We walked in and were sat down pretty quickly on a Saturday night, the place was pretty packed too…read more Overall, the bar area has a really cool vibe and the staff was really great! I ordered the love lace and my partner got the brass tacks. Next time I would probably go with something else but overall we had a good experience.

This is a fun, hip bar with skilled bartenders…read more We sat at the bar and were entertained by watching the bartenders whip up all their menu requests. Bottles were flipped, beverages were poured from heights, liquids were stirred with finesse. All the servers were friendly.

An all-around great food and shopping experience. Food quality is amazing and prices very…read morereasonable.

Lina's is a local spot, but Italy specific. Great selection of pasta, dishes, sauces. We had…read morewine, pasta, meats, desserts and great , patient service.

The wild salmon croissant Benedict was genuinely excellent. On food alone, I'd happily come back…read more Unfortunately, the service made that unlikely. When we were seated, our server told us the table time limit was "an hour to an hour and a half." Fair enough. Most brunch spots give you a solid 90 minutes. But 50 minutes in, a different server advised us we had 10 minutes left. That's a 60-minute window, not the 90 we'd been quoted, and it wasn't framed as an apology or a one-off. Just a clipped warning. Being abruptly rushed out more than half an hour earlier than promised soured what should have been a really lovely morning with family who I hadn't seen in years. If you're popping in solo for a quick bite, the kitchen earns the trip. If you're hoping for an unhurried meal with people who actually matter to you, I'd look somewhere else.

Food is lovely, ambience is warm and Parisian, and service is friendly. Just adding more…read morecharacters to fulfill guidelines.

cheese + chips was 12/10 - may have been a bit tipsy and snackish but it was soooo good if I…read moreremember correctly! And good price! Harvest Hills 12/10. So smooth, such a great drink. Every time we come into town we stop here!

Shelter is one of my favourite speakeasy bars in Calgary, along with Betty Lou's Library. I brought…read morea work crush here on a date back in 2018, and it was romantic. I remember the drinks were excellent and the vibe was impeccable. Although that romance didn't go anywhere, she bought me an iced coffee the next day at work.

I can't say enough about Porch! Such good food, and the ambiance is stunning. Especially for a nice…read moredinner with friends or if you're trying to impress a date. Their salmon was fantastic. I'm always scared it's going to be overcooked, because at many restaurants the fish usually is, but this was perfectly grilled and well seasoned. The bed of veggies underneath had a really nice, subtle flavor that complemented the fish without overpowering it. I also ordered their banana cocktail, which honestly surprised me. I didn't think I would ever like banana in a cocktail, but it was absolute heaven. Smooth, balanced, and not overly sweet. One of those drinks you think about ordering again halfway through. For food, I also had the braised short ribs, and they were excellent. Super tender, rich, and full of flavor. Definitely one of those comforting dishes that still feels elevated and well executed. The decor deserves its own mention. The space is warm, stylish, and thoughtfully designed, and there's an actual live tree inside the restaurant, which is such a cool touch. You can already tell this place must be incredible in the summer when everything is open and lively. Overall, Porch delivers on food, drinks, and atmosphere. Easily a spot I'd come back to, whether for dinner, drinks, or a special night out.

We were originally going to another brunch spot but they were way too busy so we looked up more…read moreoptions on Yelp and came across Porch. We saw they were going to open at 11am, and decided to try our luck by getting there right at opening since we didn't have a reservation. We got lucky and got seated right away! - PARKING - Street parking, make sure you take note of how long you paid for! - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - The ambiance inside is so nice and airy, with greenery and natural light shining through. There's also a super cute swing area next to the bar area that you can sit. I really liked the overall interior design! The staff was very attentive for our large party throughout our meal. There are bathrooms downstairs as well. - FOOD - Bacon Jam Benedict ($20.00): Loved the flavor combination in this! The sweet savory maple bacon jam worked so well! We upgraded to the fried potatoes ($4.00) and they were pretty tasty. Carrot Cake French Toast ($24.00): We got one to share with the table, and I'm glad we didn't commit because it was just OK to me. I wish there was more mascarpone filling, and also a different sauce than chocolate because it didn't pair well for me. Winter Nights ($19.00): We wanted to get some greens in and chose this salad. I enjoyed the mix of greens and also the fennel salami which gave a salty bite! Truffle Parm Fries ($13.00): We also got this to share with the table and you can't go wrong with these! - OVERALL - Great brunch option if you have a small or large group! Really nice airy ambiance for a nice start to your day.

These guys make a mean ass cocktail, if you can find the door. I'll probably be on someone's shit…read morelist for posting this, but it's too good to keep hidden for long. The music playing in the single turntable will sooth the soul while the amazing classic cocktails will leave you grinning ear to ear. The mixologists here are professional and polite. They know their stuff. Bring your manners.

Cocktail bar, yes. Speakeasy, most certainly not!…read more Firstly this place plays loud music so it's not a "speakeasy" bar, more of a loud cocktail lounge. The cocktails are pretty cool. You can try one of their concoctions or order off menu but at $13 a pop, choose wisely. If you're a beer drinker, this place isn't for you. $10 for a $3 beer makes an unhappy camper. Truthfully, The loud music was a turn off. I was expecting a quiet place to sit and talk with friends not sit and listen to loud music while shouting.

Lovely patio, tasty coffee, and very good food! Had to modify something to make it vegetarian, but…read moreit was doable and they subbed in a tomato for the sausage :) would definitely come back!

Came on a weekday night so it wasn't too busy. Bottom line was the drink was good, the service was…read morefabulous, and the chips were totally forgettable. Got the Jungle Bird (like many others on Yelp it seems) and thought it was pretty tasty. Can't go wrong with pineapple. The bar chips we ordered tasted like they came straight out of a bag, so nothing to write home about there. The bartender was exceptionally friendly and told us about his travels throughout Canada and the world. Always cool when you get a chance to speak with people with different experiences than your own. The setting itself is awesome--who wouldn't want to drink in the back of a barber shop? I'd have no issue coming back next time I'm in Calgary.

Lovely place! Definitely one of the more unique speakeasies I've been to and was certainly…read moreimpressed. I'd recommend making a reservation beforehand. My boyfriend and I attended when they were having their burlesque show and it was so much fun! I wasn't sure what to expect but the dancers and the music definitely kept us entertained. The food and the drinks were amazing as well as their service. I'll certainly return!

Loved this place! Loved the drink options! Loved the appetizer type food options! Loved the…read moredecor and definitely loved the live music! What a great experience! Totally Calgary unique!

One of the coolest restaurants I've been in for awhile, back lit arches give it a unique retro…read morevibe. We unfortunately got seated in the side room, not as good for people and kitchen watching but a nice room nonetheless. It was a busy Friday evening but service was a bit slow to start. We got water and our candle lit long before a cocktail menu. We'd ordered about five items, some shareable and two intended as mains, however they came in series with a bit of wait between them. I was with my wife so we shared everything but otherwise it may have been awkward. Drink menu is good, including several margaritas. My standard version was delicious and the second one was just as good! The food was really good. We had scallops, tuna, and prawns; all really good but the Tuna Tostada always amazing. Caesar salad was good but somewhat untraditional with pickled onion. The menu marks gluten free and dairy free, lots of gf options. Lots of menu items I'd like to try, will definitely be back.

Had a great experience here ! We had a reservation and got…read moresat straight away. Cool interior , slightly loud music playing. Our server was really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Happy hour was a great deal with $6 margaritas and discount on single tacos. The chicken tacos were amazing as well as the pork belly chicharron. We had the el trip dip taster and found the guacamole to be amazing but the other two to be slightly plain but still good. The ceviche was fresh and played really well. I loved how you can choose two flavours + spicy for the soda or margaritas. Overall an incredible deal for the quality and quantity of food.

This is the only alley in Calgary where you'll find mint sprig and cucumber infused water…read more Everything's got a purpose, but Container Bar takes it one step further and gives every part of this bar a repurpose. They make fantastic use of a Kensington Alley, just sitting there doing nothing for nobody. Which, I guess means it was doing something for somebody... but not very much. Just as Container bar has repurposed the alley into an outdoor patio, they've modified and old shipping container into a bar, shipping pallets into tables, and reused old stackable school chairs for you to sit. Container Bar is exciting through its contrast between the lowest of the low and the highest of the high. Paired with this dumpster dived wonderland is some of the best food you'll find in all of Kensington. Owned by Brasserie (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/brasserie-kensington-calgary) and Winebar (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/winebar-kensington-calgary), Container Bar makes use of the same incredible kitchen as these two high class foodie destinations but welcomes a menu showcasing finest street food style grub you've ever seen. A Chili Dog with a house ground pork sausage and chilli with a fancier name... hell, I don't remember what it's called, but container bar is the kind of place where you'd get frites, not fries. I don't know the difference, nor do I care because they're delicious and they're damn well cooked in duck fat. Yes. Duck fat. This is THE place for creative cocktails outside of downtown. Everything is very high quality using fresh herbs and berries and even creating a pineapple rum cocktails out of Sea Cider Rumrunner, my absolute favourite in the cider world. Give Container Bar a try. It's truly unique to Calgary, high-class sketchiness serving 5-star food sets it apart from any other alley in town.

Normally I reserve reviews to be written until a place has been around for at least a couple months…read more- There are always bumps that need to be ironed out, staff that needs more training, dishes that need re-working. But honestly, not here! Container Bar is just simply put: Fun, fun, foodie, fun! Snugly nestled in the alleyway beside the sister wine bar/resto of Container Bar, the Brasserie, an old shipping container that has magnificently been refurbished into a working cantenna-style bar is the basis for the outdoor attraction. Around the container the rest of the alley is filled with about 6 tables. So this quaint spot really feels small and special. The staff is super friendly, fun and quick on their feet. The food is Canadian-comfort like to-die-for poutine! I had a fantastic Fisherman's sandwich - I definitely recommend it. And the cocktail/wine list is small but nicely assembled. I hear that they will soon be getting casks of beer in weekly for those brew loving boys and girls. For originality, outdoor-only dining and out of sight eats; I give Container Bar 5 big stars!