stuffed Lamb Saddle served with pear jus. Finish it off with a sweet delight brought by the Mint & Almond Rhubarb Crumble.
Pro Tips:
Try not to bring the kids because children under the age of 10 are not allowed inside the restaurant.
If you can’t find parking in front of the restaurant, try 12th Street just south of the bridge.
Flores & Pine
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Website: https://www.floresandpine.com/
Address: 254028 Bearspaw Rd
Contact: 403-241-7611, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Dinner, Tuesday – Thursday: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Lunch, Friday – Saturday: 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
- Dinner, Friday – Saturday: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Sunday, Brunch: 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
- Sunday, Dinner: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Prices: $19 – $67
The open dining concept of Flores & Pine brings forth a casual fine dining experience in Bearspaw. Despite the very laid-back atmosphere, the luxury dining experience isn’t affected because of the refined, curated menu.
This Calgary restaurant provides a high-quality culinary adventure by serving modern classic cuisine and seasonal delights crafted from local ingredients. The menu, with its wide selection of dishes, is very enticing and is sure to cater to different tastebuds.
The Tomahawk Steak Board is a must-try if you’re craving perfectly cooked meat. Pair it with a glass of cabernet sauvignon to balance the juicy flavours.
Pro Tips:
Remember, the F&P Boards have large portions. It’s not cheap but is ideal for sharing.
Check out their special promotions to save some money. On Tuesdays, they have a $99 dinner for two, which includes two proteins, two sides, and two glasses of wine.
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant
Media credit: bowvalleyrancherestaurant
Website: https://bvrrestaurant.com/
Address: 15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE
Contact: 403-476-1310, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Lunch, Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Mid-afternoon, Tuesday – Sunday: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Dinner, Tuesday – Sunday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Brunch, Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Afternoon Tea, Saturday – Sunday: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Prices: $17 – $59
Tucked away in Fish Creek Provincial Park, the gorgeous Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant will bring you back in time. The ranch dates back to the 1890s, and to this day, the house remains the same with some restoration.
This fine-dining restaurant serves Canadian cuisine using local ingredients and local harvests. The menu is refreshingly simple yet diverse, offering a variety of dishes to cater to every palate.
No Alberta visit is complete without trying out a perfectly cooked bison meat, like the melt-in-your-mouth Bison Tartare. If you’re not up for that, try the Surf & Turf for an all-in-one meal. It’s a plate of bison striploin, prawns, scallops, and bone marrow.
Pro Tips:
Afternoon tea has a seasonal availability. Call ahead before booking to make sure they still offer it.
For wheelchair access, go straight to the building’s east side for the ramp. But call the restaurant so the staff can help open the gate going to the parking lot.
Teatro Ristorante
Media credit: teatrorestaurant
Website: https://teatro.ca/
Address: 200 8th Ave SE
Contact: 403-290-1012, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Prices:
- Food Menu: $23 – $69
- Wine Menu: $65 – $10,000
Teatro Ristorante had us at ‘handmade pasta’. These guys bring authentic Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist to Calgary, elevating the fine dining experience with their delicious menu.
There’s a variety of dishes that work best when paired with a bottle from their award-winning wine cellar, which houses over 10,000 wines.
Their sommelier, a true expert, suggests the best wine pairings with every food you order for the perfect luxury dining experience.
We were not fans of seafood lasagna, but the Teatro Lasagna changed our minds. The layers of lobsters, scallops, prawns, and pasta work really well together and make for a rich, delicious, and filling meal.
Pro Tip:
The wine price list may be intimidating (there are five-digit prices there!) but don’t be shy when asking the sommelier for suggestions. They can recommend the most affordable pairing if you’re not ready to shell out hundreds of dollars for a drink.
The Lake House
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Website: https://lakehousecalgary.com/
Address: 747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE
Contact: 403-225-3939, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Lunch, Tuesday – Friday: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Dinner, Tuesday – Sunday: 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Prices: $19 – $53
If you’re looking for a romantic fine dining destination, The Lake House is a must-try. This charming spot overlooks Lake Bonavista and has a rustic yet intimate vibe.
The impressive menu is a culinary creativity inspired by Rocky Mountain cuisine. Each dish is creatively crafted and plated, perfect for date nights, proposals, and anniversaries. Complete your meal with a glass from their curated collection of wines.
The Fresh Shucked East Coast Oysters are a good start to your meal, which aren’t overly salty but taste like the ocean (just how they should be!). For the main, the Grilled Angus Beef Ribeye is juicy, tender, and isn’t tough to bite into.
Pro Tip:
If you’re looking for a wedding venue, The Lake House is perfect for intimate weddings. Ask for their wedding packages, available for parties with 35 guests and under.
Vintage Chophouse and Tavern
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Website: https://vintagechophouse.com/
Address: 320 11 Ave SW
Contact: 403-262-7262
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
- Thursday – Friday: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
- Saturday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Sunday: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Happy Hour, Monday – Friday: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Prices:
- Lunch and Dinner Menu: $16 – $152
- Happy Hour Menu: $8 – $25
Vintage Chophouse and Tavern is an award-winning restaurant located in Victoria Park’s historic Beltline community. If you’re craving steak, this Calgary spot is the epitome of delicious meats.
The dark, elegant, and trendy interior is the perfect atmosphere for a fine dining experience. You can even relax every Saturday during live jazz night.
There are different kinds of steak you can order, but we particularly like the Canadian Prime Ribeye with a side of hand-cut friends. Pair it with a medium-bodied Merlot to balance the juicy and meaty flavours on your tastebuds.
Pro Tip:
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ask for a cocktail. They have delicious handcrafted beverages, like our favourite, the espresso martini.
