We’ve all been there. You’ve got your tickets booked, your car is parked, but you don’t know where to eat before the show!
Fortunately for you, there are five excellent eateries right on the doorstep of Arts Commons ranging from comfortably casual to high-end luxury cuisine. Looking for pizza and pasta? We got you covered. What about post-show dessert? We have that too! Read on to discover your new favourite pre-show dinner spot.
Cravings Bistro
The café in the centre court area of Arts Commons is your go-to for a quick bite. From handcrafted pizzas to grab and go salads and yogurt cups, you’re set whether you want to sit down and enjoy your meal or have a quick snack before curtain.
Teatro
This timeless and beloved restaurant has been gracing the corner of MacLeod Trail South and 8th Avenue since the early ‘90s, housed in the Dominion Bank Heritage Building that was built in 1911. With a name that means theatre in Italian, it only makes sense that they would be located a stone’s throw from the largest performing arts centre in Western Canada. Pizza, pasta, and luxurious meats like duck and pork belly make up the bulk of their menu, enjoyed by patrons under the soaring 22-foot historic ceilings. If you’re looking to enjoy Teatro on a busy theatre night, make sure you have a reservation!
Anatolia
Also located in a historic building, Anatolia Turkish restaurant sits at the foot of the six-story Burns Building which first opened in 1912. Praised for their wonderfully executed Turkish cuisine, a style of food largely missing from the Calgary food scene, Anatolia is a warm and vibrant dining local to enjoy before a show.
Chocoland Café
The new kid on the block, Chocoland Café has a delightfully fresh take on dessert with crepes, waffles, and a smores dip that you have to experience to believe. With large windows looking out onto Olympic Plaza, you can have a drink or dessert with a friend while enjoying the hustle and bustle of the skaters in the winter or stretch out on their beautiful patio space in the summer. And the best part? Chocoland is open late so you can catch one of their tasty treats after the show!
Centini
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this upcoming season, Centini Restaurant has a lot to be proud of. Top-rated and often the home of post-show gatherings, Centini gourmet fair has been the highlight of many an evening out. If you’re not sampling their wonderful cuisine, you might be tasting their brand-new line of in-house made sauces available at both their restaurant and in Co-op grocery stores throughout Calgary.