Calgary
Betty Lou's Library won't be for everyone, but if you like feeling like you've stepped back in time to Prohibition 1920s, then you'll get a kick out of…
Must-see nightlife in Alberta
Calgary
No, that isn't a typo. Pr%f might be small but the bar is big enough to require a library ladder, and the drinks menu not only requires time, but also…
Jasper Town & Around
Some of Jasper's best damn coffee is – no joke! – served at this former Coin Clean Laundry, now reincarnated as a cafe-gallery-community hangout. Beyond…
Drumheller
Last Chance is the real thing – a Western saloon from 1913, complete with bear skins, old kerosene lamps, antique photos and bullet holes in the wall…
Southern Alberta
Award-winning Eau Claire Distillery is the province's first craft distillery, using Alberta grain and custom-crafted German stills. Having taken over the…
Southern Alberta
Lethbridge is not an elegant city, but Plum may make you rethink: it's got plush velour curtains, a marble bar with dim lighting and polished copper…
Banff Town
Sporting original crown molding and dark wood paneling from its early days as a ladies' writing salon, this intimate wine bar in Banff's Fairmont makes an…
Canmore
Soaring ceilings and in-your-face views of Mt Rundle and the Three Sisters greet you at this cool gastropub launched by Grizzly Paw Brewing. Views aside,…
Edmonton
Baijiu is where anyone wanting great cocktails goes, but it's tough to describe the place exactly. First one thinks tiki, but it's not quite that. Then…
Edmonton
First things first. This isn't a pub per se. Nor is it gay per se. It's an all-welcome tasting room next door to a brewery where you can sup on Yellowhead…
Edmonton
In a city where cafes producing their own micro-roasted coffee beans are few, Transcend should be treated like gold dust. Expert baristas on first-name…
Edmonton
This industrial and candlelit small cafe is an underground bastion of good taste on in-vogue 104th St, particularly in the deli department (plates $6 to …
Jasper Town & Around
This up-and-coming microbrewery draws a boisterous mix of locals from nearby Hinton and travelers heading to or from the wilderness. Test the waters with…
Banff Town
Early risers in need of their java fix should head straight to this sleek corner cafe attached to the Aspen Lodge. It's renowned among locals not only for…
Banff Town
Banff Ave's sprawling 2nd-floor beer hall bustles day and night, slinging a dozen craft brews created on the premises alongside a wide range of nibbles:…
Canmore
Channeling the aesthetic of a Wild West saloon, this trendy downtown bar specializes in craft cocktails like the Buffalo Sour (bourbon, lemon juice and…
Calgary
Built in a 1900s style, with the original distillery's lumber used for the top floor and an actual waterwheel churning outside, the Barley Mill draws…
Calgary
Cold-pressed juice is the latest craze in Calgary. Like a meal in a bottle, it can be found in trendy cafes or at this retail store. Some flavors are…
St James's Gate Olde Irish Pub
Banff Town
Banff is a Celtic name, so it's hardly surprising to find an Irish pub here, and a rather good one at that. Check out the woodwork, crafted and shipped…
Calgary
The third-wave coffee scene is stirring in Calgary, led by companies like Fratello, which runs this narrow, overflowing hipster-ish 17th Ave cafe. Beans…
Jasper Town & Around
This brewpub was the first of its kind in a Canadian national park, using glacial water to make its fine ales, including the signature Rockhopper IPA and…
Banff Town
Located upstairs with a crow's-nest view of Banff Ave, this is the town's most refined sports pub, with a decent lineup of beers on tap and live music;…
Jasper Town & Around
This is likely the best-stocked bar in town, with a wide array of whiskeys, vodkas and other alcoholic indulgences – and a bar staff who know how to use…
Edmonton
Insanely popular with all types, the Black Dog is essentially a pub with some hidden extras: a rooftop patio, known as the 'wooftop patio,' a traditional…
Canmore
With Italian lounge music playing in the background, this main street deli gets the day started with rich, strong Americanos and macchiatos, then moves on…
Calgary
The National blends seamlessly into the 17th Ave action. On its outdoor patio, office bods in Stetsons cluster loudly around communal tables and you'll…
Banff Town
Banff's oldest pub (since 1985!) is a fairly standard British-style boozer with pool tables and a rooftop patio. Among all the town's drinking houses, it…
Canmore
This spit-and-sawdust British pub at the northern end of Main St looks dingy from outside, but things feel a lot more welcoming once you get out onto the…
Calgary
Originally a funeral home in the 1920s and believed by many to be haunted, this popular, multilevel British-style pub is a good place for a pint. Upstairs…
Calgary
This old arts-and-crafts-style house is still clinging on for dear life amid the spanking new condos. Downscale and snug, Civic Tavern has good tunes, a…
Edmonton
Theater-district pub just off Whyte Ave with a good quotient of arty types. There are well-selected ales, including local stalwarts Yellowhead and Alley…
Southern Alberta
This large barn-like pub attached to the Lakeside Convention Center is where what passes for wild Waterton nights happen, aided by live music, pool tables…
Calgary
The HiFi is a hybrid. Rap, soul, house, electro, funk – the dance floor swells nightly to the sounds of live DJs who specialize in making you sweat.
Calgary
Consistently voted the best queer dance venue by the local community, this club has weekly drag shows, karaoke nights and DJs spinning nightly.
Calgary
Calgary's oldest gay bar has cheap drinks and often live bands. There's karaoke on Monday and Thursday. Drag shows too.
Edmonton
Get lost in the labyrinth of rooms at this popular Irish pub – Edmonton's oldest. There's a variety of beers on tap, including the obligatory stout. Live…
Edmonton
A popular local watering hole with a happening happy hour, billiards and plates of smoked chicken drumsticks or riblets to snack on. The plethora of TVs…
Banff Town
A haven for traditionalists, Tommy's offers good draft beer, a dartboard and plenty of opportunity to meet the kind of globe-trotting mavericks who have…
Jasper Town & Around
Shock, horror! You are actually more likely to meet a local (as opposed to a tourist) in this salt-of-the-earth pub attached to the Whistlers Inn.
Calgary
The frankly ugly Ship is a classic Calgary institution – an all-time favorite of university students and indie music fans. With an abundance of beers on…
