Where to eat before a Flames game at the Saddledome

Within walking distance (under 15 minutes)

The closest options to the Saddledome are along 17th Avenue SW (the Red Mile), in the Beltline, and across the river in Inglewood. None of these require a car or transit if you're already at the building.

• National on 17th (341 17 Ave SW). Massive Calgary sports bar. Wall of TVs. Beer-and-burger menu plus higher-end mains. Get there 90 minutes before puck drop or you're not getting a table.
• Trolley 5 Brewpub (728 17 Ave SW). Brewery-restaurant. Locally brewed beer, classic pub food. Patio in summer. Good middle-ground between dive and date night.
• Anejo Restaurant (2116 4 St SW). Mexican, slightly upscale. The 4th Street strip is a 10-minute walk from the south entrance of the Saddledome. Reservations recommended on game nights.
• Pigeonhole (306 17 Ave SW). Wine bar with seasonal small plates. Not a sports-bar vibe. Good for date-night-around-the-game energy.
• Native Tongues Taqueria (235 12 Ave SW). Mexican street food, busy on weekends. Walking distance to the building. Cash only at some hours, check before going.
• Last Best Brewing & Distilling (607 11 Ave SW). Beltline brewery and restaurant. Beer-forward, food is good. Roomy enough that you can usually walk in.

Inglewood (across the river, 10-minute walk over the bridge)

Inglewood sits on the east side of the Bow River from the Saddledome. Walk across the 12 St SE Bridge (or the pedestrian bridge near Fort Calgary) and you're there in 10 to 12 minutes. Inglewood has a different energy than the Beltline, more neighbourhood, fewer sports bars, more food-focused.

• Without Papers Pizza (1216 9 Ave SE). Calgary's most consistently great pizza, hands down. Wood-fired, simple menu, gets crowded. Worth the wait if you have time before puck drop.
• Spolumbo's (1308 9 Ave SE). Sandwich shop founded by ex-CFL Stampeders. Sausage sandwiches, panini, classic Italian deli. Lunch only, so good for matinee games.
• Rouge (1240 8 Ave SE). Higher-end farm-to-table. Pre-game dinner spot for special occasions. Reservations strongly recommended.

Beltline-Mission (10 to 15-minute walk)

The Beltline area, especially around 4th Street SW between 17th Avenue and 25th, is dense with restaurants. From the Saddledome, walk west on 17th Avenue or take the CTrain one stop to 8 St SW.

• Cibo (1012 17 Ave SW). Italian, wood-fired pizza, busy on weekends. Casual but great food.
• Boxwood (340 13 Ave SW, in Central Memorial Park). Casual sit-down or take-out, gastropub menu, big patio in summer. Walkable from the Saddledome via the park.
• Nellie's Cafe (4th Street) (738 17 Ave SW). Diner-style breakfast and lunch. Cheap, reliable, good for matinee games or pre-noon arrivals.
• OEB Breakfast Co (multiple locations, closest is Bridgeland or Mission). Best brunch in Calgary. Long lines on weekends.

Quick & cheap (under $15, in a hurry)

If you're running late or trying to keep the budget tight, these are the spots you can be in and out of in 25 minutes.

• Boogie's Burgers (908 Edmonton Trail NE). Calgary classic, dive bar burger spot. Cash, sometimes a wait, worth it. Best burgers in town according to many.
• Cleaver (1100 8 St SW). Sandwich-focused, fast service, good food. Close to the Saddledome via Beltline walk.
• Tubby Dog (1022 17 Ave SW). Hot dogs, late-night vibes. Good for post-game even if pre-game.
• Calgary Stampede grounds food vendors. During Stampede week, the food trucks and BBQ stands on the grounds are open before Saddledome events. Tourist-y but quick.

Inside the Saddledome itself

Concession food at the Saddledome is mid-tier arena food: hot dogs, popcorn, beer, pretzels, basic pizza, fries. The lineups during intermissions are long. If you're the kind of fan who eats inside the building, plan to grab food before sitting down. The Saddledome doesn't have the same craft-beer-and-tacos upgrade most newer NHL arenas have.

Specific tip: there's a Cheechako's bar on the upper concourse that has slightly better food and faster service than the main concession lines, plus seating at high tops between periods.

Post-game spots (for celebrating or commiserating)

After a Flames win at the Saddledome, the Red Mile fills up. Specifically along 17th Avenue SW between 4th Street and 14th Street, every bar is packed. Expect a 30-to-45-minute wait at most spots after a big win.

• National on 17th. The unofficial Flames post-game HQ. Loud, packed, Flames jerseys everywhere.
• Ship & Anchor (534 17 Ave SW). Calgary classic dive bar. Great patio.
• Bottlescrew Bill's (140 10 Ave SW). Hundreds of beer options. Closer to the Saddledome than 17th Avenue.
• Trolley 5. Same as pre-game; usually less of a wait than National.

For more on the Calgary beer scene during a Flames night, see calgarybeers.com.

For Stampede week (early to mid July)

If your Saddledome event falls during the Calgary Stampede, the entire neighbourhood food situation changes. The grounds themselves have hundreds of food vendors. The Beltline restaurants are slammed. Reservations are essential. The unofficial advice is to either eat on the grounds at a vendor (cheap, busy, fun) or eat outside the area entirely (Mission, Inglewood) and arrive at the Saddledome via CTrain.

Special occasions and pre-game dinners

For higher-end pre-game dinners (proposals, anniversaries, business dinners that happen to coincide with a game):

• Rouge (Inglewood). Farm-to-table, James Beard nominated.
• Charcut Roast House (downtown, 7-minute Uber). Charcuterie and roast meats focus.
• River Cafe (Prince's Island Park). Iconic Calgary dinner spot, walking distance via riverside path.
• Klein/Harris (110 8 Ave SW). Modern Canadian, downtown.
• Pigeonhole. Wine bar with food good enough for special-occasion energy.

For all of these, book a table for at least 90 minutes before puck drop. Then walk or Uber to the Saddledome (10 minutes from any downtown spot, 5 minutes from Beltline).

Hotels with restaurants near the Saddledome

• Hotel Arts (119 12 Ave SW). Boutique downtown hotel, in-house restaurant Yellow Door Bistro is good. 8-minute walk to the Saddledome.
• Hyatt Regency (700 Centre Street S). Downtown, big hotel. The in-house Sandstone Lounge is fine. 12-minute walk or one CTrain stop to the Saddledome.
• Sheraton Suites Eau Claire (255 Barclay Parade SW). Riverside location. 15-minute walk via the river path.

Independent property. Part of the Fat Monk Media Network. Not affiliated with the restaurants listed. Operated by Fat Monk Media Ltd. (Alberta).