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Welcome to Kensington

There’s always something new to discover in Kensington, whether you’re new to the City or have lived in Calgary for years. The “village in the city,” as it’s affectionately known, is home to more than 270 retail shops, 28 restaurants and pubs, 30 health and wellness businesses, 21 salons/spas, 62 professional services and 23 speciality stores—which means there’s no shortage of ways to explore. Better yet, The Annex’s location means it’s all just outside your front door. Keep reading to discover more about one of Calgary’s more popular neighbourhoods.

Street view of Kensington. Find out about all the things to do in Kensington.

Home Makeover

Once you’re all settled in to your new home at The Annex, it’s time to decorate. Sure, you could go to the usual big-box stores, but why not scout out what’s in your own backyard? Kensington is where you can find to shops like InGear, which carries one-of-a-kind items from artists around the world, or browse stylish furniture at Metro Element—you can even design a custom piece.

Wardrobe Refresh

A day could easily be spent perusing Kensington’s clothing boutiques. Find hidden gems and designer deals in the neighbourhood’s array of consignment shops—reFind Consigned Fashion, Peacock Boutique Consignment and Trend Fashions Ltd. are a great place to start—or update your wardrobe with the latest pieces from Purr, Kismet Clothing & Jewellery, James & Dickson Clothiers, Brooklyn Clothing Co. and Meraki Supply Co., where you can find Calgary-made clothing from brands like Local Laundry and Camp Brand Goods.

Your New Usual

Kensington has no shortage of cafés, bars, restaurants and coffee shops to sample, and it won’t be long before you find your new favourite. Some neighbourhood hot spots include Container Bar, Crave Cupcakes, Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey, Higher Ground Cafe, Kensington Pub, Modern Steak, Oak Tree Tavern, Oxbow, Prohibition Freehouse, The Regal Cat Café and The Roasterie. You can also take a culinary tour around the world thanks to restaurants like Niko’s Bistro, Julio’s Barrio, Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant, Vero Bistro Moderne and many more.

Get Moving

Kensington’s proximity to the Bow River means easy access to some of the city’s best walking paths, but there are plenty of options if you prefer to take your workout indoors. You can work up a sweat at Urban Athlete Fitness Studio, which offers personal training, strength and TRX classes; Kensington Personal Training & Wellness Gym; Ki Fitness, which is a personal training and sports performance gym; spin it out at YYC Cycle; or practice yoga at Yoga and Beyond and Bohi Tree Yoga.

So much choice means there’s too many interesting places to include in just one blog post, so keep an eye out for more in the coming months!

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