Calgary’s newest hotel isn’t just a place for visitors to rest their heads for the night — it also brings two new dining options to the city.
Element Calgary Downtown is a former office space that has now been converted into a hotel with the help of the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program. While that already makes it a noteworthy addition to Calgary’s downtown scene, the hotel’s two new dining options are also drawing attention (and for good reason).
On the hotel’s street level, Wander Coffee & Cocktails offers coffee and tea drinks, smoothies and a mix of breakfast and all-day fare like a breakfast sandwich, a beet root hummus bowl, marinated flank steak ciabatta and more. There’s plenty of seating inside as well as a patio that wraps around the front and side of the café.
For something a bit more elevated (literally), guests and locals can head up to the hotel’s 12th floor to dine at Bow & Bend, a rooftop restaurant with a patio that overlooks the Bow River, downtown Calgary and beyond. But if you can’t snag a seat on the patio, don’t be dismayed. The restaurant’s interior is a sophisticated and bright space that boasts some great views of its own, as well as unique touches like an eye-catching ceiling design.
Wherever you end up sitting, you can expect a well-rounded menu with a focus on local ingredients. There are shared plates of blackened shrimp and grits or whipped ricotta with sourdough, house-made pastas like the truffle rigatoni and elk bolognese, and hearty mains ranging from red wine braised Alberta beef to a seafood and chorizo risotto.
The cocktail menu also beckons with creations like the Bow + Basil Rita and Summer in the Apiary, as well as the not-too-sweet Blushing Arnold Palmer mocktail.
No matter what you choose, it’s hard to beat the combination of delicious eats, fun cocktails and great views.
833 4 Ave. S.W., bowandbendrooftop.com; marriott.com
Avenue’s writers and editors are occasionally invited to experience dining or adventure experiences as a guest, including some of the experiences in this story. Neither complimentary experiences nor advertising are required for coverage in Avenue. Neither companies that advertise nor those that provide other incentives are promised editorial coverage, nor do they have the opportunity to review or approve stories before publication.
