Calgary/Northwest

Northwest Calgary is a large quadrant with urban and suburban qualities. Kensington, which surrounds the intersection of Kensington Road and 10 Street NW across the Louise Bridge from downtown (in the neighbourhoods of Hillhurst and Sunnyside), offers an inner-city experience with many independent shops, restaurants and pubs. Montgomery and Bowness are both former towns that amalgamated with Calgary in the 1960s, but still have a small-town feel; both communities are along Bowness Road with Montgomery on the north/east side of the Bow River, and Bowness on the west/south side of the Bow River (north of 16 Ave NW/Trans-Canada Highway).

By plane

• Springbank Airport

  address: 175 MacLaurin Dr, Rocky View County
  Springbank Airport acts as a general aviation reliever for Calgary International Airport, the city's main airport. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers. There is no public transit service between Calgary and the Springbank Airport.

By CTrain

Northwest Calgary is served by the CTrain Red Line, part of the light rail transit system operated by Calgary Transit. Leaving downtown, it travels past a number of the major landmarks, before travelling down the centre of Crowchild Trail near the University of Calgary, to Tuscany station at the edge of the city. Stops of interest include (from east to west):

• Sunnyside: connects to Kensington.
• SAIT/ACAD/Jubilee: connects to SAIT, the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly ACAD), and the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
• Banff Trail: connects to McMahon Stadium and Motel Village.
• University: connects to the University of Calgary.
• Brentwood: transit hub with numerous bus connections; alternate access to the University of Calgary.
• Crowfoot: connects to the large Crowfoot Crossing shopping complex.

By bus

Northwest Calgary is connected to other parts of the city by Calgary Transit. The following routes are good ways to get in and around:

• MAX Orange (#303): express bus with limited stops; runs down 16 Avenue NW (east of West Campus Blvd), connecting Northeast Calgary with Brentwood CTrain station.
• #301 (BRT): express bus with limited stops; runs down Centre Street/Harvest Hills Blvd, connecting City Centre with North Pointe Park & Ride (Harvest Hills Blvd & Country Village Way NE).
• #305 (BRT): express bus with limited stops; runs down Bowness Road and Kensington Road, connecting City Centre with WinSport (Canada Olympic Park).
• #1: runs down Bowness Road and Kensington Road, connecting City Centre with Bowness Park.
• #3: runs down Centre Street south of 78 Avenue N, connecting to City Centre.
• #4: southbound from Northeast Calgary along 10 Street NW, continues to City Centre (reverse of #5).
• #5: northbound from City Centre along 10 Street NW, continues into Northeast Calgary and returns to City Centre (reverse of #4).
• #19: runs down 16 Avenue NW (east of 19 Street NW), continuing into Northeast Calgary.

By car

Northwest Calgary is the region most influenced by topography, with the Bow River and eastern extent of the foothills causing streets to depart from the traditional grid and limited connections to other areas of the city, especially further away from the city centre. Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) passes east-west through Northwest Calgary along 16 Avenue NW. Highway 1A (Crowchild Trail) runs northwest-southeast beyond 24 Avenue NW. Stoney Trail (Highway 201), Calgary's ring road, connects to other regions of the city, but ends at Highway 1 on the west side of the city.
Crowchild Trail is the main freeway through Northwest Calgary, and during off-peak times is the best way from Southwest Calgary and the City Centre (via Bow Trail), with 14 Street NW and Centre Street serving as good alternative routes into downtown. Memorial Drive, 16 Avenue NW (Highway 1), John Laurie Boulevard/McKnight Boulevard, Beddington Trail, and Country Hills Boulevard are major routes that connect to Northeast Calgary.

Learn

• University of Calgary

  address: University Drive & 24 Ave NW
  Started in 1944 as the Calgary branch of the University of Alberta, founded in 1908, prior to being instituted into a separate, autonomous university in 1966. It is composed of 14 faculties and over 85 research institutes and centres. The architecture is defined by a combination of Brutalist and Postmodern buildings spread across campus, most of them built between 1960 and 1980. In 2016, the campus finished repurposing and renovating the Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex in the Schulich School of Engineering. In 2017, the university started on rehabilitating the aging MacKimmie Complex.

• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

  phone: +1 403-284-7248
  address: 1301 16 Avenue NW
  A polytechnic institute; established in 1916, it is Calgary's second oldest post-secondary institution and Canada's first publicly funded technical institute.

• Alberta University of the Arts

  phone: +1 403-284-7600
  address: 1407 14 Avenue NW
  Publicly funded art and design university. Formerly part of SAIT, it gained autonomy in 1985 and was renamed in 2019.

Parks

• Bowness Park

  address: 8900 48 Ave NW
  Bowness Park is along the Bow River between Stoney Trail and 85 St NW. A shallow lagoon runs along the along the park's southern edge, a favourite spot for paddle boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Bowness Park is highly used for picnicking and accessing the Bow River.

• Confederation ParkConfederation Park 160 hectares (400 acres) between the neighbourhoods of Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, Collingwood and Highland Park. 10 Street NW bisects the park from north to south. The park has picnic tables, toboggan hills, cycle paths, tennis courts and baseball diamonds. Adjacent to the park is the Confederation Golf Course. In winter the golf course is open for cross-country skiing and the park hosts the Lions Club Christmas Light Display in December and January.

• Nose Hill ParkNose Hill Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Canada and North America, is in the northwest quadrant of Calgary. It is a natural environment park, commonly regarded as a retreat from city life and a place to enjoy nature. It is the second-largest park in Calgary, surpassed in size only by Fish Creek Provincial Park. Although large sections of the park are off-leash areas, on a few occasions coyotes have attacked and killed dogs in the park. Your dog's best protection is to be on a leash at all times.

• Crescent Heights Park

  address: (along Crescent Road NW)
  This park offers a pleasant walk, along with popular views of Downtown Calgary.

Attractions & sports venues

• WinSport

  phone: +1 403-247-5452
  address: 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW
  Take a tour of the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, which includes going to the top of the ski jump for a fantastic view. Four runs are available for your skiing pleasure during the winter months, and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame museum is open year-round. The halfpipe and rail park are frequented by some very talented skiers and snowboarders, making for interesting viewing. The COP hosts Canada's first bobsleigh track and you can pay to take a bobsleigh ride in winter. There is also a summer "luge" run (Skyline Luge) and a zipline runs from the top of the ski jump tower.

• Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

  phone: +1 403-776-1040
  address: 169 Canada Olympic Rd SW
  Home to Canada's highest sporting honour, celebrating a community of Honoured Members, 657 to date, that inspire Canadians in sport and life. Fully accessible.

Calaway Park

phone: +1 403-240-3822

address: 245033 Range Road 33, T3Z 2E9

Western Canada's largest amusement park, roughly 15 minutes west of Calgary. Gate admission pays for all rides; games, food cost extra.

McMahon Stadium

address: 1817 Crowchild Trail NW

Home venue of the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) and University of Calgary Dinos football teams. Occasionally used as an outdoor concert venue.

Olympic Oval

phone: +1 403-220-7954

address: 2500 University Drive NW

A covered speed skating oval, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, it is the official designated training center for Speed Skate Canada and the Canadian National Speed Skating team. When not hosting hockey games and speed skating competitions, The Oval is open to public skating, family day events, and the Calgary Science Fair.

Butterfield Acres

phone: +1 403-239-0638

address: 254077 Rocky Ridge Rd NW

Farm featuring interactive kids' activities, including pony rides & goat milking, plus picnic spots.

Performing arts

• Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

  phone: +1 403-297-8000
  address: 1415 14 Avenue NW
  Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is a 2,500-seat performing arts, culture and community facility and home to Calgary Opera, Alberta Ballet, and the annual Canadian Legion Remembrance Day Ceremonies. Located next to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD).

Spectator sports

• Calgary Stampeders Football Club

  phone: +1 403-289-0258
  address: McMahon Stadium, 1817 Crowchild Trail NW
  Calgary's local Canadian Football League (CFL) team, and the 2018 holders of the Grey Cup (league champions). CFL plays 3 down football with only 20 seconds between plays, so watching a CFL game is quite different to watching an NFL game.

• University of Calgary Dinos

  address: University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW
  Varsity athletics. Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), field hockey (women), Canadian football (men), basketball (men & women), rugby (women), soccer (men's & women's), swimming, track & field/x-country, volleyball (men & women), wrestling.

• SAIT Trojans

  address: SAIT, 1301 16 Ave NW
  Varsity athletics. Ice hockey (men's & women's teams), basketball (men & women), soccer (men & women), volleyball (men & women).

Urban shopping

• KensingtonCentred on 10 Street NW and Kensington Road NW, Kensington is home to art galleries, fashion retailers, and antiques. It is somewhat more upscale than, say, Stephen Avenue Walk or Inglewood, but not in a snobby way.

Suburban shopping

• Market Mall

  address: 3625 Shaganappi Trail NW
  One of the largest malls (by area) in Calgary, it is near the University of Calgary. It has a playground inside for pre-schoolers.

• North Hill Centre

  address: 1632 14 Avenue NW
  Small mall along the Trans-Canada Hwy (16 Ave NW). It opened in 1958 and was Calgary's first shopping mall.

• Northland Village Mall

  address: 5111 Northland Drive NW
  Over 60 retail shops and services.

• Beacon Hill Shopping Centre

  address: Sarcee Trial NW & 112 Ave NW
  Large outdoor shopping centre (power centre).

• Crowfoot Crossing Shopping Centre

  address: Crowfoot Way NW & Nose Hill Drive NW
  Crowfoot is a very large outdoor shopping centre (power centre) in NW Calgary.

• Royal Oak Shopping Centre

  address: Country Hills Blvd NW & 112 Ave NW
  Large outdoor shopping centre (power centre).

Farmers' markets

• Calgary Bearspaw Farmers' Market

  phone: +1 403-239-0201
  address: 25240 Nagway Rd
  The small community of Bearspaw in Rocky View County is a few minutes west of the Calgary city limits.

• Hillhurst-Sunnyside Farmers' Market

  phone: +1 403-283-0554 ext 228
  address: 1320 5 Ave NW

Budget

• Angel's Drive In

  phone: +1 403-288-1009
  address: 8603 47 Avenue NW
  Classic, 1950s diner located in Bowness. Serves burger combos, breakfast, and donairs.

• The Big Cheese Poutinerie

  phone: +1 403-457-2873
  address: 207 10 St NW
  Basic indoor seating, lots of options on those poutine fries.

• Bake Chef Co.

  phone: +1 403-282-6652
  address: 2500 University Dr NW
  A hidden gem, Bake Chef serves delicious, high-quality Vietnamese subs and bread rolls at amazing prices. A favourite among University of Calgary students and the winner of a recent "Best Restaurant in Mac Hall" survey conducted by writers at The Gauntlet - the University of Calgary's student newspaper.

Mid-range

• Big T's BBQ

  phone: +1 403-284-5959
  address: 2138 Crowchild Trail NW
  Southern BBQ; reservations accepted Friday-Sunday.

• Chianti Café

  phone: +1 403-547-5020
  address: 300, 20 Crowfoot Crescent NW
  Regional Italian restaurant chain. Appetizers, soup, salad, pasta, seafood, veal, chicken. Lunch menu and takeout available. Mains $6–24.

• Dairy Lane Cafe

  phone: +1 403-283-2497
  address: 319 19 Street NW
  Canadian; locally produced and organic ingredients whenever possible.

• Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey

  phone: +1 403-283-3021
  address: 1136 Kensington Road NW
  BBQ joint with rustic decor serves up Texas-style brisket & ribs, plus whiskey cocktails.

• Nick's Steakhouse

  phone: +1 403-282-9278
  address: 2430 Crowchild Trail NW
  Best known for Alberta steaks and tasty pizzas.

Splurge

• Chef's Table

  phone: +1 403-228-4442
  address: 1126 Memorial Dr NW
  The fine dining restaurant at Calgary's Relais et Chateaux hotel.

• NOtaBLE the Restaurant

  phone: +1 403-288-4372
  address: 4611 Bowness Rd NW
  Rotisserie dishes are their specialty.

International

• Bodega

  phone: +1 403-475-9227
  address: 318 10 St NW
  Caribbean cuisine. By 7PM Friday, most tables are reserved.

• Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant

  phone: +1 403-283-6796
  address: 130 10 St NW
  Calgary's oldest and finest Ethiopian restaurant, lunch buffet on weekdays, vegetarian options. Often slow service but the tasty and filling food makes up for it.

Take-out only restaurants

These food outlets have no tables inside. You pick up your order and take it away to eat elsewhere: your hotel room, your car, a picnic table at a park.

• A & A Deli

  phone: +1 403-289-1400
  address: 1401 – 20 Ave NW
  This corner store and deli is known for serving up some of the biggest, drippiest, tastiest shawarmas in town, as well as other Mediterranean delights. A few tables outside.

• Bon Ton Meat Market

  phone: +1 403-282-3132
  address: 28 Crowfoot Circle NW
  Locally famous for their hot meat pies ($3 each), Bon Ton also has a selection of cold salads and hot ready-to-eat meat dishes, all prepared in-house. Worth a visit just to see their butchers hard at work in their bow ties and bright blue aprons.

• C.B. Drive Inn

  phone: +1 403-282-8188
  address: 789 Northmount Drive NW
  Local drive-inn, serves burgers and fries.

• Chicken On The Way

  phone: +1 403-283-5545
  address: 1443 Kensington Rd NW
  This is the original location of one of the longest-running fast food institutions in Calgary (opened 1958). Chicken On The Way delivers wonderful deep-fried chicken, french fries and corn fritters, at a fair price. This is an old-school joint; no frills, nothing fancy, and none of that new-fangled low-fat junk. The dining space here is two picnic tables next to busy 14th St. But it's still hands-down the best fried chicken in the city. A meal runs in the $8-10 range. Other locations have recently opened in Mackenzie Towne, Macleod Trail (in Brick Plaza), Forest Lawn, and Temple; the new locations have tables so that you can dine in.

• Saffron Fine Indian Take-Out

  phone: +1 403-441-7700
  address: #136, 3604 – 52 Ave NW
  Butter chicken and daal soup are offered every day. Samosas, rice, breads, kababs, pakoras, raita, chutneys, and desserts are also on the menu every day. In addition, two vegetarian and two non-vegetarian main dishes are featured each day; phone to ask what is available that day. Most dishes are not prepared very spicy-hot. Take out only.

• Cat 'n Fiddle

  address: 540 16 Ave NW
  Great place to head for a pint of almost any brew you can think of, sometimes with a touch of Irish

• Loco Lou's Grill & Bar

  phone: +1 403-284-3366
  address: 1324 16 Avenue NW

• Moose McGuire's

  phone: +1 403-289-9184
  address: #25, 1941 Uxbridge Dr NW, in Stadium Shopping Centre
  Pub near McMahon Stadium (home of the Calgary Stampeders, the local Canadian Football League team) and the university uampus. As a result the prices are great and it's an excellent place to enjoy a game or head to after class.

• Schanks

  phone: +1 403-241-2400
  address: 103 Crowfoot Terrace NW
  A large sports bar in the Crowfoot Crossing shopping complex with massive televisions broadcasting mainstream sports, a mini golf range, a bowling alley, and pool tables. Decently-priced drinks and pub grub.

Cafés

Starbucks and Tim Horton's are everywhere in Calgary. If you're looking for something different, try one of these.

• Deville Coffee

  phone: +1 403-990-1185
  address: 3625 Shaganappi Trail NW

• Higher Ground

  phone: +1 403-270-3780
  address: 1126 Kensington Road NW
  Local, independent coffee shop; second location at 2502 Capitol Hill Cres NW.

• Oolong Tea House

  phone: +1 403-457-5450
  address: 110 10 St NW
  This warm and welcoming tea house near Memorial Drive has an extensive tea library, along with friendly service and an outdoor patio that is open during the warmer months.

• Hexagon Board Game Cafe

  phone: +1 403-209-2881
  address: #200 1140 Kensington Rd NW
  A cozy and welcoming board game cafe on Kensington Rd with an extensive variety of board games. Serves non-alcoholic drinks, alcoholic drinks, and some cafe appetizers.

Budget

• Canada's Best Value Inn

  phone: +1 403-289-6651
  address: 2416 16 Ave NW
  Discounts for CAA/AAA, CARP/AARP, military, government, seniors (60+). ID required for discounts.

• Econo Lodge Inn and Suites University

  phone: +1 403-289-1921
  address: 2231 Banff Trail NW

• Hotel Alma

  phone: +1 403-220-3203
  address: 169 University Gate NW
  On the U of C campus in northwestern Calgary. Offers 81 Euro-style hotel rooms and 15 one-bedroom suites year round. These rooms were built to be hotel rooms for the university hospitality management program, and have never been student residences. The Alma Seasonal Residence program also has hundreds of apartments and student dorm rooms from early May to late August. Access to on-campus services like fitness facilities, laundry, parking, cafeterias.

• Ramada Calgary Northwest

  phone: +1 403-289-5571
  address: 2363 Banff Trail NW

• SAIT Conference Housing

  phone: +1 403-284-8013
  address: 151 Dr Carpenter Circle NW
  On the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) campus in southwestern Calgary (address is for the administrative office, not the residences). May only be available in summer months.

Mid-range

• Aloft Calgary University

  phone: +1 403-289-1973
  address: 2359 Banff Trail NW

• Best Western Plus Village Park Inn

  phone: +1-800-780-7234
  address: 1804 Crowchild Trail NW

• Centro Motel Calgary

  phone: +1 403-288-6658
  address: 4540 16 Avenue NW
  32-room boutique motel, modern decor. Free amenities include wi-fi, phone calls, parking and breakfast.

• Comfort Inn & Suites Motel Village

  phone: +1 403-289-2581
  address: 2369 Banff Trail NW

• Days Inn Calgary Northwest

  phone: +1 403-288-7115
  address: 4420 16 Avenue NW
  Pet friendly, 100% non-smoking. Breakfast, parking, laundromat.

• Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Suites Calgary West

  phone: +1 403-288-4441
  address: 8220 Bowridge Crescent NW
  Across from the world-class Canada Olympic Park (COP), right along the Trans-Canada Highway.

• Hampton Inn & Suites Calgary-University Northwest

  phone: +1 403-289-9800
  address: 2231 Banff Trail NW

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Calgary NW - University Area

  phone: +1 587-390-6100
  address: 2373 Banff Trail NW

• Sandman Hotel & Suites Calgary West

  phone: +1 403-288-6033
  address: 125 Bowridge Dr NW
  Across from the world-class Canada Olympic Park (COP), right along the Trans-Canada Highway

Splurge

• Hotel Arts Kensington

  phone: +1 403-228-4442
  address: 1126 Memorial Dr NW
  Boutique hotel in Kensington, just across the river from downtown, with an amazing exterior display of "Whoville" from The Grinch who Stole Christmas during the holidays.

Bed & Breakfast

• Blackmore's Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 403-460-2054
  address: 5024 Vanstone Crescent NW
  15-minute walk to Dalhousie LRT (tram) Station, simple healthy breakfast, non-smoking, no pets.

• Cozy Nest B&B

  phone: +1 403-286-7041
  address: 908 Silverview Dr NW
  Wheelchair ramp at rear entrance. 15-min bus ride to Dalhousie LRT (tram) Station. River valley view. Western breakfast. Long stays available in winter months.

Campgrounds and RV parks

• Calaway Park RV Park and CampgroundOpen Victoria Day weekend (late May) to Labour Day (early Sept). Next to Calaway Park amusement park near Trans-Canada Hwy west of Calgary. Hookup types: power, water & sewer; power only; no hookups. All sewer hookups require rigid hose connector to campground receptacles. Gates locked from 10PM-6AM, Stampede Week locked midnight-6AM. No campfires, no charcoal BBQs. Pets welcome, day kennel services at campground for fee.

• Calgary West Campground

  phone: +1 403-288-0411
  address: 221 101 St SW
  Open from April 15 to October 15. Take Valley Ridge Boulevard/Crestmont Boulevard exit from Hwy 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy) on west edge of Calgary. Hookup types available: 120 sites with power, water, & sewer; 120 sites power & water; 80 no hookups. 20 & 30 amps available. Some pull-through sites. Pet-friendly. Campfires prohibited by city bylaw. Free shuttle to Calgary Transit bus stop at Canada Olympic Park; express shuttle to Stampede grounds during Stampede Week.

• Calgary Public Library

  phone: +1 403-260-2600
  Wi-Fi available, free memberships available only to Calgary residents, guest passes available.

• Bowness Library

  address: 6532 Bowness Road NW

• Crowfoot Library

  address: 8665 Nose Hill Drive NW

• Louise Riley Library

  address: 1904 14 Avenue NW

• Nose Hill Library

  address: 1530 Northmount Drive NW

• Rocky Ridge Library

  address: 11300 Rocky Ridge Road NW

• Sage Hill Library

  address: 19 Sage Hill Passage NW

All hospitals operate 24-hour emergency departments.

• Alberta Children's Hospital

  phone: +1 403-955-7211
  address: 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW
  For patients aged 17 and under. Look for the multi-coloured building near the top of the hill. Patients over age 17 should go to the Foothills Medical Centre, which is close by.

• Foothills Medical Centre

  phone: +1 403-944-1110
  address: 1403 29 Street NW
  For patients aged 15 and older. Patients under 15 years of age should go to Alberta Children's Hospital, which is very close to Foothills Medical Centre.