EDMONTON, AB
Whether you’re in Edmonton for a quick layover or have lived here your entire life, this list has options.
N: NATURAL WINE | B: BIPOC-OWNED/OPERATED | W: WOMEN-OWNED/OPERATED | L: LGBTQIA2S+
ROSEWOOD
MORNING
Rosewood | the cutest humans making obscenely delicious breakfasts | their baked goods are otherworldly, you’ll need at least three crullers | NB | visit
Sorellina | the sassiest coffee shop in town | inspiring flamboyant espresso consumed in your wildest purple/yellow neon fantasy | W | visit
Take Care | adorable coffee shop with fresh baked goods and a breezy patio | they host mini markets with killer local vendors | visit
Rogue Wave | fresh cups for the geeks | wickedly aromatic coffees made with laser precision | visit
Iconoclast | thoughtful coffee roaster in the gorgeous oliver exchange building | the barista complimented my shirt two days in a row, so i’m forever loyal | visit
The Grizzlar | punk rock roaster with a focus on bombastic espresso | super passionate humans who are unapologetically themselves | visit
Transcend | hit up the coffee OGs for jitters and decadent baked goods | their instant is shockingly good | visit
Ace | their roastery location is stunning | a+ classic cappuccinos and croissants to get your day going | visit
Pip | their meteoric rise to fame required them to double their square footage | perfect place for a boozy breakfast, complete with natural wine | N | visit
Eleanor & Laurent | if you like eating pastries for breakfast, this french bakeshop has you covered | they’ve got all your picnic supplies on hand | visit
Sugarbowl | doesn’t matter what you’re craving, they’ve got your breakfast hopes and dreams covered | if enjoy day drinking, this is a good start | visit
HIGH DOUGH
NOON
May | bright and soul-warming flavours with a plethora of influences | gastronomic cocktails to get the juices flowing | visit
Farrow | between bread at four locations across the city | iconic takes on the breakfast sando and roast beef served by hoodlums | visit
Northern Chicken | a masterclass in tender, juicy, crunchy, and spicy | bring a crew so you can order more sides | visit
Wilfred’s | sunny restored building with wholesome midday classics | sharing a space with frozen treat daddy Made By Marcus | N | visit
Tokiwa | turning humble pork bones into absurdly delicious ramen stock | bouncy noodles that keep us rolling | B | visit
Jack’s | when you just need a classic burger | they get their beef via d’Arcy’s so you know it’s good | visit
Dalla | pastacentric comfort food to get you through the day | great little Italian micro wine list featuring plenty of our favourites | N | visit
Cô Chín | unapologetically authentic vietnamese food with zingy flavours | if you get takeaway, we suggest a bottle of Jochen Beurer’s Riesling Trocken as a pairing | B | visit
Cui Hua Gui Lin | chinese noodle restaurant serving up soul-warming favourites | so old-school they don’t have a website so just show up | B
King Noodle House | serious pho in the heart of edmonton’s chinatown | always satisfies our cravings for tendon and tripe | B | visit
Pei Pei Chei Ow | small restaurant celebrating indigenous food in the Whiskeyjack Art House | sign up for one of their bannock classes | B | visit
Dog Patch | rambunctious neighbourhood restaurant serving up fortifying classics that will help you bounce back from even the most hellish hangover | visit
Fox Burger | get that flat-top revving, it’s time for a smash burger | drink killer local beers on their rooftop patio | visit
Kusina | chill down a bottle of gamay noir from Laurent Saillard and pick up an outrageously large filipino take-out order | all the classics done right | B | visit
Fleisch | teurtonic-leaning neighbourhood joint serving everything from spätzle to döner | classic cockatils and a little wine list curated by sip | visit
High Dough | crunchy-fluffy rafts for wickedly inventive pizza topping combinations | deep dishes to get you fueled up for a full day | visit
Marlo | fresh tortillas made daily for their ultra flavourful tacos | choosing which hot sauce to use is the hardest part | visit
Pals | bread-bound bounty to crush your mid-day hunger pangs | i seldom pass up a side of pickle soup | visit
Flat Boy | minimalist burgers next to the river valley | skinny patties with that perfect flat-top crunch | visit
Noodle Feast | northern chinese dishes that capture the magic of xi'an cooking | if you’re not ordering the ice peak orange soda, you’re doing it wrong | B | visit
Dookbaeki | milky korean broths cooked for literal days to extract umami and a silky texture | opt for blood sausage and a coors lite | B | visit
Aachy’s | unsung spot for dosa on the west side of town | the mutton curries and gulab jamun| are hard to resist | B | visit
High Voltage | in a city known for its donairs, these folks stand out with their grilled pitas and killer sauces | visit
Gravy | slinging burgers just the way I like em’ | don’t skip the hot fries, you’d regret it forever | visit
SMOKEY BEAR
NIGHT
Darling | beloved natural wine restaurant graciously serving everything that makes us happy | bright, elegant, and playful flavours across the board | NL | visit
Biera | home of Blind Enthusiasm, this restaurant has an inspired take on Canadian cuisine | inventive preparations of seasonal ingredients from local farms | N | visit
RGE RD | the original nose-to-tail saints of edmonton | farm-to-table veggies, take-home charcuterie, and a serious wine list | N | visit
Bella | italian-inspired restaurant serving up classics that’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters | the ever-rotating wine list features so many of our favourites | N | visit
Woodwork | one of edmonton’s culinary cornerstones serving satiating canadiana under the vaulted ceilings | we love their classical wine list | N | visit
Leopard | these homies worked on their pizza dough for a million years | cocktails on tap and a concise and inspired wine list | N | visit
Uccellino | reliably exceptional italian fare | warm, professional service paired with vivid flavours and a wine list to back it up | N | visit
Otto | sausage royalty serving up germanic favourites | get a crispy beer to wingman your schnitzel | visit
Yarrow | massive tasting menu cooked over a fire for just a handful of people per night | some of my favourite meals ever have been in this space | B | visit
Die Pie | vegan pizza joint making their own cheese from scratch | sneaky little natural wine list for the thirsty nerds | N | visit
The Marc | classic french restaurant with lovely Sunday suppers focusing on specific wine regions | classics just the way you want em’ | visit
Sepp’s | the new york style pizzas of my dreams | pick up a wheel and crush a bottle of Cantina Marilina’s currivu rosso in someone’s backyard | visit
NongBu | lesser known korean dishes as well as classic drinking food | crush jeon and shoju while watching old korean films projected on the wall | B | visit
Boxer | an airy restaurant that feels just as good in the daylight as it does after dark | alberta twists on the classics | visit
Petite Iza | up a hidden stairway, you’ll find a magical restaurant that transports you back to france’s années folles | classics you never knew you needed | visit
Izakaya Tomo | japanese bar serving up an eye-popping variety of dishes | their sake and shochu selection is on point | B | visit
Smokey Bear | awe-inspiring, big-flavour dishes cooked over the coals, paired seamlessly with a fomo-inducing wine list | they bend over backwards to make you feel special | N | visit (temporarily closed)
CLEMENTINE
EVEN LATER
Partake | a tiny french wine bar that makes us feel like we’re in europe | the wine list is constantly changing with their mood, and the cocktails are devilishly good | visit
Fu’s Repair Shop | chinese-inspired menu that makes you want to drink all the refreshments | nearly impossible to decide which cocktail to order so try them all | B | visit
Bar Bricco | probably the place we’ve been to most in edmonton | italian watering hole with authentic small plates and an outrageous wine list | N | visit
Slow Pour | beer bar with the sneakiest mini-list of natural wines | they love nerding out and have an adorable patio | N | visit
Clementine | some of the best cocktails in the country, from classics to concoctions | worth visiting for the woodwork alone | visit
Bar at Yarrow | tiny intimate cocktail bar with a minimalist menu of maximally curated drinks | sometimes you can even sneak some wine over from their sister restaurant | visit
Honi Honi | properly boozy tiki drinks | if you don’t leave flammable, you’re doing it wrong | visit
The Common | keep an eye on their social media for live music | from jazz to ambient, they’ve done it all | B | visit
The Monolith | home to Blind Enthusiasm’s mixed culture, wild ferment, and barrel-aged beers | drink rarities in one of the most impressive breweries in town | visit
Two House Brewing | we adore their snappy take on lighter beer styles, but they’ve got some superbly tasteful ipas as well | home to ACME Pizza Co if you need to carb load | visit
Red Star | when you need to let loose with the homies and drink an unadvisable number of negronis | high-octane, industry after hours, get rowdy | visit
Next Act | every city has this pub, the place the locals go, where you can decompress and drink a dang good pint | visit
Come Find Me | courtyard wine bar with big cute energy | concise list of minimal intervention bangers from big and little names alike | N | visit (temporarily closed)
PLAZA BOWLING
CAPITALISM
Paper Birch | the most charming collection of new and used books assembled by an adorable prairie couple, one of whom has inspired me endlessly with their heartfelt poems | B | visit
Glass Bookshop | tenderly curated selection of writings with an emphasis on queer and bipoc authors | their staff selections never fail | visit
Foosh | sneaker-heads rejoice, your air jordan prayers have been answered | well-curated collection of streetwear | B | visit
I’ll Call You Tomorrow | art collective putting out flawless fits and dance parties | effortlessly cool, thoughtful collaborations, snag em’ before they’re gone | B | visit
The Observatory | if you share our predisposition for feeble eyes, these folks will sort you out with care and class | aspirational spectacle dealers | B | visit
Hideout Distro | an indescribably eclectic collection of covetable objects | supporting local artisans including Lofi Ceramics | W | visit
QUILTBAG | a superb collection of goods made by queer and trans folks | selection of stylish gender-affirming garments and pride accessories | LB | visit
RePlenish | high-quality, low-waste store for all your favourite household items | lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, detergent, sunscreen and much more | visit
Plaza Bowling | five pin wizards can show off their skills at this rockin’ little alley | their selection of craft beer on tap is better than most restaurants | visit
Kind Icecream | queer-owned slinger of delightful frozen treats | their ever-rotating cast of flavours often includes a limited edition release whose proceeds are donated | WL | visit
Yelo’d | filipino soft serve shop i can never resist | the ube ice cream has achieved local fame for a good reason | B | visit
Duchess | a staple in the canadian baked goods landscape | preorder hauntingly beautiful cakes for special occasions or pick up a dozen macarons for your drive home | visit
Biera Market | hold onto your wallets while you navigate this gourmand’s paradise | part bottle shop, part fromagerie, part bakery, and much more | N | visit
Brio | sourdough slingers making sure you have all the crunchy-fluffy goodness | you’ll inevitably grab a pastry for the car ride home | visit
Zwick’s | on my short list of best pretzels ever made | underrated community legend | visit
Meuwly’s | from rillettes to pickles, this is a one stop shop for your charcuterie board needs | pick up a sandwich while shopping so you don’t buy the whole store | visit
Tsujiri | this ancient tea franchise is a guilty pleasure of mine | matcha soft serve all day | B | visit
Muttart Conservatory | curated ecosystems under surreal glass pyramids | when you need to escape the cold or are craving humidity, it offers respite | visit
Corduroy Suites | our favourite boutique hotel, conveniently located right above highlands liquor and fox burger in a beautifully refurbished character building | visit
Highlands Liquor | you’re going to faint when you see their natural wine wall | virtually every culty bottle you’ve ever wanted all in one place | N | visit
Sip | this tiny liquor store has no space for duds | incredibly kind humans serving up the finest natural wine, suds, and agave spirits | N | visit
Color de Vino | family-run booze purveyor specializing in family-run wineries | say hi to bruin the dog and make friends with their genuine and knowledgable staff | NW | visit
121 Jasper & Liquor Nerds | this quirky liquor store stocks an eye-popping array of the world’s most pristinely farmed, minimally handled wines as well as crystal head vodka and snoop dogs juice | we love these humans for their idiosyncrasies | NB | visit / visit
Crestwood Wine | eclectic collection of both rare and affordable wines from across the globe | entirely different line up than most shops in the area | N | visit
Sherbrooke | they literally have all the beer | amazing cooler filled with natural wines to get you energized | N | visit
Caveats: We admit we’re wildly biased towards businesses owned by our friends. Our experiences may differ significantly from your own, thanks to nostalgia, personal preferences, and preferential treatment from overly generous pals. We suggest making friends with the staff or inviting us out for dinner.
Most city guides have a tragic bias towards instagramable restaurants, neglecting anyone without a marketing department or celebrity chef. The ‘pay-to-play’ mantra of local and national publications irks us to no end, so we’ve included an enormous number of unsung heroes. We don’t care if you’re on television or win competitions. We don’t require westernized service. If you have a one-star yelp review saying you’re too expensive, we assume it means you’re buying better ingredients and paying your employees a living wage – not driving a Rolls.
Establishments with a history of racism, sexism, ageism, ableism or other forms of discrimination have intentionally been left off the list. We'll add or subtract as needed as we learn about improvements or infractions. We’ve tried to include an indication of BIPOC or LGBTQ+ ownership where possible, but some are a little fuzzy (multiple owners, management qualifies, but the owner doesn’t, or we don’t know them personally). If we’ve made a mistake, let us know.
If you don’t see your favourite spot on this list, don’t be discouraged – perhaps we’ll end up there eventually and have the same miraculous experience you had. Did you have fun at one of our recommendations? Please send us an email or tag us on social media!
JUICE IMPORTS IS LOCATED ON THE TRADITIONAL LANDS OF THE: NIITSÍTPIIS-STAHKOII ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (BLACKFOOT / NIITSÍTAPI ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ) (KAINAIWA, SIKSIKA NATION, PIIKANI) | KTUNAXA ɁAMAKɁIS | TSUU T’INA | MICHIF PIYII (MÉTIS)