Welcome to Calgary, a city that gets over 300 days of sunshine. With that sort of weather, it’s only natural for us Calgarians to love doing whatever we can outdoors – even if it’s just sipping a cup of coffee or having brunch.
If you’re in our city and want to know where you can do that, excellent. In this article, we’re spilling all the beans to serve you a delightful cup of insider knowledge from a caffeine-fueled team. Really, there’s no better place to get your cafe recommendations from!
Table of Contents
1. Blue Vinny Diner
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hLYqfsjWqZDxu3Cc9
Address: 105 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1B4, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-263-3880
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday, & Sunday – 8 AM to 3 PM
- Thursday & Friday – 7 AM to 3 PM
- Saturday – 8 AM to 5 PM
Offering a chic and charming French-inspired ambiance is the Blue Vinny Diner, also known for their eggs benedict.
While the breakfast classic is surely outstanding, we found ourselves leaning more towards their delectable spinach and havarti pie – a comforting combination that’s worth a round of applause.
Though their patio is small, we found it a perfect setting when huddled up with a good book.
2. Cafe Gravity
Website: https://www.cafegravity.com
Address: 909 10 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0S7, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-457-0697
Operating hours:
- Monday – 7 AM to 6 PM
- Tuesday to Friday – 7 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday – 8 AM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 8 AM to 6 PM
Squeeze in a visit to Cafe Gravity during your day of exploration in Calgary for a quick respite. Their relaxing atmosphere will surely help you wind down and their tasty treats are a huge plus!
We particularly enjoyed their chai latte. The cinnamon spice has a subtle hint and the sweetness isn’t too overpowering, which is exactly how we like it.
Their patio offers patrons a generous space, making it a perfect hangout spot for medium to large-sized groups.
3. River Cafe
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
River Cafe has unparalleled aesthetics that are sure to mesmerize even the likes of a forest fairy. Once you step inside, you’ll feel like Alice falling down into Wonderland!
Their lovely patio, surrounded by lush greenery, is especially enchanting during the spring and summer season.
To complete your experience when you go, by the way, we suggest trying out their rangeland bison striploin. It’s both juicy and full of tantalizing flavors.
4. Vendome
Website: https://vendomecafe.com
Address: 940 2 Ave NW, Calgary, AB T2N 0E6, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-453-1140
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 3 PM
Vendome offers spacious patio seating nestled alongside their historic building. Enjoy this relaxing, rustic setting to the fullest while sipping on a couple of their brunch cocktails like the Vendome caesar and spiced espresso martini.
To complete your worthwhile visit, we urge you to order the Vendome Breakfast – their specialty consisting of eggs, hashbrown, and al forno multigrain toast. In addition to that, you get to choose another lovely addition among the following options: bacon, Italian sausage, avocado & tomato, merguez, and peameal ham.
5. Weeds Cafe
Website: https://www.weedscafe.net
Address: 1903 20 Ave NW, Calgary, AB T2M 1H7, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-282-7940
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 8 AM to 5 PM
Weeds Cafe is a lovely community cafe that makes you feel right at home the moment you step inside. Of course, the warm ambiance and friendly staff members contribute to the homey and cozy feel.
They have a nice patio spacious enough to accommodate plenty of their adoring customers. As for their menu, they have plenty of drink options, ranging from coffee and tea to sodas and smoothies. Before you go, make sure to get a bite of their tuna melt – truly one of the best in town!
6. Good Earth Coffeehouse
Website: https://goodearthcoffeehouse.com
Address: Glenmore landing, 1600 90 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2V 5A8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-212-1224
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 6:30 AM to 8 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 7 AM to 6 PM
Good Earth Coffeehouse is a popular coffee chain in the country. We love them for their serene ambiance – the perfect setting for a productive day.
This allure extends to their outdoor patio, a lovely spot providing plenty of sunlight with a nice shade at the corner seating area. While it’s fairly spacious, we found that it’s better for small groups because of the seating format of two seats per table.
7. Angel’s Cafe
Website: https://angelscafe.ca
Address: 4105 Montgomery View NW, Calgary, AB T3B 3E8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-452-0164
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 7 PM
Angel’s Cafe offers a gorgeous patio that features generous views of the river. Needless to say, this is truly the highlight of this cafe.
Imagine sipping a hot cup of coffee by the serene river side! It’s sure to make a memorable experience you’d want to keep coming back to.
Aside from the fantastic views, their hearty meal offerings are also worth the mention. Try getting the hot & juicy burger – the certified cherry on top of the whole experience!
8. Milano Coffee
Website: https://milanocalgary.ca
Address: 602 11 Ave SW #102, Calgary, AB T2R 1J8, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-452-6311
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7 AM to 4 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 9 AM to 3 PM
A contemporary cafe with old-world charm, Milano Coffee is a charming destination that promises comforting ambiance and dishes. It also has an equally comforting patio that looks like it was plucked out of a good friend’s living room.
If it’s your first time here, we recommend ordering their espresso for a quick and delicious shot of energy. Otherwise, try the raspberry mocha or chai latte for something more adventurous.
9. Loophole Coffee Bar
Website: http://theloophole.ca
Address: 1040 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1J2, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-667-9940
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday – 8 AM to 6 PM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 4 PM
Loophole Coffee Bar is a chic cafe, cool enough for local hipsters to frequent. It offers a homey interior, but it’s their interesting exterior that draws you in at first.
The cream colored facade designed with a quirky circular black motif, looks like a rabbit hole beckoning you to another dimension. However, this otherworldly vibe leads to a charming earthly delight.
While their patio is small, it’s a nice place to hangout especially if you’re here for a quick visit.
Beside the cafe, there’s a lovely bookstore with a rich book collection filled with new and obscure titles, which we also recommend you check out.
10. Park By Sidewalk Citizen
Website: https://www.parkbysidewalk.com
Address: 340 13 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0W9, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-263-2999
Operating hours:
- Monday & Tuesday – closed
- Wednesday to Thursday – 10:30 AM to 9 PM
- Friday – 10:30 AM to 10 PM
- Saturday & Sunday – 9 AM to 10 PM
Park By Sidewalk Citizen attracts plenty of customers because of the unique interior. In fact, it has garnered global attention mainly because of the lattice ceiling, which invites generous amounts of sunlight.
Their outdoor patio is lovely during sunny days. It’s a wonderful breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively), with views plucked out from a mystical garden.
11. Dairy Lane Cafe
Website: https://www.dairylanecafe.ca
Address: 319 19 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2J2, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-283-2497
Operating hours:
- Sunday and Monday – 8 AM to 3 PM
- Tuesday to Saturday – 8 AM to 9 PM
Dairy Lane Cafe is a small cafe offering plenty of delicious delights, which is what they’re mostly known for.
The breakfast burrito and brioche French toast are exquisite enough to have you coming back for another taste! Aside from their tasty coffee offerings, they also have cocktails and other delectable beverages.
Their outdoor patio is fairly spacious, but during sunny days, you might have trouble getting a seat.
12. Caffe Beano
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WbXj2puRZFSQF1GB7
Address: 1613 9 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1E1, Canada
Contact details: +1 403-229-1232
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 7 AM to 8 PM
- Sunday – 7 AM to 7 PM
Caffe Beano is a cozy hangout place where plenty of locals go to unwind. They have absolutely wonderful milkshakes. We recommend trying one of their baked goods too for the ultimate experience.
While their patio seating is more suitable for a quick coffee run rather than dishing on hot gossip with friends, it remains an ideal location for people watching.
13. Mondays Plant Café
Directions: https://www.mondaysplantcafe.com
Address: 208 4 St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 3S2, Canada
Contact details: +1 825-222-9080
Operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday to Sunday – 11 AM to 4 PM
- Tuesday – closed
Mondays Planty Café provides a stunning interior that would make the perfect backdrop for your Instagram photos. This minimalist space, with fantastic artistic touches, completely escapes monotony, resulting in a visual delight.
Though their interior offers a generous amount of sunlight, they also have a remarkable patio where you’d want to hang out.
As for the menu, it’s curated with plant-based dishes in mind. While there are plenty of delightful options, the ricotta toast is our favorite.