Alberta's capital has grown into one of Canada's most dynamic food and drink scenes. Edmonton now has a strong range of farm-to-table spots built around local ingredients, craft cocktail bars pouring prairie-influenced drinks, and some of the country's best Italian cooking, all of it refined but easygoing. From Indigenous-inspired dishes to globally minded tapas and well-made cocktails, the city's dining runs deeper and more creative than many expect. What follows is a selection of standout restaurants and bars in the City of Champions worth seeking out.

Affectionately known as Kin, Next of Kin is the kind of neighborhood bar you end up visiting every week. It sits in an unlikely spot beside a strip mall parking lot, yet it ranks among Canada's most exciting recent openings.

Chef Ben Staley, known for his work at Yarrow and the Alder Room, has returned to Edmonton, this time rethinking what a local cocktail bar can be. Working with bar manager Steven Ove Jorgensen and the rest of the team, he has built a strong cocktail program alongside food that holds its own against anywhere in the country.

The interior recalls a 1970s basement lounge, with vintage furniture, warm amber light, and a genuine period hi-fi. Staley isn't only after cocktail enthusiasts chasing bold flavors. He wants Kin to work just as well for a neighbor stopping in for a beer and a whiskey.

Following his principle of "less, but better," Staley treats the short drink list with culinary precision. Standouts include the Kashmiri Mango (mezcal, ataulfo mango, green mango, Kashmiri distillate, coconut, egg white), the Five Alive (5 Citrus distillate, mead vermouth, kefir, CO2), and the Croissant (brown butter cognac, ambre vermouth, plum kernel, nutritional yeast).

The food draws on global influences and includes what many call one of Edmonton's best burgers. The Kin Burger (white cheddar, white onion) is rich and satisfying, its depth coming from a beef fat emulsion. Don't skip the addictive kombu celery (peeled and marinated celery with wild sesame, aged soy, furikake) or the grilled potato bread with roasted chicken butter and roasted yeast. Karina of Michter's would tell you to order the tuna pan con tomate (grilled sourdough, caramelized tomato, olive oil).

Next of Kin is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings, walk-in only. Whether you come for a carefully made cocktail or just a beer, Kin feels like dropping into your coolest relative's rec room.

Steven Ove Jorgensen preparing the Kashmiri Mango cocktail

Bar Henry

Set inside Edmonton's flagship Henry Singer store, Bar Henry brings the Italian art of aperitivo to life through the vision of Daniel Costa, the chef behind Edmonton's Italian restaurant group, including Bar Bricco and Va.

Taking cues from bars like London's Bar Termini, New York's Dante, and Hong Kong's Bar Leone, Bar Henry is an intimate Italian-style bar built around well-made cocktails, a considered wine list, and refined small plates. The space is a calm retreat from the busy ICE District, where Edmonton Oilers fans tend to gather.

Expect elevated bar snacks alongside cleanly executed classics like Negronis and Martinis, all served in glassware that matches the bar's attention to detail.

Rosewood Foods

Across from the Stanley A. Milner Library, Rosewood Foods has become Edmonton's go-to spot for breakfast and lunch. Credit goes to Riley for the tip.

This open-kitchen place hangs local art on its walls and offers prime window seats for watching downtown go by, a setting that blends relaxed cafe charm with ambitious cooking. The real standout is the potatoes: double-cooked, both baked and fried, until they reach a crispness so good that regulars swear they're worth ordering on their own. The menu runs from morning staples like buttermilk pancakes and breakfast sandwiches to bolder options like the katsu chicken sandwich, with crisp Japanese-style fried chicken, kewpie mayo, tangy red cabbage, and katsu sauce on a milk bun.

Buttermilk pancakes and potatoes at Rosewood

Braven

Situated at the center of Edmonton's ICE District within the JW Marriott, Braven champions an all-in approach to premium steaks, chops, and pristine seafood. Executive Chef Jason Greene commands the kitchen with unwavering dedication, forging close relationships with Alberta ranchers and trusted purveyors to present the region's finest beef, Canada's coastal treasures, handcrafted pastas, and vegetables harvested at their peak.

Chef Jason's culinary vision marries rustic fire-cooked nostalgia with showstopping refinement, powered by the restaurant's stunning wood-fire grill. His leadership yields a steakhouse that honors tradition while embracing creative evolution. For the ultimate Braven experience, claim a seat at the grill-side bar and entrust the kitchen team to select the day's premier cut—paired with a robust red wine (or a nice bourbon!), it's pure bliss. Cap the evening with a nightcap at Alhchemy, the tucked-away speakeasy that awaits discovery.

Bar Bricco

The standout of Daniel Costa's restaurant group, Bar Bricco wraps guests in dim, richly furnished interiors where an upbeat soundtrack moves with the noise of the dining room. The space pairs antique pieces with sleek modern touches, evoking the feel of an Italian piazza while offering a refined retreat in downtown Edmonton.Handmade pastas and a tight selection of small plates anchor a menu built around Italy's regional cooking, backed by an all-Italian wine list. But it's the fonduta agnolotti that has reached near-mythical status: delicate pillows served with warm sage butter and a generous mound of finely shaved Parmigiano for guests to scatter over each bite. Rated among Alberta's best dishes, this deceptively simple plate shows what Costa does best, turning excellent ingredients and precise technique into something worth crossing the province for.

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