When the sun goes down and the work is done for the day, how do you like to kick back and relax? In Calgary, you have plenty of options as to how to spend your time after dark. Here’s a beginners guide to the best Calgary bars, clubs, and nightlife.

Cocktail spots

There are plenty of fine Calgary bars slinging cocktails, so whether you’re a fan of intimate upscale joints or trendy places that do things differently, you’re in luck in this city. Proof is the place to head for carefully crafted cocktails and wonderful food in an intimate and very cozy atmosphere, the room is tiny but attentive and friendly staff make everyone feel right at home. If you find yourself in need of a trim, then you’ll love the barbershop/ cocktail bar concept at Cannibale, where Monday through Saturday until 9pm you can get full barber service (they also have excellent food too, but don’t worry the hair and food areas are quite separate). If you prefer oldschool cool with no gimmicks, then the Oak Room at the Fairmont Palliser is always a good bet.

Craft brews

Love your beers made locally? You could spend weeks sampling all this city has to offer. Super cool High Line Brewing is located in an old auto garage, and has sweet merch to pick up after you’ve sipped on their intriguing brews (at time of writing they had a gluten-free fermented tea on tap). Brand new Annex Ale Project has a large bright taproom with a cool vibe. Dandy is popular for its small-batch brews (they bill themselves as a nano-brewery rather than micro-brewery). Head to Craft Beer Market for a massive selection of beers from across the province and beyond.

Evening entertainment

Whatever your idea of fun is, Calgary can deliver. If you want to two-step the night away to country music and maybe ride a mechanical bull then Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Bar is a must. There are lots of karaoke bars in the city, including ones with private rooms like Galaxy Karaoke and Bar. Aussie Rules Dueling Piano Bar offers raucous group sing-a-long fun.

Late night eats

While many restos in Calgary close their kitchens fairly early, there are still places that will serve good food into the early hours. Tequila bar Añejo serves up great Mexican dishes up until midnight. Want something deep-fried and delicious? Atlas Sports Bar serves up wings, mozza sticks and the like until 2am. Pig and Duke has great burgers and sharable appetizers, plus fun stuff like house made jerky, and tator tots, until 2am. You can pick up supercharged hot dogs with awesome toppings at Tubby Dog until 2.30am.

These listings are in no way exhaustive, but give you a taste of what you can do when visiting Calgary. Thinking about your next visit to Calgary? Check out our long stay executive suites in Downtown Calgary, and contact us to see how we can make your next stay even better.

Calgary image by Flickr user Calgary Reviews, used under the Creative Commons agreement.