Where to Celebrate a Big Success

When things go well, celebrate with a fine meal at one of these 9 restaurants.

Business lunches are frequently a hurried affair, with everyone needing to eat and get back to the office with little time to spare. But sometimes a special occasion warrants a more leisurely lunch with fancier food and wines to match. So, next time you have something to celebrate, look no further than these nine upscale establishments.

Alloy

Chef Rogelio Herrera consistently turns out stylish and modern cuisine with Mediterranean, Latin and Asian influences. The banquette seating is conducive to privacy and quiet conversation, and the location, which is in a light-industrial area in the southeast, provides plenty of parking.

220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255, alloydining.com, @alloyrestaurant

The Belvedere

This Stephen Avenue restaurant has one of the most elegant rooms in the city, with plush drapes, plenty of wood and discreet lighting that lends itself to discussing or celebrating big deals. The contemporary menu features a three-course menu for $25, plus la carte options.

107 8 Ave. S.W., 403-265-9595, thebelvedere.ca

Buchanan’s

This old-school chophouse and whisky bar has been a mainstay of the downtown lunch crowd for more than 25 years. It’s especially renowned for its burgers and its malt whisky selection. If your celebration calls for it, consider booking the 28-seat private room.

738 3 Ave. S.W., 403-261-4646, buchanans.ca

Catch & the Oyster Bar

Calgary’s pre-eminent seafood restaurant, with its casual dining on the main level and more formal dining on the second floor, is the perfect spot for a minor or major celebration. The menu features only sustainable seafood, so you can dine knowing you’re doing your part to protect the oceans.

100 8 Ave. S.E., 403-206-0000, catchrestaurant.ca, @catchcalgary

Hy’s

The original Hy’s opened in Calgary in 1955, and now it’s back in a new location in The Core and has rapidly become a mecca for meat-eaters. The steakhouse does everything the traditional way – it’s serious steak for serious celebrating.

The Core, 403-663-3363, hyssteakhouse.com

Il Sogno

Elegant and timeless, this Bridgeland gem of a restaurant has all the grandness of a historic downtown room with the added bonus of free parking. The Italian-inspired menu has a range of fare from lighter to thoroughly hearty dishes.

24 4 St. N.E., 403-232-8901, ilsogno.org, @ilsognocalgary

The Nash and Off Cut Bar

In its relatively short existence (it opened in November 2014), Michael Noble’s The Nash has become the place to see and be seen over lunch. The Inglewood space is just a quick jaunt from downtown, and the comfortable, contemporary interior is a lovely place to linger over Noble’s signature upscale comfort food.

925 11 St. S.E., 403-984-3365, thenashyyc.com, @thenashyyc

Teatro

Certainly one of the grandest rooms in the city, Teatro is perfectly suited to a formal lunch with its fine modernist cuisine. Private rooms and semi-private alcoves mean it’s also very functional for hosting business lunch meetings of various sizes.

200 8 Ave. S.E., 403-290-1012, teatro.ca, @teatrocalgary

Thomsons

The Hyatt Regency does hotel dining at its finest at Thomsons, a warm and inviting space that highlights Alberta beef and other local products and ingredients in creative ways that defy the stodgy reputation of hotel dining. And, as with Catch, the restaurant validates parking in the Hyatt’s underground lot.

Hyatt Regency, 112 8 Ave. S.E., 403-537-4446, hyatthotels.com, @thomsonscalgary