Calgary

Alt Hotel Calgary East Village

Sleek modern hotel in Calgary's revitalized East Village steps from the Bow River pathway and Stampede grounds. Hockey fans walking to the Saddledome and Stampede revelers appreciate the affordable style, central location, and proximity to Studio Bell music centre.

Fairmont Palliser

Calgary's grande dame hotel since 1914, the Palliser anchors downtown with its Edwardian grandeur and proximity to the Stampede grounds and Scotiabank Saddledome. Visiting teams and loyal Flames fans have made it their Calgary home base for over a century.

Hotel Arts

A stylish boutique hotel on the edge of the Beltline district, Hotel Arts sits within walking distance of the Scotiabank Saddledome and Stampede Park. The heated outdoor pool, Yellow Door Bistro restaurant, and art-filled interiors set it apart from typical chain hotels. A fan favourite during Stampede.

Hotel Le Germain Calgary

Refined boutique hotel in downtown Calgary with warm Canadian design and an acclaimed restaurant. Visiting hockey fans appreciate its walkable distance to the Scotiabank Saddledome and the Stephen Avenue bar scene.

Where to Eat in Calgary

AVEC Bistro

AVEC Bistro on 17th Ave brings classic French cooking to Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood with moules-frites, steak frites, and a superbly curated wine list. Flames and Stampede fans looking to elevate their game-night experience gravitate to AVEC for pre-event dinners before heading to the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Big T's BBQ & Smokehouse

Calgary institution on Edmonton Trail bringing Texas-style smokehouse BBQ to cowboy country. Its brisket, ribs, and house-made sauces have earned a cult following among locals and Stampede visitors, making it essential eating for fans exploring Calgary's western food culture.

Charbar

In a beautifully restored Simmons Building in East Village, Charbar specialises in live-fire cooking inspired by the gauchos of Argentina. The Alberta beef cooked over wood and charcoal is exceptional. Fans love the riverside patio and its location near the Saddledome and Stampede grounds.

Model Milk

Model Milk occupies a beautifully converted dairy building on 17th Avenue SW, serving modern Canadian cooking with Alberta-raised proteins and a celebrated cocktail program. A favourite spot for Calgary Flames fans and Stampede visitors who want something beyond the ordinary in one of the city's most vibrant dining corridors.

Native Tongues Taqueria

A hip taqueria in the Beltline slinging house-made tortillas and an impressive mezcal selection. Flames and Stampeders fans love the quick, flavor-packed tacos before heading to the Saddledome or McMahon Stadium.

Palomino Smokehouse

Rustic downtown smokehouse on 7th Avenue serving low-and-slow brisket, pulled pork, and ribs alongside a deep whisky list. Its rooftop patio buzzes on Stampede nights and Flames game days, making it a fan-favourite for hearty pregame fuel.

Peter's Drive-In

A Calgary institution since 1962, Peter's Drive-In on 16th Avenue NE is famous for its massive burgers and over 40 flavours of thick milkshakes. Flames fans have been stopping here on the way to games for decades. The neon sign and classic drive-in vibe are pure Canadiana.

Raw Bar

Perched inside Hotel Arts overlooking the Elbow River, Raw Bar serves market-driven contemporary Canadian cuisine with a strong focus on fresh seafood and western Alberta ingredients. Sports fans heading to the Scotiabank Saddledome for Flames games or Calgary Stampede visitors count on its inventive menu and stunning river terrace as a reliable pre-event dinner.

Best Bars in Calgary

The Bear & Kilt

One of Calgary's most popular pre-game sports pubs, The Bear & Kilt is a lively spot within walking distance of the Saddledome that fills with Flames red on every home game night. The extensive tap list features Alberta craft beers alongside international imports, and the kitchen turns out solid pub fare built for sharing. The energy on playoff nights borders on ecstatic.

Brewsters Brewing Company

Alberta's original brewpub chain serves crisp prairie ales — Flames and Stampeders fans have made this their pre-game tradition for decades.

Broken City Social Club

Beloved Beltline live music venue and rooftop patio bar that doubles as a game-day gathering spot. Calgary Flames and Stampeders fans pack the patio for pre-game drinks before heading to the Saddledome.

Cold Garden Beverage Company

Funky Inglewood brewery with a thrift-store-chic taproom, foosball tables, and eclectic rotating taps. Flames fans heading to the Saddledome for NHL action pregame here for locally brewed ales, while Stampede visitors fuel up during Calgary's famous July rodeo.

National on 10th

Calgary's quintessential sports bar on 10th Avenue with a massive rooftop patio, wall-to-wall screens, and a game-day energy that rivals the Saddledome. Flames fans pack the place in their red jerseys, and it's ground zero during Stampede week.

Ship & Anchor Pub

On 17th Avenue SW, the Ship & Anchor is Calgary's beloved neighbourhood pub and the heart of the city's Red Mile celebrations during Flames playoff runs. With a massive patio, live music, and strong community spirit, it is where Calgary fans gather to watch and celebrate together.

The Living Room

Perched in the Beltline, The Living Room is a Calgary institution where Flames fans pack every booth on game nights under a wall of screens. The craft beer selection rivals the passion of the crowd, and the nachos are a local legend. On playoff nights the roar inside can be heard half a block down 17th Avenue.

Trolley 5 Restaurant & Brewery

A massive multi-level brewpub on the famous Red Mile strip, brewing in-house and hosting game-day crowds. During Flames playoff runs, the patios overflow with jersey-wearing fans creating one of Calgary's most electric atmospheres.

Fan Attractions in Calgary

Calgary Stampede Grounds Tour

Tour the Stampede Park grounds, home to the Calgary Stampede — the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth — held every July with rodeo, chuckwagon races, and concerts. The year-round BMO Centre and Saddledome arena host major events, and the grounds tell the story of Calgary's deep cowboy and western heritage.

Heritage Park Historical Village

Step into Canada's largest living history museum, featuring over 180 exhibits and historical buildings spanning the 1860s to 1950s prairie era. Heritage Park sits on the shores of Glenmore Reservoir and includes a working steam train, antique midway, and the Gasoline Alley Museum of vintage automobiles.

McMahon Stadium

Home of the five-time Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders, McMahon Stadium is one of the CFL's loudest venues, especially during Banjo Bowl games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Stampeder horse racing down the sideline after touchdowns is a beloved game-day tradition that visiting fans find genuinely charming. The Grey Cup championship tradition here runs decades deep.

National Music Centre

The National Music Centre (Studio Bell) is a stunning five-tower architectural landmark in Calgary's East Village housing Canada's premier music museum, recording studios, and live performance spaces. Music fans and concert-goers visiting the city for events at Saddledome or Grey Eagle Resort make this interactive museum a must-see cultural stop.

Things to Do

Olympic Oval Speed Skating Venue

The Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary was the speed skating venue for the 1988 Winter Games and still holds multiple world records set on its ice. Public skating sessions and guided tours allow fans to glide the same ice as Olympic champions Gaétan Boucher and Catriona Le May Doan. The facility is a living monument to Canada's Winter Olympic heritage.

Scotiabank Saddledome

The Flames' iconic saddle-shaped arena is one of hockey's most recognizable buildings and a pilgrimage site for NHL fans. The C of Red — when every fan in the building wears red — creates one of hockey's most spectacular visual spectacles. The Flames Alumni Walk outside chronicles the franchise's greatest names including Lanny McDonald and Theo Fleury.

Scotiabank Saddledome Tour

The iconic saddle-shaped roof of the Scotiabank Saddledome is one of the most recognizable structures in North American sports. Home to the Calgary Flames, the arena's 1983 design — with its distinctive inverted hyperbolic paraboloid roof — is a genuine engineering marvel. Tours show the hockey history of a city where the Calgary Stampede and Flames hockey are the twin pillars of civic pride.

Stampede Park & BMO Centre

The legendary home of the Calgary Stampede, Stampede Park also hosts major sporting events, concerts, and fan conventions throughout the year. On Stampede week in July, the entire park is a massive fan village blending cowboy culture with sports fanaticism. The BMO Centre arena hosts major boxing and MMA events in a uniquely Western Canadian atmosphere.

Stampede Park Tour

Tour the grounds of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth — the Calgary Stampede venue is hallowed ground for rodeo and western sports fans year-round.