If you’re looking for fun and exciting things to experience in Calgary, Kensington has it all. This is the ultimate destination for those who want unforgettable memories in the city because of the wide range of activities one can indulge in.
There’s a bookstore that sells books, a Japanese restaurant that specializes in katsu, a local dispensary that has everything you need, and more!
With this guide of things to do in the Kensington neighborhood, we’ll help you make your visit something you won’t forget!
Table of Contents
How to Get Around Kensington
Taxis: To get around Kensington the most efficient and easiest way possible, you can flag down a taxi you see on the street. Apart from that, you can also call for a driver from the dispatch company at 403-777-1111 or find one of the taxi bays in the neighbourhood.
Bus: It’s also convenient to travel in Kensington by using the public bus. For the complete bus routes, you can check out this website. You can easily pay for the bus ride using the monthly pass card, the MyFare app, or with cash.
Cycle: Kensington isn’t that big an area, so it’s also easy to explore the ins and outs while paddling your way through each street corner.
Where to Stay in Kensington
Hotel Arts Kensington
Address: 1126 Memorial Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3E3, Canada
Phone: +1 403-228-4442
Pricing: $$$
Book Now
If you like the character and liveliness of Kensington, we suggest staying at Hotel Arts Kensington. While it’s on the pricier side, the rooms are sophisticated and luxurious enough to merit their fees.
Additionally, the world-class amenities that they have are very worth the splurge – like spa services and bike rentals.
Where to Eat in Kensington
Blanco Cantina
Address: 1140 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3P3, Canada
Phone: +1 403-454-9602
Pricing: $$
Website
Blanco Cantina is the classic Cantina you know and love with a few exciting twists. Their most popular dishes with The Best Calgary staff are the bulgogi steak tacos and beef & cheese burritos, so we suggest ordering that.
If you like to drink, be here during happy hour (every day at 2 PM to 5 PM and 9 PM). It’s 50% off on tequila!
Tu Taco
Address: 1414 Kensington Rd NW #102, Calgary, AB T2N 3P9, Canada
Phone: +1 403-283-0137
Pricing: $
Website
If you’re on the hunt for some good Mexican street food, head over to Tu Taco to satiate your hunger. They offer great deals, so you can purchase great quality food without spending a lot.
If you want the best Tu Taco experience, we suggest getting the 6” beef birria taco or the nachos.
Vendome
Address: 940 2 Ave NW, Calgary, AB T2N 0E6, Canada
Phone: +1 403-453-1140
Pricing: $$
Website
Vendome is a stylish dining spot in Kensington that provides lovely indoor and patio seating. Here, they serve mouth-watering Mediterranean dishes with a wide variety like pastas, sandwiches, granola bowls, and many more.
They even serve cocktails throughout the day, so one can easily indulge in day drinking while they’re here.
Kim’s Katsu
Address: 314 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V8, Canada
Phone: +1 403-453-7461
Pricing: $
Website
This restaurant in Kensington specializes in katsu, which is why they have tons of different kinds to choose from such as fish & chips katsu, rosu katsu (pork loin), hell katsu (very spicy!), and more.
If katsu’s your thing, you should definitely give Kim’s Katsu a go. That said, they also have other options in their menu that are also worth a shot such as the udon and rolls.
Brouhaha
Address: 609 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2A1, Canada
Phone: +14034530577
Pricing: $$
Website
Brouhaha is one of the top spots for brunch in Kensington. Not only do they offer a pleasant and homey environment, they also provide delicious dishes served in generous portions.
A lot of costumes rave about their bougie avocado toast and spinach super salad bowl, which we suggest you try. To add to that, we also thoroughly enjoyed the brekkie yoghurt parfait and brussel sprouts bowl (surprisingly!).
Aside from the delicious food options, they also serve coffee and tea.
Taste of Sri Lanka
Address: 436 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z7, Canada
Phone: +1 403-973-4433
Pricing: $$
Website
One of the lesser-known spots in the famous Kensington neighbourhood is the Taste of Sri Lanka. We found this surprising because the photos of their food themselves are enough to make your mouth water!
Anyway, we particularly urge you to try the curry chicken kottu, mutton rolls, and egg roti. We heard that these dishes are extremely popular among frequent customers as well!
Muku Japanese Ramen
Address: 326 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z7, Canada
Phone: +1 403-283-6555
Pricing: $
Website
Muku Japanese Ramen doesn’t offer a lot of variety, but they serve numerous soup bases like miso, shoyu, and more. Additionally, they even have tonkotsu soups and get this – a non-soup ramen for those who want something a little more out of the ordinary.
If that sounds like you, you’ll enjoy the jya-jya men, miso beef men, and the chicken men.
Where to Grab Coffee in Kensington
Aggüdo Coffee Roasters
Address: 338 10 St NW #6, Calgary, AB T2N 1V8, Canada
Phone: +1 403-690-3773
Pricing: $$
Website
Aggüdo Coffee Roasters is a great coffee shop in the neighbourhood with a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff members.
This is the place where the baristas remember your go-to orders after your second visit, which makes the experience feel more personal.
Other than that, they also serve delicious coffee including both classic and new flavors!
Deville Coffee
Address: 1122 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4P4, Canada
Phone: +1 403-764-2669
Pricing: $$
Website
Deville Coffee is a local coffee shop that gives its customers high-quality handcrafted lattes and espresso drinks. They pride themselves on sourcing only the finest ingredients, pastries from the finest bakeries available in the city, and a carefully curated menu.
We highly favour their nutella latte and brewed coffee. Their space is also stylish and minimalistically designed, which makes it a great place to work, relax, or catch up with some friends.
Espresso Cafe
Address: 273 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V5, Canada
Phone: +14034752525
Pricing: $$
Directions
Espresso Cafe is a popular spot where a lot of locals get their daily caffeine fix. Their popular drinks include the London fog, golden latte (much recommended by our staff!), and dirty chai.
Here’s a tip: try their food too, especially if you’re looking for a filling and satisfying meal. They’re extremely generous with their portions!
What to Do in Kensington
Buy cannabis at Four20 Kensington
Address: 102 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V3, Canada
Phone: +1 403-255-3545
Website
Cannabis is legal in Calgary. However, do note that you should consume it on private property.
Anyway, if you’re in the city for this kind of a good time, we suggest dropping by at Four20 in Kensington. The staff here are extremely knowledgeable, so if you have any questions for them, just tell them what you have in mind.
They can even recommend stuff based on what you need or what you’re looking for. Otherwise, you can always check their website to order it online. They’ll deliver it promptly to your doorstep.
Skate at the Underbridge Skateboard Park
Address: Calgary, AB T2N 0A7, Canada
Unleash your inner daredevil at the Underbridge Skateboard Park. They have a few ramps suitable even for beginners.
It’s a great spot to further explore your interests and maybe learn from a few local skaters. It’s a bit small, sure, but it has everything you need to enjoy a nice skating session.
Moreover, while it’s an outdoor skatepark, it stays dry during rainy and snowy days because it’s located under a bridge.
Buy unique books at A Rare Bookstore by DJ
Address: 328 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V8, Canada
Phone: +1 403-918-7244
Website
A Rare Bookstore by DJ has a great selection of books, a lot of which are in French and Spanish. That said, they also have other good finds aside from books like vinyl records, CDs, comic books, cassettes, and more!
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always request it from them and they’ll do their best to acquire it for you.
Play games at Hexagon Board Game Cafe
Address: 1140 Kensington Rd NW #200, Calgary, AB T2N 3P3, Canada
Phone: +1 403-209-2881
Website
What’s great about playing board games at the Hexagon Cafe is the numerous selections they have available. In fact, they have more than 400 board games you can choose from!
If there’s something you’re looking for, they most likely have it – not just available to play with, but also available to purchase.
To see their complete game library, you can check out this part of their website. Do note that there’s a fee of CAD$4 required to play any of their available games.
If you’re not there to play their board games however, you don’t need to pay the fee (obviously). You can also come here to order food and drinks to enjoy in the chill atmosphere.
Play with the cats at Regal Cat Cafe
Address: 303 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V8, Canada
Phone: +1 403-455-2287
Website
If having coffee with a bunch of cats lying next to you seems ideal, you have to add the Regal Cat Cafe to your itinerary while you’re in Kensington.
Owned by the MEOW foundation which aims to rescue stray and abandoned cats, you can be assured that your new paw friends in this cafe are well taken care of. Additionally, you can even adopt one you fall in love with during your visit.
