Hyatt Regency Calgary

Western Art and Sandstone at the Heart of Stephen Avenue

Stephen Avenue is Calgary’s historic main street, lined with sandstone buildings from the years when the railway and the ranches made the town. Hyatt Regency Calgary rises at its eastern end, a 21-storey tower that kept a historic sandstone facade at street level rather than sweeping it away. Behind it are 355 rooms including 13 suites, a full-service spa, a pool high above the street and a hotel art collection of real substance: more than 500 original works by Western Canadian artists, displayed throughout the public spaces like a gallery that never closes.

Why It Works

We chose the Hyatt Regency for the combination it offers in downtown Calgary: a central address on the walkable heart of the city, the full service of a large hotel, and genuine local character in its art and architecture. Stillwater Spa is the reason many guests book, a proper full-service spa for recovering from a day in the mountains, and the 18th-floor pool, whirlpool and steam room come with views over downtown. For those in town on business, direct access to the Telus Convention Centre is a practical bonus that frees up the evenings.

Why This Location

Step out and you are on Stephen Avenue Walk, the pedestrian stretch of 8th Avenue with its restaurants, patios and heritage buildings. The +15 skywalk network links the hotel indoors to the convention centre, theatres and office towers, a real asset in a Calgary winter. The Calgary Tower is a few minutes away on foot, the Stampede grounds and the BMO Centre are a short ride south, and the Trans-Canada Highway to Banff and the Rockies is an easy drive west.

Fast Facts

• Price: Premium

• Vibe: urban, polished, Western, well connected

• Rooms: 355 rooms including 13 suites

• Best For: city breaks, Stampede visitors, spa lovers, business travellers extending into the weekend

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: the collection of more than 500 Western Canadian artworks that turns the corridors into a gallery

• Dining: Thomsons Kitchen & Bar, with regional cooking and a lounge with leather chairs and a fireplace, plus room service and a coffee counter

• Amenities: Stillwater Spa, 18th-floor indoor pool with whirlpool and steam room, fitness centre, +15 skywalk access to the Telus Convention Centre

• Attractions: Stephen Avenue Walk, Calgary Tower, Stampede grounds and BMO Centre, Banff and the Rockies

Stillwater Spa and the Pool Above the City

Stillwater Spa is the hotel’s signature, a full-service spa with a menu of massages and treatments designed around rest and recovery. Upstairs, the 18th floor holds the heated indoor pool, the whirlpool and the steam room, all looking out over downtown Calgary, together with the fitness centre. After a day of hiking around Banff, a morning at the Stampede or a long session at the convention centre, it is the natural way to end the day before dinner downstairs.

Thomsons and the Lounge

Thomsons Kitchen & Bar is the hotel’s restaurant, serving classic and contemporary dishes built on regional ingredients. The lounge, with deep leather chairs and a fireplace, looks onto the street and suits an after-work drink or a nightcap once Stephen Avenue quiets down. Room service and an on-site coffee counter cover the rest of the day, useful for early starts toward the mountains.

Before You Book

The Calgary Stampede in July is the busiest time of the year, when rooms along Stephen Avenue book up early. In winter, the +15 skywalks make the hotel especially convenient. Pets are accepted, parking is available on site and check-in opens at 3 pm. Ask for a high floor for views, and reserve spa treatments ahead of arrival, particularly for weekend stays.