It’s time to shed your coastal elitist preconceptions and take another look over the Rocky Mountains.

If you’re a connoisseur of both cultural venues and culinary hotspots, perhaps you’ve neglected Calgary. You may even stereotype Alberta’s largest city as merely a cluster of corporate towers with devout dudes named Doug and Dwayne banning books and drilling for dollars.

If so, it’s time to shed your coastal elitist preconceptions and take another look over the Rocky Mountains. Ahead of the Glenbow Museum’s much-anticipated 2027 reopening, there’s plenty to sample in Calgary culture-wise and food-wise. Here are five suggested pairings for different palates.

1. From the library to the farmers’ market

Helsinki’s Oodi wasn’t the only spectacular city library launched in 2018. The Calgary Central Library, which spans 240,000 square feet, is equally worth visiting.

The soaring atrium’s curved-wood contours are illuminated by natural light. Beyond the excellent collection of books, this space is used by the entire community: recording facilities, gaming studios and a children’s play area await. You might hear the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” or Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” echoing as locals play Jenga.

Don’t miss the Indigenous teepee and the metal buffalo sculpture (“Education Is the New Buffalo”) by Lionel Peyachew.

Afterwards, make the 20-minute drive to the capacious Calgary Farmers’ Market West in search of more variety. Grab a Hot Hawaiian pizza at The Mash with pineapple, ham, jalapeno and red onion, and check out the Archie comics adorning the washroom walls.

Noteworthy beverage vendors include the 2010-founded Fallentimber Meadery, whose canned Meadjito features fresh mint, lime and honey, and Eau Claire Distillery, whose Rupert’s Exceptional Canadian Whiskey wins awards in international spirits competitions. (Rupert is a dapper suit-wearing moose unlikely to be banned by Doug and Dwayne.)

2. Military lore and lunchtime magic

In our war-torn world, the Military Museums of Calgary — billed as “Western Canada’s largest tri-service military history…and educational institution” — is an eye-opening attraction. Tour permanent exhibitions on the Enigma machine that Nazi Germany used for coded transmissions about U-boat attacks and the 1950s Canadian-built CF-5 Freedom Fighter plane.

The mood lightens during lunch at Veranda at The Stables, which is just steps away. The 1936-built former barracks for Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment no longer houses up to 100 horses, but instead features Burwood Distillery and a full-service restaurant.

Sip a Blueberry Reviver cocktail (Single Hive smooth bourbon, Lillet, blueberry syrup, lemon, absinthe) and munch on chicken wings with dill garlic sauce. Bee-themed artwork reflects Burwood’s incorporation of honey into its spirits and Calgary’s status as North America’s No. 3 honey-producing destination.

3. Hockey farewell and down-home pub food

Opera and ballet fans (i.e. Timothée Chalamet’s sworn enemies) might not see the Scotiabank Saddledome as a cultural institution. However, the 1983-built arena, featuring an iconic curved roof, became a signature Calgary architectural landmark prior to the 1988 Winter Olympics, where it hosted both hockey and figure skating.

The 2026-27 NHL season also marks the last chance to watch Canada’s national sport within these walls. The Saddledome will be demolished after the Calgary Flames relocate to a new $1.2-billion event centre called Scotia Place, which will co-host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey with Edmonton and Prague.

So it’s time to experience the popcorn-tinged smell of an old barn with sticky floors, George Canyon’s stentorian anthem-singing, and the flames shooting from the roof after Calgary scores. View jerseys worn by Sergei Makarov or Theo Fleury, and an ’88 Olympic photo montage with figure skating rivals Katarina Witt and Elizabeth Manley.

Pre- or post-game, walk to the Central restaurant in Calgary’s Beltline District. Amid vintage stereo speakers and photos of Muhammad Ali and Elton John, devour specialties like the Sichuan Chicken Rice Bowl and the Central Nacho Tray. Wash it all down with a local Wild Rose Wrapsberry Ale.

4. Bookstore fun and a brunch party

Bibliophiles gravitate to The Next Page, an acclaimed, Inglewood-based independent bookstore with a Harry Potter-esque ambience. Discounted used books and a vintage movie theatre await downstairs. There is also a seed library with everything from wild arugula to lemon marigold.

For a great weekend morning out, combine book-browsing with a hearty brunch nearby at The Nash, including mini cinnamon buns and heirloom tomato and avocado toast.

5. A music fan’s paradise and a steak-lover’s dream

The “Hockey Night in Canada”-themed drum kit played by the late Rush drummer Neil Peart is just one of the signature artifacts at Studio Bell: Home of the National Music Centre. See if you can spot Maestro Fresh Wes’s jacket from his 2024 Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction.

Alternatively, enjoy a live performance of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue or the Godfather theme on the 1924-made Kimball theatre organ. The Music & Wellness exhibition has cutting-edge research on the therapeutic effects of exposure to music on stress, depression and motor abilities.

Unless you’re a committed vegetarian, be sure to treat yourself to an Alberta steak dinner at the 1972-founded Caesar’s Steakhouse. The downtown institution has heavy red decor, wood panelling and bronze plaques depicting Julius Caesar for those who think daily about the Roman Empire.

Try the decadent Caesar salad made tableside, along with a 14-ounce ribeye steak done medium-rare, garlic bread and broccolini. (If you’re ever going to sing the same tune as Doug and Dwayne, this might be the place.)

Air Canada, Flair and WestJet combine for more than 20 daily flights from Vancouver to Calgary. Flight time is an hour and 20 minutes. Driving time via the Trans-Canada Highway is about 10 to 12 hours.

The writer visited as a guest of Tourism Calgary, which did not review or approve this story prior to publication.