Dessert is the guilty pleasure of dining out. When the waiter comes around at the end of the meal and asks if you want the dessert menu or the bill, there’s usually a thoughtful silence while you weigh the options. Do you resist, pay the bill and leave? Or opt to have a look at the menu knowing full well you’re going to jump into that chocolatey explosion of goodness. We’re not here to judge. In fact, we encourage you to satisfy your dessert craving.
And, sometimes it’s worth going out just for dessert. That’s where these five places come in. All of them have menus that are heavy on the sweets and worth a date night or meet-up with friends over a sugary indulgence.
While ice cream is a staple to the dessert aficionado, we haven’t included it on this list. If it is ice cream you’re after, you can go here to find 15 ice cream shops in Calgary. In the meantime, indulge your sweet tooth with our list of places to get dessert in Calgary.
Cafe 16
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Boozy bubble teas, waffles cooked to order and shaved ice made with fresh milk are just some of the tasty treats you can get at Cafe 16. This sweet hangout spot offers a menu influenced by Asian street eats but with a contemporary twist. It has 14 boozy bubble teas to choose from (dine-in only) and eight shaved ice options including matcha red bean, Oreo and honey bear. You might want to make multiple trips to this joint so you can try all of its fruit smoothies and slush options.
Bay 2 222 16 Ave. N.E., 403-276-9668, cafe16yyc.com
La Boulangerie
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At La Boulangerie you can have all of the dessert pastries and eat them too! This family-owned bakery and cafe offers an assortment of croissants, apple buns, cinnamon buns, muffins, crepes, macarons, cookies, brownies and so much more. No matter what baked good you’re craving, it has it. La boulangerie also has a patio for you to people-watch while enjoying your delectable dessert.
2435 4 St. S.W., 403-984-9294, la-boulangerie-calgary.com
Pie Junkie and Bakery
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Made from scratch with homemade fillings and an all-butter crust, the Pie Junkie and Bakery has mastered the classic dessert pie. Sour cherry, lemon tart, chocolate peanut butter and banana toffee cream are just some of the flavours you can get. And, did we mention they make pie shakes? That’s right. You can now drink this classic dessert through a straw. If pie isn’t your thing, it also offers cookies, brownies and almond bars.
8 Spruce Centre S.W., 403-452-3960, 1081 2 Ave. N.W., 403-287-8544, piejunkie.ca
The Street Eatery
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Once you’ve seen one of The Street Eatery’s milkshakes you’ll understand why it is on our desserts list. Not your average milkshake, the glass is filled to the brim with the good stuff and candies or nuts are added to the outside. From there, the sky is the limit. Cotton candy, brownies, marshmallows, candy bars or an actual cake are some of the treats you might find balanced atop your shake. Come to the Street Eatery with an empty stomach and you’ll thank us for it.
890 4 Ave. S.W., 403-234-9969, thestreeteatery.com
Sugar Lips Dessert House
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With a name like Sugar Lips, this place is as fun as it is adventurous. The dessert house offers eats straight from the streets of Hong Kong with traditional sweet soups, hand-pressed Taro Mochi and signature desserts. Treat your taste buds with a sweet bubble waffle and follow it with a flavoured milk tea. The desserts list is extensive and you’ll probably want to hit this place up a couple of times to get the full Hong Kong dessert experience.
910 Centre St. N., 587-350-6227