Breakfast

Start your day with a delicious European breakfast at Hutch Café, located just off the RiverWalk path. Enjoy small dishes and European pressed coffee to energize yourself for the day ahead. You also cannot go wrong with a delightful breakfast at Alforno, offering a range of breakfast options and freshly brewed coffee. For some more delicious coffee, Loophole is a great local place to relax and enjoy a cozy atmosphere.

Lunch

For lunch, grab some Egyptian deli delights to-go from Luxur, located at 9th Street and 7th Avenue. This homemade food is perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch. For the best bibimbap in town, head over to Ssome Korean Restaurant. 

Dinner

Indulge in authentic Korean BBQ and delicious condiments at NamSam. If you stay late, you can experience the place turning into a lively spot for drinks and snacks. 

Photo: Travel Alberta / Chris Amat

Photo: Aafreen Ahmed

Take a stroll around Downtown West to admire the vibrant murals in the area, including the Troll Mural under the LRT bridge and the York Building mural by Katie Green.

Spend your afternoon enjoying the outdoor attractions in Downtown West:

• Visit BowForth Park for a leisurely stroll and relax by the Bow River.
• Explore Century Gardens to admire the sculptures and the unique Brutalist architecture. Check out the newly installed basketball tri-courts!
• Check out Millennium Park for basketball and skateboarding, and don't miss the new bouldering facility.
• If you're into gardening, consider joining the volunteers at BowForth Park.
• Rent a bike from Joe Garage to explore the scenic river pathway

Head to Rumble House, a community art space where you can witness art-making and auctions. It's open to the public, and you might find some unique treasures. Take a self-guided tour of public art and architecture in the area, including the Chinookerie sculptures at BowForth Park. On a quiet afternoon, we recommend visiting Sigla Books, a unique vintage bookstore co-sharing space with Loophole. While you’re there, there is always a ton of things to do while you’re grabbing a coffee and a snack: art openings, movie nights, Sunday Jazz series, music nights, etc.

Make your way to Contemporary Calgary to explore the unique art exhibitions and appreciate the Brutalist architecture of the building itself.

Check out Dickens Pub for drinks and dancing. They often have events, so be sure to check their schedule. If you’re in the mood for some laughter, the Comedy Cave is where you can enjoy stand-up comedy year-round.

This guide will give you a taste of the diverse culinary scene, cultural experiences, and outdoor attractions that Downtown West in Calgary has to offer. Enjoy your exploration of this vibrant neighborhood!

Photo: ROAM Creative

Photo: Travel Alberta / Chris Amat

Driving and parking

Check out the newest feature on Calgary Parking's MyParking app. The Local Deals feature in the app will connect you with exclusive local deals from businesses you know and love! The feature unlocks coupon codes that you can use at your favourite participating YYC businesses.

There are also several public parking lots in the area, and street parking is free on Sundays, holidays, and weekdays after 6 p.m.

Public transit

You can get downtown with Calgary’s Public Transit system. For more information on Calgary city buses or the CTrain, including schedules, maps, passes and fares, visit Calgary Transit.

Walking, biking, scootering

Calgary is home to an extensive network of bike lanes, pathways and cycle tracks, many of which run through its downtown core with access to downtown.

Once downtown, you can get to shops and restaurants by walking or wheeling. You can also rent a Bird or Neuron e-scooter. Make sure you download the app ahead of time and familiarize yourself with applicable laws, road rules and City by-laws.

We encourage you to safely explore downtown and recommend you check ahead with restaurants and shops to make sure they're open and to learn what safety precautions they require. To find out more about downtown shops, services, and restaurants, visit Downtown Calgary.