9 rooftop patios in Calgary that you need to hit up before summer is gone
Get those al fresco beers in while you can! 🍻
Cheers to cold beers at Craft Beer Market, Right: Summertime jamming at Connie & John's Rooftop
Is there anything better than a rooftop patio on a sunny day? As the summer winds down, we're making it our mission to hit up as many rooftop patios in Calgary as possible.
Sooner than later, patio season in Calgary will be over and we're not ready for that just yet. We want all the sunshine, al fresco food and drinks and stellar views.
Thankfully, there are plenty of scenic patios where you can chill and take in the city from above. Grab your crew and make a beeline to these epic rooftop patios in Calgary before the summer is gone.
Craft Beer Market Downtown
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Craft beer & pub food
Address: 345 10 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Craft Beer Market first opened in the Beltline district in 2011. It was such a hit that the chain now has locations across Canada. It's easy to see why people love this spot with its gorgeous rooftop patio overlooking downtown.
You can choose from over 100 beers on tap at the downtown location, as well as a great selection of cocktails and mocktails. The food menu features globally-inspired dishes like Korean sticky ribs, spicy ahi tacos and steak frites.
The patio at Craft Beer Market opens every day at 11 a.m. and stays open until late. Pop by between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and you can grab great happy hour deals on drinks and food.
Vin Room Mission
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Wine & tapas
Address: 2310 4 St SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: The patio at Vin Room in Mission is the perfect place for a date or a catch-up with friends over a few glasses of wine and some tapas. There is also a pet-friendly patio out front.
Wine is the main draw at Vin Room. Grab a seat on the patio at the Mission location and you can sample a wide array of wines in two-ounce tasters, by the glass or the bottle.
The Mission location has great happy hour specials daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and all day on Sundays. Swing by for $7 glasses of wine and craft beer, $10 classic cocktails and tasty bites like fresh oysters and spicy duck wings.
National on 8th
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Drinks & pub food
Address: 225 8 Ave SW #360, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: National on 8th has one of the largest rooftop patios in the city. It's a great place to knock back a few sunset cocktails or beers. The patio has tons of tables where you can chill and areas where you can play cornhole.
There are drinks to suit all palates at National, from craft beers to classic cocktails, wine and kombucha. If you want some food to go with your drinks, there is also a decent selection of bar snacks, salads and sandwiches.
National on 8th opens at 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The rooftop bar is usually hopping until late.
National on 8th website
OKTOP Rooftop at Korilla Korean BBQ
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Korean BBQ
Address: 1410 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: If you're looking for a unique rooftop experience, consider OKTOP at Korilla Korean BBQ. This Korean barbecue joint opened its rooftop patio in May of this year, and it already has tons of fans who rave about the great setting and food.
OKTOP offers special food and drink menus that are different from the dining room downstairs. You can start with drinks like sangria or a yuzu highball, then dig into delicious KBBQ dishes that you can cook yourself on the tabletop grills.
The rooftop bar is open from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays. Sorry kids, but this patio is adults-only.
Connie & John's Rooftop
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pizza & drinks
Address: Simmons Building, 618 Confluence Way SE, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: It's hard to find a more scenic rooftop setting than Connie & John's Rooftop. Located on top of the Simmons Building, the bar offers stunning views of the Bow River and downtown Calgary.
Connie & John's is renowned for its delicious pizzas. You can try the round New York style pizzas or the rectangular Detroit style pizzas. Snacks include chicken wings, garlic and cheese sticks and Caesar salad.
The patio is open for drinks and food from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Modern Steak Stephen Avenue
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Address: 100 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Fancy an indulgent steak dinner in a gorgeous open-air setting? Make your way to the rooftop at Modern Steak. Perched high above Stephen Ave., the bar offers great views of downtown Calgary.
The menu features an array of steaks including grass-fed Alberta beef, dry and wet-aged Black Angus steaks and Kobe beef from Japan. You can pair your steak with sides like truffle fries, mixed mushrooms or parmesan risotto.
Modern Steak opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and stays open until late. You can also grab brunch on the rooftop every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Check out the website for daily specials and happy hour deals on wine, steak and small plates.
Brewsters Brewing McKenzie Towne
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Microbrewery & bar bites
Address: 11 McKenzie Towne Ave SE, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: The patio at Brewsters Brewing in McKenzie Towne is the perfect place to spend a sunny day sipping craft beers and indulging in tasty pub fare. The family-friendly rooftop bar is open to all, including minors.
Brewsters is famous for its unique craft beers like the River City Raspberry Ale and Mexcellent Cerveza. Not in the mood for beer? Try a Brevy vodka soda in flavors like blood orange blackberry. Food options include salads, sandwiches, burgers and pizza.
The patio at Brewster's in McKenzie Towne is open for lunch and dinner daily. Brewsters also offers brunch dishes like eggs Benedict and breakfast poutine every Saturday and Sunday until 2 p.m.
The Rooftop
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Drinks & contemporary fare
Address: 414 3 St SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Walk up the stairs to The Rooftop and you'll find yourself in a spacious bar styled like a rooftop jungle. The huge patio is decked out with trees, plants and fairy lights.
There are tons of drinks to choose from at The Rooftop including margaritas, martinis, draught beer and zero-proof drinks. The food menu is equally as impressive with dishes like hot chicken sliders, surf and turf sushi and sirloin steak with boursin orzo.
Looking for great deals on food and drinks? The Rooftop offers happy hour specials every day from 2 p.m. to 5.p.m. You can get classic cocktails for $12, house wine for $6.50 and shared plates like the whipped feta board or margherita pizza for $16.
Ke Charcoal Grill & Sushi
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Japanese
Address: 1501 15 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, Ke Charcoal Grill & Sushi has a breezy patio where you can enjoy grilled yakitori dishes and sushi rolls in an outdoor setting.
Ke is famous for its yakitori skewers cooked over charcoal like the chicken with shiso leaf and black tiger shrimp. The sushi rolls are also tempting. You can go classic with spicy tuna or California rolls. For something unique, try the truffle prawn roll with shrimp tempura, salmon, avocado and truffle mayo.
The patio at Ke Charcoal Grill & Sushi opens at 11 a.m. every day and stays open until 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.