March 2025

March 14-30, 2025

YYC Food & Drink Experience 2025

Various locations

Prix Fixe Dining

Savour and explore this exciting selection of prix fixe menus from 100+ top restaurants across the city. There’s no better way to enjoy Calgary’s culinary scene and discover new favourites.

Scrumptious Three-Course Brunches/Lunches: $25 & $35

Delectable Three-Course Dinners: $35 & $45

Gourmet Five-Course Masterpieces: $65 & $75

For a complete list of over 90 restaurants, click here.

Signature Culinary Events

YYC EXP is back March 14 to 30, showcasing the diverse and delicious restaurant scene in Calgary with 17 days of delectable multi-course set menus and signature culinary events to explore at the city’s top restaurants.

Thursday, March 13

YYC EXP 2025 Kick-Off

Pigeonhole Downtown/Pineapple Hall, 225 7 Avenue S.W.

5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

YYC EXP 2025 kicks off 17 days with an exclusive Media & VIP Launch, sponsored by Concorde Catering and Calgary Downtown Association. Experience the new Pigeonhole Downtown, soaring (+15) feet above the ground with a mid-century modern aesthetic, and explore Downtown’s most tropical food hall, Pineapple Hall. Mix, mingle, and savour delicious bites and sips from Concorde Catering.

Access to this event is by invitation only.

Friday, March 14

Knife Fight: Rupert Garcia vs Matthias Fong

Hawthorn Dining Room + Bar, 133 9 Avenue S.W.

6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Hawthorn Dining Room & Lounge in the Fairmont Palliser Hotel is excited to welcome you to YYC EXP's opening dinner event: Knife Fight Vol. 2. In this culinary showdown Rupert Garcia of Hawthorn will face off against Matthias Fong from Primary Colours in a dining experience you won't want to miss. Both chefs won gold medals at Canada's Great Kitchen Party in Calgary (Chef Garcia in 2023 and Chef Fong in 2024) and represented Calgary at the Canadian Culinary Championships. The chefs will present each of their courses, and you'll vote on who takes the crown. Every guest will receive a scorecard to determine whose dish will come out on top.

$175 per person

Saturday, March 15

Barrel to Plate: A Calumet Farm Pairing Experience

One18 Empire, 820 Centre Street South

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Join in for an exclusive evening of bold flavours and expertly crafted pairings featuring Calumet Bourbon. Building on the success of the Flavours of Alberta Dinner, enjoy an all-new four-course experience that explores the rich, complex world of bourbon alongside thoughtfully curated dishes. Each course is paired with a selection from Calumet’s distinguished bourbon lineup, finishing with a dessert pairing with Amador Whiskey Chardonnay.

$150 per person

Sunday, March 16

YYC EXP Progressive Indigenous Dinner Experience at Deane House

Deane House, 806 9 Street S.E.

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Deane House hosts a progressive Indigenous culinary experience tcelebrating traditional Indigenous cuisine re-imagined. Every bite and sip will tell a story when Deane House Executive Chef John Beddoes welcomes two of Canada’s leading Indigenous Chefs: Shane Chartrand (Top Chef Canada 2025 competitor and cookbook author from Enoch Cree Nation, AB) and Zach Keeshig of Naagan, Owen Sound, ON (known for its 12-course tasting experience and organic, locally sourced Ojibwa-inspired menu) to Deane House and its historical grounds on the confluence of Calgary’s two rivers. Traditional Indigenous culture has deep roots in community and partnering with the land. This thoughtfully curated multi-course dinner will share locally sourced ingredients inspired by the visiting chefs’ Indigenous heritage and what the land around us has to offer, prepared using modern techniques. Each course will be expertly paired with beverages from Indigenous-owned producers. Guests will also take home a copy of Chef Shartrand's Cookbook: Tawaw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine, will have a chance to meet both Chef Chartrand and Chef Keeshig and have their book personally signed during the event. This is a celebration of Indigenous creativity in culinary arts not to be missed.

$135 per person

Tuesday, March 18

Korean-Filipino Collaboration Dinner at SOT

SOT Korean, 1216 9 Avenue S.E.

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

SOT hosts a contemporary flavour-infused Korean-Filipino collaboration with SOT Chef Alex Sang-Ho Kwon and Rupert Garcia, Executive Chef at Hawthorn (2024 winner of Calgary's Great Kitchen Party). Together, they will craft a menu that beautifully marries Korean and Filipino flavours, elevated with refined techniques.

$95 per person

Wednesday, March 19

River Cafe hosts a Women's Chef Collaboration with Guests Elia Herrera, Jenny Kang and Quails Gate Winery

River Cafe, Prince's Island Park, 698 Eau Claire Avenue S.W.

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

River Café's Executive Chef Kristen Livingston's passion for sustainability and dedication to Canadian cuisine set the stage for this incredible Women's Chef Collaboration. Chef Livingston welcomes Chef Elia Herrera from Mexico, co-owner of Toronto’s newly opened Tecolote (previously Los Colibris), where she draws inspiration from her heritage. She is best known for Calgary’s Milpa, as well as star turns on Top Chef Canada, Top Chef Mexico, and winning gold at Toronto’s Great Kitchen Party in 2018. Joining them will be Chef Jenny Kang, recent 2024 bronze medalist and 2019 gold medallist of Calgary’s Great Kitchen Party and co-owner of Calgary’s Orchard, where she puts a twist on Asian-Mediterranean cuisine.

$195 per person

Friday, March 21

The Wilde on 27 hosts Culinary Olympian Chef Rahil Rathod for a Gold Medal Dinner

The Wilde on 27, 525 5 Avenue S.W., 27th Floor

6:00 p.m.–9:55 p.m.

Join in for an exclusive Gold Medal Dinner as part of YYC EXP, when The Wilde and Executive Chef Josh Dyer host visiting Chef Rahil Rathod, Executive Chef of The Westin Edmonton, who will showcase his award-winning menu from the IKA/ Culinary Olympics in 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany. As Team Canada’s captain, Chef Rahil led his team to victory, and now you can experience the flavours that took home gold from this international competition at this six-course dinner. Enhance your evening with wine or mocktail pairings expertly curated by The Wilde bartender Andy Sevilla, available for an additional charge

$225 per person

Saturday, March 22

Yellow Door's Classic French Bistro Cuisine Meets Oxbow's Elevated Comfort Classics

Oxbow, 1126 Memorial Dr. N.W.

6:25 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

Join in for this one-night-only pop-up highlighting the creativity and talent of Chef De Cuisine, Cassandra Boyce of Yellow Door Bistro, and Chef De Cuisine Junell Mission of Oxbow. This collaboration will be commandeering our Oxbow dining room and lounge for the evening, featuring a five-course tasting menu alongside an à la carte offering of classic French bistro cuisine through the lens of these talented chefs. They will offer the choice of wine or spirits/cocktail pairings, curated by Director of Restaurants Rebecca Gordon, with a minimized beverage menu so you can choose your own adventure. In addition, they are pleased to be partnered with Partridge Imports and friends at Peasant Cheese, paying homage to classic bistro culture with tableside food and beverage service. $85 per person

Sunday, March 23

Forno Feast at Fonda Fora

Fonda Fora, 630 4 Avenue S.W.

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

A BYOB feast at Fonda Fora with Dave (Empire Provisions), Cody (Thank You Hospitality), and Tony (DOPO). Gather your crew and best bottles as they fire up a generous, Spanish-inspired spread. This dinner is a nod to the OG Forno Feasts of 2014—when Dave, Cody, and Tony were serving up family-style feasts straight from the Cilantro Forno oven, a taste of the good old days.

$150 per person (BYOB)

Tuesday, March 25

Michelin-Starred Collaboration: AnnaLena x Published at Pigeonhole's New Downtown Roost Pigeonhole Downtown, 225 7 Avenue S.W.

7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

Details to come.

$225 per person

Thursday, March 27

Bar Chouette Sugar Shack

Bar Chouette, 227 11 Avenue S.W.

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Bar Chouette and celebrated Chef Duncan Ly host Chef Danny Beaulieu of Canmore’s Änkôr for a contemporary sugar shack dinner experience that promises to elevate and celebrate the traditions of sugar shacks (aka cabane à sucre). This annual Quebecois event celebrating the end of winter/beginning of spring called le temps des sucres (the time of the sugars) when the maple sap begins to run, is a perfect time to gather with friends and family to feast. You won’t want to miss this delicious celebration of traditional yet modernized French-Canadian flavours.

$125 per person

Sunday, March 30

Teatro presents: Clos de la Oyster Barre Rev. Vol. 51 FT: Generation XXX

Teatro, 200 8 Avenue S.E.

6:30 p.m.-10:05 p.m.

Teatro hosts a special YYC EXP edition of Clos de la Oyster Barre in their pop-up's original location: Teatro. Enjoy a collaboration of three chefs from the forgotten generation: Chef Justin Leboe of Banff Hospitality Collective, Chef Kristian Eligh of Victoria’s Marilena Café, and Teatro Group’s Corporate Chef Matthew Batey. Let’s not forget their millennial sidekick, Teatro Executive Chef Camilo Kobek, who is all about respecting his elders. To set the mood, expect candlelight, shareable plates of seafood, and, most importantly, DJ Eddy spinning hip-hop tracks from yesteryear.

à la carte pricing

Hotel Packages

YYC EXP is again offering Dine & Stay hotel packages. If you’re coming from out of town or want to treat yourself to an in-city break, book a hotel package at one of these seven partner hotels and receive a complimentary $100 Downtown Calgary Gift Card to use during YYC EXP, sponsored by Calgary Downtown Association.

For a complete list of hotels, click here.

YYC Food & Drink Experience is Calgary’s premiere culinary festival, celebrating the city’s exciting food and beverage scene, along with the talented chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, and local producers who contribute to our city’s culinary culture. YYC EXP is back March 14 to 30, showcasing the diverse and delicious restaurant scene in Calgary with 17 days of delectable multi-course set menus and signature culinary events to explore at the city’s top restaurants.