After a long week of work, all you want to do is unwind and what better place than to head to a bar where you can catch up with friends and family to just enjoy your Friday night. At the best bars, the music is great and the alcohol tastes even better, and so we’ve listed 7 of the best bars in Calgary to elevate your weekend. All you need to do is visit one each week to decide which one is your favourite! 

7 Bars In Calgary For A Relaxed Weekend 

1. Milk Tiger Lounge – dream factory of your mouth

Milk Tiger Lounge is a welcoming, laid-back bar in Calgary. Customers like the mixed drinks, and their small plate food menu which is perfect for leaving non-bloated. In addition to this, the  bar throws themed events once in a while, and this includes art shows, infamous emo nights, 90s cocktail parties, and more.

As one of the best Calgary bars, their take on the classics including cocktails, wine, beer, and food is unique and hugely appealing.

Their menu has items such as Hotel Georgia, The meat hook, and Parisienne negroni which keep their clients interested, so many stay for another round after the first!

No wonder the Milk Tiger Lounge is dubbed the “dream factory of your mouth” by their customers.

Reviews

“Great little spot … the owner was very welcoming and brought us a round of shooters on the house. Love the logo.”

“I absolutely love coming here. amazing staff, fantastic drinks and general atmosphere. Ali is fantastic in her cocktail knowledge and clearly loves what she does. I always feel welcome and the music is dope. highly recommended.” 

2. Betty Lou’s Library – 1920s-inspired

Betty Lou’s Library is a 1920s-inspired speakeasy that combines great service, ambiance, and cocktails. 

Hidden behind a bookcase, they offer the combined aesthetics of the Lost Generation in Paris with the American Prohibition Era, infact they  only allow their customers to enter by password.

As one of the best Calgary bars, Betty Lou’s Library is loved for  a familiar melange of cocktails  like Virginia Woolf and Jane Eyre, small plates,  live jazz nights and also for their burlesque events. 

Reviews:

“I’ve been a few times on different occasions and every time it is perfect. The servers are knowledgeable and super friendly. The bar staff are serious architects and the room is stunning! Such a great concept and makes for a lovely starting off point for an evening on 17th or for a night of settling in. If you like literature, cool cocktails and the 1920’s vibe try it!” 

“The best cocktail experience we have ever had. Decor was themed perfectly, staff were attentive and made you feel right at home. Complimentary bubbly on the house just for it being our birthdays. The drinks were to die for and they could make most any other classic cocktail as well. Amazing place to come!! We will be back a lot more. Keep up the great job!”

3. Cannibale- $5 happy hour, aperativo mondays, tiki tuesdays

Cannibale is a local pub that stands as a barber shop by day turned cocktail bar by night.

Customers of Cannibale can also set up the bar as an event venue and host a private event there like birthdays, engagements, weddings, and other intimate gatherings.

As one of the best Calgary bars, they make sure to make their clients feel important by holding daily specials, giving discounts at the bar on certain days to keep the fun going.

Cannibale is celebrated by its customers for its amazing food and drinks in addition to the atmosphere, incredible service, and excellent music.

Reviews:

“Great cocktail bar in this neighborhood. Dark and cozy so bring a phone flashlight to read the menu. Drinks are well done, food was also excellent. We shared the charcuterie plate. I heard the Cuban sandwich was delicious as well.”

“Great cocktails that change often enough. If you are looking for something specific they always seam happy to make it. The popcorn is a nice snack.”

4. Frenchie Wine Bar- a hidden, modern wine saloon

Tucked away in a fancy setting, Frenchie Wine Bar is a modern wine saloon that was inspired by a Frenchman’s point-of-view. This is a true array of wine produced by well-regarded wineries that support organic methods and trust in traditional processes of wine-making.

They offer great fondue, great cocktails, in addition to being a super cool wine bar. As one of the best Calgary bars, Frenchie Wine Bar also takes pride in their food menu, promoting and working with the local shops that supply them with artisanal varieties of meat and cheese.

Frenchie Wine Bar is well-known for their Apothecary, Lazio bellini and Vanilla old fashioned.

Reviews:

“What a hidden spectacular place. I mean I need to become regular because it’s the kind of place you expect your drink ready when you walk in. It has this exclusive back room feel that can’t be matched. I had an Old Fashioned and it was right on point. The service makes you feel like you are the star of the show. I highly recommend going. That is if you can find it..”

“Great date place, love the decor and music, would make a great place for a Christmas party or small company function.  Ideal less than 20 ppl. The servers and bartenders are just wonderful.  Excited to go back and have another date night there! Or our engagement party!”

5. Bridgette Bar – a laid-back spot with a creative atmosphere

Bridgette Bar is well-known for offering witty, chef-inspired small plates and entrees, and exquisite cocktails. They are located in the centre of Calgary’s design district, so their atmosphere definitely matches the vibe of their surroundings.

As one of the best bars in Calgary, Bridgette Bar is also open to renting their space for parties and events that are both big and small.

According to customers, Bridgette Bar is a great restaurant that offers specialities such as Moonlit villa, Stockholm syndrome and Thirty six views. 

Reviews:

“If you haven’t been here, you must. The staff are exceptional. They go above and beyond. And the food?!? It is the best meal I’ve been served in Calgary! What a place & what a night!

“Amazing food, great service, and safe curbside pickup! To top it off, they sent a few extra goodies with dinner. Well worth the $25/person and we will definitely be coming back during quarantine! 😊👍”

6. Vin Room – over 85 wines to taste

Vin Room offers a place for people to explore a diverse collection of wines. They are a licensed restaurant that has non-alcoholic beverages for children too.

They have three locations in Calgary: Mission, West, and YYC Calgary Airport – International Departures. They encourage guests to learn and experience wine through sampling before committing to a bottle or glass purchase.

As one of the best bars in Calgary, Vin Room offers a dog-friendly patio in addition to amazon live music to accompany your drinks! 

Reviews:

“I went here for a work Christmas party and we had a small group so we reserved the small upstairs portion of the place. The area was nice and cozy with a darker atmosphere. There was a great selection of wine/drinks and good appetizer food.” 

“Just finished the mother’s day brunch from here, it was incredible. I was looking on-line for a local restaurant that delivered for mother’s day. Stumbled across the VIN Room and it looked reasonable so I gave it a shot. Food was amazing considering we had to heat it up,. Included was their take-out menu with date night packages as well as others. Couldn’t believe how reasonably priced everything was. We will definitely be ordering a date night meal package soon.” 

7. SS106 Aperitivo Bar – bringing an essence of Italy to Edmonton!

SS106 Aperitivo Bar has been serving authentic Italian dishes and drinks since 2016. Domenico Spadafora, the owner of Aperitivo Bar, built a contemporary space ideal for mingling with friends and family.

While their use of fresh, high quality ingredients ensures that their meals are nothing short of amazing. 

From Pizzas to pastas, aperitivo to wines, SS106 Aperitivo Bar has so many appetizing meals which customers can’t get enough of! 

As one of the best bars in Calgary,  some of the highlights of SS106 Aperitivo Bar are the Gluten-free pasta options, 5-Course Dinners and Aperitivo. 

Reviews:

“We recently went to this restaurant and wow! The food is amazing! Authentic Italian cuisine that did not disappoint!! The atmosphere is cool, the art on the walls all have a story that the owner will be more than happy to tell you all about them, he is very friendly and laid back! This restaurant is by far the best Italian I’ve ever had! 100% recommend eating here if you’re ever in Calgary!! We will definitely be back.”

“A very gem of a restaurant. Great food, great service and the price is right as well. The appetizers and main course meals were delicious and full of flavour. Paired with some very nice red wine, our dinner experience was fabulous. The owner is a hands-on entrepreneur who cares about his customers and service. If you like a place with great food and a great atmosphere this is the place. It’s an open concept so if you don’t like it a bit noisy this is not the place for you. It reminds me of all our European friends getting together to watch a soccer match……highly recommend this place.”