Calgary has a great restaurant scene. And with that busy and bustling food scene comes a huge variety of places to host your next event, like the annual Christmas party.
Credit: Jay Wennington/Unsplash
Calgary’s restaurants offer a huge variety in terms of atmosphere and menus, but also in terms of capacity. This means you can easily find the perfect fit for your holiday parties, and provide your group with great food, entertainment, and festive drinks. And while you’ll want to consider these venues/restaurants for group or work Christmas parties, you can also keep them in mind for other large events like rehearsal dinners, family reunions, weddings, or other corporate/work parties.
The variety between these Calgary restaurants and their private rooms or large spaces can give you casual or formal parties, and each restaurant can suit a variety of party styles: choose between cocktail receptions, private seated dinners for 10-12, buffets, prixe fixe menus, or total restaurant buyouts which give you the entire space for your event!
River Café
You will receive many things out of a group holiday booking at Calgary’s River Café: the location is a pretty winter riverside setting, while the restaurant interior is beautifully decorated in a stylish rustic way. The dining area even looks out onto the snowy river views. You and your party will also get a few options on how to set up your meals of the café’s gourmet food.
Where: 25 Prince’s Island
How to book: online form
Blowers & Grafton
We are now lucky enough to get Halifax’s Street food as a gourmet style from four Blowers & Grafton locations in Alberta. And you can book an awesome holiday get together at two of those spots in Calgary. The wide open dining areas the restaurants make for perfect socializing atmosphere, while the menu includes filling options that appeal to all different tastes.
Where: 2120 4th Street SW
12650 Symons Valley Road NW
How to book: online form
Lougheed House
Design the perfect small dinner, festive cocktail party or year-end bash at Lougheed House, an 1891 Victorian mansion in the heart of the Beltline. Vintage rooms are decked out with seasonal décor, and you can add full holiday-themed catering, entertainment, and hosting. Book the whole house for your event, or one or a few rooms, from the grand drawing room to the intimate conservatory.
Where:
Lougheed House National & Provincial Historic Site, 707 – 13th Avenue SW, Calgary
How to book: online
Credit: Gingersnap Photography.
The Guild
You can pick the type of party you desire at the Guild according to your party size: first, they offer semi-private dining spaces for a holiday dinner with coworkers or larger groups, and second, the Restaurant is available for complete buyouts. Reserving the entire Guild for your party will allow for up to 200 seated guests, or 300 guests at a standing reception!
Where: 200 8 Avenue SW
How to book: email events@oliverbonacini.com
Rendesvouz
The Rendesvouz restaurant in Calgary’s Courtyard Marriot hotel can be party central for the night for you and your group. And with the hotel onsite, your guests can even treat themselves to a night away from home. The site is complete with dining space, lounge space, and a light up dance floor, and the restaurant offers several events packages from which choose
Where: 3750 Market St SE
How to book: email sales@rendesvouz.ca
The Lake House
There are a number of ways to book a beautiful holiday party for groups or coworkers at The Lake House in Calgary’s Bonavista neighbourhood: they can accommodate large or small groups, as well as different styled meals including seated, cocktail reception, or buffets. Along with all the fine food your guests can enjoy is an unbeatable winter scene over Lake Bonavista.
Where: 747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE
How to book: online form
Rouge
Rouge offers several spaces to consider for larger parties and makes for a beautiful holiday or Christmas setting. The older restored building is a beautiful backdrop for group photos under the snow, as it the entire grounds. And inside the restaurant are six options for bookings, or you can also book the entire house.
Where: 1240 8th Avenue S.E.
How to book: email events@rougecalgary.com
Teatro
No matter the size of your party this holiday season, Teatro can accommodate and provide you with fine Italian dining, a huge list of wines, and a luxurious atmosphere. The restaurant can fit up to 250 people, but you may also book experience for smaller groups of 2-10. They can be flexible, too, in terms of how you’d like to serve the evening’s meals or drinks.
Where: 200 8th Avenue SE
How to book: email brittany@teatrogroup.ca
Alloy
Take a seat at Alloy’s large tables inside their trendy dining room for a night of food, drinks, and holiday celebrations. The Calgary fine dining restaurant can accommodate large groups, too, with a space suited to 120 seated or 150 standing. So, you can treat your group to either a cocktail reception with cocktails and canapes, or a classic seated and plated dinner.
Where: 220 42 St. SW
How to book: online form
Free House
Gather round for food, for the love of beer, and the love of the holidays this season with Calgary’s Free House, and their large events space. The beer hall is set up for socializing with long table dining, space for live music or a DJ, and is a beautiful place for a seated dinner. You may even add a beer tasting experience on to your event, depending on the group size.
Where: 1153 Kensington Cres NW
How to book: email info@freehouseyyc.com
The Rooftop
It might be winter outside for the holiday season, by the Rooftop restaurant makes it all disappear with its unique patio atmosphere. Everything is indoors on the Rooftop, but the décor and umbrella roof make it all feel like a warm spring day in Calgary. The fun atmosphere here pairs well with their extensive list of wines, cocktails, beers, or bubbles.
Where: 414 3rd Street SW
How to book: email reservations@therooftop.ca
The Rec Room
The Rec Room offers five separate event and party areas for a variety of group sizes. The Dens is the smallest and can fit 50 guests, while the largest room, the Loft, fits 400 guests. And no matter the size of your party, you’ll all be able to enjoy the amenities of the Rec Room like the arcade games, virtual reality games, sports on the big screens, and the extensive food options.
Where: 1180-901 64 Ave NE
How to book: online form
Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
The warm, inviting, and already-nearly-festive environment in the Vintage Chophouse & Tavern will make a great escape from the cold for a night of holiday fun. You or your company can treat a large group to the Tavern’s elegant steakhouse experience complete with craft cocktails, an array of smaller appetizers or canapes, and a large wine list. The Tavern offers smaller private rooms for group dinners, areas for cocktail receptions, and full buyouts of the Tavern which will fit 200 guests.
Where: 320 11 Ave SW
How to book: email events@vintagechophouse.com
Briggs Kitchen & Bar
The comfortable dining and party space at Briggs can make for a festive event of a wide range of sizes. The kitchen offers a select menu of large and small plates, while the bar offers a long wine list, signature cocktails, local brews, import beer, and more.
Where: 100 – 317 10th Avenue SW
How to book: email colleen@briggskandb.ca
Schanks Sports Grill
You can count on Schanks for a number of parts of your company parties, including food, drinks, and onsite activities. The menus can be customized to suit your groups’ needs, with styles like a cocktail reception, or a buffet selection, as well as dietary restriction planning.
Where: 9627 MacLeod Trail South
How to book: online form