Tastiest Places: Calgary Designer Edition

A Designer’s Local Calgary Tasty Favourites

Interior Design Services in Calgary, AB

  • Commercial + Residential Design

  • Condo & Full Home Renovations

Our guide to Calgary’s tastiest places

Our Designer Edition of the Calgary food scene highlights some hot spots, but also some hidden neighbourhood gems. Whether you're in search of a cozy café to play boardgames in Kensington, a great bakery with the best wood fired bagels, or a restaurant that serves an inventive twist upon a classic dish, you'll find it here.

These places encapsulate the heart and soul of a community. Our Guide’s mandate is to help you discover where the locals love to:

  1. Eat

  2. Forage

  3. Sip

  4. Hang-out

After decades in business working with clients across Canada, Articulated Design Studio has amassed a list of reputable suppliers, places, and great independent businesses that made an impact on our projects or were a memorable experience worth recommending. Let’s dive into our local favourites across the Metro Calgary, AB area.

If you would like to learn more about us, check out our:

Our favourite gourmet suppliers

  • An image large wheels of cheese stacked on top

    Peasant Cheese

    Cheese selection is THE word here at this Kensington neighbourhood staple.

    And how about the best Grilled Cheese ever.

    Check out the sandwich menu
  • Hands are holding fresh pasta that is being extruded from a pasta roller.

    Lina's Italian Market

    This iconic local business has an extensive selection of authentic European goods from sweet to savory.

    With locations across Calgary at Tuxedo Park, McKenzie Town, Britannia, Inglewood and Deerfoot City.

    Find their locations
  • A historic 2 story house is shown with a victorian style veranda and a garden in front. The image was taken in Summer and everything is in bloom.

    Crossroads Market

    Check out their story
  • A four story house is shown with a traditional timber framed facade of this 400 year old building. The roof peak is three stories tall and it looks like the type of house you see in a small Bavarian town.

    Edelweiss Imports

    Looking for a German, Austrian or Swiss treat? This is one stop worth checking out from gifts to decor, as well as a unique preserves, and a whole menu of German foods to eat in or take out.

    Specialty foods
  • neatly piled vegetables are shown laid out to grab. in the centre are leaks and Carrots.

    Calgary Farmers Market

    There is always something new at the farmer's market. With two locations to find local makers and what's in season.

    .

    Check out their vendors

  • Lucky Super Market

    With locations in Sunridge and Forest Lawn

    Find them
This shows the interior of the Calgary Public Library with its interior roof and skylight in its graceful curves of wooden millwork in the inner courtyard of this architectural landmark.
A Edwardian style heritage building is shown with the words Carson Block visable underneath the crown detail. There is a street lamp with traffic signals attached to it and a street sign saying Kensington Road.

The background behind our Favourites:

Some independent businesses on our list have known our founders for more than a decade. Our Valentines List celebrates the unique places and spaces of this Prairie metropolis, as well as share where the locals frequent.

We have transformed homes in many of the communities across Western Canada beyond our home base in the Fraser Valley. We articulate the steps in our client(s) design journey for the renovation of your home or workspace as that flex-able joint between our client(s) and their chosen contractor, providing designs that meet the building codes of municipalities across Canada.

What’s in a place?

A “place” is more than just a physical location; it’s a destination that resonates with the community and visitors alike. It could be a bustling restaurant where aromas fill the air, inviting you to sit down and enjoy a culinary experience. A place might also be a charming bakery tucked away in a neighbourhood like Tuxedo Park, known for its warm, flaky pastries that locals crave every morning. It could be a grocer that provides gourmet goods in Inglewood or hard to find Eastern European + Balkan staples, or a hidden gem of a house museum that tells the story of the area's rich history through its preserved architecture and artifacts.

A place is defined by the experiences it evokes, making it a beloved part of the local landscape.

Our Favourite Morning Spots in Calgary

  • A young boy with a nitted toque on is smiling as he is slicing into a section of french toast with a layer of drizzled chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

    Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro

    There is more to them than their french toast options and cocktails. Its a dangerous selection

    They have locations in Inglewood, Greenwich, Beltline, and Crowfoot.

    Check their menu
  • Images of roasted coffee beans

    Dairy Lane

    Just off Kensington Road is this morning and lunch spot that is a local neighbourhood haunt.

    They have a well deserved reputation for breakfast

    Check out their menu
  • There is a fluffy cat reclining in the middle of the afternoon on a hardwood floor.

    Blackfoot Truck Stop Diner

    This is one of those places without a website thats been there for longer than anyone remembers. A true local landmark

    All day breakfast and off the beaten track

    Their facebook page

Lofty Visions

An international advertising campaign and luxury bathroom design inspired by our heart in supernatural, Vancouver, British Columbia

 

Favourite Caffeine in Calgary

  • a young boy is shown smiling as he is patiently waiting to sip his hot chocolate. There is another coffee cup with a latte shown in front of the hot chocolate.

    Vintage Caffeine

    It’s local favourite just off on Kensington Road on 19th.

    Small batch roasts and all the attention to detail is noticed since we have been frequenting 5 years ago.

    check them out
  • Images of roasted coffee beans

    Phill & Sebastian

    When you visit their HQ location in the Simons Building you not only get to get a freshly made coffee right in front of you. You get to watch them roast their quality roasts and custom blends of coffee. It is one of our favourite coffee roasters in Alberta.

    With so many locations acoss the city, like the Bridgeland, MIssion, Downtown, Chinook, Marda Loop, and in the Calgary Farmer’s Market.

    Check out their story
  • 2 Victorian slipper chairs are posed together in a front window display of a bookshop with floor to celing bookcases filled with new and used books

    The Next Page

    Books & Coffee: New, second hand, and antique book store with a built in coffee bar with an inviting atmosphere that make you want to stay a while.

    It is one of those places in in Inglewood that makes you feel like you are in an antiquarian book seller.

    Brouse their titles

Our Favourite Old School Eateries in Calgary

  • Casa Katrina

    Check their menu

  • Spolumbo's

    Drive By Coffee in Grand Forks

    On many a trip in the BC Interior (Grand Forks) We always stop at this this little gem that is super convenient when you need a pit stop and a coffee from an independent.

    Get Directions

  • Evelyn's Memory Lane

    A local diner with flair. Try the Reuben's Reuben.

    Check them out

A bit more background about us:

As a leading Western Canadian interior design studio we are experts in kitchen renovations and bathroom design, as well as accessible design for living in place. Articulated offers a comprehensive suite of residential design services for your luxury kitchen, condo renovation, or commercial renovation. We can provide our design services to clients both online as well as in-person. Our residential and commercial projects will meet the code-compliant requirements of Calgary, Banff, Edmonton, and the rest of the communities across the Prairies

Our furniture delivery and interior decorating services can include white glove delivery and our turn key services for the Metro Calgary area. Our portfolio showcases a rich tapestry of projects, as well as our love of colour and quality tested products

Our favourite Hang Outs in Calgary

  • An image of a train going over a metal bridge near the trail

    Vaca Brewing + Veranda

    Veranda is such a great location. Not only do you get the feel of a historic building inside and out. They have foundation in both craft distillery and brewing.

    Try the sampler of cocktails or the food its all unique to their vision.

    Vaca Brewing

    Burwood Distillery

    Take a Peak
  • Hands are shown flipping through vintage record albums stacked in boxes

    Kensington Pub

    Head out on April 23

    Learn More
  • A scene is shown with a hand crafted artisan cocktail in an old fashioned glass a few spriggs of mint on the top with a torched orange slice on the top

    Betty Lou's Library

    Speakeasy is

    There are some House Rules

  • BLANCO

    Its a little infectious. This local independant mexican style cantina has locations across the city and in Edmonton, Lethbridge, Sakatoon, Regina, and Toronto.

    Its a great environment where uyou can find them

    Check out their menu
  • A sandwich is shown with BBQ brisket inside with a bit of bacon and Jalepeno Aoli. A glass a beer is shown in the background behind bottle of BBQ sauce labeled "House Barbeque"

    Hayden Block

    One of our local Favourite independent businesses on Kensington Road in this restored heritage building. You can not go wrong combining BBQ, whiskey, tasty cocktails and their own house made beers made at their other location.

    Check out their menu

  • Hexagon

    This establishment gets so many kudos for both young and old alike. This board game cafe is a great space to be a human.

    Check out their extensive board game Library

Our Favourite Hand Helds, Smoke & Deep Fry

  • A kitchen is shown with a stainless steel stove flanked on either side by dark painted blue cabinetry in a traditional style. A francy hood fan wityh detailed wooden millwork is suspended above the range.

    Hayden Block

    Cabinets made right in the heart of BC with extensive styles + options. WE can help you work with local dealers on your project.

    Check their quality styles
  • Images of roasted coffee beans

    Chicken on the Way

    Iconic

    Get Directions
  • There is a fluffy cat reclining in the middle of the afternoon on a hardwood floor.

    GAGA Pizza

    One of our local Favourite business that service the communities of the BC interior. Great options from this family business.

    Check them out

Our Favourite Sweet Spots

Our Creative Director is training for the Tour de Cure

Cycling throughout the Lower Mainland

From Horseshoe Bay to Langley

There is a person in the foreground in the act of riding a bike on a road in a rural farm area with a view of mountains in the distance. There are 4 cyclists copming up from behind and they are each wearing the same tight fitting jersey.

Favourite Calgary Spaces to help burn off some Calories

  • A kitchen is shown with a stainless steel stove flanked on either side by dark painted blue cabinetry in a traditional style. A francy hood fan wityh detailed wooden millwork is suspended above the range.

    Bow River Pathway

    Whenever we are in town we make a point of enjoying this trail. Just as pleasant to walk as it is to cycle along meandering river.

    Locate this trail
  • There is a fluffy cat reclining in the middle of the afternoon on a hardwood floor.

    Our Favourite Calgary Spaces List

    One of our local Favourite business that service the communities of the BC interior. Great options from this family business.

    Check them out
  • Images of roasted coffee beans

    Decathalon

    Drive By Coffee in Grand Forks

    On many a trip in the BC Interior (Grand Forks) We always stop at this this little gem that is super convenient when you need a pit stop and a coffee from an independent.

    Get Directions

Favourite Wine, Beer & Spirits in Calgary

  • A kitchen is shown with a stainless steel stove flanked on either side by dark painted blue cabinetry in a traditional style. A francy hood fan wityh detailed wooden millwork is suspended above the range.

    Wine Shop Near Peasant Cheese

    Cabinets made right in the heart of BC with extensive styles + options. WE can help you work with local dealers on your project.

    Check their quality styles
  • Images of roasted coffee beans

    Romero Distilerie

    Drive By Coffee in Grand Forks

    On many a trip in the BC Interior (Grand Forks) We always stop at this this little gem that is super convenient when you need a pit stop and a coffee from an independent.

    Get Directions
  • There is a fluffy cat reclining in the middle of the afternoon on a hardwood floor.

    South Block

    NOt only do they brew their own beer for both their locations there is live music and a more than decent BBQ selection.

    Check them out

3 Canadian brands we think are worth a follow.

A woman wearing a striped dress is proudly standing behind a display of three modern chairs with caned seats. In the background is the logo for CTV Morning Live.

Caning Canada.

Not only have we been a client. We are a fan of re-using pieces in our projects. This gem of an artisan and weaver regularly travels across Canada. Allowing Canadians along her route to have their heirlooms and mid century pieces re-caned.

A cutting board is surround by bowls of cut vegetables. There is a large chef knife in the hands of someone chopping a red onion on the board. The surface of the knife has marble like pattern on it from a traditional Japanese blacksmith technique.

Knifewear.

This Canadian retailer has locations across Canada. Whether it is a knife sharpening class or choosing a chef quality knife and accessory. They have you covered

The link is to the website for BLANCO Canada. The image is of a white sink built into a white countertop with a steel basket sitting inside a part of it with vegatables. The faucet and sink grate are brushed stainless steel.

BLANCO

This international brand produces their Silgranit line of sinks for the entire North American marketplace out of Missisauga, ON. There are more than a few reasons we recommend their products

How we stay connected.

Regardless of where you are located, all our design services and communications are integrated through our online client studio portal and mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Navigating your design journey with our online client portal combined with in-person services creates a hybrid service delivery approach to clients in our service region who want a “Calgary interior designer near me”. Our portal provides you with easy access to communications and all of the details of your interior design project in one place.

Our team has been delivering custom homes using a hybrid approach with these online assets to simplify your journey. It embodies our vision for design beyond borders.ent portal combined with in-person services

Connect with us

Telephone: +1 (604) 565-2159
Email: info [at] articulated.studio

Articulated Design Studio
Box 73543 RPO Downtown
Vancouver, BC V6E 4L9

Studio Hours

Monday - Thursday 7AM - 5 PM (MST)
Closed Fridays, weekends and holidays

Start the conversation.