Here's a closer look at Calgary's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms and other spaces available for events this fall. The new and renovated Calgary venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to COVID-19, or they may be operating at a lower capacity. As venues begin to slowly reopen across North America, we encourage event organizers to contact the venues to verify current capacity restrictions.
Hello Sunshine
Hello Sunshine is a restaurant and karaoke bar that opened in July in downtown Banff. The cozy joint serves a hybrid izakaya menu featuring shareable bar bites, sushi hand rolls, grilled yakitori skewers and crispy fried dishes like the chef-recommended cheeseburger gyoza. The 4,400-square-foot space has a wooden, retro interior and is complete with a sushi bar, fire tables, two karaoke rooms and a bonus Tiny Bar that offers Japanese whiskey. For private events, guests can buy out the entire venue at a $10,000 minimum or reserve the main dining room and karaoke bars individually. With a capacity of 125 standing or 90 seated, Hello Sunshine is a flexible space suited for intimate karaoke parties or larger events with a dining component.
Photo: Courtesy of Gareth Paget
The Rooftop
Opened in July by Ceili’s Calgary DT, The Rooftop is a new outdoor patio venue in downtown Calgary. The 13,000-square-foot space is open-concept and able to accommodate 290 seated or 392 standing. The venue serves shared plates and locally sourced dishes, as well as creative cocktails and a wide range of beer and wine. Besides food and beverage, the patio is equipped with a sound system, band stage, LED walls and projector TVs, suiting it for weddings, corporate events, launch parties, concerts and more. The venue is “weather-managed” thanks to a massive tent that keeps the space enclosed and covered during cold or rainy weather.
Photo: Courtesy of The Rooftop
The Brownstone
Located in the Beltline area, The Brownstone is a new event space that opened in July. The 7,000-square-foot interior is bright and open and has an industrial yet elegant aesthetic. The venue includes two getting-ready lounges, a built-in bar and a 500-square-foot outdoor patio. It can host events for 200 seated guests or 150 seated guests for events with a dance floor. For reception- and cocktail-style events, the venue can accommodate 250. Within a 10-minute walk from hotels, the Brownstone is a flexible space for corporate events, cocktail parties, weddings and more. Venue buyouts start at $7,450.
Photo: Courtesy of The Brownstone
Fonda Fora
Thank You Hospitality’s newest project, Fonda Fora is a contemporary Mexican restaurant that opened in the Westley Hotel in June. The interior is posh and bright with dramatic ceiling arches, meant to recall the luxe colonial style of chef Rafael Castillo’s hometown in Yucatan, Mexico. The restaurant’s food is also inspired by the Yucatan Peninsula, with many fresh seafood dishes and seasonal, vegetable-forward options. The drinks menu features classic cocktails with a twist, such as the Lee Trevino—Fonda Fora’s take on the classic Arnold Palmer with a nod to the Mexican pro golfer Lee Trevino. Available for buyouts, the venue has a main dining room, a private dining room and a patio, and it can accommodate a total of 100 seated or 240 reception style.
Photo: Chris Amat
Wainwright Hotel at Heritage Park
Situated inside Heritage Park’s Historical Village, the Wainwright Hotel reopened in July after half a year of renovation work. The refurbished hotel features a grand entrance with reception desk, a 700-square-foot saloon with dark-wood accents and a charming 2,400-square-foot dining room. The current hotel is a replica of the original building that burned down in 1929 during a fire that destroyed most of Wainwright’s business district. The Heritage Park replica was built in 1968 and now serves as a dining establishment as well as a popular wedding location. The venue can accommodate about 180 banquet style or 375 reception style, with space for an additional 120 on the upper-level theater. Rental for the entire hotel is $825 for the day or $1,025 for the evening. Food is prepared on-site by Heritage Park’s culinary team, and guests can add other experiences onto their booking, such as antique midway rides or private ghost tours.
Photo: Courtesy of Wainwright Hotel at Heritage Park
