'''Central Edmonton''' refers to the most urban, dense, and oldest area of Edmonton. The area is best known as the location of the Downtown Core.

Get around

Central Edmonton ''is'' the most walkable area of the city. The neighborhoods are more pedestrian-friendly than those in the outlying suburbs and are easy to navigate due to the proximity of amenities and mass transit options.

For Central Edmonton, transit is '''divine'''. One can choose from:

  • The Edmonton LRT has Six stations ''(Stadium, Churchill, Central, Bay, Corona, Grandin)'' that rip through central Edmonton, making it easy to get to various neighborhoods in a snap.
  • Neighborhoods

    The following neighborhoods are a part of Central Edmonton:

  • '''Downtown''' (bound by 105 Avenue in the north, 97th Street in the east, 109th Street in the west, and 97th Avenue in the south) is the (arguably) best known neighbourhood of Central. Downtown consists of four sub-neighbourhoods:'''Central Business District, MacKay Avenue, Warehouse District, and the Art's District'''. Downtown has a wide variety of retail, nightlife, and theater. It is also home to the '''Government Core''' and many high-rise residential buildings. All in all, downtown's ''got it goin' on''.
  • '''Rossdale''' is a tiny residential neighbourhood on the River Valley Plain. It has gone through tons of reinvention over the decades. At first it was a tiny residential area with beautiful homes in the 1900s, then in the 1950s it got entirely rebuilt. In the 1980s it got a "suburban implantation" where suburban ideas were introduced. During this time the TELUS Field and Rossdale Plant opened. Now, today, it is a neighbourhood that is trying to go back to an urban setting with urbanism studies in place.
  • '''Oliver''' (bound by 109th Street in the east, Groat Road in the west, the river to the south, and 107 Avenue to the north) is the densest residential community in Alberta. Oliver has a broad range of things from nightclubs to gift shops, cookie cutter whatever restaurants to bachelor pad's. This area is the next Old Strathcona, with all kinds of up and coming things. The place still keeps its old charm with old houses and French revival buildings. It hosts 124 Street shopping area along with some fine cuisine. A short while ago, Oliver Square and Long Street and Area were developed on the north side of Oliver. This is a somewhat out-of-place suburban shopping area implemented in an urban zone, which features some nice stores and basic ones. The area has nice little parks and has 1 lrt station.
  • '''Boyle''' is just east of downtown and it was actually once called the downtown of the city. It is because before the current downtown was owned by the Hudson's Bay and no land could be developed really, when said land was sold to the city, it developed massively and had become downtown. This left Boyle empty, and today you can take a stroll in "old downtown" and notice the buildings haven't changed much. Pretty historical.
  • '''McCauley''' is the lively multi-cultural neighbourhood that is probably better known as Chinatown/Little Italy.
  • :*'''Little Italy''' is (95 Street between 105 and 110 Ave) a beautiful Italian neighborhood radiating the core of Edmonton. Coming here expect a influx of Italian immigrants/people and shops for all Italian foods of quality. Definitely great.

    :*'''Chinatown''' is located on 97th Street between 105 and 111 Ave NW. and is a vibrant Chinese Community. Coming here (especially in the summer) expect to feel in a small Chinese city with beautiful Chinese fruits, small outdoor markets, fantastic food stores, absolutely fantastic restaurants, and much much more. ''See Chinatown in the stay safe section.''

  • '''Riverdale''' refers to a small residential community south of Boyle.
  • '''Westmount''' is a neighbourhood split in two. This is in two ways, the first of which is because the eastern part dates back to the 1920s whereas the west side is from the 1960s. Two totally different architectural styles and design patterns. The other, is that it's in two districts. The older side is in Central, whereas the newer side is in the West. Groat Road is the dividing line. The area is known for it's charm and walkability, as well as Westmount Centre (west of Groat Road).
  • '''Glenora'''
  • See

    Central Edmonton has the most stuff to do, by far in Edmonton's area. From a thriving arts' district to architectural gems-it has it all!

  • '''Alberta Legislature Building''', [http://www.assembly.ab.ca/]. Beautiful to visit any time of the year at any time of the day. In December the grounds are lit with thousands of lights and there is a skating pond one can use. In the summer you can wade in the pools and play in the fountains north of the building. There are security staff walking around and it is quite safe even later in the evening.
  • Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA). Sir Winston Churchill Square (currently in Enterprise Square-until 2009). o to Enterprise Square. ttp://www.artgalleryalberta.com/. onday-Friday 10:30 am-5 pm (Thursdays 4-8 pm free admission); Saturday & Sunday 11 am-5 pm. ood, cheap rates.. Art Gallery of Alberta explores all forms of art and great for seeing how artist's interpret things. The facility is modern and up to date. The gallery recently underwent a new section called Edmonton Modern, a architectural study about Edmonton's architecture of the 60's and 70's. Aside from that, there is always something different going on at the Art Gallery of Alberta like NHL paintings or cross Canada art gallery tours or whatever. It is truly a unique and nice experience and the people there are really friendly/helpful. Great for just wanting to have quiet time and looking at beautiful, sometimes odd, things. It should not be turned down.

  • '''Gallery Walk''' is a handful of interesting galleries from local and international artists'. Its on Jasper Ave. between 123rd and 124 Streets. It's something neat to have a look at and you could even buy a few pieces. For parking, consider 123 Street just north of Jasper Ave.
  • '''Edmonton Public Schools Archives''', 10425 99 Avenue NW, 780 422-1970. A full-on museum at the corner of 99th St. and 104th St. It includes archives of the education system, Edmonton public in particular, from way back when Edmonton started getting schools and universities. The place is lesser known as '''Mackay Avenue School'''. Though it may seem a little lame, it is kind of interesting to learn about the education system and great for history buffs.
  • Edmonton Archives. 0440 108 Avenue. 780) 496-8711. ttp://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/CommPeople/ArchivesBrochure.pdf. onday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m. ? 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. ? 8 p.m.. ms.archives@edmonton.ca. 780) 496-8732. The archives detail in historic photographs, events, statues, clippings of Edmonton in this unique museum.

  • High Level Streetcar. Stations: 100 Ave, 97 Ave, 90 Ave, and 85 Ave. 780) 437-7721. ttp://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/high-level-streetcar-service.aspx. May through October only. The classic High Level streetcar takes you from just north of 100 Avenue between 109 St. NW/110 St. NW in Downtown to Old Strathcona (103 Street and 85 Avenue). It crosses the HighLevel bridge and has magnificent views of the river valley and downtown. Nice for just relaxing.

  • Chinatown. tretch of 97 Street between 105 and 109A Ave.

  • Little Italy.

  • '''TELUS World of Science Edmonton''' (formerly the Odyssium), 11211 142 St., 780-452-9100, [http://www.odyssium.com/]. Edmonton's largest science museum with an architectural design that is out of this world, with lots of science exhibits, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater. They also have some ''delicious'' pizza.
  • '''Coronation Park''' (''right beside Telus Science Centre'')
  • Royal Alberta Museum. 2845 102 Ave. 80-453-9100. ttp://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca. The Albertan provincial museum on the eastern edge of the West End and holds many exhibits including a thorough Albertan History segment.

  • Edmonton Planetarium. ow defunct. This building may be small, and out of business, but it is quite the building. Unique constellation artworks mark the floor to the first planetarium in Canada. You cannot go inside, but from the outside you get a grasp of the space love that was the 60s.ame="Edmonton Planetarium. ow defunct"

    Skyline views

    ''Some of these listings are in different districts. Their listings are in here because the views are of central and pertain to the article. At the end of the listings that are not in this district there are links to that district.''

  • '''Gallagher Park''' (''Go to Connors Road, and turn north onto Cloverdale Road and go down the hill a bit and park and then go into the park-near the top of the hill is the best'') is the magnificent skyline view. It fantastically combines the clean cut park, old houses, and the amazing skyline. It has a very complete view as you can see all parts of the skyline. You will be in awe. Especially with the Muttart Conservatory four pyramids popping out too. The trees around it give a nice frame to the ultimate skyline that centres the Central Business District and accents the residential high rises. Beautiful mix. ''Edmonton/Southeast.''
  • '''Louise McKeeny Park''' is a cool way to view downtown Edmonton. It shows mostly brutalist/Early modern towers and contrasts with the river.
  • '''James MacDonald-Scona''' is probably the most awkward area to get into. You'd need to get in from downtown and go from 97 Avenue onto the James MacDonald Bridge. From there you'd need to take southbound on Scona Rd. NW until your first chance at getting off (it's not an overpass or anything) which would bring you to 99 A St. NW. From there, find a place to park your vehicle (unless you're walking) and walk around in this little residential village. You'd need to go west or northwest to the riverbank and then there's prime viewing. You'll see the panorama of skyscrapers at your feet. Definitely beautiful. ''Edmonton/South Central''
  • '''Duggan Bridge'''. ''In south central.'' On Saskatchewan Drive is this brief break from trees into a nice view of Edmontons skyline. This side shows some density, as well as industrialisation through the power plant near downtown but still the beauty of the trees in the parks.
  • '''Forest Heights''' is a more office tower view of downtown, where you see the least amount of residential and density. Despite that, it gives a really clean shot. Basically go to Forest Heights Park. ''In Edmonton/Southeast.''
  • '''Crestwood''' has no particular place to look. Just watch out for views of the river because then you'll find the breathtaking skyline. Do be careful though, it's right at the edge of the valley there's no railings so its a big drop if you fall. ''Edmonton/West End''.
  • '''102 A Avenue NW and 96 Street NW''' is a very interesting angle. It shows grit, modern pleasing buildings, crowdedness, intensity, and multiculturalism. Definitely a neat angle.
  • '''River'''. Literally meaning a view from the river. The best would be to take Edmonton Queen and from the east, look west. It would be similar to Forest Heights view.
  • '''Jasper and 96th''' is a classic view of Edmonton. It's centrepiece is the Gibson Block, basically Edmonton's Flatiron, and behind is the modern office towers of the downtown. It's a contrast and great for historians and people who love the design of modern planning.
  • '''High Level Bridge''' is basically the NW view from High Level Bridge. It shows of great density yet has the nice touch of the river valley.
  • '''Robbins Centre'''. Means go to the Robbins Health Centre and look out on the main southface windows. It gives a neat look on downtown and is unspoiled. You shouldn't have a problem going to the building as it is a public institution.
  • Architecture

    Edmonton's architecture is fairly ripe for it's size. It has an excellent amount of modern architecture and the old buildings stick out like a sore thumb - in a good way. One can stroll 101 Street from Jasper to 103A Avenue and see many of Edmonton's skyscrapers. The most iconic, Manulife Place, built in '83 is a stunning modern structure and is Edmonton's tallest. It uses elegant glass and minimalist details. Ajoining Manulife is the wonderful Commerce Place, which is another modern gem with neat shapes and nice glass. 104th Street in the downtown is home to some fabulous pre WWII warehouses that make a nice walk. Whyte Avenue is home to an array of cool pieces of architecture, that give it that small prairietown vibe. The Coronation Park is also a cool spot. It has the Edmonton Planetarium which is now closed, but is a interesting Mid cen Modern building for sure. Then there is the TELUS World of Science Edmonton, which has another planetarium of the Mid 1900s. The Peter Hemmingway Pool has excellent curves and beautiful glass you'd be surprised it was built before the advent of the quick and easy modern computer. The Alberta Legislature is a beauty too. One of Edmonton's finest historical structures with all the cornices and everything that make historical buildings great. Adjacent to it is the Leg Annex which is the first curtain wall building in Canada, and while it may not look the greatest, it is something to marvel in architectural history. 100th Street in the downtown is pretty cool as well, with a few interesting historic buildings, then go further north to Churchill Square, and the beauty of the surrounding buildings come to you. The Grant MacEwan Downtown Campus also offers some architectural merit. Even the recent expansion, Robbins Health Centre uses fine glass and everything. The University of Alberta Campus is also nice. It has a wide variety of architecture and buildings from smokestacks to hotels to hospitals to classrooms to residences. It has some cool old buildings like the Rutherford House and some new gems like Mazankowski Institute on 83rd Ave. Either way, I think you'll find Edmonton has some nice architecture, you just have to look beyond the obvious stuff.

    Parks

  • '''North Saskatchewan River Valley Parks''' scatter across the Central district's southern side. These places are good places to walk, relax, enjoy, or go to festivals. '''Louise McKeeny Park''' is probably one of the most interesting because it has good connections to downtown and it has a view ''of downtown'' plus it is on the river and is home to some great public art.
  • '''Beaver Hills Park''' is on the corner of 105th Street and Jasper Avenue (neighbouring Sobey's) and is well paved with some neat local art and tree scenery. Nice for a quiet relaxing break after shopping your butt off in downtown or having an outdoor meal!
  • Victoria Promenade.

    Do

  • Walk along '''97th Street''' (between Jasper Avenue and 110 Avenue) and look at all kinds of different areas of the city, like betweeen Jasper and 106th Avenue you can see the differences between downtown and Boyle. Definitely a neat walk.
  • '''Ride the bus''' around a central neighbourhood and see it's uniqueness at a glance.
  • '''Victoria Golf''', 12130 River Road (in the river valley), 780-496-4914 (Pro Shop - April-October),[http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_261_208_0_43/http%3B/CMSServer/COEWeb/arts+culture+and+attractions/golf+courses/victoria+golf+course/]. (Public: 6027 yards, par 71) This is another city-owned public course. It's situated in the river valley a couple of minutes from downtown, and has a large driving range on site. The setting is very attractive, although the course is less treed than Riverside with a more-open feel, particularly on the back nine. As with Riverside, tee times are booked by phone starting 6PM sharp two or three days ahead of the date of the reservation (call the automated system at 780-496-4900 to book).
  • '''Casino Baccaratt'''
  • Spectator sports

  • '''Edmonton Cracker Cats'''780-423-2255, [http://crackercats.ca]. The local Golden League Baseball Team plays minor baseball at '''TELUS Field'''. Formerly apart of the Northern League.
  • '''Edmonton Chill''' plays at the athletic centre of Grant Macewan College. They are Edmonton's basketball team and play for the International Basketball League.
  • '''Edmonton Eskimos''' [http://www.esks.com/] 780-448-3757 (Ticket Office). The local Canadian Football League (CFL) team plays at '''Commonwealth Stadium'''. They have won numerous championships and were once the best in the league.
  • Venues

  • '''Citadel Theatre''', [http://citadeltheatre.com], 9828 - 101A Ave., 780-425-1820. The place has some of the broadest ranged, most unique plays in Canada. One can choose from Family, Seasonal, or "rice theatre". The Rice gives intimate plays guaranteed to provoke a response. Family plays are great for if you have little ones with you as they are both entertaining for adults, and G rated. Seasonal ones are mainstream and have Christmas, Valentine, Easter, Summer, and Fall themes, among others. Some of them are repeats of previous years, others are different. Each is sure to please a different demographic.
  • '''Winspear Centre''', 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW, 780-429-1992, [http://winspearcentre.com] is a major performing arts centre that focuses mostly on music. Definitely a nice place to see unique musical acts.
  • '''Roxy Theatre''', 10708 124 Street NW, [http://www.attheroxy.com]. Despite the fact that this offbeat place not very well known, it is still a great local theatre with a community sense and a variety of really unique plays.
  • '''City Centre Empire Theatres''', 10200 102 Avenue NW. A nice quiet movie experience with all the amenities of the big guys (Cineplex Odeon/Scotiabank/South side theatres/Whyte Ave theatres).
  • Major Festivals

    Due to Northlands Park, Churchill Square and numerous spots downtown, Central Edmonton is the festival centre of the city!

  • Capital Ex. orthlands. uly. Formerly known as Klondike Days and now renamed, this is Edmonton's main exhibition event, complete with a parade on the first day and fair at Northlands Park. Other exhibition events such as Global Connections, showcasing wares and foods of other countries, and Ed Fest, the 10-day rock festivals with up to 3 bands per night. The place is great for celebrity spotting who might be playing their music that night. It has games, roller coasters, ferris weels, waterslides, and other Carnaval Festival stuff.

  • Festival of Trees. ovember. Showcases decoration and trees of different styles that are unique enough to take the idea and use it at home. It is a kick off for winter.

  • New Years. akes place on Churchill Sq., just south of City Hall.. ecember. Every year the turnout gets bigger. Full of fireworks and fun hot chocolate. It takes place on New Year's Eve.

  • Cariwest. ugust. This August parade features many wonderful Caribbean costumes and tunes. Participants eventually end up in Churchill Square, where all can enjoy Caribbean food and item vendors. This tradition comes primarily from the Caribbean nations of Trinidad and Tobago. They close down Jasper Avenue from vehicles, but for an event like this, it's okay, as it is that good.

  • Edmonton Gay Pride. uly. Celebrate Edmonton's GLBT community with Edmonton Pride, complete with parade and festival at Churchill Square. It includes colourful designs, costumes, dances, and songs.

  • Edmonton Streetperformers. ugust. Canada's best street performers converge on Edmonton to show off their skill. It takes place over a timeperiod of 10 days and is fun packed with clowns, jugglers, mimes, magician's and more. Great for kids, adults, toddlers, seniors, teens, babies, whatever.

  • Edmonton Folk Festival. allagher Park. ugust. This festival showcases samplings from around the world of lush folk music.

  • Animethon. ugust. A collection of different anime designers and unique books all in one location. Some materials found only in Japan otherwise. Very unique and even for you non anime lovers, can be quite neat.

  • Work's Art and Design Fest. akes place for thirteen days on Churchill Square.. une. One of the best North American comntemporary art fests, this cool fest is home to unique artworks, lectures, and more. It gets you into the heritage behind art. </see>

  • Taste of Edmonton. hurchill Square. uly. A number of Edmonton eateries show off their wares. This event coincides with Capital EX (formerly the Klondike Days). Each participating restaurants has a booth where it showcases two dishes that can be 'purchased' with tickets. These dishes are small portions and require a various number of tickets, which are purchased at nearby ticket booths. A popular sport is trying to determine which booths give the best value before you run out of either tickets or room in your tummy. If you really want more, check out the restaurant.

  • Edmonton Dragonboat Fest. ugust. in the river valley between Downtown and Strathcona. Six dragons boats spread out across the river, 22 people in each dragon boat, on the water, all waiting for the sound of the horn, all wanting to be first to cross the finish line some 400 meters away.

    Buy

    There are all kinds of good shopping to do in Central Edmonton.

  • '''124th Street & Environs''' is a major up and coming shopping area in Oliver. It features neat cafes, boutiques, furniture and gift shops, hair salons, spas, restaurants, and galleries. 124 Street has a few sub areas that are worth mentioning:
  • :* '''124th Street''' (between Jasper and 111 Avenue). [http://www.124stbrz.com/]This part is divided into: ::* '''Block to Shop''' [http://theblocktoshop.com/](124 between Jasper and 102 Ave NW). This area is home to a nice concentration of woman's boutiques. Most of these cater to professional women and are quite stylish and lead in brands and price range (some with cheap prices). Some of the stores also carry menswear. There are also a few restaurants. ::* '''Gallery 124''' (124 between 102 and 104 Ave). This area isn't just full of galleries of neat art, it also has some nice stores. Cute little furniture destinations and outdoor wear places line this section, as well as a lot of hair salons and a few boutiques. ::* '''124th North''' (124 between 104 and 111 ave). This transitional area is growing very fast. In one part, it has high end, good stores that cater to a varied range of people. Then, there is still the stuff from before this place had interest in boutiques, interior designers, cafes, and restaurants. It hosts interior design places that are high end and some nice clothing shops for all kinds of people. It also has a lot of gift stores and small restaurants. :* '''High Street''' (102nd Avenue NW between 124 and 127 St NW). This area is host to neat cafe's and cute restaurants with top notch quality. It also has small gift stores, most notably, Notables. There are also a few furniture places and little pastry stops that are worth stopping at. :* '''124 and Jasper''' (Jasper Avenue between 123 and 124 St NW). This area is home to the "Gallery Walk" which is totally different from shopping, unless, of course, you are interested in buying artwork. It also has a few neat little stores.

  • '''City Centre Mall''' [http://www.edmontoncitycentre.com/] is in the downtown core at 102nd Avenue and 101 Street, It includes over 120 stores including major brands (i.e. The Gap, URBAN, Claire's, The Bay, Coast Mountain Sports, Sportchek, Laura, Aldo) and was originally two malls (Eaton Centre and Edmonton Centre). Apart from major chains it has a few cool unique stores like Artwork's that showcase high end furniture and home decor. It is very busy on a weekday lunch. This place is perfect for the urbanite who wants to shop at the brands, rather then the unique shops elsewhere downtown. It can be hard for someone unfamiliar to get in and out of as some northside entrances use hallways to get into the mall. Consider using the entrances on 102 Avenue, especially the one between L'Azia and the Bay or the Coast Mountain Sports one. Mon-Wed 10am-6pm; Thu-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun/holidays 12pm-5pm.
  • '''104th Street''' (between Jasper Avenue and 103rd Avenue) is a nice, up-and-coming shopping district in the warehouse district downtown. Expect a pedestrian-friendly environment of wide sidewalks, beautiful trees, nice buildings, and slow cars. 104th Street is a smaller retail area, growing very rapidly. The area is home to a lot of really nice independent stores catering more to the younger crowd. Most notably, 29 Armstrong is an interior design store, and showcases the hottest styles in interior design in a beautiful old building. Another popular one is Ces't Sera Chemistry Clothing, which is a men and women's clothing store with items that are very stylish and somewhat formal, but also some casual wear. Along with all that, there are more furniture stores, stationary stores, groceries, and more.
  • '''City Market on 104th''', 104th St. between Jasper Avenue and halfway along 102nd Avenue, [http://www.city-market.ca]. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays between May and October. The oldest farmers' market in the city. The street gets closed off to vehicles from Jasper Ave. to 103rd Ave. Expect a variety of things to buy from cotton candy to shoelaces! '''104th Street is closed to vehicles when the market is on.'''
  • '''Chinatown''' is the largest Asian concentration in Edmonton. Expect authentic food stores and all kinds of other stores similar to Chinese cities and towns.
  • '''Manulife Place''' with connections to City Centre is home to the the largest concentration of high end stores like Holt Renfrew department store, Henry Singer, Alligator Pie (designer labels for children), and gourmet chocolatier Bernard Callebaut stores. '''Commerce Place''' offers yet more designer shopping such as Sam Abouhassan, Plaza Escada, and Diamori in a modern mall setting. The building is kept clean, how else do you explain all the beautiful retailers?
  • '''West Jasper''' is the area of Jasper Avenue west of 109th Street, east of 123 Street. Full of small stores, but more scarce than in other areas. It is nice for a ''safe'' quiet walk or if you know a specific store. The most popular store is Who Cares? which is a woman's clothing with trendy styles catered to women over 30. It can be a quite busy area, due more to the nightlife than the shopping though.
  • Shops

  • Notables.

  • Aligator Pie. .
  • Audreys.

  • 29 Armstrong.

    Eat

    The Central area definitely has the best selection in Edmonton when it comes to cuisine. In Chinatown, you can expect authentic Chinese restaurants and grocers. In Little Italy you can find some of the best Italian restaurants and the best bakery. In the Downtown core, there are tons of options from Portugese to Tex Mex to Italian to Burger Places. Jasper West happens to have a couple nice Italian and North American restaurants.

    Coffee, Smoothies, and snacks

  • 3 Banana's. 918 102 Avenue NW. hurchill Square. 780) 428-2200. ttp://www.threebananas.ca/. Whether it is iced or hot coffee, 3 Banana's has some yummy coffees of different flavours. Aside from that they have good blended smoothies and offer regular drinks. For food, they have the best mini-pizzas around and some very good panini's (sometimes they run out). They also have muffins, cookies and goodies. Nice for a lunch or snack.

  • '''Axis Cafe'''[http://axiscafe.ca], 10349 Jasper Avenue. Right in downtown Edmonton near up and coming 104 Street is this funky cafe. Great for grabbing something to go while touring the city, or coming to meet friends. You won't be disappointed. This place also features some snacks and most of the coffee is Italian. Also, every Friday is live music, every time is different.
  • Caffe Sorrentino's. 0665 109 Street NW. 780) 477-2789. ttp://caffesorrentino.com. A nice Italian twist to the cozy Canadian cafe.

  • '''Java Express'''[http://www.javaexpress.ca/locations.html], 10355 Jasper Avenue NW. Right near the central business district on the "Downtown Coffee Block" is this neat coffee shop that originated in Vancouver. The experience is very casual and a mid-price.
  • '''GOOD Earth Cafe/Bakery'''
  • Budget

  • '''Chicken for Lunch''', 10060 Jasper Avenue NW (downtown, lower level Scotia Place). Good cheap chicken stir-fry served with a smile by Amy who will remember your name and your order the next time. Get there ''at least'' by 11:30AM, as the lines easily reach 50 people at peak. There are other empty kiosks if you run out of waiting time.
  • '''Free Press Bistro''', 10014 104 Street NW, Mon Thurs 11 am ? 10 pm; Fri 11 am ? 11 pm; Sat Sun 10 am ? 9 pm,''just south of Jasper Avenue''. The Free Press serves hot, grilled panini with fresh (i.e. not processed) ingredients, a modern twist on traditional panini. They also have some great pastas, salads and grilled items, but the sandwiches steal the show.
  • '''Garage Burger Bar''', 10242 106 Street NW. Although aficianados argue about the best burger in town, this little restaurant has been appearing as one of the top two or three in city-wide reviews for years. It has a full liquor license and a good variety of inexpensive, high-quality burger meals. The prices are low and the staff friendly.
  • Harveys.

    Mid-range

  • The Lingnan. 0582 104 Street. 780) 426-3975. ttp://www.thelingnan.com. For more than sixty years, the Lingnan has been serving a loyal clientele with excellent food, ambiance, and service, making it an institution. Recently, it was featured on the Food Network Canada show "Family Restaurant - The Quons"[http://www.foodtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=91633]. Hosts Kinman and Amy will seat you to your favourite table and bring you your regular order without having to ask. Eldest son Miles joined in running the family business in 2004 and has brought new challenges to bring the restaurant into the 21st century.

  • Mucho Burrito. 0124 - 109th Street, NW. ust west of 109 St on Jasper Ave. 80-429-4220. ttp://www.muchoburrito.com/index.htm. . f. 09. t. n. . hopping. 80-429-4231. Despite being a chain, it is small (in it hasn't too many locations) and very rare and unique in Alberta. It is the highest quality Tex-Mex place in town and is the "Subway" of Mexican food. They make the tacos, burritos, whatever right in front of you and put on what you want. They are delicious, but be careful of spices-- they are not kidding when they say it is hot. Street access and parkade access.

  • Tony's Pizza Palace. 605 111 Avenue NW. ight in charming Little Italy. ttp://www.tonyspizzapalace.com/.

  • Blue Plate Diner. 0145 104 Street NW. orth of Jasper Ave on trendy 104th St.. 780) 429-0740. ttp://blueplatediner.ca. Blue Plate is a nice casual/formal eating establishment in a nice heritage building. The food here mostly comprises of burgers, chicken, steak, and a small section of TexMex. The place is very cozy and the place is full of neat,unique, interesting modern art.

  • Original Joe's Downtown (Oliver). 2520 102 Avenue NW. igh Street. 780) 452-3034. ttp://originaljoes.ca. Better quality food than the chain's other locations and decent staff. Good for a brunch.

  • Italian Bakery. 06 Ave. and 97 St. NW. 780) 424-4830. This place has gourmet Italian food for purchase. Basically a Italian grocery store. THINK ABOUT IT-It's something you can tell your grandchildren!

  • '''Bistro Praha''', 10168 100A Street, 424-4218. The Bistro is one of the longest-established restaurants in Edmonton. Its menu and ambience have remained as they were when it opened in the mid-1970's: really - why change? Business people in the lunch hour, and the arts crowd from local theatres and concert spots in the evening, fill this wood-paneled room enjoying crisp wiener schnitzel, roast goose, terrific steak tartare, and other eastern-European treats. The liquor markup is reasonable, beer selection features hard-to-find European brews, service is cool but professional, and food is consistently excellent. $8-$12 (lunch), $15-$25(dinner).
  • Haweli Fine East Indian. 0220 103 Street. This sizable restaurant is close to Edmonton's downtown office towers in the historical Boardwalk Bldg., which makes it an easy walk for most downtowners. You get a very good deal on the weekday lunch buffet. Try the butter chicken and the naan bread.

  • Sicilian Kitchen. 1239 Jasper Avenue NW. 780) 488-3838. Mouth watering hearty Italian meals in a classy setting.

  • Cafe Deville. 0137 124 Street NW. ttp://www.cafedeville.com. Gourmet food of multiple flavors, plus the joint has it's own pastry chef!

  • Doan's. 0130 107 St NW. retty mid range pricing. The location occupies a fancy space (for a Vietnamese restaurant) and is popular with businesspeople at lunch. Doan's serves good quality Vietnamese food at good prices and it's quite the popular spot. They don't stand ahead of the other restaurants, but they are reliably good.

  • earl's: Tin Palace. 1830 Jasper Avenue NW. rom 109th St., go west on Jasper, if you hit 124th St., you've gone too far. 780) 488-6582. ttp://earls.ca. he prices are pretty fair, so mid-range.. The one that started the mega chain-Tin Palace. Coming here expect the same great food you'd find in a normal Earl's, but in a much more elegant fashion. The style of interiors is much different but better. Be sure to look at the sculptures.

  • Famoso Neopolitan Pizza. 1750 Jasper Avenue NW. ust on Jasper Avenue set back from a tiny parking lot.. 780) 732-0700. nfo@famosopizzeria.com. ttp://famosopizzeria.com/. pen until nine everyday except Sunday.. he prices are pretty midrange, but at good quality. Famoso takes Edmonton pizzeria's to a whole new level. Their authentic, juicy pizza's will make your mouth water. They have a good variety, and when you're done with the pizza, why not a scoop of ''Gelato''?

  • The Hat. 0251 Jasper Avenue NW. The place just opened very recently and occupies the once Silk Hat location on Jasper Ave. They mostly cater to the adult crowd with many drinks available. The place serves delicious burgers and fries, hence it being a burger bar.

  • It's All Greek To Me. 0127 100A Street NW. rom 100 St. go into Rice Howard Way. 780) 425-2073. Its All Greek offers some very authentic, yummy Greek cuisine. The pita bread is very fresh and moist-but not too moist. The food is very good and original.

  • '''Japanese Village''', 10126 100 St, Open Mon Sat 5pm-9:30pm; Sun 4pm-9pm. The Japanese Village is located in a vintage three-story building in the heart of downtown. The main floor houses the sushi bar, tables, and a number of tatami rooms. On the two upstairs floors, teppan-style cooking tables provide entertaining and tasty full dinners. The food is good and the atmosphere very pleasant.
  • Old Spaghetti Factory Edmonton. 0220 103 Street NW. n the old Boardwalk building, watch careful for the door.. ttp://www.oldspaghettifactory.ca/. on.-Thurs. 11am-10pm; Fri. 11am-11pm; Sat. Noon-11pm; Sun. Noon-10pm . The Old Spaghetti Factory dates back to 1971 and has since offered authentic Italian food to urban Edmontonians. From the nice baked cheese to the clean lettuce, you'll definitely be happy with a meal here.

  • '''Ricky's''', ''inside City Centre Mall''. Ricky's offers a delicious steak and burger as well as lots of other stuff.
  • Sorrentino's. 0162 - 100 Street. 780) 424-7500. ttp://www.sorrentinos.com/locations/downtown.html. onday - Friday: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm; Saturday: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm; Sunday: Closed . owntown@sorrentinos.com. 780) 424-7507. Delicious Italian cuisine in a nice, modern downtown setting!

  • Sorrentinos Little Italy. 0844 95 Street. 780) 425-0960. onday - Thursday: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm, Friday: 11:30 am - 9:30 pm, Saturday: 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm, Sunday: Closed. he prices tend to be a bit higher than the downtown one. ittleitaly@sorrentinos.com. 780) 421-9123. The food is a little more "filling" and juicier than the downtown location. It is in a more Italian styled setting as well.

  • Urban Diner. 2427 102 Avenue NW. mmediately west of 124th Street. 80.488.7274. ttp://www.urbandiner.com/inquire.asp. losed Monday; Tues-Fri 11am-9pm; Saturday 9am-9pm; Sunday 9am-3pm. orraine@manorcafe.com. Urban Diner is a cute, little ''Canadiana'' food diner on High Street. It offers speciatly soups, macaroni, sandwiches and more in a cozy atmosphere.

  • Shogun. 0125 121 Street. Shogun is a comfortable restaurant, low-ceilinged and pleasantly lined with dark panelling. The sushi and teppan-style cooking are as good as anywhere in the city, but Shogun is generally less busy than the restaurants right downtown and can almost always accommodate you without reservations. The dishes are not innovative, but the quality is fine and prices are mid-range - overall, a good deal.

  • Zen Shabu. 0518 101 St. 780) 428-1235. on Thu 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm; Fri 11am-3pm, 5pm-12am; Sat 5pm-12am; Sun 5pm-10pm. Zen Shabu is one of the few Edmonton Japanese restaurants to offer the "all you can eat" option. For about $25, you can order for up to two hours from the slightly limited "all you can eat" menu. This offer brings in those with large appetites and small wallets - mostly high-school and college-age youngsters in the evening. As is often the case, the thrill of "all you can eat" is offset by below-average food quality and somewhat disorganized service. If you're trying to stretch your dollars, and you can eat more than $25 worth of Japanese food at a sitting, try Zen. If you value fine flavors and attentive service, you're best off elsewhere.

  • Bua Thai. 0049 113 Street. Located across the street from St. Joseph's Basilica, Bua Thai serves up high-quality Thai food at competitive prices. Particularly good is their Beef with Basil, but nothing disappoints.

  • Golden Bird. 0544 97 Street NW. 780) 420-1612. Beautiful Chinese food with fine portions served by a handicap trying to make an honest living.

  • Boston Pizza Downtown Edmonton. 0620 Jasper Avenue NW. 780) 423-2333. ttp://bostonpizza.com. Regular B.P. menus (Italian, pizza, salad, sandwiches, steak) in a cozy downtown location.

    Splurge

  • Pazzo Pazzo. 0016 103 Avenue NW. 780) 425-7711. Large portions of argueably Edmonton's best pasta come served by excellent staff in a charming Little Italy location.

  • Character's. 0257 105 Street NW. ead south of 104th Avenue on 105th St.. 80.421.4100. Character's is full of delicious, high quality meals, although portions are on the small side. And for those looking to watch their weight, there are a lot of healthy options.

  • The Creperie. 0220 103 Street NW. Edmonton's only authentic French cuisine place. The place is a warm and cozy French-style eatery specializing in crepes with a beautiful romantic setting. The crepes come with interesting and tasty fillings such as seafood Americane, jambalaya, beef stroganoff, and salmon. Other fine foods can also be had there, such as filet mignon and cedar baked salmon. It also has several vegetarian options on the menu.

  • '''Koutouki''', 10704 124th Street. Overpriced, but good Greek food and a pleasant atmosphere. Belly dancer Friday and Saturday evenings.
  • Hardware Grill. 698 Jasper Avenue NW. 7th St. and Jas. Avenue. 780) 423-0969. ardwaregrill.com. This restaurant is housed in the refurbished shell of the W. W. Arcade. a venerable Edmonton hardware store, hence the name. The interior is contemporary and tables are well-spaced, enhancing privacy and lending a sense of intimacy to evening dining. The food is among the most expensive in Edmonton, but may not seem so to diners from other large cities. Food quality is high, the wine list is extensive, and service is good, although not as consistent and well-trained as (for example) the Harvest Room's service. It's definitely one of the ten top restaurants in the city, although its exact placement depends - as always - on your tastes and expectations.

  • Harvest Room. 0065 - 100th Street. nside the Hotel Macdonald. This is one of the finest places to dine in Edmonton. Expect orange juice with champagne, and the best brunch you've ever had. You might just yell, "Yummy Yummy" and everyone will hear you. Hey, at least you told everyone what you thought!

  • L'Azia. dmonton City Centre West, Ste. A 113, 10200 ? 102 Ave.. o north on Jasper Ave and 101 St., then at 102nd Ave, turn right. 80.990.0188. azia@telus.net. 80.990.0181. ttp://www.lazia.ca/. onday, Sunday and holidays:11 am - 10 pm; Tuesday to Saturday:11 am - 12 midnight . sually high price. Nice Mediterranean fusion defines L'Azia Downtown. High quality stuff with nice Mediterranean influences.

  • Lux Steakhouse. 0150 101 St NW. 780) 424-0400. ttp://www.centuryhospitality.com/. on-Fri: 5pm-10pm; Saturday 5pm-11pm. Lux Steakhouse is a fine restaurant of high class inside Commerce Place, Downtown. The staff are really friendly and the food selection is superb! They definitely have the best steaks in town.

  • Mikado. 0350 109 St NW. ttp://www.mikadorestaurant.com/. The original, now lamentably closed, was the first Japanese restaurant in Alberta. The location has modern decor, sushi bar, chairs and tables, and tatami rooms. The food style is a mix of traditional Japanese (Tempura, Donburi, Udon/Soba, Nigiri Sushi, BBQ Fish) and some offerings of nouveau Japanese cuisine (try the Dragon Eyes, Mango Tango Roll, Sushi Pizza). Reservations are the way to go on key nights, or be prepared to wait. The atmosphere is pleasant and the food is excellent. While their sushi is comparable to other more affordable places, Mikado's hot food is in a league of its own.

  • La Ronde. 0111 Bellamy Hill NW. o south of Jasper Ave. and go to Chateau Lacombe. 780) 428-6611. ttp://www.chateaulacombe.com. Edmonton's secret revolving restaurant atop the Lacombe Chateau. Make sure you dress up.

  • La Tapa. 0523 99 Avenue NW. 780) 424-8272. ttp://www.latapa.ca?. ues Sat 9:00 to 9:30 Closed Sundays, Mondays and Holidays. Authentic Spanish food (YES, Spain!) served in a fancy setting on a quiet street right in the heart of the city.

  • Violino Gastronomia. 0133 125 Street. 780) 757-8701. (formerly La Spiga) Upscale Italian in a historic Edmonton residence. Outstanding food and service and is ideal for celebratory dinners or business lunches as well as just to enjoy good food. Private function space available. Reservations recommended.

  • '''Wildrose Canadian'''
  • Drink

    Alcohol

  • '''New City Suburbs''', 10081 Jasper Ave. If you're looking for respite from the top 40, hip hop or classic rock fare of most clubs in Edmonton, New City Suburbs is the place to be. The music tends toward the "darker" side, featuring plenty of industrial, goth, metal, electronica, punk, some more recognizable alternative rock, new wave and classic 80s offerings (we're talking Depeche Mode, The Smiths and The Cure as opposed to retro dance party fare here). This club caters mostly to the pierced, tattooed and black-clad crowd, and it is not uncommon to find people wearing corsets, thigh-high patent leather platform boots, studded collars and leather pants. The club features an enormous dance floor with a raised stage, and a dancing cage. Regardless of whether yours is a truly "alternative lifestyle" or you are just interested in an alternative to the Black Eyed Peas and the Pussycat Dolls on the dance floor, this club is inclusive, fun and almost always packed on a Saturday night. Drink prices are not completely outrageous, commensurate with prices in clubs around the city, though there are not any of those crazy $1 highballs that some other places have. There is a sit-down lounge with a separate DJ called Likwid Lounge upstairs for taking a breather from the dancing.
  • '''The Druid''', 11606 Jasper Ave. This Irish pub comes with a rustic Irish pub-style interior and a wide selection of different beers on tap. The Druid hosts live music on certain days of the week and dance music with DJs on weekends. It can be crowded with partygoers on Fridays and Saturdays, so it's a good idea to come early should you decide to go there on these days.
  • '''Ceili's Irish Pub''', 10338 109th Street NW. Another pub in the Irish style, Ceili's is the closest one to downtown. There is ample nearby parking, unlike the Druid a few blocks away, and it's a popular spot for a meal as well as for the usual tap beers and drink specials. Some evenings feature live music, and you may want to look for (or avoid) the unusual "jam-aoke" - would-be singers from the audience in front of a live band.
  • '''Suede Lounge''', 11806 Jasper Avenue NW, (780) 482-0707. Suede is a neat upscale lounge in the heart of Oliver. The place expects you to dress up and it's really nice for socializing with some alcohol.
  • '''Level 2 Lounge'''11607 Jasper Avenue NW. Small place with great sound system and excellent music selection. Breaks, Techno, House, Electro, Hip Hop, Funk and a cool atmosphere. Right downtown but usually doesn't fill up till after 11:00pm.
  • Oil City Roadhouse. 0736 Jasper Avenue NW. 780) 428-0099. ttp://oilcityroadhouse.com. This is a very very bar-like bar. I guess you could call it the total bar. Not the cleanest, but if the grubby bar-scene is for you, definitely check out.

  • Globe. 0045 109 Street NW. ttp://clubzone.com. Awesome decor, fast bartenders, and party-hardy music. What more do you want?

  • '''T'zin Wine & Tapas''', 10115 - 104 Street. This cozy little place is located off Jasper Ave. and offers absolutely amazing wine with small food. The staff are very well knowledged and friendly. Very much a hidden gem and is tucked in tight in a very small space. Be sure to look for it (it has a small patio).
  • '''Vintage Lounge''', 10124 124 Street. A new, small but hip lounge and bar which hosts DJ music on weekend nights.
  • Brewster's. 1620 104 Avenue NW. 780) 482-4677. Brewery committed to high-quality beer. Has some of the widest selection for beer in the city!
  • Fox Club. 00-10125 109 Street NW. 780) 990-0680. ttp://www.clubzone.com/c/Edmonton/Lounge_Bar/The_FOX.html. Join Fox in one of the hottest dancing places in the city fueled by alcohol and foxy people. Thursday's are frat nights, so for all you people in college used to partying, why not head down to the Fox?

  • '''Wine Cellar''', 12421 102nd Ave.
  • The Bank. 0765 Jasper Avenue NW. 780) 420-9098. ttp://www.thebankultralounge.com?. A very corporate bar, so for all you office workers back home, definitely hit up this place for people with common interests, just wanting to relax, and watch them be casual. Definitely the best happy hour in the city.
  • Vinyl Lounge. 0736 Jasper Avenue NW. 780) 428-8655. Mike Thomas spins the records from the 80s and 90s all night and gets busy very early due to the lack of these places in the city. Along with the fine music, the alcohol is served in a warm comfortable environment.

  • '''deVine Wines & Spirits''', 10111 104th Street, [http://www.devinewines.ca]. This place is in the cutest little location on 104th and offers all kinds of wine.
  • Sleep

    Budget

  • Alberta Place. 0049 103 Street NW. ttp://www.albertaplace.com/rates.html. ates arond (per night) $112. Easy downtown accesses with some suites having great views.

    Midrange

  • Coast Edmonton Plaza. 0155 105 Street NW. orth on 105th St. from Jasper Avenue. 1 780 423-3204. ttp://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/canada/alberta/edmonton/coast_edmonton/overview. rices average at $166 CAD. 3.543342. 113.497825. 1 780 423-3204. 1 800 716-6199. The Coast offers fine suites with all excellent views and a neat restaurant that is friendly.

  • Comfort Inn Downtown Edmonton. 0425 100th Ave. o south of Jasper Avenue on 104th St and turn right at 100th Ave. 1 780 423-5611. ttp://www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/hotel?hotel=CN811. PM. 1AM. 3.53499984741211. 113.49150085449219. 1 780 425-9791.

  • Delta Edmonton Centre. 0222 102 St NW. 1 780 429-3900. ttp://www.deltahotels.com/hotels/hotels.php?hotelId=11. 1 780 421-3259. 1 1 800 661-6655. PM. oon. This hotel is very nice and connected to City Centre Mall and is great for wanting to be downtown on a budget. Most suites have some very nice views and the staff is friendly!

  • GO Backpackers Hostel. 0209-100th Avenue. 80-423-4146. ttp://www.gohostels.ca. PM . 1AM. 25+. Taken over the closed Riverview Inn and offers rooms with 4 and 6 dorm beds as well as private rooms with double or queen beds. Full common facilities. Pub, the Jekyll and Hyde in the lower level.

    Splurge

    Edmonton's fanciest and most expensive hotels fill up quickly due to a current lack of 4 and 5 star hotels. Consider booking up to six weeks in advance to get the best choice.

  • Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. 0065 100 Street NW. 80-424-5181. ttp://www.fairmont.com/MacDonald. he prices are generally high. Known as Edmonton's most elegant grand old hotel, construction for this Chateau-like building began in 1911 and was completed in 1915. Located in the heart of downtown, the breathtaking view of the river valley, fine dining from the Harvest Room, and beautiful suites, makes it the inn-of-choice for the rich and famous. It is also an ideal venue for meetings and banquets. It has been named the best corperate hotel by National Post [in Canada].

  • Matrix Hotel. 0640 100th Avenue. 780) 429-2861. ttp://www.matrixedmonton.com. he pricepoint is in the high range. Right near the glamourous Alberta Legislature is Edmonton's only boutique hotel, Matrix Hotel. The Matrix is what was the Inn on 7th after a massive make over in '06-07. Today it is ultra modern with the best interiors for a hotel. This hotel is often called the W Hotel of Edmonton, Alberta.

  • Westin Edmonton. 0135 100th Street. ttp://www.westin.com. Definitely world class with nice hotel rooms and great services. Many restaurants and lounges are nearby (with Rice Howard Way right there), not to mention Churchill Square which is full of festivals.

  • Union Bank Inn. 0053 Jasper Avenue NW. 780) 423-3600. ttp://unionbankinn.com. This lovely boutique hotel inhabits a small recently converted bank building in the center of Edmonton's downtown. The interior is modern and business-friendly (Internet connections in nearly every room), while keeping an updated "heritage" theme in its comfortable rooms. Its restaurant, the Madison Grill, is one of the city's finer dining establishments, and if it doesn't suffice, you are only a couple of blocks away from any of the major downtown restaurants.

  • Sutton Place Hotel. 0235 101 Street NW. rom Jasper go north on 101St., if you've hit 103a Avenue, you've gone too far.. ttp://suttonplace.com. Very clean suites with good views and practically every room has internet connections.

  • Chateau Lacombe. 0111 Bellamy Hill NW. ttp://chateaulacombe.com. id-to-high pricings. The staff can be friendly and you can get good suites without notice (usually). They also accept pets. It is near good transit and road connections to get you Downtown, Old Strathcona, West Edmonton Mall, a friend, whatever!

  • Coast Suite Hotel. 0205 100 Ave NW. verage pricepoint is $154 CAD. Very comfortable suites, some of which come with kitchens and living rooms with fridges and pull out beds.

  • Marriott Courtyard. Thornton Court NW. 780) 423-9999. ttp://www.marriott.com. 245 CAD is the median for price. Very easy to find with some amazing views from any direction.

  • Holiday Inn Express Downtown Edmonton. 0010 104 St Northwest. ttp://holiday-inn.com. ricepoint is $140 CAD. A beautiful 1960s architecture defines the outside, whilst the inside is completely up to date with the latest luxuries. Good connections to 104th Street shopping area, Heritage Trail, the Legislature, other hotels, Jasper Avenue, and the LRT.

    Contact

    Internet

  • '''Apocalypse Gaming''', 10185 107 St., 780-441-9980, [http://ap-gaming.com]. Su-Th 10AM-Midnight, F,Sa 10AM-2AM. Located one block from the Corona LRT station and Grant MacEwan College. Has 30 custom designed gaming PCs, high speed internet and gigabit LAN, an XBox360 Rock Band stage, large lounge area for snacks and drinks, retro coin-op arcades (TMNT!), regular tournaments and game nights.
  • '''Bohemia Cyber Cafe''', 11012 Jasper Avenue,780-429-3442, [http://bohemiacafe.ca]. M-F 10AM-1AM, Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-Midnight.
  • Stay safe

    Where to avoid

  • The areas around 118 Avenue (97 to 82nd St) are full of prostitution and homelessness. It is best avoided after 7pm. There many be gun shootings, brawls, and/or drugs.
  • Chinatown (which is 97th Street between 105 and 107 Ave)has a lot of poverty and can be full of beggars after 4pm.
  • 107 Avenue is not a very good place to be. Overall it is okay if you are just driving but it isn't advised as a pedestrian. There are a lot of gang fights and drug dealings in the neighbourhood (105 Avenue in the south, 110 Avenue in the north, 120 St in the west, 97 St in the east). It is also really dirty and full of garbage. It is best avoided. Go south of 105 Ave and you should be fine. On top of that, it is in a new development "Northedge" which is trying to turn around the area into a trendy viable place. Unfortunately, it still isn't safe (sometimes 105 Ave can be ok), not until more residents and shop come.
  • Panhandling

    At times, mostly downtown, especially during winter, on the weekdays after 6pm or in quiet areas, you may have people ask you for money. Though they are rarely aggressive, it is best not give them any. They are usually just going to use it for alcohol and it is a waste. If you are under 19, you will rarely be asked. There are two approaches:

  • '''Ignore them''' - just pretend you didn't hear them and keep walking. Do not look at them.
  • '''Say no''' - do it politely with a "No, sorry" as they will usually just say "Alright. Thanks. Have a good day."
  • Perception

    Central Edmonton is perceived as a very scary place, although don't believe the rumours other than MCCauley, you are pretty much safe. Yes, things happen, but it's about as common as in the suburbs.

    In particular some areas/situations may seem sketchy:

    :*Some areas of Jasper Avenue can seem a little dangerous [by perception] and dirty (between 103 and 99 St. in the spotlight) although it is safe to walk by them without getting hurt or begged at. Rarely does bad stuff happen.

    :*Sometimes, on weekdays during fall and winter after 8pm, the downtown core can seem very quiet and lifeless. Despite the odd quietness, a lot of stuff is still open and should not be something to worry about like a homeless person running out asking you for a money. Not to mention this should not sway your opinion that the core of Edmonton is dead, you gotta let the city sleep sometime and most people want to be at home relaxing after a days work rather than shopping or bar hopping which would happen on Fridays/Weekends/Summer.