Do you ever drive around Calgary, see a bar with a sun-bleached sign, and wonder what’s behind those doors? You’ve lived in the city your whole life and somehow have never set foot into these holes-in-the-wall despite them being around for decades.
Our crack team (aka me, The Scene’s editorial team, and any buddies who want to eat and drink all afternoon) puts feet to the pavement in less-travelled areas. Our mission? To find the hidden gems just beneath the surface of the urban sprawl that is the Blue Sky City.
This time, we explored Calgary’s loudest highway: Macleod Trail. Chain restaurants and big-box stores are staples (and will get their appropriate shout-outs), but there are also many locally owned establishments dotted along the way.
This trip runs from Southcentre Mall to Chinook Mall, landing you just outside the city core if you want to keep the night going.
STOP #1
BOSTON PIZZA
10456 Southport Rd. S.W.
Let’s start with a dank Canadian classic. Despite the name, Boston Pizza actually hails from Edmonton. But “Edmonton Pizza” had a decidedly different ring to it.
Yes, this is a chain place. But the Boston Pizza lounge still thrives as a spot to hang out for a few beers in between more obscure stops. This BP’s does indeed have a few dive bar staples: regulars, a pool table, and, soon, maybe even live music with the company’s recently announced Live & Local initiative, which is bringing bands to various locations across Canada.
Once you’ve set a nice base in your belly and got a bit of a buzz off a 21-oz “Boston-sized” pint, it’s time to head north.
HIGHLIGHTS: Good (maybe even great) pizza, big beers, a pool table
STOP #2
SOUTHLAND YARD
135 Southland Dr. S.E.
Nestled inside the Delta Hotel is Southland Yard. Once called Boomtown Pub and Patio, it has now become something resembling a neighbourhood
bar crossed with your dad’s mancave basement, complete with foosball tables and craft beer in the fridge. Stylized graffiti drapes the walls, and a giant light-up “PLAY” sign
adorns the ceiling above a Star Wars pinball machine. The prices and branding might trick you into thinking this isn’t a dive, but the pool table and gaming room speak to the space’s ‘80s watering-hole roots. A quick happy-hour drink at the bar, and you’ve seen all you need to see at this stop.
HIGHLIGHTS: Cornhole, pinball, chef- inspired spins on pub food
STOP #3
SMITTY’S
9640 Macleod Tr. S.
Tucked in between Wal-Mart and Lowe’s is a small location of the breakfast-turned-pub food chain Smitty’s Restaurant & Lounge. The first location was actually opened inside Chinook Mall in 1960, so this feels like a fitting detour in our journey.
The lounge is a small room that feels like it hasn’t been touched in 30 years. To the side, there’s even a makeshift stage, possibly for karaoke.
After ringing the bell to summon a bartender, do not try to order any draught beer as the taps behind the counter are just for show. Bottled beer, cheap wings depending on the day, and all-day breakfast are the name of the game here.
Soak in a warm ‘90s lounge experience before stumbling back into the bustling mini mall parking lot.
HIGHLIGHTS: Dive aesthetic, cheap wings, a decidedly retro feel
STOP #4
REGAL BEAGLE
180 94 Ave. S.E.
If you’re old enough to remember the amazing buffet restaurant Treasures of China, then you’re old enough to drink at the nearby Reagle Beagle. There are knick-knacks on every wall, every shelf, every table, and even hanging from the roof. The massive bar boasts about a dozen seats that tend to fill up quickly on a Saturday afternoon.
There’s a pretty solid beer selection, but the star of the show is the weird and wild shots menu. Why not try a Hot Pussy, a John Deere, or an Alien Brain Hemorrhage?
HIGHLIGHTS: Very weird shots, live music, friendly staff, great wings
STOP #5
THE KING’S HEAD
9116 Macleod Tr. S.
A quick half-block walk past the vacant lot where the old Comedy Cave once stood brings you to The King’s Head Eatery & Music Room. Now fully branded as a music venue, the interior feels like an old-school pub, with a clear focus on the stage. The huge bar is surrounded by a very dusty-looking library section, complete with a knight in armour. If you’re down to listen to a jam band blasting out covers for the aging regulars while slamming a Coors, you could easily kill an entire Saturday here.
HIGHLIGHTS: Live music, another pool table, a library
STOP #6
DUDLEY’S GAMING LOUNGE
9030 Macleod Tr. S.E. (inside the Carriage House Hotel)
Across the street is a Calgary staple, the Carriage House Hotel. A quick dip through the lobby and you’ll find yourself inside Dudley’s Gaming Lounge. A gaudy, fully gold bar sits in the middle of a small room surrounded by a dozen VLTs. The rest of the decor fits the ‘80s style, with some plush armchairs and gold-rimmed tables ready for the taking. Time stands firmly still inside this lounge, but you don’t have to, as the next stop is only steps away.
HIGHLIGHTS: Golden decor, lunch specials, 10(!) video lottery terminals
STOP #7
PEANUTS PUBLIC HOUSE
9030 Macleod Tr. S.E. (inside the Carriage House Hotel)
Jaunt (or stumble, depending on how many cold ones you have crushed) across the lobby of the Carriage House Hotel, and you will find Peanuts Public House. Living up to the name, each table gets a “flight” of salted, spiced, and honey-roasted peanuts. Recent renovations include tons of televisions and a strange glass showcase wall with beer kegs behind it. On a Saturday night, it’s loud and feels like a local hotspot. The beers are cold and varied, but a smidge expensive. After eating peanuts and getting thirstier, it’s time to move on.
HIGHLIGHTS: Peanuts, TV for sports games, lively crowds
STOP #8
JOHN HENRY’S PUB
7730 Macleod Tr. S.W.
A little further north, and the Tom’s House of Pizza sign appears, like a legendary spectre of Calgary’s past. Instead of going left into the dining room, opt for the right door and head into John Henry’s Pub, which is attached and shares a menu with Tom’s. Nothing too fancy about the spot, but that’s completely fine. Who knows? You might even make some new friends with the loyal regulars. Or you could chow down on a C.J.’s Combo pizza completely to yourself. We won’t judge.
HIGHLIGHTS: All-you-can-eat pizza buffet, if you’re there for lunchtime
STOP #9
LIMERICKS TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HOUSE
7304 Macleod Tr.
A straight shot through some parking lots and Limerick’s awaits. This two-level pub was once a legendary party spot, and if you listen carefully, you can hear the revelry of Calgary bar-hoppers past. The downstairs is usually closed unless there’s a private event, so head up the creaky staircase and enter the large room that looks like the textbook definition of an Irish pub. If these walls could talk, they would brag about the troubling amount of Lighthouse Ales drank and chicken wings eaten back in the day. Grab a couple of Gas Lamp craft beers and marvel at a relic of the past.
HIGHLIGHTS: “Irish” vibes, warm lighting, classic pub fare menu
STOP #10
O’SULLIVANS
5809 Macleod Tr. S.W.
Amongst the bakeries and bitcoin vendors just north of Chinook Mall is O’Sullivan’s Restaurant & Bar, proudly shilling cheap wings and good times since 1985. The interior feels like a narrow hallway that leads to a back section, where more seating and a stage await. On Saturdays, this becomes karaoke heaven.
This spot is a true hidden gem staffed by extremely kind servers, making it the perfect place to end this trip through Macleod Trail’s watering holes.
HIGHLIGHTS: Karaoke, multiple wing nights, Calgary dive bar history
NOTES FOR YOUR OWN CRAWL:
- Plan your walking route in advance. Calgary isn’t always foot-traffic friendly.
- Assemble the right crew: open-minded and dirtbag enough to appreciate a good dive.
- Keep it to ONE drink per stop. If folks violate this, leave them in the dust. Time waits for no person.
- This is a walking tour. Wear runners, and don’t drink and drive!
