Business & Pleasure in Calgary is an intimate 22-seat cocktail bar delivering seasonal, inventive mixology. Signature drinks include Bravocon (fernet hunter, watermelon basil syrup, lime habanero bitter), Jessica Rabbit (mezcal, carrot ginger, cacao bitters) and Root Beer Tapper (Ketel One, Amaro Nonino, root beer float syrup). The bar pairs chef-involved small plates—try the Haskap Berry Mole Beef Tacos—with house-made syrups and crafted bitters. With a 4.7-star Google rating from 137 reviews and reservations via OpenTable, Business & Pleasure offers a low-lit, cozy atmosphere accessed through an alley behind Super Variety near Neighbour Coffee, perfect for focused conversations and late-night tasting.
Business & Pleasure is a Calgary cocktail bar that opens through an alley behind Super Variety and sits tucked beside Neighbour Coffee on 9 Ave SE. Step into a low-lit room of 22 seats where seasonal cocktails rotate around fresh, house-made syrups and bitters. The first sip here feels deliberate: menus priced around CAD $16 present clear, balanced flavors, and the team designs each drink to pair with small plates. In Calgary’s evening scene, Business & Pleasure reads as both a neighborhood drinking establishment and a focused mixology venue where conversation and craft matter equally.
The vision at Business & Pleasure was built by a collaborative bar team rather than a single celebrated name, and that cooperative spirit shapes the program. The mixology team emphasizes seasonal rotation, technique, and ingredient sourcing rather than headline awards; there are no listed formal accolades, but the venue maintains a strong local reputation with a 4.7 Google rating from 137 reviews. The bar’s philosophy is pragmatic: precise cocktails, chef-involved snacks, and a quiet, attentive service model in a compact space. That approach has cultivated loyal local followers and recurring pop-ups, making the bar feel both exclusive and accessible to regulars and discerning visitors.
The cocktail journey at Business & Pleasure focuses on texture, bitter-sweet balance, and unexpected pairings. Bravocon blends Fernet Hunter with Giffard Menthe Pastille and a watermelon-basil syrup, accented by a lime-habanero bitter for a minty, spicy finish. Jessica Rabbit layers mezcal and Nodo Reposado with carrot-ginger and cacao bitters, finished with egg white for a silky mouthfeel and a dusting of matcha for herbal depth. Root Beer Tapper pairs Ketel One, Luxardo Maraschino and Amaro Nonino with a root-beer float syrup and ginger beer for effervescence. Dressed to the Nines uses Ardbeg Wee Beastie and Cardamaro with white port and salted honey for smoky, savory-sweet balance. Garden to Glass employs rhum agricole, Fernet Hunter and acidified cantaloupe-tomato juice for a vegetal, bright sour. Techniques include clarified citrus, fat-washed spirits, and house-prepared syrups and bitters; presentation favors stemware and short, tactile glassware that accentuates aroma and temperature. Seasonal features rotate frequently, so visitors are likely to encounter limited-run creations and pop-up collaborations that reward repeat visits.
Inside, Business & Pleasure is intimate and intentionally restrained. Materials are warm and tactile, lighting is dim to preserve a focused tasting experience, and seating is arranged to prioritize bar-facing conversation. Service is attentive without being intrusive: bartenders explain ingredients and suggest pairings while maintaining a calm rhythm behind a compact backbar. Unique touches include the alley entrance from 1327a 9 Ave SE, a curated soundtrack, and the emphasis on scent and glassware—details designed to heighten the cocktail moment rather than distract from it. The small capacity makes the room feel exclusive by default and encourages curated events rather than large-scale programming.
Best times to visit are Wednesday through Thursday evenings starting at 5pm and Friday–Saturday after 5pm when the bar runs later; Sunday is closed. Reservations are available on OpenTable and recommended for weekend visits, though walk-ins may be possible on quieter weeknights. Dress code is casual-smart; think polished neighborhood attire rather than formal wear. Expect a typical spend of CAD $31–$50 per guest, with individual cocktails listed around CAD $16.
Business & Pleasure rewards readers who plan ahead: reserve on OpenTable, arrive through the alley off 9 Ave SE, and allow time to savor chef-driven bites alongside inventive cocktails. For a focused, seasonal tasting in Calgary’s evening circuit, Business & Pleasure offers precisely calibrated cocktails, thoughtful pairings, and a compact, well-tuned atmosphere that invites repeat visits. Book a table and discover the rotating lineup for yourself.
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