Of the many great things about the city, the one that never ceases to fill us with pride and awe is its super lit food scene. And another worthy chapter was recently introduced to Calgary’s rich food diaries. Hello, First Street Market. The food hall opened doors to the public on August 30. Of course, we gave it a try and we have to admit, we were totally wrong about thinking there was too much buzz. ‘Cause folks, the hype is real!
Not that anyone would need an intro but just to be safe, a food hall is a fancier, tastier and more upbeat cousin of a mall food court. Instead of compromised versions of national and global chains, a food hall gives you a selection of local, chef-prepared cuisines that are to die for.
First Street Market’s cuisine line-up has nine awesome AF vendors- Actually Pretty Good, Friends with Benedicts, Alforno, Hi5, La Mano, Moose and Poncho, Pure Street Food, Raw by Robyn and Saffron Street. That’s nine good reasons to love the hall right there for you. But there’s more. The whole building is liquor licenced, meaning you can enjoy a nice craft beer or a local wine from the Bar (yes, there’s a bar called Bar here). That’s your 10th reason.
So basically, First Street Market is your solution for all those times when every member of the group wanted to have a different cuisine and at least half the party begrudgingly compromised. Their common dining hall makes it possible to enjoy different cuisines at one table with the whole fam and/or gang while also sipping on a locally brewed beer or a fresh cup of latte. Could eating out get any better? We guess not!
In addition to the common dining hall, there’s also a huge patio for days when the sun is bright and the temp is right. The patio actually looks over Haultain Park which is where we sat down for part- the pizza part- of our lunch to get the picnic vibe going.
So, next time you wish for a uniquely pleasant eat-out experience with an upscale casual vibe, we suggest you hit the ground floor of the twin residential towers, The Underwood. That’s where First Street Market is. It’s open 7 days a week from 11 AM or 7 PM. Although, you can enjoy breakfast as early as 7 am from select vendors at the hall.
FIRST STREET MARKET
Where: 1327 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0W3
