5 Cool Spots to Check Out in Capitol Hill

A neighbourhood beauty shop, a boho coffee house, a local burger joint — you’ll find it all in this northwest Calgary neighbourhood.

Illustration by Jarett Sitter

Edelweiss Village

Unmistakable with its Bavarian-styled exterior, Edelweiss Village is a hub for European foods and shopping. On one side is the in-house deli, bakery and kaffee stube, a casual counter-service restaurant serving up classics like Wiener schnitzel and cabbage rolls. On the retail side is a range of European imports and specialty items, including cuckoo clocks, table linens, Christmas decor and gnome figurines.

 

The Artist Lounge

The longstanding Ruberto Ostberg art gallery expanded in 2022 by opening a cocktail and tapas lounge in the adjacent space. The Artist Lounge was designed by local artist/architectural designer Khalid Omokanye, who also did some of the construction. You can appreciate his handiwork while snacking on chicken flautas and piña chinos paired with a “Pandan-Monium” cocktail.

 

Lil Empire Burger

The newest location of the home-grown chain opened here last year, offering its classic burger joint menu along with sweet treats and alcoholic beverages from partner businesses Made By Marcus ice cream and Annex Ale Project. It’s worth a visit just to gaze at the amazing ’90s video game-inspired mural by Vancouver-based Andrew McGuire, who also created Lil Empire’s Burger Boy mascot.

 

Weeds Cafe

This boho coffee house has been anchoring this corner since 1994, serving up classic barista drinks and baked goods. Over the years, the laid-back atmosphere has been an incubator for artists and musicians such as Reuben Bullock. These days, catch the recurring Ol Time live music session on the last Sunday of the month in the side room off the main space.

 

Phyl’s Beauty Salon

Tucked behind Weeds Cafe, this neighbourhood beauty shop, named after original owner Phyllis Rice, has been providing cuts, colours and perms to a loyal clientele since it opened in the 1980s. Current owner Marian Lyttle is a former employee, who took over in 2005 after Rice passed away, and has been running the three-chair salon ever since.

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This article appears in the September 2023 issue of Avenue Calgary.

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