Join the Håndlavet newsletter. Be the very first to know about our limited arrivals, receive special offers and more.

    A night at Eight is welcoming, interactive and educational, while also being undeniably delicious.

    With eight seats, up to 20 courses, a high-profile chef, a $300+ price tag and a race to snag reservations as they’re released throughout the year, it would be easy to dismiss Eight as unattainable. But, a night at chef Darren MacLean’s table is welcoming, interactive and educational, while also being undeniably delicious.

    The city's culinary scene is hotter than ever.

    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.

    Try to snag a spot at a new cocktail bar with only eight seats, check out some live music, attend a skijoring event and more.

    Local restaurant Eight is notoriously difficult to get into with only eight seats a night. But now, After Eight, the newly opened cocktail bar partner to Eight, gives you an extra chance to try one of chef Darren MacLean’s exclusive concepts.

    Explore Canada’s wild side

    Alberta’s old west heritage means that often, the province can (mistakenly) get written off as a meat-and-potatoes type of place. Which is a shame, considering Alberta’s lush agricultural diversity. There are the golden flatlands and endless wheat fields of the prairies and the snowy peaks and icy glacial lakes of the Rocky Mountains. From those landscapes come foraged mushrooms and heritage grains, world-class Alberta Wagyu, and award-winning whisky.

    From sleek rooftop lounges with skyline views to hotel speakeasies serving next-level cocktails, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for bar-hoppers. Whether you’re after cutting-edge mixology or vibey atmospheres, these box-fresh openings are guaranteed to raise your spirits – literally.

    Ski season is about to get lot more stylish when luxurious new speakeasy After Eight launches in Calgary this year. Hailing from the stable of Darren Maclean, founder of Calgary’s acclaimed Shokunin, Nupo and Eight, this intimate spot will be accessed via a hidden door off the lobby at the Alt Hotel Calgary East Village.

    Canada’s ‘50 best’ awarded restaurant gives guests the chance to secure the rarer cuts of meat with this immersive theatre-style experience

    Yakitoria-style restaurant, Shokunin (www.shokuninyyc.ca), headed up by the acclaimed Chef Darren MacLean, has launched a new Yakitori Omakase Experience, the first of its kind in the city of Calgary. The new Yakitori Omakase Experience offers guests the only opportunity to guarantee some of the rarer cuts of chicken, including Chicken Ass and Chicken Oysters. Shokunin only butchers 25-30 fresh chickens a day, and it often sells out of the premium skewers in minutes.

    Canada’s 50 best restaurateur and tv personality, Chef Darren Maclean, to host a plethora of global culinary talent in Calgary, Canada

    Critically acclaimed Chef, Darren MacLean, and founder of three of Canada’s Top 100 Best Restaurants – Shokunin, EIGHT and NUPO – is gearing up to welcome leading culinary talent from across the world to collaborate in its annual International Chef Exchange, hosted in Calgary, Canada. The exchange seeks to actively promote Alberta’s and Canada’s culinary background and cross-cultural character around the globe, while learning about other country’s cooking styles and practices.

    Canada’s 50 best restauranteur and TV personality, Chef Darren Maclean, hosts UK's Michelin-Starred Chef Andrew Wong in Calgary, Canada

    Critically acclaimed Chef, Darren MacLean, and founder of three of Canada’s Top 100 Best Restaurants – Shokunin, EIGHT and NUPO – is gearing up to welcome London’s leading culinary talent Andrew Wong to collaborate in his International Chef Exchange, hosted in Calgary, Canada. The exchange seeks to actively promote Alberta’s and Canada’s culinary background and cross-cultural character around the globe, while learning about other country’s cooking styles and practices.

    Calgary’s Chef Darren MacLean, in partnership with Food Tourism Strategies, presents a year-long CULTURAL CHEF EXCHANGE to help further understanding of our culinary identity.

    Calgary’s Chef Darren MacLean, in partnership with Food Tourism Strategies, presents a year-long CULTURAL CHEF EXCHANGE to help further understanding of our culinary identity.