Calgary bars and restaurants that made the cut

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With summer slowly approaching, our readers say they’re more likely to read and use books to escape the heat. One of our readers is an avid library user, calling it the “free service available” (more library news below), while another said they collect books over the winter to read during the summer.

How many books have you read so far this year?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜️⬜️ 0-5 books (37%)

🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 5-15 books (24%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 15+ books! (28%)

👀 In today's edition:

• The story of a cyberattack at the Calgary Library

• Alberta First Nations chiefs speak out

• A U-Haul and two stolen chainsaws

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WORTH KNOWING

⛅️ Today: High 19C, Low 5C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / check Calgary wildfire and fire restrictions and the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard.

QUICK POLL

Calgary bars and restaurants that made the cut

While Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver may typically get more attention when it comes to culinary prestige, Calgary’s mix of high-end dining, local eateries, and a passion for blending Canadian ingredients with traditional methods is putting the city on the map.

Released this week, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants of 2025 features five Calgary locales, with Darren MacLean’s Eight nearly breaking into the top five restaurants in the country. Judges ranked the candidates based on “service, décor, depth of the cellar and — above all else — food quality.”

The city’s restaurants aren’t the only establishments gaining recognition. Last week, North America’s 50 Best Bars highlighted three Calgary locations: Missy’s, Proof, and Shelter.

Keep an eye on our “where to eat and drink” section to learn more about what makes these local spots shine — and don’t forget to report back when you go!

Related Story

Need to know

📚 The story of how the Calgary Library fought off a cyberattack last fall is out — the organization was attacked by a “sophisticated professional organization.”

📣 First Nations chiefs in Alberta are voicing their opposition to a separation referendum and lowering the threshold of signatures needed to propose such a referendum.

⛑️ As of Tuesday, there were 287 confirmed cases of measles in the province. That’s a jump of 22 cases from just the day before.

🚌 A school bus crash in southeast Calgary on Tuesday left the seven children on board with minor injuries, which were treated at the scene. The bus landed on its side after colliding with another vehicle.

🚚 The RCMP has arrested several individuals accused of going on a “crime spree” in a U-Haul truck. The RCMP recovered stolen property from the truck, including two chainsaws.

🚧 Construction on the Rocky Ridge Athletic Park, which will include two artificial turf fields, has kicked off. The park is expected to be complete next fall.

🔨 Gresham Block, a 114-year-old building in Inglewood, has been torn down. The building was listed on the city’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources.

👀 A team at the University of Calgary is studying how they could make a longer-lasting asphalt capable of standing up to Calgary’s weather.

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New murals transform Calgary’s riverfront

Anyone strolling along the Jack and Jean Leslie RiverWalk, a dedicated pedestrian and cycling space from Centre Street Bridge to 9 Avenue SE, will have new artwork to admire.

Last week, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announced local muralist Alex Kwong as the next artist to be featured along the walkway as part of the organization’s Art in the Public Realm placemaking initiative.

Kwong’s work will replace the Touch Traces artwork by Cassie Suche, featured on bridge abutments and building surfaces for the last three years. Suche’s work will be removed this month, at which point Kwong will begin his own. He is currently spending time engaging with the community to inform his concept and is exploring individual connections to the Bow and Elbow Rivers from a cultural, historical, and recreational lens.

“The rivers hold such meaning and significance to so many Calgarians, and I want to explore what that looks like from a diversity of perspectives,” said Kwong. “Each person I’ve spoken to has a unique story to tell, yet a common thread runs through them all: the river and its surroundings sustain us — emotionally, culturally, physically, and spiritually. That powerful connection is what I aim to reflect in the artwork along RiverWalk.”

Kwong will get down to business creating his work on May 16 and is expected to reveal the final work in late June.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Eight: This one takes exclusivity to a new level — the mysterious restaurant (no photos allowed) has only eight seats and can feature up to 20 courses. Eight’s ethos is described as a “fresh expression of Canadian cuisine” and its menu changes daily. You’ll have to plan well in advance for this one.

🍴 Bridgette Bar: A more accessible option, self-described as “a chef-driven bar in the heart of Calgary's design district,” Bridgette Bar offers diners snacks and small plates like oysters, lamb sausage, and roasted olives, and hummus. Anyone with a bigger appetite may be interested in large plates like the grilled farm chicken or the maple BBQ rainbow trout.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Flavours & Finds Night Market: More food! Next week, head to this night market to shop handmade artisan goods, taste test locally crafted food and drink, and connect with the community.

🎟️ Wild After Hours: Locked Zoo (18+): Get ready for safari adventure in this adult-only outing to Calgary’s zoo. You’ll need keen observation and quick thinking to navigate the challenges of this escape game, with clues hidden throughout the zoo.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

That’s it!

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