Avenue’s 13 Best Restaurants 2026

Here at Avenue, we love restaurants. So do our readers. And every spring, in our Restaurants issue, we highlight the best of the best to shine a light on the incredible people and businesses making Calgary a world-class dining destination.

Calgary’s restaurants come in all shapes, sizes and flavours, and, for many of us, they’re not just about food — they’re places for celebrating milestones, socializing with friends and finding cultural connections.

There’s a camaraderie among restaurateurs here, and Calgary’s chefs push each other through collaborating rather than competing. Our people are friendly, and we are known for a culture less about decorum and more about ensuring a good time for guests — you could call it “western hospitality.”

Because of this, our gastronomy may lean a bit more casual, but that’s not to say our restaurants aren’t still top-tier. Diners don’t always want a multi-course meal and a cloth napkin. But they do want delicious and authentic dishes, and the Calgary region has those in spades. From spots like Class Clown Hamburgers and Noble Pie to Teatro and River Café, the restaurants on this list span the spectrum of formality — but all execute on their concepts flawlessly.

The guiding principle for our judges was to showcase restaurants they would personally recommend. All of these eateries consistently offer the best combination of a great experieence, fantastic service and of course, delicious food. And, because a properly composed burger can be just as good as a perfectly cooked steak, our list includes a few casual spots that go above and beyond to reflect Calgarians’ penchant for more laid-back dining.

After much debate, our judges included two outstanding Canmore restaurants this year. For a special occasion , they are more than worth the trip, and their high quality is adding to the dining scene of the region in significant ways.

Here for your enjoyment, in alphabetical order, are Avenue’s 2026 Best Restaurants.