For the beer-loving young professional aficionado, National Beer Hall is the place to be. Sitting on the corner of 17 Ave. and 5 St. SW, they have quickly become a regular spot for many urbanites. The room is spacious with large communal tables, common in beer halls, where you can sip your pint as you inevitably make friends with those also seated at your table.
They call themselves a ‘North American beer hall’, which clearly makes sense. They’ve utilized the concept of your traditional European beer hall, but have catered to the typical Calgary crowd.
The room is upscale and they specialize in North American micro brews. The selection is huge, and they’ve worked hard to develop a list of some of the best beer, so we suggest you be adventurous and order something you’ve never tried before. It won’t be hard, as they offer 70 craft beers on tap and numerous bottles.
When it comes to food, they’ve also outdone themselves. As a Concorde establishment, Executive Chef Justin Leboe has developed a menu that pairs perfectly with their libations. We suggest trying the duck confit poutine or a selection of freshly shucked oysters.
They also feature a fantastic wrap-around patio that is perfect for enjoying the sun and doing some serious people watching on the ever-colourful 17 Avenue.
Whether it is after-work drinks with colleagues, a Saturday afternoon with friends or a full evening out, National is definitely worth checking out.
Be sure to find them on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening.