I usually balk at a $20 burger. And if it’s $23.50, forget it, even with some nice fries.
But a happy-hour (Thursday 2-5 pm) deal that knocks $5 off the price is enough to get me in the door of Spot On Kitchen & Bar, next door to Mount Royal University in southwest Calgary.
Spot On Kitchen & Bar is next door to Calgary’s Moount Royal University
I’m here to try the celebrated Super Dave (the cook, not the stuntman) smash burger: two hefty AAA Alberta beef patties loaded with cheese, grilled onion and mushrooms into a valiant brioche bun.
It’s a large, messy, juicy affair; one of the best smash burgers I’ve devoured. Paired with a basket of hot of kennebec-potato fries, this smash burger was well worth the $18.50 cost.
Two days earlier, I’d never heard of the place. But here I am at Begonia Bakehouse on a Sunday mid-morning, and there’s a line of young Beltliners stretching to the door.
Some are here for a Monogram-roasted coffee. But they’re all picking up delectable pastries—twice-baked croissants, egg brioche, kouign-amann—and loaves of naturally leavened sourdough bread.
A sweet treat
Indeed, Begonia is one of a handful of Calgary bakeries producing both high-end pastries and artisan breads. Owner and SAIT graduate Elizabeth Reimer opened this little bakeshop in 2023 and is constantly introducing new creations such as a pastry apparently containing apples from her mother’s yard.
I manage to score the last loaf of sprouted sourdough; no such luck with the cherry pistachio sourdough. But I do claim a wee table to devour a sublime almond croissant and a “Canadiano”.
A delectable hazelnut fig loaf
Looks like I’ll have to show up earlier for future visits.
Followup: A week later, I’m there at 9 am and able to score a delightfully chewy hazelnut fig loaf ($8, available Saturday only), a decadent pain Suisse ($5.25) and, what the heck, a substantial made-to-order turkey sandwich to go, a $9 bargain. And the busy staff are so friendly!
A made-to-order turkey sandwich
After only two visits, Begonia is my new, favourite Calgary bakery.
Begonia Bakehouse 1502 14 Street SW, Calgary Wednesday to Saturday 8 am-3 pm, Sunday 8 am-2 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday 587-355-7768
Vintage Caffeine the latest coffee shop in Hillhurst
Calgary has its Barley Belt, a collection of craft breweries in the city’s southeast. Perhaps it’s time to declare a similar coffee circuit.
Quietly and quite recently, four coffee shops have opened along a few blocks of 19th Street in the northwest neighbourhood of Hillhurst. Here’s a brief description of each.
I invariably take my coffee black, typically an Americano/Canadiano. But in the interests of research, I’m willing to add some white liquid to the mix.
At vegan Vintage Caffeine, (101 19 Street NW) that means the dairy-free “milk” is instead oat, soy or almond. I’m not ready to switch to white, but my oat milk cappuccino (Fratello beans) tastes pretty darn good, paired with a house-made chipotle empanada.
Vintage has gone vegan
Now here’s a true partnership. The aptly named Pocket Coffee (317 19 Street SW) is owned by attached Dairy Lane Café, with roasted beans from Fratello and baked treats from superb Butter Block. Be bold and tackle a French toast latte and double-baked apple croissant on the sidewalk patio.
Pocket Coffee
Crave Cupcakes has expanded its mini empire with a new Hillhurst bakery that includes an attached coffee shop, CeCe’s Coffee (114 18 A Street). Order a Monogram-based java with a fresh-baked cupcake or savoury cheddar scone.
My family calls this quadruple (?) French brie “crack”. It just glides from the knife, or finger, and down the throat. No chewing required. Don’t ask what it costs.
Available at Luc’s cheese emporium in both Calgary Farmers’ Market locations.
In no particular order. As you can see, I’m partial to baked treats. Links are provided where there’s a website.
Eight styles of innovative pirogies at Krooked Provisions. Everything’s fabulous at this eclectic Avenida Market kiosk, my top Calgary eats pick of 2025.
Krooked Provisions owners Lyndon and Leeanne
Pour-over coffee at Q.lab. Choose your Chronicle-roasted bean, and get a free coffee when you buy beans
Q.lab Calgary’s best coffee
Epic Vietnamese-French beef dip and papaya side salad at Bonjour Saigon
Bonjour Saigon’s beef dip
Fusion “croissandwiches” at Poesie. Check out the truffle gouda
Terrific croissandwich at Poesie
Grilled chicken Vietnamese sub at Bee The BanhMi, in Avenida Market. The pho is pretty epic, too
Vietnamese sub at Bee The BanhMi
Pulled pork breakfast sandwich, on house-baked focaccia buns, at tiny, Elbow River-side Apprentice Cafe
Breakfast sandwich on house-made foccacia at Apprentice Cafe
Decadent brioche-based pain Suisse at Begonia Bakehouse, my favourite newish Calgary bakery
Begonia Bakehouse
Savoury cacio e pepe croissant, chased with an orgasmic lemon tart, at Otie Cafe
Like some lemon in that Otie Cafe tart?
No way this makes sense chocolate banana bread pudding muffin at heavyweight baker Butter Block
Divine chocolate banana bread pudding muffin at Butter Block
French choux pastries and roll cakes at baked pastry maestro Mari Bakeshop
Hugely popular Mari Bakeshop
Holy shit, who needs meat when you’ve got this vegan ginger chick’un wrap at Hearts Choices?
Slow-braised brisket birria tacos, grilled as a finishing touch, at Taqueria El Chefe
Taqueria El Chefe
Leaping-flame takeout pad Thai at ghost kitchen Hungry Thaiger in Oakridge Community Centre
Ghost kicthen Hungry Thaiger
Sushi lunch specials, with miso soup and yam tempura, at elegant Ryuko in Christie Estates
Japanese lunch specials at Ryuko
Chicken wings, smoked brisket sandwich and a Turntable lager at jumping Beltline brewpub Trolley 5
Trolley 5 is Calgary’s best brewpub?
Big-deal Indian meal of black lentil curry, superb veggie samosas and cups of masala chai at Deepak’s Dhaba
Fabulous Indian meal at Deepak’s Dhaba
Selecta divine box of dessert treats from TikTok sensation Creme Cream Puffs
Marathon Mouth 