On a recent getaway with my blogger bestie, Meredith, we made a point to hunt down and experience the best places in the city and take the guess work out of your next Calgary area visit.  We polled locals and friends who had visited the area, and then spent our weekend touring a bunch of recommended spots so we could put together a must see list of Calgary attractions!

Whether you’re on a girlfriends getaway, business trip, or a romantic retreat, here are our top places to visit or see in Calgary, Alberta.  Check out Meredith’s blog post as well for her recommendations!

Breakfast/Brunch

Food is such an important part of a getaway.  Anytime I travel, I try to find the best of the best when it comes to the food culture in a city.  The number one place that we were recommended to visit when it came to a great breakfast or brunch was Alforno Bakery and Cafe.  Located in the heart of the city in the Eau Claire district, this quaint and classy Italian style cafe was bursting with energy, delicious eats, and a decor vibe that grabs your creative senses the minute you walk through the doors.

Bursting with natural light and seating for casual or more formal dining, this city gem is a MUST SEE when you’re visiting Calgary, B.C.

Photo credit MJay Photography

Dinner/Appy’s

We absolutely LOVED our dinner at Native Tongues Taqueria.  A fun trendy vibe right in the heart of downtown Calgary serving up authentic Mexican cuisine.  Prices were great and everything we tried was delicious!  You MUST end your meal with a donut!  The donuts are made in house and arrived at our table fresh and warm….extra yum!

Coffee

Call me a coffee snob. That is a compliment;) Being a coffee shop owner of The Mill Coffee in Comox, B.C., I’m always hunting down the best coffee anytime I travel.  I love trying new beans, and being inspired by the vibe of the shops.  I may have googled “The most instagrammable coffee shops” a few times in my lifetime #honest

Here are the my top recommendations for coffee in Calgary, B.C.

Phil and Sebastian | Multiple locations in the city, including the Simmons building location

Rosso | Be sure to check out their Inglewood location

Monogram | Try their coffee ice cream!

Small Shops

When polling the best places to shop and stroll, “Inglewood” was a popular area for cute shops, good coffee, and a quaint setting.  All the  recommendations were spot on!  We spent a few hours strolling this cute little area and loved the vibe of the cute shops.  Here are a few favourites:

Plant | Every thing a plant lover could ever dream of and more.  Aesthetically pleasing, full of character, and bursting with plants, pots, cute cards, and more!  If you’re looking for unique varieties or even a fun class, this sweet little shop is the place to stop!

Recess | This adorable little store had the vibe of an old school classroom and was filled with stationary and unique art supplies, accessories and more!

Sweet and Treats

Almost as important as coffee is my hunt for the best donut or ice cream shop! Let’s face it! Donuts are all the rage and fancy ice cream is gaining ground! Add in a cute macaron shop and your sweet dreams (see what I did there?) become a reality!  Here are my top recommendations for sweets and treats.

Made by Marcus | Your ultimate stop for Ice Cream!  This was recommend by multiple people

Pretty Sweet Bakeshop | Pictured below, this is the “sweetest” little shop with amazing prices to stock up on the prettiest treats!

Accomodations

We were pampered like queens at the Sheraton Eau Claire right downtown in the heart of the city.  The concierge team treated us so well, taking care of our every need. It was very evident that the customer experience was top priority.  They remembered our names, were attentive and just gave us an overall great feeling throughout our stay.

We stayed in one of the Club suites that featured two bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a kitchenette and shared living room area.  The bedding was glorious and comfy, we had luxurious robes to use and the space was perfect for our needs!  I would recommend this hotel with absolutely zero hesitations!

Photography

I love documenting memories and capturing life’s fun moments!  Something that is becoming popular is professional photography while on a trip.  Its one thing to capture candid moments from a vacation or getaway but its also super fun to bring home some really great photo memories!

I knew that I wanted to hire a photographer to take some fun memories of our blogger/girlfriends getaway!  Michelle from MJay  Photography was super easy to work with, fun, and chill, (and understanding when we got lost and it made us late…LOL)

Here are a few favourites from our session.

Whether Calgary is your next getaway destination or somewhere entirely different, I would always encourage you to seek out a fun adventure wherever you might find yourself.  There is something special in every city and sometimes it just takes a little bit of discovery to find it!

“Fill your life with adventures, not things.  Have stories to tell not stuff to show.”

Until next time,