This place has some serious charm- a lot of the other reviewers have gushed about the sliding ladder, and for good reason. At first, the ladder seems like it might just be a prop- that is until you see the bartenders scampering up and down it to get to the premium spirits. The eclectic artwork that seemed to spill off the menu and into the space gave Proof an interesting, "Cabinets of Curiosity" vibe, too! To add to wild appeal of Proof, their full and delicious cocktail menu features both originals and classics, great for those looking for old favourites or something new. Dom, who was working behind the bar took splendid care of me all night and was happy to answer any of my questions. Despite the bar being crazy busy, I never felt rushed. The prices are also more than reasonable for the quality and attention to detail put into every drink. The quality of drinks and service is wonderful, making Proof a great spot to hit solo or with a date. I have fallen madly in love with this place and I'm looking forward to drinking my way through the menu and around this gorgeous space! read more

Went with a friend on a late saturday night for the first time. Great atmosphere. A vast selection of cocktails and we just took our chances ( LOL). I had the TMW ($12), my friend had the appricity ($17) and we shared salmon on toast ($15). With the food, the cocktails tasted better actually, compared to on their own. Food and cocktail menu is a bit pricy but that is to be expected. The salmon on toast was tasty for the price but only two servings. Prob visit again when I have company. 4.5/5. read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - A nice selection! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I'm not going to waste too much time on this bc they can remove this. Rude service! management swept under the rug when we complained. Great idea terrible management! read more

Like everyone, I enjoy a nice glass of sugar and alcohol with appropriate garnishes. All to make the $12-$15 worthwhile. This place does especially nice glasses of sugar and alcohol. There are a lot of cool people here, and it was pretty loud with the sounds of their laughter. The waitresses were also attractive, and that was important because it made me feel loved and cared for as a guest. I had too many glasses of sugar and alcohol, and I know that my table ordered food but alcohol tends to make a man push food much more quickly past his tongue and into his stomach, thus, I can't remember if it was good. I do remember it was the meat and cheese tray (or charcuterie for the fancy people here). It was around $30 for the tray, and that seems like par for the course in Calgary for fancy crackers and small triangles of cheese. Seriously, I am so torn about the recent surfeit of fancy cocktail bars in the city. On the one hand, they are excellent alternatives to the grubby corporate pub. I am glad that they have lots of good stuff that I can buy, and that they keep themselves clean, and that they don't have teevees. But, on the other hand, they are all basically the same, and they are all way too expensive, and honestly, if you really boil it down, I can't tell them apart. Am I a Philistine? Yes. Probably, but I still go, so I am a hypocrite too. I like sugar and alcohol, like every human being, and Proof, is a good place to go to imbibe. read more

This is a hip, interesting cocktail bar. Cocktail choices are organized by literary themes and there are also some small bite options. The bar definitely has fun with cocktails that are served in glasses ranging from classic old fashioned, to tiki glasses, to goblets that look like something that a mid-evil duke might be drinking out of. The atmosphere lent itself to conversation and the staff was incredibly friendly. Definitely a great place to hang for a drink or two. read more

Great little place but little for sure. There's not a lot of seating so you definitely have to get there at a decent time in order to get a spot. Completely worth the try, the drinks are TOP NOTCH, sooo many types of alcohol being mixed with other ingredients and SOME HOW they turn out amazing!! The food choice is very limited but again, it's a cocktail bar so it's best to stick with the drinks SO GOOD. All different types of alcohol for everyone's taste buds. The staff is very friendly, I'm very new to understanding all the lingo of alcohol mixtures so the staff was friendly enough to assist me and even suggest some favorites. If your looking for an intimate or fun night with a couple people this is the perfect drink spot!! read more

This place is pretty good. Service is very friendly and the decor and the place itself is really wonderful. Lots of variety for seats; at the bar, in a comfy arm chair, high tables, low tables, etc. So many cocktails to choose from. I've had a number of the cocktails and there is something for everyone. The Dublin invasion is a favourite and really the perfect night cap and great for winter, it's a warm cocktail. They even have a few boozy hot chocolates, or wine/beer if you aren't feeling cocktails. The food is pretty great also. The steam buns are my favourite. Cocktail prices are all on par with anywhere else in the city, and food is reasonable. The only thing that seems to be way overpriced is the charcuterie. Everything that comes with the charcuterie is delicious, but for the price I'd say they should put more on the board. read more

What an amazing place to have cocktails at! This place is out of this world amazing!! Best cocktails I've had in a long time!!! The staff is amazing, drinks and food are a must! Overall an outstanding experience! read more

Terrific new cocktail bar! I am picky about cocktail places. I like the cool dark ambiance of places like Milk Tiger, but prefer the cocktails at Raw Bar where they incorporate unique fresh ingredients. I like my drinks refreshing, tasty and not so boozy that it overpowers all the other flavours. Proof nails it. The cocktail menu is AMAZING. It has a good 7 or 8 pages, and every page had a bunch of drinks I was tempted to order. They incorporate unusual liqueurs and ingredients such as fresh herbs. For example, did you ever have a cocktail with fresh basil leaves, dash of olive oil and a WHOLE EGG? Yup, Proof has that on their menu. I tried it and really enjoyed it. The bar itself is really sexy looking. They have bar seating, tables for groups, lots of windows for people watching in case your date is boring and just an amazing ambiance. I didn't try their food but their cheese board looked fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try the other cocktails on the menu! read more

Hands down the best cocktail lounge in the city in terms of offerings. Page after page of drinks new and old that sound delicious. The three we had on our visit we're all finely crafted and balanced with tart, sweetness and herbs...these are cocktails to slowly sip and savour. Each one has an extensive list of ingredients, many of which will sound like gobbledygook to all but the most seasoned mixologist. The small snacks on offer were equally tasty, with both the homemade blood sausage and rillettes nicely presented and a salty contrast to the drinks. Go here and you can't go wrong! read more

Best bar in Calgary. Incredible details and very artisanal. The food is excellent food. I am a vegetarian and there was more than enough to keep me happy, But there are selections from the Dirty South, Other Whiskeys, Mother's Gin, Agave Spirits, Splice the Rum, The Wrath of Grapes (Brandy), Bitters & Boom Ends and lots of small plate bar snacks. You will love it. read more

Proof Cocktail Bar - Amazing cocktail bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. It's been a really long time that I have been impressed with a new restaurant/bar in Calgary. This place "gets it" The decor is incredible. It's super vintage chic and everything from the comfy leather couches to the styles of glasses they use to serve their drinks. Nailed it. The snacks/appetizers are impressive quality. We ordered the picked shrimp, pork buns, small charcuterie board, and eggplant spread with toasts. Everything was delicious. The flavors were innovative and different, the presentation of the food was simple and clean (little jars for the spreads, charcuterie board neatly arranged according to flavors, etc). The pork buns were the best (with kimchi and cucumbers with a mayo spread). Our drinks were delicious. The acoustics were great. It was loud and busy but you could still hear the person sitting in front of you perfectly. The service was great, the drinks took a while to make but they really craft your order well, so it takes a while when it is busy. We dropped $100 here and would easily do it again. Super great environment. Love it. read more

They get coal for Xmas! This was actually one of the worst experiences ever. The food was awful; soggy turkey sandwiches ( one price of bread) and no garnish or presentation to cover up the aptly prepared meal. Cook- plate it- serve it! Some cocktails were nice but a few were ghastly!! Bad enough that people were sharing drinks to show how awful they were. What a shame!! One side of the bar is nice and one is reminiscent of east Hastings on a Friday night; dark, dreary and distasteful. The service was slow and one felt the reason for the poor attitude was the lack of customer service from the owner himself. There was a situation with a customer and he was flippant and pushed his waitress to deal with it. Another unhappy table - he could not have cared any less and seemed more interested in the new customer coming in the door. Odd way to try to build clientele in such a harsh economy. None of our party would return. Dissatisfied completely and staying away is the best choice if considering going here. One Christmas bulb rating read more

Good drinks, but found that we were seated in a potion of the restaurant that didn't really have the same vibe as the main portion of the restaurant. Good drinks, but the layout could be better. read more

Proof is for sure one of the most unique establishments in Calgary. I have not been to a bar like this ever. It's cool. I really enjoy mixed drinks but don't like boring normal cocktails served most places. Everything about this place is unique. The atmosphere is great and I always have a great time here. read more

Have been a couple of time and the cocktails are great, many choose with différents sprits. Ligne up so book your place

Sweet bar! We stopped in after the Rod Stewart show and what a perfect night cap to an already exciting night. I would highly recommend for ambiance, intimacy, cuteness, selection of spirits, cocktails and wines and very very friendly bartenders and servers. Thank you!!! read more

Incredible mixology bar, fun friendly staff! My wife's favorite drink was the Corpse Reviver #2 She says it is the best drink ever! I really liked the chancellor, expertly mixed! And a bonus was the friendly people at the bar. Good to talk to, and good to hang with! Plus some of the owners were there mixing drinks and making sure the customers are happy! read more

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

Such an interesting place with amazing drinks! They were playing punk rock and making rocking craft cocktails. You won't have specialty cocktails like this anywhere else. The staff was very friendly and the food was also great. read more

I love this place! This is the most upscale hipster bar I've ever been to. It's classy and cool with just the right amount of rustic edge. It's pretentious, but only in the way that will impress your date, not make you feel like your not hip enough. The cocktail menu is impressive and delicious. The best way to sample the drinks is to choose your favorite animal caricature on the menu -- that's the page you'll choose your drink from -- then have your date pick a random number between 1 and 5, and choose that drink from the list. No matter what you get you won't be disappointed. Drinks are strong and pricey so you probably won't be able to have many, but this still makes Proof the best starting place for a great night out. Unfortunately I didn't get to sample any of the food this time, but I will definitely be back! read more

Fantastic ambience and cocktail menu. The service is friendly and the people hanging out having fun make it a great place for a drink or a drink and a few snacks. Love, love, love this place. read more

Great happy hour cocktails and wine. Very nice and efficient staff. Lovely atmosphere. I can't comment on the food because I didn't eat; however, I found that everyone who was with me enjoyed their nicely plated and simply appetizers. Food is costly for portion sizes. Cocktails are so so good, so many beautiful drinks to choose from including at least 5 different non-alcoholic cocktails as well. We all tasted each others drinks, and everything we ordered was excellent. I suppose it's on the pricey side which is why I gave it 4 stars, but considering the quality and variety of the drinks I think it is worth the experience. read more

Well this is definitely my favorite cocktail bar in Calgary, and a great place to hit up after work! The have a lovely cocktail menu, and incredibly knowledgeable staff. You can tell them what you prefer and they will most definitely come back with something delicious. I've enjoyed lots of their food from the menu and the cheese board is a favourite. The charcuterie and cheeses are always different, delicious and unique! This place fills up fast and is quite small so can be tricky to get into. One of my favourite experiences is sitting at the bar either in the kitchen or the lounge and watching the masters at work! Proof is so charming and adorable it's hard not to fall in love with it. This place feels like a a cocktail bar you'd find in New York, and I absolutely love that! read more

My favourite cocktail The Understudy and the Steamed Buns to die for. The Staff so knowledgeable. That is great because the selection is so crazy I'll will keep coming back as I know there will be a lot more favourites in the future !!!! A gotta GO Calgary. Lynda W read more

Love love love! Pages of interesting, intriguing cocktails - I've sampled quite a few and haven't found one that I didn't like. The drinks are unique and crafted with so much attention to detail (it's very entertaining to sit at the bar and watch the bartenders at work) - this place does not disappoint! read more

Awesome bartenders and great drinks and small plates. One of the best bars in Calgary! Yep! Do I like answering my own questions? Sure do!

Finally, a place in Calgary with mixologists concocting amazing drinks that are so unique and tasty. The staff are so knowledgable and kind. Don't forget about the food either!! It is so incredibly delicious that you'll come back just for the food. The steamed pork sliders are a must! read more

I've been a few times and have never had a problem, but last night I came in for my birthday and had the worst service. I ordered my drink from a server as soon as I sat down. About 15 minutes later the same server asked me if I had ordered already. 20 minutes after that she came back with the wrong drink and didn't apologize or offer to get me the right one. I wasn't overly impressed. read more

Awesome cocktail bar. We went on a Tuesday evening, and it was very busy. They have a very homely feeling with couches and lamps. Great 2.5oz cocktails at a fairly reasonable price for what you're getting. Look forward to going back. read more

Always a treat to just take the servers recommendations and enjoy the fancy cocktails

I wanted to take my friend who was visiting from out of town to Proof because I heard it was a cool bar and I hadn't had a chance to check it out. When we arrived there were several seats open at the bar, however we were a party of three and there were not three seats in a row together. The hostess informed us that we were not allowed to sit at the bar until three seats were open together. My friend asked her if the bar had reserved seating (answer is no). We then said that we were fine with one person standing while the two others in our party sat in the open seats. The hostess then told us that standing was not allowed at the bar. I have visited bars all over the world and have never encountered a "no standing at the bar" policy. Needless to say, we decided to leave due to the crazy "no standing" policy. We headed across the street to the Jamison Pub, where the bartender served excellent cocktails, and no one tried to tell us we were not allowed to stand. Very odd. read more

Really wanted to try this place! Won't go back. Too loud to have a conversation, not set up to do anything other than that. Menu is obnoxiously pretentious, as if they're trying to get you to buy stuff by making you feel bad for not understanding the cryptic list of exotic ingredients. Spoiler: your drink will taste like nothing other than lemon juice, and still cost $15. read more

Terrible. Really pretentious. Go across the street and get a real pint for half the price with less attitude. Really disappointed. After the first impression I will never go back. read more

First you have to find it! For those, like my girlfriend and I who passed it because the small black on black sign is right over the door ... it's down the street from Hotel Arts on 1st Street SW and it's right on the corner. And once you find it, you will find the service impeccable. Our server was wonderful. Her recommendations and knowledge were perfect. The ambience is cozy, close and conducive to a quiet chat and there is something warm there that helps people warm up. The bar is a sight to behold. Decorating with bottles. Food: Poutine if you're hungry, lovely little steamed buns with pork, they have nuts for those with allergies. Our Cocktail was a happy hour special and it was exactly what it said it was Golden! We also had coffee Americano, they don't keep a pot brewing, which is okay, because their cocktails are the feature here. Then there was our experiment. Remember Mary Poppin's Cordial with all those flowing colours in the original? We had that. We wanted to try to see if their incredibly talented bartenders could do a Pousse Café, a drink layered with liqueurs. Our drink looked a bit chartreusey dark, but it tasted wonderful. Every sip different. Okay, it was not as colourful as I'd like, but they will get better that this kind of drink because they are perfectionists and very, very good at what they do and best of all adventuresome! Now watch out if you like to check out yourself in the mirror in the Ladies. I liked it because it was dark in there! My friend would have liked more light. Isn't that was cellphones are for? click on your flashlight or don't. What's in a mirror? I recommend Proof for any an all drinking occasions. read more

Great spot! Calgary needs more of these kinds of bars. I'm sick of every new bar being a National or another so-called "craft-beer" place.. The old fashioneds here are amazing! Come for the great cocktails, lively atmosphere, friendly service and avoid the occasional douchy crowd that makes it here on Saturday nights. read more

peed on bartender cant remember last night but woke up with mulitple men next to me totally going back did i also tell you THERES REAL LIVE HOMOSEXUALS THERE read more

This is a truly great cocktail bar. It has class, sophistication, and the drinks are amazing. I really recommend this place.

Great place to have drinks and light munchies! Great happy hour deals from 4-7pm including some classic cocktails like the Manhattan and the classic old fashioned. read more

Spent a great night there with friends. I'm usually a traditional cocktail drinker, but Proof's specials are complex,subtle, and phenomenal! Chef Tino's small plates burst from the menu like big taste bombs. Cauliflower has NEVER had it so good, and everything our table tried, and we tried everything, was worth writing about. Great and friendly service and interesting crowd. Hope you can get a table! If we lived here we'd be regulars. read more

We re-attended on 2015/11/01 and had Bryce and Maya as servers and were nothing short of impressed with the service. Definitely can appreciate our experience being a one off prior to this. The Weekend at Ernie's event was unexpected but really well composed and unique. Will be coming back for sure. read more