What is the #1 best Calgary Restaurant 2022

The best Calgary restaurant in my opinion is Salt & Pepper. This cool little authentic Mexican restaurant is located in the rapidly revitalizing community of Bowness, a little area of the city on the NW bank of the Bow River along the transcanada highway. This little area is growing in popularity, attracting a trendy crowd, and also some cool new shops. The whole area has a small town feeling to it instead of feeling like you are in a city of over a million people, and the steet feels like a small town main steet. Much of the old store fronts remain, but the now are home to new modern businesses. This great Calgary restaurant isn’t new though, it’s been located here in this location and operating since 1988, that’s 34 years for anyone who isn’t great at the maths. I only discovered this gem of a place after bike riding through the neighborhood after a long trek along the Bow River and up into Bowness. As we rode past I could hear the music and smell the aroma of the food, that was the moment I knew I would be dining there within the next week. I think I lasted 4 days before I had to go.

A taste of Mexico in Calgary

Not only is the decor and atmosphere authentically Mexican, but the patio is a lively place and features live music every Friday and Saturday. This night there was a quartet of musicians playing instruments and singing a great mix of Spanish songs as well as covers of popular music. It gave the place such a great fun vibe. Some patrons even got up to dance.

Check out this short video clip with your sound on to feel and hear the great vibe of this patio.

Authentic Mexican Food

What meal would be complete if it didn’t start with chips and homemade salsa. Just ignore the giant pitcher of Strawberry margaritas in the background….

We had dinner for 2, Mexican style. It came with fresh hot tortillas, seasoned bbq brisket, cheese, shredded cabbage, pickled veg, and the best guacamole I have ever had in my life, and I have spent half my life in Central America. (Almost forgot that they include homemade chocolate cake for dessert, no picture because it was eaten too quickly). We loved every bit of it and it was an amazing improvement from dining at our regular pizza restaurant that becomes our default choice.

Wasting away in Margaritaville

The pitcher of Strawberry margaritas we ordered was way too delicious. But seriously, when an average tropical drink in Calgary costs $10+ there’s no way I’m not buying this 6 drink pitcher for $32. There were other flavors available too, but that will wait until I return next Friday.

Overall, we had the best Friday evening at a local calgary restaurant that we have had all summer. The food and drinks were perfect, seriously 10/10. The service was quick and attentive, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the live music show on the restaurant patio is reason alone to go here every weekend. Overall, the chips & salsa, then chicken nachos for an appy, dinner for 2 for the entrée, followed by chocolate cake, plus the giant pitcher of tropical margaritas came to under $100. Not bad for 2 hours of fun on a weekend night out, the perfect date night really.

Where is it?

Salt & Pepper Mexican Restaurant is located at

6515 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary (click to GPS it)

or call them direct for take out orders:

Salt & Pepper: 403-247-4402 (click to call)

Thanks for reading this review, we love to visit these types of places for the first time and share our experience with you. Please support us by liking and sharing any of our content you enjoy. We hope to review over 50 Calgary Restaurants in the next year and hopefully just as many pubs.

~King Calgary