neighbourhood guides

Avenue Magazine’s Top Calgary Neighbourhoods (& Our Personal Favourites)

Avenue Calgary recently published their guide to Calgary’s best neighbourhoods (out of a whopping 197 of them). They pulled together a panel of judges to assess each one, which resulted in 13 category winners. Neighbourhoods like Kensington, Varsity, The University District, Lake Bonavista, Charleswood and Cliff Bungalow made the list. To make it easy, we’ve included the article here! Did yours make the list? ✨

We love so many of the neighbourhoods featured, and we’re happy to work and play in them! Check out our personal faves below. 👇🏼

Art’s Favourite Neighbourhood: Heritage Pointe

He might be biased, but Heritage Pointe is an amazing newer lake community with all the best offerings, including a golf course, walking paths, newer homes and a lake (of course)! Art recently bought a house in the community, and he’s loving it. If you haven’t had a chance to visit, it might be worth coming down to see us at our Pumpkin Giveaway on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 10am to 2pm. Would love to see you there. 🎃

Josh’s Favourite Neighbourhood(s): Elbow Park, Ramsay, Cliff Bungalow

Out of all 197, he puts Elbow Park, Ramsay and Cliff Bungalow at the top of his list. Why? The prices, walkability and proximity to downtown are pretty hard to beat. There are also mandates in place that prevent industrial buildings from going in too close to residential ones in these areas, which really makes them feel a bit different than a lot of others in the city. Cliff Bungalow is wonderful (as recognized by Avenue, too) because it shares the same benefits as Mission but is slightly more quiet.

A Guide to 6 of the Best Weekend Spots in Hillhurst

Hillhurst is Calgary’s neighbourhood by the water – the Bow River, that is. Spending time in this neighbourhood during the summer often involves cooling off in the river, perusing the local shops and walking through the quaint surrounding neighbourhoods of Kensington and Sunnyside. 

10th Street

The neighbourhood’s Kensington Road and 10th Street are two of the most bustling local streets with great shopping and restaurants. From cooking classes to espresso cafes, 10th Street has an abundance of opportunities to keep you busy on your day out on the town. Brooklyn Clothing, Hot Wax, Kismet, The Rocket, Sunnyside Natural Market, Ridley’s Cycle, The Beehive and Sunnyside Art Supplies are just some of the shops within walking distance of the river. 

Riley Park

Kensington not only has some amazing local boutiques and businesses, but it also has an incredible green space called Riley Park. To say that the park is bustling at all times is an understatement. There is truly a sense of community when you’re here. Fun fact, Riley Park often hosts Cricket games, which are a rare sight in Calgary! 

Kensington Wine Market

This is our favourite place to get wine, beer, spirits and gifts in the Kensington, Hillhurst and Sunnyside area, primarily due to its more small-batch offerings. Since its official opening in 1992, the locale has now grown from a small team of four to 20 dedicated beer, wine and whisky experts. They’re famous in the Whisky community, as they import some of the rarest bottles from Scotland. Don’t forget to drop by Peasant Cheese to pick up some world class cheese…COMTE anyone?! 

Deville Coffee

Calgarians have nothing but good things to say about the new Deville Coffee Kensington location, which recently opened during winter 2021. The new opening has lived up to the expectations of Hillhurst residents who were concerned about the closing of the Starbucks flagship store back in 2019. This coffee shop is owned and operated by individuals who live in the communities they operate in, and all of their beans are small-batch roasted and direct-trade.

The Naked Leaf

This is seriously one of the best tea shops in town due to its extensive selection of tea and tea accessories. This shop’s commitment is focused on the community and bringing tea consumption back to its roots—all-natural and unhurried. Walking into The Naked Leaf is an experience all on its own, from choosing your tea to packing it up, one that we very much welcome. If you’re looking to buy an amazing tea blend, look no further than this little tea shop. Jonathan Kane, The Naked Leaf’s owner, readily recommends the smoked maple as an inviting and inventive tea for the cooler months. 

Looking to buy or sell in Hillhurst? Let’s grab a coffee! Get in touch with us by emailing office@lesliemethot.ca.

Bridgeland Neighbourhood Guide

Bridgeland is an inner-city Calgary neighbourhood with one of the most incredible views of the river and the downtown core. Centrally located with a tight-knit community feel, Bridgeland is the ultimate destination for those seeking out an artisan coffee, gourmet pizza or homemade ice cream. 

Our 5 Favourite Spots in Bridgeland

General Block Building

The General Block building is home to three of Calgary’s most well-known food establishments: Village Ice Cream, Phil & Sebastian and UNA Pizza. Bordering on Murdoch Park, this building is a local destination all-year round. These three restaurants have some of the best offerings in the entire city—we recommend the earl grey or coffee ice cream from Village, the maple Hoopla donut from P&S and a 4-maggi pizza from UNA. On top of all of this, the building’s amazing design was created by local building developer, RNDSQR, with community unification in mind.

Murdoch Park

Situated in the heart of the action. Murdoch Park serves as a place for summer picnics, get togethers and workout sessions. In the summertime, Bridgeland Yoga holds their “Yoga in the Park” at Murdoch, a by-donation yoga class series that brings Calgarians together from across the city. The park’s distance from all of the local eateries makes it a prime spot to watch the sunset or view the Calgary skyline at night. We love hopping over to UNA Pizza for a delicious piece of pizza pie and spending the rest of the day in the sunshine.

Made by Marcus

If you thought one ice cream shop wasn’t enough, try two! The Bridgeland-Riverside area is also home to Made by Marcus, one of Calgary’s most inventive ice cream shops. This shop is one of four Made by Marcus locations, all of which are lined up out the door all year round (yes, winter too). If you’re looking to do a taste test of all the Bridgeland ice cream, the lemon curd blueberry and sea salt and goat milk caramel flavours are fan favourites. In addition to their classic flavours, Made by Marcus creates some of the best and most interesting flavours for every season.

Lil’ Empire Burger

Lil’ Empire is a burger joint that is fashioned after the iconic roadside burger institutions that are native to southern California. Here, you can find some of the best hot dogs, dirty fries and burgers in the city. Their Bridgeland location has seen tremendous support, and we believe this will continue for years to come. Even better, you can stop by one of the local ice cream places after snacking on one of Lil’ Empire’s offerings for the ultimate summer day. 

Bridgeland Market

During the summer months, a stop at the Bridgeland Market is a highlight and always a necessity. It’s important to know that the market is more than just a grocery store—it’s a cafe, flower shop and well-curated market, all in one! Our idea of a perfect day involves a delicious charcuterie board, iced coffee and an abundance of snacks, which you can find all at the Bridgeland Market. 

Are you selling or buying in Bridgeland? Let’s grab a coffee – get in touch with us by emailing office@lesliemethot.ca.

How to Spend Summer in Altadore

Altadore is one of Calgary’s best inner-city neighbourhoods. Located in the southwest quadrant of the city, this area is home to beautiful green spaces and amazing local businesses, remaining one of the most coveted areas in the city for good reason. Read on for some of our favourite local spots, from coffee shops to dog parks.

Coffee

Photo credit: Monogram Coffee

Monogram

Monogram is a well-known coffee shop among Calgarians, with two other locations in the city—Britannia and Fifth Avenue Place. The Altadore location is the one that started it all, and it still remains the tried and true for Calgarians. The team believes that at the end of the day, coffee should inspire warmth, wonder and the creation of community. Stop by this locale and treat yourself to an iced americano or latte to drink by the park. 

Photo credit: NHBR

NHBR

Fondly known to Calgarians as the sister cafe to the always famous Our Daily Brett, NHBR serves up some of the best snacks and coffee in the area. NHBR is one of the go-to neighbourhood hangout spots because of its beautifully designed space and central location. The cute bistro tables out front are ideal for soaking up the sun in the summer. If you’re planning on stopping by, a latte and the avocado toast is the perfect pairing for a hot sunny day.   

Parks

River Park and Sandy Beach Park

Together, these parks make Altadore a prime buying location for athletes, dog lovers and local enthusiasts. River Park is located on a ridge that has great scenic views of the Calgary skyline and an expansive off-leash park. Walking down the hill, you are met with Sandy Beach Park, a local favourite during the summer months with cool waters and fire pits. We love heading down here for summer picnics and cooling down in the Elbow River. 

Photo credit: Wslishare

Eateries

My Favourite Ice Cream Shop

My Favourite Ice Cream Shop is truly the name of this locale, and we are happy to say that it holds true. This one-of-a-kind scoop shop oozes nostalgia that brings you back to your earliest childhood memories. Since 1981, it has served Calgary with over 80 different flavours, making it extremely unique to the area. There really is a flavour for everyone, from Japanese green tea to red velvet ice cream, and of course, traditional vanilla. 

Photo credit: The Garrison

Garrison Pub

Grabbing a cold beer from Garrison Pub is part of a typical summer day in the life of an Altadore local. The Garrison always has lots to choose from for your pub hangout, whether you’re looking to have a snack or a full lunch. If you’re ever looking for somewhere to catch the latest hockey game or just catch up with a friend, then this is the place for you.

Looking to buy or sell in Altadore? Let’s grab a coffee – get in touch with us at office@lesliemethot.ca.