Everything you need to know about the five Alberta restaurants on Canada's Top 100 List
Dine at the best of the best! 🍽️
Perfect plating at änkôr. Right: Sky high sips at Major Tom Bar
Every year, Canada's 100 Best puts out a list of the best restaurants across the country based on food, service, and atmosphere. The 2024 list came out in May and it includes five Alberta restaurants that you need to try.
The 100 Best list is compiled by chefs, food writers and restaurateurs. They vote for restaurants based on the quality of the food, wine options, decor and service.
We're not surprised that several Alberta restaurants made the list. After all, Calgary's dining scene is world-class and many chefs are drawn to Alberta for its abundance of top-notch ingredients like locally grown meat, fresh produce and wild fish.
Curious to know which Alberta restaurants made Canada's 100 Best list? Read on to learn more about these renowned dining spots. You'll definitely want to add these restaurants to your bucket-list if you haven't dined at them already.
Änkôr
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Contemporary Canadian
Address: 1430 2 Ave Unit 103, Canmore, AB
Why You Need To Go: Chef Danny Beaulieu opened änkôr in Canmore in November 2020, and it's been earning accolades ever since. The imaginative dishes and charming atmosphere earned the restaurant the 76th spot on Canada's 100 Best list for 2024.
Although änkôr is a fine dining spot, the service is warm and inviting with each diner being treated like a welcome guest. The staff are knowledgeable about each dish and there is a dedicated sommelier to help you with wine selections.
The food is nothing if not innovative and made with the best products, many of which are from Canada. Beaulieu told Narcity, "We design our food to be creative with intriguing flavours paired together without losing the comforting aspect that food brings when dining with friends."
Some examples of stand-out dishes include the foie gras, which changes regularly depending on seasonal ingredients, and the dry-aged duck and duck leg confit with fermented plums, beets and pistachios.
D.O.P.
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 1005A 1 St SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: When D.O.P. opened in 2021, it quickly gained a loyal following for its tasty Italian eats and intimate dining experience. Canada's 100 Best agreed that it was something special, and placed it 46th on the 2024 list.
Owner Tony Migilarese drew on family recipes to design a menu offering classic and comforting Italian dishes. Think whipped ricotta with grilled bread, gnocchi with spicy nduja sauce, and veal chop Milanese. Then there is the famous raviolo as big as many people's heads.
The former space in Western Block was a narrow, cozy space with wooden tables and a small bar. Unfortunately, the building was slated to be torn down, so D.O.P. had to clear out. The good news is D.O.P. will be reopening in Marda Loop in October, 2024.
At the time, there is no news about what D.O.P.'s new spot will be like. However, we can bet that it will be just as friendly and authentic as the former restaurant.
Eight
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Contemporary Canadian
Address: Alt Hotel, 631 Confluence Way SE, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Eight isn't the easiest restaurant to find. This somewhat secret Calgary restaurant is tucked away behind an unassuming door in NUPO at the Alt Hotel. Step inside and you find a sleek spot with seating for just eight diners.
Eight is the brainchild of chef Darren MacLean, who aims to showcase the very best Canadian ingredients sourced from sustainable producers. Grab a seat at the bar and you can watch each dish being meticulously prepared and plated.
You never know what you're going to get at Eight, which is part of what makes the experience so enticing. One day you could be having bluefin tuna tartare and the next day wild trout with horsetail shoots.
The judges from Canada's 100 Best were so impressed with the creative dishes that they awarded Eight the 37th spot on the 2024 list of best restaurants in the country.
Major Tom
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Global cuisine
Address: 700 2 St SW #4000, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Major Tom is no stranger to the Canada's 100 Best list. It earned the number one spot on the list in 2022 and the 13th spot in 2023. When the list came out for 2024, Major Tom placed yet again, this time in the 52nd spot.
The location alone is worth a visit to Major Tom. The elegant bar and restaurant is perched on the 40th floor of Stephen Avenue Place. Floor-to-ceiling windows give you incredible views of downtown Calgary and beyond.
The menu features a great mix of internationally-inspired light bites, as well as steaks, seafood and pasta. You can start with caviar and oysters, then indulge in a bone-in ribeye, roasted duck breast or crispy half chicken.
The cocktails are just as enticing with old-school classics, as well as modern creations. There is also a comprehensive wine list with bottles from around the world.
River Cafe
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Contemporary Canadian
Address: 25 Prince's Island Park, SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Set in a leafy locale on Prince's Island, River Cafe opened in 1991 as a small summertime cafe. In 1995, it was reborn as a year-round cafe with a gorgeous dining room decked out in warm wood and windows that overlook the Bow River.
The focus at River Cafe is on regional and local ingredients, many of which are organic and sustainable. The menu changes with the seasons, showcasing Canadian fare like arctic char, bison and duck breast.
River Cafe is a must-visit restaurant in the summer thanks to its expansive patio where you can sip wine and snack on oysters or a fish and game board. Come winter, the inside is cozy and open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
This local favorite consistently delivers great food, drinks and service, which is why it earned the 23rd spot on Canada's 100 Best list for 2024.