As the international gateway to Banff, Canada’s busiest national park, Calgary might look to a first-time traveler as little more than a stop to hit on the way to the mountains. But that would be a serious underestimation of one of Canada’s wealthiest and largest cities, with a population of nearly 1.5 million (not to mention a major hockey franchise), abundant natural resources, and a huge beef industry. The city hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, holds one of the world’s biggest outdoor rodeos every year, and, as a young, buzzy, and cosmopolitan place, is also home to an exciting restaurant scene.

With an eight-seat hidden boîte that hosts visiting chefs for cultural collaboration dinners, a hot omakase experience from a celebrity chef, and a 40th-floor view to enjoy housemade tots with whipped smoked sturgeon and pickled onions among its numerous gems, Calgary is a worthy culinary stop all on its own. Here are more than a dozen reasons to pull over — and spend the night (or two).

Calgary restaurants and bars 

Shokunin

Since opening in 2016, Shokunin — the brainchild of celebrity chef and Calgary native Darren MacLean, best known for his appearance on Netflix’s The Final Table — has been ranked as one of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants no less than five times. The izakaya-style restaurant is one of Calgary’s first omakase experiences: 15 courses with a focus on yakitori and optional drink pairings, utilizing products from local distilleries and breweries. The highlight of the meal is MacLean’s innovative spin on what’s billed here as “chicken ass” yakitori, which is the fattiest part of the chicken right above the tail and is rarely used in fine cooking.

Nupo

MacLean, who started his own kitchen garden and farm during the pandemic to retain most of his staff on the payroll, goes harder with plants at Nupo, the younger sibling to Shokunin (opened in 2020), in Calgary’s East Village. Inspired by his mother’s love of vegetables and sushi both fresh and dry-aged, he named the restaurant for her and offers a vegetable-forward, sushi-driven omakase experience.

For Calgary’s most singular sit-down, keep an eye on MacLean’s Eight (housed at Nupo) for announcements of its eight-seat interactive dinners, where he might be helming the kitchen or handing it over to visiting chefs. News pops up fast, and the seats sell out (giving Stanley Cup playoff vibes), so move quickly when you spot an opening.

Article on: Food & Wine