The Calgary Group Chat: What your friends are talking about this week (April 21)

Welcome back to the Calgary Group Chat, where the city is busy, the plans are piling up, and someone is already asking what everyone is doing this weekend.

From exciting new openings to updates people cannot stop talking about, Calgary always finds a way to keep things interesting.

Here are a few things making noise this week, so you can stay caught up without having to do any of the research for yourself.

What’s new, Calgary?

Calgary shines on OpenTable’s 2026 brunch list

Brunch lovers, consider this your sign to plan your next reservation. OpenTable just dropped its list of the Top 100 Brunch and Lunch Restaurants just in time for Mother’s Day, and 10 Calgary spots made the cut.

Here are the Calgary spots that landed on OpenTable’s 2026 list:

• Alvin’s Jazz Club
• Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant
• Barbarella
• Deane House
• Foxtrot at Spruce Meadows
• Major Tom
• Orchard
• Porch
• River Café
• Ten Foot Henry

City of Calgary Golf Courses are set to open for the season 

The weather is nice, the snow is gone, and suddenly everyone is talking about golf again. Luckily, the City of Calgary golf courses are set to open for the season today, which feels perfectly timed.

Maple Ridge 18, McCall Lake 18 and Par 3, plus Shaganappi 18 and Valley 9, are all opening, along with the Shaganappi driving range for anyone looking to dust off their clubs.

Hello Nori is opening its first Calgary location.

If you’re someone who takes sushi very seriously, this one is worth knowing about. Hello Nori is officially opening its first Calgary location in Bridgeland on April 24, 2026, bringing its premium hand roll bar experience from Vancouver and Toronto to the city.

Think made-to-order hand rolls served fresh one at a time, a beautiful interior, and the kind of spot that feels perfect for every occasion. Honestly, this one feels worth the hype.

Red Bull Jump & Freeze is taking over Banff Sunshine Village this weekend

Some people spend the spring relaxing. Others decide to dress in costumes, build homemade vehicles, and launch themselves into freezing water.

Red Bull Jump and Freeze is coming to Banff Sunshine Village on April 25, 2026, for its Canadian debut, bringing one of the wildest winter events to the province.

Teams will race down the hill in self-built vehicles before launching straight into icy water, all for glory, bragging rights, and a season pass prize.

A Banff cabin just made Canada’s top vacation rentals list

If your dream weekend involves mountain views, cozy cabins, and a little bit of main character energy, this Banff stay might be your sign to start planning.

A rustic cabin in the heart of Banff has been named one of Vrbo’s Top Vacation Rentals in Canada for 2026, and it is giving peak cozy getaway energy.

And that is your Calgary group chat for the week. From new openings and brunch rankings to Banff getaways and slightly chaotic spring events, there is always something worth talking about.

We will keep bringing you weekly updates so that you’re never out of the loop or confused in a group chat, and always a little bit ahead of the “did you hear about this” conversations.

See you next week, Calgary!

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