We walked in and were sat down pretty quickly on a Saturday night, the place was pretty packed too. 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. read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - two cocktails and a menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

This is a fun, hip bar with skilled bartenders. 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. read more

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I am new to Calgary and this place was highly recommended by locals and this place was awesome...great drinks, great staff, just a great experience. read more

Service was great and variety was good. Downside is how expensive the cocktails are. The place is fairly small so seemed busy while we were there but I doubt the average person has more than one cocktail just due to the price. Seems like a spot you'd go to grab one drink. Nice ambiance. read more

I just paid $46 for two drinks. One of which was way too boozy. Although I'm glad this place exists and nice staff

So we popped in here after dinner to sit on the patio to enjoy the evening and view of the street. Decided to have a couple of happy hour items to finish out the night. Devilled eggs and lamb kebabs were our choice. The challenge for us is we are keto so no grains and that means no pita on the kebabs. Overall the food was delish but pricey for the quantity, even on Happy Hour. Two devilled eggs for 4 bucks and 4 small pieces of lamb for 14 bucks. The food was great and served nice but the quantity didn't warrant the price. It's unfortunate because that took away from the experience. Great spot and good vibe but in the end the happy hour didn't leave us wanting to come back. read more

Traveling through Western Canada I've been pretty impressed by the availability of well thought out cocktails all around. None however, impressed me as much as the spirit selection, cocktail menu, and staff at Proof. Walking in the first thing you'll notice is the floor to ceiling array of spirits. It's beautifully displayed, organized by spirit type and distillery, and the staff knows a whole lot about each one. I noticed quite a few bottles not available stateside and really enjoyed chatting with Ian and Nathan about them. Ian actually offered me a sample of one of the bottles of Japanese whisky I'd been looking to try for quite some time, and both of them were so willing to share their knowledge of the booze scene in Calgary too. Amazing resources for any enthusiast or someone just looking to dip their toe. Cocktail wise though, this bar is on point! The menu is divide by spirit type including American Whiskey, Canadian Whisky, Scotch, Gin and even liqueur based cocktails! I gravitated toward American Whiskey first and spotted the TMO right off the bat, but it included a coconut rum, which totally turned me off was definitely turned me off. After chatting with Nathan he explained the coconut was in there to amp up the coconut flavors imparted into Whiskey from chemical compounds in the wood known as tramethylamenineoxide (or something like that) which is where the drink got its name. This cocktail was extremely balanced. I was surprised how nicely the rum played up those notes in the Whiskey, and it went down way too easy! I followed that up with a dealer's choice only specifying that it needed a Canadian Whisky base and be a booze forward cocktail. Ian threw down the Hometown Hero, made with Alberta Premium Rye, bee pollen, honey, and apple cider vinegar, which he went back to the kitchen to get for the drink. Again, another home run with the sweetness and flavor of the honey being balanced by the tart vinegar and spicy rye. Again, went down too easy and that meant time for food. There's a small but mighty bites list and the pork belly steamed buns caught my eye at $5. That price is each, but I'd gladly pay that all over again because these were tiny Asian inspired bites from heaven. Instead of the expected sriracha mayo, these had SHRIMP MAYO! Yes. You read that right, and if you've never had pork belly as a surf and turf, you're missing out! The pork belly was braised perfectly and the buns were pillowy soft, with crunch coming from some delicious pickled veg. Hell yeah! Proof, if you want a second home I'd love to welcome you to the Biggest Little City! We would love to have you, and you can call your brother over at Native Tongues and bring them along too! read more

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Terrible, terrible service. Been previoulsy a few years ago and had terrible staff, but figured since it was still open they must have made some changes. They did not. Same terrible staff who treat customers absolutely horrible. read more

They have the most unique drinks! The presentation is superb. Our waiter was super friendly and was engaging with us throughout the night. Tends to get busy really quick as they have limited seating. But worth getting in a wait list! Nice place to check out with friends read more

Really like the xmas vibe here. Proof drinks are always a hit. Drinks are stronger than what you would expect but that makes for a fun night! Highly recommended. read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Xmas vibes at Proof - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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First off I am amazed at the long list of cocktail, wine, beer and spirits. Unbelievable for such a small place. Love the atmosphere. Its trendy and cool. Definitely a well deserved 5 stars atmosphere. Friendly server. Really interesting names on the cocktail list. I got the tale of the mocktail. That was good. read more

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Proof received the four stars because it is an excellent cocktail lounge. However, Proof would receive maybe two stars if I was rating the good time to be had. Proof does not do fun well. The staff exudes an aloof sense of "being too cool," forgetting that Calgary is cool because it doesn't need to act cool. As I often say, cold is not cool. The patrons appear to take on the personality of the staff, which is often the case in bars and restaurants. Proof seems more apropos to Toronto rather than Calgary. However, the ambiance is hip, the cocktails made well, the staff is professional if not warm, and maybe some people in Calgary are tired of friendly and nice. Certainly, the two alone, morose dudes sitting at the bar, staring into space, didn't appear to want or expect a smile or laughter. Thus, if this is your scene, you'll enjoy Proof. read more

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Good ambience and loads of cocktail options. They have a huge selection of bottles behind the bar and great service. Definitely will be coming back! read more

Delicious cocktails and an amazing happy hour! Definitely on the pricey side, especially for Calgary but well worth it for superior cocktails that make you feel like you're in NYC. Service was excellent and the general vibe was super elevated and also cozy. read more

Great ambiance. Ordered a steak and a bunch of cocktails. Both were great. The waiter was really friendly. I'd definitely go back

Such a beautiful bar, 5* for the decor and ambiance. We went for a friends dinner to support mealshare after all calories don't count when they're for charity right? We arrived during happy hour (nice that it extends into the evening since we got there at 6 pm, but it was a Tuesday). The featured cocktails looked really good, a few people in the group ordered them. I ordered the happy hour wine and had no complaints. Between all of us, we pretty much ordered the whole menu. The pork steam buns were delicious and I could definitely have more than one to myself, I also had the broccolini and deviled eggs, they were all delicious. It is a limited menu because it's a cocktail bar so keep that in mind if you know you're going to be starving. Loss of one star because our server didn't write down the order and that meant a few dishes were missed, also because I left a touch hungry, should have ordered the bread - next time! read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I lived in Calgary for about 15 years, and I believe proof was open in the last few years I was there. I never succeeded to get a table there over the weekend since they don't do reservations and it was always packed. Recently I was up in Calgary for a work trip and decided to go there on a Wednesday and finally managed to get in. The cocktails were refreshing and not too sweet, which I really liked. We ordered some small plates too, which was very delicate and great pairs for the cocktails. I strongly recommend this place for a night out. read more

After a long day baking in the sun at the lilac festival we came here for happy hour drinks. Happy hour was from 4-7pm. For all the cocktail lovers the drinks are super creative and unique. On Sundays they have a tiki theme cocktail specials. The staff is super friendly, and the ambience, despite the up scale vibe is chill and not to snobby. The drinks are on the pricy side but worth it for the quality of cocktails. Great place for a relaxing date night! Definitely will be coming back. read more

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A nice place with good vibe. Cocktails are good quality and overall, I had a good experience. It seems it's a little more expensive place but I think I'll go back there again! read more

Unfortunately, our experience didn't seem to live up to the experience most others have at Proof. We went on a weeknight around 8 PM (just after dinner), so it wasn't too busy and we were immediately seated. Both my friend and I got a drink based off of the waitress's suggestion, and I'm not sure that either of us enjoyed them. They weren't bad but not my favorite, either. The atmosphere in the place is great--you can watch the bartenders move up and down and side to side on ladders to grab certain liquors, and the dimly lit space gives Proof a nice vibe. Service the entire time was very curt--definitely not warm, but not a huge deal at a cocktail bar. I'd come back and try another drink with some food, but on this visit, I left with a decidedly average opinion. read more

Everything here is amazing. They make handcrafted cocktails that are super unique and yummy. Their bar's selection is impressive and so are their skills. The food is great too. read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Best cocktails bar in town, they do have great foot as well, but their cocktails will make you come back again and again. Nice ambience and good service read more

I cannot stop raving about Proof! I am so happy to finally see a new bar that is dedicated solely to cocktails! I highly recommend sitting at the bar, where you can interact with the bartender and ask him to whip you up an "off-the-menu" drink based on your poison and flavour profile. Each cocktail is 2oz and costs on average $11-$15 from what I remember. It may sound a little pricey, but the quality and creativity that goes into the drinks makes it worth it. The menu is split up based on a liquor base (rum, whiskey, vodka, gin, etc), as well you can ask to use a different brand of liquor for a particular drink. Wine and beer is also offered. My favourite drink that I recommend to get is the "Dreaming of Magritte" with vodka, black pepper honey syrup, basil, and bittered orange and juniper bitters. It is light and refreshing with a small bite/kick from the black pepper. Keeping in mind their drink/food menu changes frequently to provide customers with the best ingredients. Don't expect to have a full meal here. The food menu consists of bar snacks, small plates and spreads to share such as house-made pickled eggs (yum!), pork belly & kimchi steamed buns, house-made terrine, black pudding, and a delicious roasted eggplant spread. The portions are small (good for two people). Proof has a casual, trendy and fun vibe; not overly hipster or pretentious. Although the bar is not very big (seats about 60), the ceiling-high windows opens the space up. The main focus and highlight of Proof is the back bar with about 5 levels of beautiful bottles. Overall, this is a fantastic place to drop by for a drink.. or two. It is the perfect setting for a date or to catch up with old friends. What a great addition to the Calgary bar/restaurant scene. I will definitely go back! =) read more

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When the bar has a funtional slide-across-the-room, Beauty And The Beast style library ladder just so the bartenders can get access to the full booze inventory, you're gonna be in for a good time! Surrounded completely by windows on two full sides, unlike most cocktail bars, Proof receives a lot of natural light, making it a nice place to hang out after a day of being inside at the office. They have high top table seating, very comfortable bar seats that even have back to them (-- other cocktail joints of the world take note) and even couches to hang out on. They also accept debit and credit. (-Keep taking notes.) It's a relaxed environment that would be a great place to do afterwork drinks, before dinner date drinks, after dinner drinks... Are you seeing a theme here? I am. Some bars are good for people watching, this one is good for cocktail watching. Do yourself a solid and grab a seat at the bar, and watch these mix masters work their magic. I watched our bartender adjust a mint sprig garnish so that it rested perfectly along the side and then carefully place two straws next to it. The level of attention and detail is unbelievable - each drink is it's own one-of-a-kind, individually prepared dish, like a high-end restaurant entree. Understandably though, you've got to pay for it. Coming in at $11-$15 a drink its pretty simple to go on a spending spree. Especially since you're also going to want to tip a bunch as the service is so spectacular. If you're into it, they're happy to chat with you about the drinks they're making. If you're not, they're happy to just let you enjoy. It seems like a lot of money, heck, it is a lot of money, but when you break it down you're getting is a tonne of value here. Each drink has 2 - 2.5 oz of high quality booze. This alone can easily land you in the $11 - $15 range at even the most commonplace pub. And we're talking booze like, for example, drink number one was a Pierde Almas Mezcal with Ardbeg 10 Scotch floated on top of it. They do not mess around. Drinks drank: (Note - Proof originals are marked on the menu by a "%" next to the name.) 1.) %Fire In The Pharmacy - Pierde Almas Puritida Verda Mezcal, Dinger Syrup, Honey Syrup, Lemo Juice, Ardbeg 10 Scotch float. 2.) Remember The Maine - Bulleit small batch rye, Vya sweet vermouth, Cherry Heering, Absinthe wash. See you soon, Pr%f! read more

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So I cannot even express words for how great the experience (and drinks were here), but let me try. I had been recommended Proof by a fellow writer friend of mine. I decided not to do any reading up about the bar, trusting their full judgment of how good it was. My partner and I headed over after dinner and this place was packed. The hostess was a good sport and said she could put us up in some seats near the kitchen pass, as we waiting for a table to become available. As we flipped through the extensive cocktail menu with a list of exclusive in-house made cocktails made from every spirit (I think it's ten pages, but I'm going off memory). We knew we had to make some serious decisions. Things to note: most cocktails run about 2 ounces and cocktails will cost you between $12-$17. We eventually got moved to a seat at the bar where we tended to by a bartender named Brent (or Brett - if you're reading this, sorry we messed up your name) who was so incredibly helpful walking us through the menu, help us pick drinks and also, letting us try a 10YR Bacardi they had on hand, just because. My two favorite drinks that evening? The Guillotine Queen, served in a tiny teacup, with Ironworks Vodka, Rosé, Giffard Crème de Pêche, Honey, Lime and Scrappy's Lavender Bitters with was $17. Second fave? Fire in the Pharmacy with Mezcal, Ginger, Honey, Lemon, Ardbeg Scotch Float which was $15. As someone who doesn't drink all that much, Proof was a treat and a half to me. You must make it a stop while visiting Calgary. read more

Elegant, nice ambience, chill trendy vibe. Drinks are exorbitantly priced, and a regular cocktail such as a Caesar wasn't available, which was a disappointment. read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Pillars of Fire/Darkest Peru - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Right now proof is a Christmas bar...so fun!! Chriatmas themed drinks, and Christmas decoration s everywhere.. so fun go down before it gets too busy it is as good as they say...... read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

This review is based on our late night stop for drinks and nothing else. But, what a selection of incredible Bourbons and whiskeys so reasonably priced. I was able to try the Weller CYPB for around $12US as well as an exceptional Blanton Gold (similarly priced) that apparently is only available in Canada... and the bartenders know their stuff and make some amazing drinks. Come here for your after dinner entertainment, you will not be disappointed! read more

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So I'm changing my review as I must've been hangry when I was here a year ago!! There is happy hour and it has a great assortment of choices from wine to cocktails around $8! I had the aviation and hubby had an old fashioned which was yummy! Then we decided since happy hour was over at 7 we would try the cocktails from menu ranging from $13-$17 I had Thank Murphy and hubby had 270 steps way yummy for him!! Smooth and lots of alcohol! Smelled great. Then we got hungry Julie recommended pork steam buns so we ordered 2, then 2 more!! So needless to say limited food menu but fantastic!! I am embarrassed at posting my previous review and apologize to Jeff the owner!! We will be back!! And service from Michelle, Julie,Brett ( bartender who talked to my hubby) and JEff who sat us and lit our candles!! Thank you for making us feel welcome! Kudos to you all Not my Forte as it has limited food options and cocktails on happy hour limited . I wanted a meal and cocktail on happy hour! Here I can get a pretty good fancy cocktail for $15.00 too rich for my blood and yuppie again!! I am old I am guessing!! The old fashioned was good my hubby liked it! Bartenders are friendly and accommodating but I am on a budget lol!! read more

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My gals decided to leave the hubs at home and go have a cocktail together. My friend suggested we try Proof, I honestly had never heard of it as I rarely "go out" anymore but it was a treat. Down on 1st St, it's a pretty good bar I gotta say. The bar area is pretty spectacular to see all the bottles and the huge ladder on wheels they use. The "bar" side is pretty cramped but I liked the big couch, it was definitely cozy. I had to use the washroom so I got to see the other side of the bar which was more tables like an dining side that was honestly kind of weird - had the vibe of a vietnamese restaurant so I'm glad we got seated on the bar side. They don't take reservations so we were lucky to get a table without a wait as every table went lightning fast when it was free. This place is for cocktails...really intricate cocktails with bizarre names. But they are good, really good and worth the price. They had a decent wine list however the food menu was SMALLLLL and what they did have to offer didn't appeal to me. My friend tried the pork belly steam buns and they looked so good I had to order just one to try. It was decent, $4 each. Pickled eggs was the first thing on the food menu, pretty ballzy to put on the menu I have to say. When I think of pickled eggs I think of a big jar of vinegar and eggs at the old curling rink in my small hometown bar. Service was good, nothing to complain about, and they were good with water refills. If there's one word to describe Proof it would be "Hipster". I never thought I could use that to describe a bar but yes...this place is definitely that. Cool place to catch a fabulous cocktail, but I wouldn't call it a regular hangout for myself. But I did enjoy my night here. read more

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One of my favorite spots in town for a great drink. Service is very attentive and the atmosphere is cozy, yet bright since it is a corner bar with giant windows. For the quality of the drinks, you really cannot go wrong with their happy hour. An array of your standard cocktails are $8 and there is always a feature cocktail on the menu. However, I can't speak for the food menu, but it seems to be charcuterie/tapas focused. one downside: this place is always freezing cold inside. read more

Excellent drinks, great ambiance, friendly staff. The buns and other dishes are also top-notch

I LOVE this place!! How amazing to go somewhere that they don't allow people to stand in the bar and crowd out the people sitting there enjoying their drinks and watching the bartenders mix up magic. We had the best seats at the bar arriving at 6:40pm on a Friday night. I was able to try both the Manhattan and Old-Fashioned. I usually prefer an old-fashioned yet I liked their Manhattan better. Old-fashioned has a nice big ice cube and the Manhattan is served in a very quaint glass with a delicious cherry-mmm! I love those cherries! Our waters were kept filled and it was great to watch the bartenders work. They were both super knowledgeable and friendly. The wall full of liquor was also impressive. I am so happy we were able to visit this spot on our trip to Calgary. Thank you yelp friends for sharing your expertise! read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Manhattan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Had a great late night drink sampling of their unique cocktail selection. Wanting to hit top 10 bars across Canada so had to hit this one.

Have been in this place many times and happened to be served by bartender Amber. After asking on bringing more drinks on happy hour Amber didn't respond very well and was very frustrated. Left a bad taste in our mouth and didn't make us feel welcomed. Pretty petty client experience and will think about it coming back. read more

Really really good cocktail bar. The whiskey sour (my go to) is on point, and the bartenders are super knowledgeable if you want to try something different. The prices are on-par with other places of similar quality. Good quality cocktail lounges are more about enjoying a fine beverage, and less about getting drunk. If you want to forget your evening for a cheap, I hear there's a place a few blocks down offering 75 cent draft that might suite your style more. The charcuterie here is also really good. Having grown up in eastern europe, it pains me to say so; as slices of meat and cheese cost too much anywhere in the city (in my cheap opinion). But the Proof plate is seriously good and I would get it again. read more

Presentation. Expertise. Cocktails. Food was minimal but incredibly well done. Warmed olives - simple but excellent. Pork belly steak buns were large, filling and flavorful, foie gras parfait was creamy and amazing - I basically ate the whole thing. We had cocktails. Lots of cocktails. You shouldn't come here without trying a few, nothing disappointed. Staff was friendly and accommodating. read more

Our bartender from 16hrs north of Perth, AU was awesome and made my brother fantastic drinks. The pork belly bun was incredible. I've actually never eaten pork belly and this was definitely THE place to try it if you're bar hopping. We were definitely a little young for the rest of the crowd but their selection of liquors and the super creative cocktail menu (themed by genre of fiction) was more than we expected. read more

Hipster joint all the way: tattoos, beards, and undercuts galore! Lots of unique drinks and too many gins to choose from that my head was spinning. They also apparently have a Tiki Sunday thing where you can get your tropical drink fix. The bartender was very knowledgable and concocted a very yummy drink with sloe gin and egg white. It was super busy when we were there on a Friday night but they remembered my hubby from a previous visit and helped us get a nice spot at the bar where all the action is. It's very refreshing to have a true cocktail bar in Calgary amid all the Irish pubs and craft brewpubs. We will return for sure! read more

Great cocktail bar in downtown Calgary. Found out about it from Yelp and went with my husband Saturday afternoon. Great vibe, decor and amazing drinks! The bartenders are very kind and help you pick out the perfect drinks for you. We go whenever we are in Calgary, can't wait to visit again this weekend! read more

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