Here's a look at Calgary's new spaces open for events this fall. The new and renovated Calgary venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: At BizBash, we're still committed to bringing you ideas and inspiration for when (yes, when!) events are back up and running. Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to the pandemic, or they may be operating at a lower capacity.
Modern Rooftop
Modern Rooftop is the latest addition to a sandstone heritage building on Stephen Avenue, which is occupied by the upscale Modern Steak on the second floor and Modern Burger, a casual lounge, on the first floor. The new third-floor patio seats 115 with views of downtown Calgary, the Calgary Tower, and a forest of new skyscrapers. Ready to cope with the vagaries of Calgary weather, the space has umbrellas and heaters plus a partial enclosure to extend the seasons. The menu riffs off Modern Steak’s offerings of ranch-specific prime Alberta beef. An added bonus? The venue is located within walking distance of the Telus Convention Center.
Photo: Courtesy of Modern Rooftop
Venue 308
Created by the mother-daughter team of event manager Penny Dyte and photographer Bretton Grassie, Venue 308 features a spacious open floor plan with a total capacity of 275 for cocktails or 130 seated, with room for a dance floor. It features discrete areas with light and dark palettes ideal for a wide variety of events. In the basement of the 1910 brick heritage building is the Walter Lounge, featuring a wet bar, a pool table and a life-size painting of Walter, its big blue heron namesake. In addition, the Grace Lounge includes a light-filled dressing room and its own separate bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Venue 308
Flores & Pine Grillroom and Gatherings
Flores & Pine is a newly renovated bright and airy venue that celebrates the legacy of Flores La Due, who, along with her husband Guy Weadick, brought the heritage of the old west to life to create the Calgary Stampede in 1912. The Estate Room events space seats 130 in comfortable surroundings that feature inlaid stone representations of western animals by local artist Trevor Duval. The Grillroom can entertain 80 guests, and its central glass Atrium with a living pine tree seats 38. A three-season patio that overlooks the pastoral Bearspaw area can seat up to 64, with an outdoor fireplace and infrared lights to warm up cool days. A central bar and lounge seats 30. On-site planners can assist with audiovisual needs and event configurations.
Photo: Courtesy of Flores & Pine Grillroom and Gatherings
The Skyline Room
The Skyline Room offers 360-degree views of Calgary through wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows. This newer build is owned by the Royal Canadian Legion, an organization that’s known historically for hosting gatherings both formal and informal. The venue has three zones that hold 75, 250, or 150 conference style, or a full venue capacity of 300. The contemporary, light-filled space also features a full audiovisual suite with a large 7-foot-by-12-foot screen for presentations. The venue is located in the trendy Kensington neighborhood, across the Bow River from the bright lights of downtown.
Photo: Courtesy of The Skyline Room
Fairmont Banff Springs Rundle Bar
From 1928 to the 1990s, visitors would arrive at Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies” through an impressive two-story lobby. After a $5 million dollar renovation, the entrance has been transformed into the Rundle Bar, an art deco masterpiece of brass and glass on the main floor with a cocktail bar on the mezzanine. The second floor offers a view of Cascade Mountain through massive arched windows. These two areas combined can seat 223 guests. The main floor bar's “bookcase” is a door to the Sidecar, a hidden private room for 36, complete with a fireplace and four LED screens. An adjacent meeting room, the Ivor Petrak, holds 52. A renowned conference venue surrounded by mountains, the Fairmont Banff Springs also offers championship golf and the Willow Stream Spa.
Photo: Courtesy of Fairmont Banff Springs Rundle Bar
