The Best Cafés in Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is not short of divine places to get coffee and sweat treats
Calgary is not short of divine places to get coffee and sweat treats | © Patrick mcvey / Unsplash
Kathryn Beeson

Whether you’re a long-time resident or just visiting for a few days, having a good coffee-and-cake stop up your sleeve is essential for city living. We’ve asked local Calgarians for their top spots for hot beverages and sweet treats.

1. Caffe Beano

Cafe, Coffee

Caffe Beano has been keeping patrons happy with hot, freshly ground coffee for over 30 years now and is a firmly established local favourite, having been voted the best coffee shop in Calgary for two years running. All ingredients, where possible, are sourced from local suppliers, and baked goods are made fresh in-house every morning. The chocolate espresso milkshake has been voted as one of the top 25 things to eat while you’re in Calgary – perfect in summer when you need a cool caffeinated pick-me-up. Recommended by local insider Yamila Godoy

2. Euphoria Café

Cafe, Coffee

You should visit this small, family-run coffee shop if a) you’d like to sample their range of specialty, beyond-fair-trade coffees made with locally roasted beans, or b) if you’re a bit of an aviation geek. Yes, you read that right – alongside providing locals with award-winning hot beverages, Euphoria doubles up as a model shop, selling a range of scale models of airliners for collectors and enthusiasts. Coffee lovers have a range of traditional brews and house specialties to choose from (the café prides itself on its Spanish latte), and there are plenty of other hot drink options if the dark stuff isn’t your thing. Our local insider loves their matcha latte. Recommended by local insider Yamila Godoy

3. Ten Foot Henry

Restaurant, Vegetarian

For laid-back, all-day dining in pleasant surroundings, look no further than Ten Foot Henry. With airy modern interiors and a selection of gorgeous houseplants (that admittedly might make you feel a little guilty about that succulent you’ve been neglecting), Ten Foot Henry is a great stopping point for morning coffees and more substantial meals alike. A divine selection of sweet treats is available, and the range of pastas, salads and meat and fish dishes makes it ideal for those looking for healthier, but still delicious, eating options. Recommended by local insider Stuart Forster

4. Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters

Cafe, Coffee

Phil and Sebastian is a well-loved local chain of coffee shops, providing Calgarians with their morning coffee fix in several locations across the city. The roastery headquarters, situated in the historic Simmons Building, is well worth a visit, particularly if you’re looking for a refueling point along Calgary’s popular RiverWalk. It’s as on-trend as only a coffee roastery in a former mattress factory can be, with beautifully done-out interiors that keep things up to date while letting the building’s historical features shine through. Expect a range of expertly crafted brews big on flavour and pulled by top-notch baristas. Recommended by local insider Stuart Forster

5. Alforno Bakery and Café

Cafe, Bakery, Coffee

Italian-inspired flavours and freshly made pizza, hot out of the oven, make this all-day café and restaurant somewhere you’ll want to come back to time and time again. Grab a quick coffee, Mediterranean-style, or take a long, relaxing al fresco lunch on Alforno’s terrace. Beautiful continental-style breads are made fresh on the premises, and you should also check out the gloriously tempting home-made cakes, pastries and delicate little sweet treats on offer. Stay for dessert; you won’t regret it. Recommended by local insider Coco Hiu Tung Yuen

6. Café and Mi

Cafe, Coffee

Feline fanatics will fall in love with Calgary’s premier cat café, and may end up with a furry friend to take home thanks to Café & Mi’s street-kitty adoption scheme. Even if you’re not looking to rehome one of the café’s residents, there’s an inherently cozy feeling generated by the hot mug of coffee/lap-cat pairing that’s hard to beat. Add an indulgent chocolatey waffle stack to the equation and you’ll never want to leave. Recommended by local insider Coco Hiu Tung Yuen

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