We’re a month into spring, the grass is turning green, the birds are chirping and love is in the air. Whether you are Tinder-ing or meeting people the old-fashioned way (whatever that means), here are 10 spots in Calgary that work well for a first date.
Back Bar at Alloy
After receiving a little refresher, the back bar area of Alloy now operates as more of a lounge than just another seating section of the restaurant. The result is a space where you feel comfortable popping in to sip on well-made cocktails and have some conversation while munch free bar snacks or enjoying dishes from the small-plates menu designed specifically for Back Bar.
220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255, alloydining.com, @alloyrestaurant
Bar C
Often overlooked on the 17th Avenue S.W. strip, this CRMR bar and restaurant has plenty of great spots for two in its space, with ample seating around the long west-wall bar and especially on its beautiful patio when the sun is shining.
340 17 Ave. S.W., 403-984-3667, bar-c.ca, @barcfooddrink
Briggs Kitchen +Â Bar
This busy restaurant on 10th Avenue S.W. offers a lot in terms of small plates that are easy to share and you are always winning when you can sip on $9 craft cocktails, but the buzzing atmosphere in here makes it ideal for a date. It’s just loud enough that the people around you can’t listen into your (sometimes awkward) first date conversation, but not too loud that you have to shout.
317 10 Ave. S.W., 587-350-5015, briggskandb.com, @briggskandb
Cannibale
This great cocktail spot in Bridgeland is a popular spot, especially for residents of the neighbourhood who appreciate the well-made, pretension-free cocktails, friendly service and surprisingly good food. If you need a last minute haircut before your date, you can do that here, too, as there’s an on-sight barber and an old-timey barber chair. (Don’t worry, the barber is in a sealed glass room so there’s no danger of cross-contamination.)
813 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-5808, cannibale.ca, @cannibale_yyc
Home and Away
Perhaps not the best choice if you’re planning a date for Friday or Saturday night (as it gets a little rowdy), but any other night of the week this vintage sports-themed bar is a fun spot to take a date. You can sit and have a beer or two then play skee-ball or shoot some hoops if you run out of things to talk about.
1331 17 Ave. S.W., 403-455-9789, homeandawayyyc.com, @homeandawayyyc
Klein/Harris
Stephen Avenue’s newest restaurant (formerly Home Tasting Room) has a great layout for all levels of first dates. If you’re going out with a food lover, then take a couple of seats in front of the open kitchen. So something more casual, claim a couch, order some drinks from expert barkeep and co-owner Christina Mah and let the night unfold.
110 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100, kleinharris.com, @klnharris
Scopa
Being out of the core, Scopa doesn’t have the lively hipster crowds its sister restaurants are more used to downtown. What that means is top notch Italian food in a space where you probably aren’t going to bump into anyone you know.
2220 Centre St. N., 403-276-2030, scopacalgary.com, @scopacalgary
Vendome Cafe
With this cafe’s proximity to the river paths, you can easily start the night off here with a couple of coffees or teas and an order of tiramisu before strolling out of Sunnyside, over the Peace Bridge and through Prince’s Island Park as the sun sets.
940 2 Ave. N.W., 403-453-1140, vendomecafe.com, @vendomecafe