As a Calgarian who loves to stop for a sweet treat or a tea latte (sorry, I’m just not a coffee person!), here are some of my favourite cafes and bakeries that I have discovered in the Downtown core and Beltline. I try to primarily look for local cafes and smaller Canadian chains, just as I did with my Calgary restaurants feature. Many of these cafes have great spaces to get some work done if you enjoy a change of scenery.
1. Otie Bakeshop
Location: 1225 Macleod Trail SE
Otie Bakeshop takes its pastries seriously. They bake French-style pastries fresh daily, and make coffee to boot.
Located just off Macleod Trail, close to Victoria Park LRT Station, Otie is a must-visit spot for anyone who lives or works in the Beltline area. They’re also open weekends, so I encourage you to make your way down here to try their delicacies.
2. Cafe 18g
Location: 216 14 Avenue SE
Cafe 18g is tucked between a bubble tea shop and a bakery. They offer everything from coffee and lemonade to fresh juice and full meals.
I was tempted by their Salted Caramel Croffle, but there are so many great options here. They also have a cute loft to stay and eat or work.
3. Semantics Cafe
Location: 1010 1 Street SE
Semantics Cafe is one of my favourite finds since working downtown. They have such a fun local arts and music scene, and they really embrace supporting local.
Between organizing community events like performances, charm bracelet nights, and watch parties, to serving great beverages and delicious cinnamon buns, you have to check this place out.
4. MobSquad
Location: 150 9 Avenue SW #2100
MobSquad Cafe is a unique spot in Downtown Calgary, located on the 21st floor of the Edison building. In addition to great views, the cafe offers lots of comfortable seating, making it a great spot for a coffee date or a co-working space.
5. il caffe coffee roasters
Location: 207 9 Avenue SW
Tucked in on the Main Floor of Penn West Plaza, il caffe is the place to go if you’re looking for quality coffee. Although I rarely drink coffee myself, I had a mocha here and enjoyed it.
The cafe does not offer much seating, but it’s a good spot for a grab-and-go drink on your break.
6. Cafe Alchemist
Location: 850 2 Street SW
Cafe Alchemist leans into their name, putting an alchemy spin on coffee. They are a health-conscious cafe, serving food and drink options that prioritize local ingredients.
The counter at Cafe Alchemist uses beakers and test tubes as storage jars for a variety of ingredients including their beans and tea leaves.
7. Bono Cafe
Location: 102 8 Avenue SW
Bono Coffee has 3 locations in Calgary, with their downtown location right on Stephen Avenue. They are deeply rooted in Ethiopian coffee culture, and serve ethically-sourced Ethiopian coffee.
They also make a delicious Chai Latte, which is usually my go to, whether I’m stopping by or staying in.
8. Platform Cafe
Location: 407 9 Avenue SE
Platform Cafe is a unique spot along 9th Avenue, near the Central Library. It’s a co-working space focused on driving innovation and entrepreneurship in Calgary.
The cafe offers food and beverages from a variety of Calgary-based companies such as Phil and Sebastians, Alforno, Hoopla, and Rosso.
9. Alforno Bakery & Café
Location: 222 7 Street SW
Alforno Bakery and Café has grown to 5 locations across Downtown Calgary and the Beltline, but their primary location is in Eau Claire.
This space offers full meal options for brunch, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. They also have a takeaway cafe counter for those interested in a coffee and a quick bite to go. My first introduction to Alforno was their cheesecake, but I can confirm that their beverages are also delicious.
10. Caffe Levant
Location: 550 6 Avenue SW Unit 100
Caffe Levant is a Middle Eastern-inspired cafe with drinks, sandwiches, and bowls. I got an Iced Chai here, and it was made with a tea bag and syrup rather than a concentrate (rare these days).
I worked here for a couple hours and found it a nice space to get some work done. They also offer a lot of fancy matcha and coffee options that I was admiring while I was here.
11. Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters
Location: 618 Confluence Way SE
The Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and Phil and Sebastians in East Village is a must-visit spot. It’s a bustling hub, especially on weekends, with one entrance opening up directly to the Riverwalk.
We managed to get a table, but the cafe can definitely fill up quickly, so bring patience or come early! If you’re looking to get some of their baked good such as their sourdough, cinnamon buns, scones, or loaves, come early to ensure they don’t sell out.
By partnering with the local Calgary icon, Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters, they’ve made the Simmons Building a meeting hub for good coffee, food, and conversation.
12. Frida’s Coffee House
Location: 1110 9 Avenue SW
Frida’s Coffee House is really a hidden gem on the West side of downtown. It is a Mexican cafe serving coffee and Mexican snacks like tamales, conchas, flan, and tres leches cake.
The cafe is tucked off 9th Avenue next to 10th Street SW. It has a beautiful mural on the wall and such lovely, colourful decor. If you’re looking for a new coffee spot to meet with friends or colleagues, I highly recommend checking Frida’s out.
Bonus: Thé Moon Tea House
Location: 212 14 Avenue SE
Thé Moon Tea House is a bubble tea shop next to Cafe 18g. They offer bubble teas, coffee, and other fancy beverages.
I’ve tried a few of their options, with pearls and without. They have lots of options with their Cloud Foam, which is like a cheese foam at other shops, and it’s delicious.
Some of my favourites (so far) include the Flame Latte and the Jasmine Matcha Green milk tea. They also offer milk tea soft serve ice cream!
