Romance in the Core
#EXPLOREDOWNTOWNYYC Romance in the Core
Welcome to Choose Your Own Downtown Adventure, where you design your itinerary and #ExploreDowntownYYC your way!
Downtown offers plenty of opportunities to ‘woo’ your loved one, from spa experiences, to fun date ideas and romantic dinners. Ready, set, explore!
Wander through a day downtown! Click the red hyperlinks or pictures below to learn more about each activity.
-
Know a Downtown business that should be featured? Email us!
Please note that The City reserves the right to decide which businesses and events are featured on calgary.ca.
Downtown spas
The soothing ambiance of soft lighting, calming scents and tranquil music creates an ideal setting for couples to relax and reconnect. Enjoy these downtown spa experiences!
SKA Thermal Spa
Find rest and rejuvenation at SKA, Calgary’s only urban thermal spa, located in the heart of Beltline. SKA brings hydrotherapy indoors with a unique combination of hot and cold facilities, along with a full line-up of treatments.
- Website: SKA Thermal Spa
- Address: 638 11th Ave. S.W., Unit 117
rnr Wellness
Beauty and elegance meet wellness at the historic Fairmont Palliser, where you will find an oasis of relaxation at the rnr wellness day spa and health club. Let rnr's experienced team of wellness experts help you relax, recharge and unwind.
- Website: rnr Wellness
- Address: Fairmont Palliser Hotel, Boulevard Level – 133 Ninth Ave. S.W.
Stillwater Spa
Stillwater Spa offers a luxurious sanctuary dedicated to radiance and well-being. Located at the Hyatt Regency Calgary, discover serenity at this urban retreat nestled in the heart of Calgary's vibrant downtown.
- Website: Stillwater Spa
- Address: Hyatt Regency Calgary – 700 Centre St. S, Calgary
Clear Float Spa
At clear float spa experience a profound relaxation of the body and mind and allow yourself to refocus on what’s most important—family, career, creativity, fitness, or whatever is vital to your wellbeing.
- Website: Clear Float Spa
- Address: 335 18th Ave. S.W. Unit #105
Leela Eco Spa
Decompress and let go of life’s little worries in your new haven for eco-friendly luxury spa treatments. Enjoy a drink, chill out, and get pampered – all from one unexpected sanctuary right in the heart of Calgary. Leela Eco Spa offers a full range of wellness services that will leave you feeling refreshed & restored.
- Website: Leela Eco Spa
- Locations:
- Beltline – 720 11th Ave. S.W.
- Bridgeland – 849 First Ave. N.E.
- Calgary Place – 414 Third St. S.W. Unit 256
Hotel Le Germain – RNR Wellness Spa
Enjoy a full range of spa services designed for both men and women, in a private setting, perfect for de-stressing from the fast pace of work and everyday life.
- Website: Hotel Le Germain – RNR Wellness Spa
- Address: Hotel Le Germain – 899 Centre St. S.W.
Inner Balance Spa
Inner Balance Spa is a natural therapies studio focused on philosophies of holistic health to nurture and restore your inner balance. The intentionally designed studio provides tranquil spaces that support healing, rest and deeper breathing.
- Website: Inner Balance Spa
- Address: 424 10th St. N.W., Suite 10
Oasis Wellness Centre & Spa
The Calgary spa offering serenity, Oasis provides a wide range of wellness spa services suitable for all individuals. You can enjoy a mixture of our services with extraordinary day spa packages with a combination of your favourite services to give you the complete relaxation experience.
- Website: Oasis Wellness Centre & Spa
- Address: 880 16th Ave. S.W.
Spa Escape
Spa Escape is your sanctuary for recovery, empowering you to rise above the stress, the pressure, and live life to its fullest. Located in downtown Calgary.
- Website: Spa Escape
- Address: 101A, 855 Eighth Ave. S.W.
Oasis Wellness Centre & Spa
The Calgary spa offering serenity, Oasis provides a wide range of wellness spa services suitable for all individuals. You can enjoy a mixture of our services with extraordinary day spa packages with a combination of your favourite services to give you the complete relaxation experience.
- Website: Oasis Wellness Centre & Spa
- Address: 880 16th Ave. S.W.
Spa Escape
Spa Escape is your sanctuary for recovery, empowering you to rise above the stress, the pressure, and live life to its fullest. Located in downtown Calgary.
- Website: Spa Escape
- Address: 101A, 855 Eighth Ave. S.W.
Photo credit: Colin Way
Downtown date ideas
Downtown is the best place for a date night – whether you’re looking for a cozy, intimate experience or a casual, fun, adventure, downtown is the place where love blossoms.
For outdoor sightseeing
- Explore Calgary’s biggest and brightest winter festival, Chinook Blast as it returns for its fifth year of lighting up the downtown core. The massive celebration features live music, light installations, art presentations, cultural performances, sporting events and more, all taking place throughout the downtown area. A perfect date night!
- Downtown is set to dazzle this winter with the Winter City Design Competition! From twilight walks under glowing glass to playful sled spins, these installations are the perfect places to visit for a romantic date.
- Grab your partner and go for a skate at one of the downtown skating rinks.
- Take a romantic stroll along the East Village Riverwalk and stop at the Simmons Building and enjoy dining options like Phil & Sebastian, Charbar or Sidewalk Citizen Bakery.
For music, arts and cinema
- Let Calgary Jazz Orchestra’s Art of Romance, Art of Soul serenade you.
- Go to the Exposure Photography Festival hosted by Contemporary Calgary, where the annual Emerging Photographer’s Showcase and International Open Call exhibitions will be held, along with plenty of other exhibitions at partner venues throughout the month.
- Rock out with Block Heater as it celebrates 10 years of bringing amazing musical performances to Calgary.
- Share some popcorn and watch a flick at the Plaza Theatre of Globe Cinema.
- Visit the Glenbow Museum satellite location in The Edison building (pssst it’s free to enter).
For delicious treats
- Nothing says romance like a plate of cheesy fries and gravy! Take your someone-special to La Poutine Week and sample some of Calgary’s most creative and delicious poutines!
- Sip hot cocoa with the one you love during the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest.
- Take your date to a hidden gem, Speakeasy and try a delicious cocktail or mocktail.
For an adventure
- Download the Story City App and choose the Heartbreak Speedrun story as you head out into the city and solve puzzles using both your real-world environment and stories built by local artists.
- Celebrate Lunar New Year by attending one of many events:
For something new
- Take your date to a Skijor event — a blistering blend of snow, speed, style and cheese. Skijoring is the fastest growing winter sport in Canada.
- Learn something new at the Ethnik Festival of Arts & Culture as it celebrates the voices and cultural traditions of Alberta’s African and Carribean communities. For the Calgary Food War portion of the festival on February 21, local chefs will compete in a friendly culinary competition, and this year’s theme is The Battle of the Couples.
- Love board games? Look no further than Hexagon Cafe, where you can spend hours playing games and enjoying a variety of yummy snacks.
- Master the art of cooking together by taking a class with The Cookbook Co. Cooks.
Photo credit: Roth and Ramberg, Chinook Blast
Romantic downtown dinners
We’ve curated a list of the most romantic restaurants downtown Calgary has to offer. From low lighting, smooth music and the right vibe, every detail matters when you’re out on the town with that special someone.
Paper Lantern
- Editor's pick: Thịt Ba Chỉ Ram Mặn (Pineapple Stirfry)
- Website: Paper Lantern
- Where: 115 Second Ave S.E.
Bar Annabelle
- Editor's pick: Whipped Ricotta
- Website: Bar Annabelle
- Where: 109A Eighth Ave. S.W.
Fonda Fora
- Editor's pick: Enchiladas Rajas con Crema
- Website: Fonda Fora
- Where: 630 Fourth Ave. S.W.
River Cafe
- Editor's pick: Farming Worx Duck Breast
- Website: River Cafe
- Where: 25 Prince's Island Park S.W.
Model Milk
- Editor's pick: Harissa Glazed Octopus
- Website: Model Milk
- Where: 308 17th Ave. S.W.
Major Tom
- Editor's pick: Cavatelli
- Website: Major Tom
- Where: #4000 – 700 Second St. S.W.
Una Pizza and Wine
- Editor's pick: The Local
- Website: Una Pizza and Wine
- Where: 618 17th Ave. S.W.
Proof
- Editor's pick: “The Board” charcuterie platter
- Website: Proof
- Where: 1302 First St. S.W.
Orchard Restaurant
- Editor's pick: Pan-seared Arctic Char
- Website: Orchard Restaurant
- Where: #134 – 620 10th Ave. S.W.
Pigeonhole
- Editor's pick: Ricotta Cavatelli
- Website: Pigeonhole
- Where: 306 17th Ave. S.W.
The Living Room
- Editor's pick: Lasagna Napoli
- Website: The Living Room
- Where: 514 17th Ave. S.W.
Deane House
- Editor's pick: Sudo Farms Grilled Cabbage Dumplings
- Website: Deane House
- Where: 806 Ninth Ave. S.E.
Vintage Chophouse and Tavern
- Editor's pick: Coc au Vin
- Website: Vintage Chophouse and Tavern
- Where: 320 11th Ave. S.W.
Bonterra Trattoria
- Editor's pick: Winter Squash Risotto
- Website: Bonterra Trattoria
- Where: 1016 Eighth St. S.W.
Vero Bistro Moderne
- Editor's pick: Hand Made Tortellini
- Website: Vero Bistro Moderne
- Where: 209 10th St. N.W.
Rouge Restaurant
- Editor's pick: Sous Vide Blackened Beef Sirloin
- Website: Rouge Restaurant
- Where: 1240 Eighth Ave. S.E.
Bridgette Bar
- Editor's pick: Rigatoni
- Website: The Bridgette Bar
- Where: 739 10th Ave. S.W.
Klein/Harris
- Editor's pick: Butter Leaf Wraps
- Website: Klein/Harris
- Where: 110 Eighth Ave. S.W.
Villa Firenze
- Editor's pick: Risotto al Gorgonzola
- Website: Villa Firenze
- Where: 610 First Ave. N.E.
Ten Foot Henry
- Editor's pick: Seared Scallops
- Website: Ten Foot Henry
- Where: 1209 First St. S.W.
Lulu Bar
- Editor's pick: Sichuan Noodle Salad
- Website: Lulu Bar
- Where: 510 17th Ave. S.W.
Rain Dog Bar
- Editor's pick: Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta
- Website: Rain Dog Bar
- Where: 1214 Ninth Ave. S.E.
Betty Lou’s Library
- Editor's pick: Beemster Gouda Medley
- Website: Betty Lou’s Library
- Where: 908 17th Ave. S.W.
Teatro Ristorante
- Editor's pick: Pappardelle Bolognese
- Website: Teatro Ristorante
- Where: 200 Eighth Ave. S.E.
Sky 360
- Editor's pick: Soffrittos Rigatoni
- Website: Sky 360
- Where: 101 Ninth Ave. S.W.
Photo credit: Colin Way
Getting here
Learn how you can get downtown by driving, taking Calgary Transit or walking, wheeling, running.