Kind Cafes: Where Calgary Does Allergy-Friendly Right

By Riley Turgeon
Cafes have become the modern-day third place- less chaotic than your place of work, and a little more zen than where you lay your head at night. The cafe offers a happy medium between two places that dominate your daily life. Providing an escape from the hustle and bustle, it's a space for relaxing, creating, connecting, and, of course, dining. When it comes to inclusive dining at a cafe, you want to be treated with the same dietary options available as if you were at a restaurant or at home. These cafes in Calgary provide excellent dietary options for anyone who finds themselves pulling an all-night study session or hanging out with a few good friends.

Namo Cafe & Bistro offers several locations across Calgary. The cafes are quaint and inviting to anyone with a laptop and an appetite. The cafe's interior screams grandma’s house aesthetic with its warm colour palette and overall homey feel.

Namo Cafe & Bistro offers a diverse selection of brunch and lunch options with many allergen-friendly alternatives. If you’re in the mood for a taste of SoCal, there is the California Dreaming Brunch Bowl for $20. This delicious and affordable bowl is available to those with gluten-free needs or vegetarian/vegan options. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, look no further than their Fried Chicken & Waffle platter. For 20$, it can be modified to be gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan or halal. To wash down your meal, try a Very Berry Lemonade- housemade and non-alcoholic.

Andsome Flower Cafe is like walking into a florist's dream. A cafe that moonlights as a floral shop is as unique an experience as you can find in the city. This charming cafe offers visitors amazing food and beverages while surrounded by the fresh aroma of flowers. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?

The cafe has a wide variety of bagels to choose from, all offering a gluten-free modification.

There’s the classic Cream Cheese ($4.95) for those who believe if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. A Smoked Salmon bagel ($11.75) should do the trick for those looking to increase their protein intake. The Avocado option ($7.50) is another staple on the breakfast food pyramid. The heavyweight of the bunch is the Green Onion bagel ($12). Bacon, maple syrup, green onion, and cream cheese are all layered between two pieces of an everything bagel. The Shrimp & Mush galette and Blueberry Cream Cheese galette are gluten-free entrees that are must-tries!

The next time you need a quiet space to work or somewhere to catch up with old friends, consider these spots and try all these diverse and delicious foods.