Ditch your boring bagged lunch routine because here at The Best Calgary, we’re serving up nothing but extraordinary! Today’s special? It’s the best lunch spots in the city where ambiance, food quality and taste, interior, and service come together to orchestrate the best culinary experience.
In short, we’re dishing out establishments that have magical culinary conductors. Think of places where you can have Für Elise on a plate, but in the form of a tasty breakfast poutine!
Table of Contents
- 1. River Café
- 2. Ten Foot Henry
- 3. Spot On Kitchen & Bar
- 4. The Coup
- 5. Klein/Harris
- 6. Notable – The Restaurant
- 7. Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey
- 8. Meat and Bread
- 9. Orchard Restaurant
- 10. Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro
- 11. OEB Breakfast Co.
- 12. UNA Pizza + Wine 17th Ave SW
- 13. Broken Plate Greek Restaurant
- 14. Diner Deluxe
1. River Café
Website: https://www.river-cafe.com
Address: 25 Prince’s Island Park, SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0R1, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-261-7670
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 10 AM to 11 PM
If you’re looking for scenic views to enjoy while you eat a delicious lunch, River Café is an unbeatable location. The huge windows open up a glimpse of the nearby river for a fantastic view. Friendly tip for those seeking Instagrammable scenes: try their patio!
As for their edible offerings, their well-curated lunch menu changes every season, so there’s something exciting to look forward to every time.
2. Ten Foot Henry
Website: http://www.tenfoothenry.com
Address: 1209 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0V3, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-475-5537
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 11 PM
A charming combination of contemporary and rustic, Ten Foot Henry boasts of their captivating ambiance and delectable dishes made with farm-fresh ingredients.
Their windows invite plenty of sunlight, adding to the experience. Here, you can expect a variety of delightful culinary innovations including pasta concoctions, fish & meat plates, and vegetable-centered meals.
3. Spot On Kitchen & Bar
Website: https://www.spotoncalgary.com
Address: 2 Richard Way SW, Calgary, AB T3E 7M9, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-240-3619
Operating hours:
- Sunday and Monday – 11 AM to 9 PM
- Tuesday to Saturday – 11 AM to 10 PM
When it comes to delicious lunch meals, this location is spot on – hence the name Spot On Kitchen & Bar, perhaps!
They have an extremely delicious calamari that’s breaded with buttermilk, adding a hint of creaminess and tanginess to it. Dip it on their house-made tzatziki or Nashville hot oil to elevate the flavors.
4. The Coup
Website: https://www.thecoupyyc.com
Address: 924 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2T 0A2, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-541-1041
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
The Coup is a local hotspot serving mouthwatering vegan and vegetarian plates.
For recommendations, the drunken noodles received a lot of rave remarks from plenty of people from our team. Made with curry paste crafted in their own kitchen, it also features coconut milk, bell pepper, onion, carrot, cabbage, crispy shallots, and basil.
It perfectly marries creamy, spicy, and savory flavors, making it an outstanding lunch meal.
5. Klein/Harris
Website: https://www.kleinharris.com
Address: 110 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B3, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-262-8100
Operating hours:
- Sunday & Monday – closed
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 12 AM
- Saturday – 4 PM to 12 AM
Klein/Harris is a stylish restaurant that might intimidate some with its dashing exterior. As you step inside the establishment, though, you’ll be greeted by their friendly staff, who will show you to a cozy seat.
Because of their interesting cocktail options, day drinking is basically a must. To pair with their tasty alcoholic beverages, we recommend trying out their specialty dish – the K/H burger, delightfully nestled in a tasty sourdough bread.
6. Notable – The Restaurant
Website: https://www.notabletherestaurant.ca
Address: 4611 Bowness Rd NW #133, Calgary, AB T3B 0B2, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-288-4372
Operating hours:
- Monday – closed
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 10:30 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 10:30 AM to 9 PM
Offering upscale ambiance with high-quality Canadian meals, this destination is true to its name. Notable definitely knows how to create a fantastic experience for hungry customers.
On their lunch menu, the rotisserie chicken is the star of the show, offering a mixture of tantalizing flavors. Definitely recommended!
7. Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey
Website: https://www.haydenblockyyc.com
Address: 1136 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3P3, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-283-3021
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 1 AM
- Friday & Saturday – 11 AM to 2 AM
At Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey, their Texas-style brisket and ribs are the must-try item. Expect a delightful smokey flavor with a strong kick of beef!
Definitely order some cocktails too while you’re here. They have plenty of exciting concoctions that will make you tipsy before you know it!
8. Meat and Bread
Website: https://www.meatandbread.com/grainexchange
Address: 821 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 7N2, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-764-6225
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 4 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – closed
If you want something quick and easy without compromising on flavor, try the delicious sandwiches at Meat and Bread for lunch.
Landing the top spot on our list of favorites is their porchetta sandwich drizzled with salsa verde. The skillful preparation of the pork really shines through every bite!
9. Orchard Restaurant
Website: https://orchardyyc.com
Address: 620 10 Ave SW #134, Calgary, AB T2R 1C3, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-243-2392
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 11 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 11 AM to 12 AM
Flaunting a dazzling blend of modern and natural aesthetics, Orchard Restaurant offers a sweet escape from the craziness of Downtown Calgary. It’s a mix of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine that draws people daily.
Under the lunch menu, we always get giddy talking about their crispy chicken sandwich. With gochujang glaze, butter leaf lettuce, and apple slaw nestled in a crispy focaccia bread, it’s quite a dish.
10. Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro
Website: https://www.monkibistro.ca/location/breakfast-beltline-calgary/
Address: 1301 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0J4, Canada
Contact details: +1 587-352-7131
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Monki is one of the popular areas to eat breakfast, lunch, and brunch. In fact, we’ve added this spot to our articles more times than we can count!
You can expect to see a lot of comforting classics here including french toast, breakfast poutines, and benedicts. And of course, it’s not a Calgarian lunch spot without booze on the menu!
PS: Don’t be surprised when you order an Americano and it comes out as a drink with campari, soda, and orange.
11. OEB Breakfast Co.
Website: https://eatoeb.com/locations/calgary/
Address: 222 5 Ave SW #110, Calgary, AB T2P 4K3, Canada
Contact details: +1 587-352-3447
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 6:30 AM to 2 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 8 AM to 2:45 PM
OEB Breakfast Co.’s playful interior is perfect for anyone looking for a stylish place to grab lunch. But their tasteful furnishings aren’t just for show. They’re just a prelude to the delectable offerings coming from the kitchen.
What to get? Served on a butter croissant, their eggs benny is recommended. It comes in interesting flavors like Korean bulgogi and Montreal smoked brisket.
12. UNA Pizza + Wine 17th Ave SW
Website: https://unapizzeria.com/
Address: 618 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0B4, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-453-1183
Operating hours: Sunday to Thursday – 11 AM to 11 PM
UNA’s many pizza options truly beckons to people like us. If you were to ask which one’s our favorite, we’d really struggle.
For the purpose of this article, though, we managed to pick our top three (for now!): 4 maggi, spicy prosciutto, and chicken pesto. While the flavors aren’t revolutionary, they’re deliciously satisfying.
13. Broken Plate Greek Restaurant
Website: https://www.brokenplate.ca
Address: 10816 Macleod Trail SE Unit 590, Calgary, AB T2J 5N8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-225-9650
Operating hours:
- Monday – closed
- Tuesday to Saturday – 11 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 9 PM
The Broken Plate has interesting Greek dishes, interpreting the classics using new techniques, seamlessly blending modern and traditional to create powerful flavors.
For those who adore a hearty classic, we recommend getting the broken plate burger that comes with the famous Alberta beef, pork, lettuce, cheddar, and sriracha aioli nestled in the safe embrace of a comforting brioche bun.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, do try their hand-crafted pasta, specifically the butternut squash and shrimp ravioli!
14. Diner Deluxe
Website: http://www.dinerdeluxe.com
Address: 804 Edmonton Trail, Calgary, AB T2E 3J6, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-276-5499
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 3 PM
Last but not the least – Diner Deluxe, an enduring favorite for us. While scrolling through their website, we were surprised to see that they even featured a quote from a previous article we wrote.
Greetings to the Diner Deluxe team – please forgive our brazen fangirling if you happen to see this!
Anyway, what we love about this establishment as we mentioned in the past stays true – their commitment to the use of local ingredients, ensuring a menu that highlights fresh and sustainable procurement.
Our favorite, one that’s rightfully called the best breakfast sandwich, is a standout choice.
