The 15 Best Cafes in Calgary

If you’re looking for a place to catch up with your friends or with your backlog at school or work, the best cafes in Calgary can be your safest bet.

With some strong yet flavourful brewed coffee and a conducive atmosphere, a cafe might just give you a jolt of energy to awaken your productive self. Cafes are also the perfect places to sit down and enjoy the company of your friends.

Here’s our list of the best cafes in Calgary to help you find a safe space for relaxation sessions and productive work hours.

1. Aroma Cafe Bar

BEST FOR	Mexican hot chocolate and other Mexican foods and drinks
PRODUCTS	Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Sandwiches, etc.
WEBSITE	https://www.aromacafebar.ca/
ADDRESS	eSpace Marda Loop: 1721 29 Ave SW Suite 130, Calgary, AB, T2T 6T7 33 Avenue Marda Loop: 1845 33 Ave. SW, Calgary, AB, T2T 1Z1
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: 403-355-1869 Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The ancient Aztecs in Mexico used to drink chocolate for ceremonial purposes, dubbing it “food for the gods.”

Aroma Cafe Bar lets you savor that original Mexican goodness at the heart of Calgary with its Mexican Hot Chocolate. 

You may pair your muy caliente drink with a muy bien snack, such as quesadillas, torta, and breakfast burritos.

Highlights

• Authentic Mexican food and drink 
• Mexican hot chocolate
• Events and catering available

Customer Reviews

With its assortment of food and drinks, this cafe is a versatile meeting space. If you want to know more about their services, read up on these reviews from their customers.

”We had no idea what this location was all about, we were lead here via the YYC Hot Chocolate Fest and Aroma’s entry, a Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate with Buñuelos. Located in a place called cSpace. Not the coziest but a neat place to hang for a bit, and the hot chocolate was great!”—Mike Marr

“We came across Aroma Cafe Bar when we brought our daughter for French classes in cSpace. My husband had a quesadilla and I had the Mexican hot chocolate with carrot cake. The food is incredible. The quesadilla was the best my husband has had and it was so nice that they brought out our food to us. We also ended up buying some salsa they recently started selling. Highly recommend and we will be coming again!”—Celina Coulombe

2. Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar

BEST FOR	Wine and Coffee
PRODUCTS	Coffee, Wine, Pastries, Sandwiches, Cakes, Cheese
WEBSITE	https://www.cafegravity.com/
ADDRESS	909 10 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0S7
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: (403) 457-0697
OPERATING HOURS	Monday–Sunday, 8:00am–4:00pm

Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar is the best cafe in Calgary for its drinks and food.

You can have some quiet alone time in this cafe with their selection of coffee, sandwiches, and baked goods. But if you want to meet with friends, this cafe is also great for that, what with their assortment of wines and gourmet cheese.

Gravity has two locations to accommodate its customers in Beltline and Inglewood. They also have live music on weekdays, so check on their schedule before going there for productivity.

Highlights

• Live music
• Coffee and wine
• Sandwiches, pastries, and cheese
• Good parking space

Customer Reviews

With its assortment of food and drinks, this cafe is a versatile meeting space. If you want to know more about their services, read up on these reviews from their customers.

” Great cafe with delicious coffees, teas, smoothies, baked goods and sandwiches/paninis. The best pumpkin spice latte I’ve had so far.”—Samantha Lemna

“A very versatile space. Great spot to get work done, relax or socialize. They have drink specials, warm and cold food options, good coffee, fast wifi and lots of seating options. They play live music sometimes so you might want to check in advance before coming to get work done.”—Elise Vogels

3. Primal Grounds Cafe and Soup Company

BEST FOR	Locally roasted coffee by Noble Tree Roasters
PRODUCTS	Home baked cookies, bread, and delicious soups and sandwiches
WEBSITE	https://primalgroundscafe.com/
ADDRESS	London Drigs West Shopping centre on Richmond Road Sw, 4017 – 50 Street Sw.
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: 403-454-5282 Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Monday–Sunday, 9:00am–5:00pm

Primal Grounds Cafe and Soup Company is your go-to place if you are craving for a unique and healthy way for your soup needs. All of their soups are made from scratch and all gluten-free so you should have no problems if you have an allergen to the said ingredient.

They have a wide array of signature soups which you can choose from such as Lemon Turkey Dill, African Peanut Veggie, Cream of Tomato Basil, Thai Coconut Chicken, Bone Broth, Coconut Curry Veggie. Rest assured that all of their ingredients are fresh and of the best quality that they can offer in order to deliver a delectable soup experience that you would want to come back for in the future.

Aiming to deliver happiness in each bowl that they serve you, they offer satisfactory and highly accommodating customer service to accompany their delectable dishes. Having started the said business for over 30 years, they have since then gained a reputation for their consistent, outstanding and tasty soup choices that will surely fill you up to the brim with happiness.

We recommend this cafe for you due to their unique niche of soups which will take your taste buds to new heights with exotic and complex flavors that are close to home yet exhibit a new and exploratory soup taste.

Highlights

• Wide variety of soups
• Made from scratch
• Over 30 years of serving

4. Hexagon Board Game Cafe

BEST FOR	Board Games
PRODUCTS	Coffee, Pastries, Board Games
WEBSITE	https://www.thehexcafe.com/
ADDRESS	1140 Kensington Rd NW #200, Calgary, AB T2N 3P3
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: (403) 209-2881
OPERATING HOURS	Sunday–Thursday, 9:00am–11:00pm Friday–Saturday, 9:00am–12:00am

Hexagon Board Game Cafe has coffee, pastries, games, and even coffee equipment. It is the best cafe in Calgary for groups of friends looking for a place to chill out and catch up.

Hexagon has about 600 board games, and they also have the latest games released. You can check their site to know which games they have in their library.

Hexagon prides itself on its coffee, games, and community, so you can be sure its spaces are excellent for group activities. You can also book tables for you and your friends before visiting the cafe.

Highlights

• 600 in-house board games
• Coffees and pastries
• Online orders

Customer Reviews

Hexagon Board Game Cafe also has the best staff to help you pick which games are best for your group. Here are the reviews to verify their excellent customer services.

“Amazing games, their drinks are absolutely amazing, especially the London fog and hot chocolate, and so many games to play and buy! Plus the staff are super friendly!”—Karli Irvine

“I love Hexagon! Only costs $3/hour to play board games there, which I think is more than a fair price. Basically every board game you could ever want to play is there.”—Stanton Thai\

5. The Roasterie

BEST FOR	Film Screenings
PRODUCTS	Coffee, Beans, Film Screenings
WEBSITE	https://www.roasterie.com/
ADDRESS	314 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V8
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: (403) 270-3304
OPERATING HOURS	Monday–Sunday, 8:00am–8:00pm

The Roasterie is the best cafe in Calgary for its broad coffee menu and in-house film screenings.

You can choose any cold or hot blend of the best coffee beans from around the world. They have decafs and dark blends you can choose from and purchase for your home brewing.

The cafe is relatively small, but you can enjoy a good movie here while being surrounded by friends and the smell of ground coffee beans.

Highlights

• Small and cosy place
• Around 40 coffee beans and five flavours
• Coffee beans for home roasts
• Film screenings

Customer Reviews

The Roasterie can give you what the best cafe in Calgary should—superb coffee, a calm ambiance, and warm customer service. These reviews will make you want to visit this family-owned cafe as soon as possible.

“One of Kensington’s local gems.  Great coffee, friendly staff.  Awesome spot to hang out or a quick stop at the walk by window on the street to get your coffee on the go.”—Sasha Stoudenikina

“It is my favorite cafe in Calgary.. It’s cozy and it has this vintage look to it. And I love the music they play.. It’s unconventional and goes well with a warm cup of latte and an interesting book to read !”—Chandni Sinha

6. A Ladybug Bakery and Cafe

BEST FOR	Bakery & Cafe
PRODUCTS	Coffee, Baked Goods, Brunch
WEBSITE	https://www.ladybugandcafe.com/
ADDRESS	2132-10 Aspen Stone Blvd SW, Calgary, AB T3G 0K3, Canada
CONTACT DETAILS	+1 403-249-5530
OPERATING HOURS	Tuesday – Sunday, 8AM – 3PM

Ladybug is a European influenced cafe where you could enjoy breakfast & brunch or afternoon tea. They have a wide selection of coffee and baked goods that you will surely enjoy. 

They like to keep everything fresh and local and they are proud that they support local businesses by purchasing ingredients from them. Come and visit them to witness their top quality products and services yourself.

Highlights

• Good food
• Great service
• The interior is clean and bright

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of A Ladybug Bakery and Cafe’s clients:

“Truly great food!  Best Eggs Benedict I’ve ever had. I keep coming back for it. Crepes are delicious too.   Lots of interesting menu items.  Bread is amazing and other bakery items are wonderful too.  Owner Christine is  very welcoming,  so nice and offers great  customer service.   If you haven’t yet been,  add this place to your breakfast or lunch spots.” – Ellen Gasser

Here’s another one:

“OH MY GOD!!!  This is by far, the best breakfast/brunch restaurant in the city.  My husband and I love going out for breakfast dates and we have a couple that have been tried and true.  We decided to go to A Ladybug today, and it far surpassed every other place we frequent.  They make the only proper lobster roll I have seen outside of Maine, and every single bakery item is beyond compare.  Go here every chance you get.” – Valerie Pierce

7. Société Coffee Lounge

BEST FOR	Ambiance, Rental
PRODUCTS	Coffee, Beans, Baked Goods, Venue
WEBSITE	http://www.societecoffee.ca/
ADDRESS	1223 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: (403) 454-2275
OPERATING HOURS	Monday–Friday, 7:00am–5:00pm Saturday–Sunday, 8:00am–5:00pm

Société Coffee Lounge surely has the most relaxing ambiance in town. They have a variety of coffees and pastries to help you enjoy your time at the cafe.

With its peaceful atmosphere, you can surely be productive even while sitting on their comfortable and cosy chairs.

What makes Société the best cafe in Calgary is its generosity for its place. You can rent the cafe for special events so you and your loved ones can drink their top-notch coffee and pastries.

Highlights

• Warm and cosy ambience
• Flavourful coffee selection
• Venue rental

Customer Reviews

Société Coffee Lounge aims to provide its customers with good coffee, good life, and good vibes. Here’s what their customers have to say about their services.

“Cute little place with great coffee! This is a good place to come if you want to get some work done. Very nice and peaceful atmosphere with friendly staff! My cappucino and my friend’s flat white were excellent!”—Laura 

“I like the laid back atmosphere and how ppl are just studying there. Not too huge to cause anxiety. Cosy enough and great food and drinks !”—Jennifer

8. Higher Ground Cafe

BEST FOR	Coffee and Tea
PRODUCTS	https://www.highergroundcafe.ca/menu
WEBSITE	https://www.highergroundcafe.ca/
ADDRESS	1126 Kensington Rd Calgary, AB 2502 Capitol Hill Crescent NW Calgary, AB
CONTACT DETAILS	Kensington: 403-270-3780 Capitol Hill: 403-668-1175
OPERATING HOURS	Kensington Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Weekends: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Capitol Hill 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Higher Ground was established in 1982, and was in the long time promoting community & sustainability on a local and global scale. Ensured with their products of coffee that is 100% organic, fair trade & rain forest alliance certified.

They are able to support farmers abroad through fair trade and by also partnering with local organizations to promote local artists, we are passionate about enhancing our community.

Highlights

• Live music
• Coffee and pastries
• Online orders

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Higher Ground Cafe clients:

“They have a cozy ambiance and a relaxing place where you can enjoy good food and coffee. They also have computers where you can rent and play.”

Here’s another one:

“This is a great place to spend on if you are looking to burn some time or do work that needs reliable and fast internet connection. If I recall correctly, their internet speed reached up to 200mbps, which is more than what we usually need in casual surfing. Should you feel hungry, you can order food from your workspace and have it served to you. I’d recommend the continental breakfast. And yes, it is open 24 hours.”

9. Velvet Cafe

BEST FOR	Coffee, Tea, and Wholesome Food
PRODUCTS	https://velvetcafecalgary.ca/
WEBSITE	https://velvetcafecalgary.ca/
ADDRESS	101, 502 25th Ave NW Calgary, Alberta
CONTACT DETAILS	(403) 338-2087
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday: 8am-5:30pm Saturday: 9am-4pm Sunday: Closed

Velvet Cafe offers delicious coffee, tea and meals for you to relax and enjoy. Their food is made only with best and quality ingredients, ensuring you not only tasty, but also healthy meals.

They also offer meals to go for those who just want a quick snack in your school or work. Packaged in microwavable containers, Velvet Cafe meals and drinks bring you the relaxing cafe experience wherever you may be.

Highlights

• Ingredients are always fresh and from a reliable source
• Offers a wide range of vegan and vegetarian options depending on your diet

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Velvet Cafe’s clients:

“Best coffee in Calgary. The smoothest & richest americanos I have ever had.Top that with fresh made meals, soups and snacks daily, this is a must visit for anyone passing by. If you live in the area, do yourself a favour and make this your new regular coffee shop!”

Here’s another one:

“Came for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised with this little cafe! Lots of vegan and vegetarian options as well! I got their pumpkin spice latte half sweet (puts Starbucks to shame) with a vegan dahl (big portion- I took half of it home!)
Would definitely recommend and come visit again.
Also customer service was great she offered to try it just in case I wouldn’t like it :)”

10. Café du Centre

BEST FOR	Afternoon tea reservations
PRODUCTS	https://www.cafeducentre.ca/
WEBSITE	https://www.cafeducentre.ca/
ADDRESS	509 22 Avenue Southwest Calgary, AB, T2S 0H5 Canada
CONTACT DETAILS	403.764.7474
OPERATING HOURS	Wednesday – Thursday 11am to 7pm Friday 11am to 9pm Saturday 9am to 9pm Sunday 9am to 5pm CLOSED on Mondays/Tuesdays

Everything in Café du Centre was created to give you the best cafe experience in Calgary. Their delicate interior fits perfectly with their menu, giving you the perfect relaxing ambiance. 

They ensure their food is fresh, as it is all made to order, bringing you only the best quality coffees, desserts, brunch and more. They also offer their space for rentals for your special events.

Highlights

• Offers dine in and take-out afternoon tea.
• Has a space for rental, along with catering services

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Café du Centre’s clients:

“Amazing little spot for dessert and hot drinks. The dishes are amazing looking and taste as great as they look. They cafe is a little small,  so I recommend calling and setting up a reservation.  They offer a tea party which comes with a tray of desserts. I highly recommend this spot!! Prices were reasonable.”

Here’s another one:

“This little café is just an absolute gem. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the decor and atmosphere is really delightful. All of the coffee’s are beautifully made and very delicious, it’s really hard to pick which coffee creation to have. The menu also has light lunch options which are simple yet very well made.”

11. Angel’s Cafe

BEST FOR	Natural outdoor view
PRODUCTS	https://www.angelscafe.ca/menus/
WEBSITE	https://www.angelscafe.ca/
ADDRESS	4105 Montgomery View NW Calgary, AB T3B 3E8
CONTACT DETAILS	(403) 452-0164
OPERATING HOURS	Monday Sunday: 9:00am 7:00pm

Angel’s Cafe offers herbal teas, espressos, and boozy drinks as well as burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast dishes. Angel’s Cafe also has a kids menu to cater to all types of customers within the community.

They also have a lovely outdoor patio to provide guests with a breathtaking view of the Edworthy park and river.

To add to their cozy ambiance, they also have live music. Additionally, they have special events now and then, such as open mics for which any customer can participate.

Highlights

• Live music and open mic events
• Breakfast and kids menu, burgers, sandwiches
• Outdoor patio for a view of nature

Customer Reviews

With their outdoor patio space, Angel’s Cafe also welcomes customers with dog companions. Here are some Google reviews from some of their satisfied customers:

“This place is amazing..been coming here for years. Great atmosphere, people (staff and guests) and food! The Friday nights open Mic. Is a great evening spent with family (kids included) and Cathy/ Dale along with her family are wonderful owners.”—Jullie Caron

Here’s another one:

“The recent renovations are spectacular! Angels now has a welcoming and cozy feel at its perfect location right by the river. The food and coffee was good. Best of all, they allow well behaved dogs on the patio!!”—Shannon Tabor

12. Patisserie du Soleil

BEST FOR	Authentic French Pastries
PRODUCTS	https://www.patisseriedusoleil.com/
WEBSITE	https://www.patisseriedusoleil.com/
ADDRESS	2525 Woodview Dr SW Calgary, T2W 4N4
CONTACT DETAILS	CALL US: (403) 452-8833 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Mon – Sat 7 am to 6 pm Sunday 7 am to 4 pm (Kitchen closes at 3pm) We will be closed on all holidays

Baking for Calgary since 1999, Patisserie du Soleil is a family owned business that guarantees the tastiest pastries for you. Their specialty, traditional and signature French pastries, are authentic and freshly baked.

They pride their pastries for being made from scratch with absolutely no preservatives, or artificial additives. These wonderful foods are also available for catering, and they deliver everywhere in Calgary.

Highlights

• Specializes in catering to the Downtown Core for business meetings, training classes,  etc. You could also choose between the original menu or pick from our catering menu
• Variety of cakes in different flavors and sizes can be ordered for any special occasion, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate functions 

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Patisserie du Soleil’s clients:

“Stopped in this morning because we’d heard they offer cronuts.  Oh my goodness! My son had the raspberry and green tea, and I had the moose tracks. Perfectly flaky, tons of flavor, the vanilla pastry cream was divine, and I love that the chocolate was rich but not too sweet.  We will definitely be back!”

Here’s another one:

“We had lunch catering for our office by Patisserie du Soleil. Ala was very attentive and helpful. They had everything packaged individually so we could maintain social distancing. We have received so many compliments on the food! We will definitely be using Patisserie du Soleil more often. Thanks Ala!”

13. Caffè Artigiano

BEST FOR	Italian style artisan coffee house & roaster
PRODUCTS	Offers different kinds of coffee, salads, sandwiches, and brunch meals
WEBSITE	https://caffeartigiano.com/
ADDRESS	Caffe Artigiano – Centrium 100 – 332 6th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 0B2 403.699.9855 Caffe Artigiano – Watermark 530 – 8th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 3S8 403.452.7127 Caffe Artigiano – Shell Oil 103 – 400 4th Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 0J4 403.262.2343
CONTACT DETAILS	Please refer to the row above
OPERATING HOURS	Monday to Friday from 6AM to 5PM

For more than 20 years, Artigiano has taken pride in every single in-house product it creates. Proprietary unique blends produced at its own roaster in Burnaby, BC, deliver consistent and a perfect cup of coffee – every time. Artigiano is committed to social responsibility and sustainability by brewing the highest quality coffee in a way that positively impacts our local community, suppliers, team members and those who share it.

All 16 locations and 2 coffee bars in Vancouver and Calgary are locally owned and operated, with a commitment to local and organic ingredients for all products, wherever possible.

Highlights

• Sustainability commitment
• Organic ingredients
• Spanish Latte
• 15 branches in Alberta and British Columbia
• Offers artisan locally roasted wholesale coffee beans

Customer Reviews

Here’s a review from one of Caffe Artigiano’s clients:

“Fave place to be ? to think, to stay, to relax.. ?” – Georgina G.

Here’s another one:

“One of my favourite coffee spots is Caffe Artigiano! My ultimate favourite and go-to drink is their Spanish Latte. So good! I also recently tried their Pumpkin Spice Latte and that’s a good one as well (MUCH better than Starbucks’ PSL, imo).” – Jurn

14. Barrow Coffee Roasters 

BEST FOR	Coffee Subscription
PRODUCTS	Coffee Subscription
WEBSITE	https://www.barrowespresso.com/
ADDRESS	Barrow Coffee Roasters 4806 1 Street Sw Calgary, Alberta T2G 0A2, CA
CONTACT DETAILS	+1 403-827-0003 [email protected]
OPERATING HOURS	Contact for more details

Ryan Wenger, the founder of Barrow Coffee Roasters, is training as a licensed heavy duty mechanic in addition to his extensive experience working in coffee shops.

They believe that great coffee is a result of sustainability and social change. They buy directly from Chica Bean, a women’s cooperative in Guatemala who produce green coffee beans, transport this product to their Calgary Roasting.

Highlights

• Made to Order
• Quality Ingredients
• Proudly Canadian

15. Baya Rica Cafe

BEST FOR	Coffee
PRODUCTS	https://www.bayaricacafe.ca/menu
WEBSITE	https://www.bayaricacafe.ca/
ADDRESS	204 7A Sreet NE Calgary, AB T2E 4E8
CONTACT DETAILS	Phone: (403) 261-2618
OPERATING HOURS	Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 3:30pm Saturday–Sunday, 9:00am–4:00pm

Baya Rica Cafe is a coffee company that prides itself for being the first and best Crop-to-Cup café in Alberta in which they deliver to you only high-quality coffee choices. They specialize in offering Costa Rican beans which they readily roast onsite before serving it directly to you to let you have a fresh coffee experience that is unique only to them.

They have a unique roasting process that makes sure that you get the most out of the complex flavor onto your cup of coffee that will surely make them your go-to cafe when it comes to getting a delectable cup of coffee any time of the day. They are also open all week which makes them an excellent choice for all your coffee needs for any purpose you may intend it for during any day of the week.

The cafe is currently undergoing ownership transition to better serve you better and offer you a new menu that will surely provide you with better and more diverse choices when it comes to finding your cup of coffee. Furthermore, you may also have the option of ordering your cup online with only a few steps in the convenience of your homes.

We recommend this cafe for your coffee needs due to their commitment to serving only the best and freshest cup of coffee directly sourced from the farms and roasted directly into your cup.

Highlights

• Crop-to-Cup coffee
• Unique roasting techniques
• New menu will be available soon

All of these can be the best cafes in Calgary, and you only have to choose one to fit your needs. We hope we helped you find the perfect place for you to be productive and, at the same time, relaxed.

But if you’ve been working hard far too long, a cafe may no longer be enough to relax you. Try out the best acupuncture specialists in Calgary to help alleviate back and shoulder pains caused by hours of labour, in that case!