Edmonton’s underground scene is a lot deeper than you might think. We all get stuck in our routines, and as a result, we miss out on what’s right beneath our feet. Intimate bars, cozy eateries, and all sorts of amazing venues are scattered across Edmonton’s core just waiting to be unearthed. Every year we get amazing additions, but it’s difficult to keep up so we asked our office to come up with a list of where we love to spend our time in Edmonton’s underground scene.
Redstar | 2 meters | The Local | Downtown Neighbourhood
The local. Every office needs one. The place where, when it’s been too long a week, you can access a drink in under 3.5 minutes. That time frame is really important so we’re lucky to have Redstar nearby. Sometimes you get stuck with something a bit run down with a couple of taps and that 70s parent’s basement vibe. Redstar is not that. It’s that beautiful combination of wood, kind service without the over-enthusiastic EARLitude, and too many beer options. Come check it out for yourself and see if you can figure out which table is ours on most Fridays after work.
New Tagline: Beers Beneath the Earth
Prairie Noodle House | 3 Meters | Send Noods | Westmount Neighbourhood
It’s ramen if ramen had originated on a farm straight out of a Steinbeck novel. (But like, in Alberta you know) I’m sure there are purists out there who take issue, but ramen is so perfect to adapt to the ingredients that define our province. The squad at Prairie does this purposefully. Everything we love about this shop seems intentional. Its got flavours that remind you of home, nostalgia in a broth, and an explanation for every inclusion, exclusion, and tweak to their food. If you’re a ramen fan, drop by and check it out. If you’re not a ramen fan, I mean we don’t have much left to say to you… are you sure?
New Tagline: East of Ramen, Noodles of Wrath, To a Broth Unknown (Sorry I don’t know enough Albertan writers)
Cafe Bicyclette | 3 Meters | Winter City | Bonnie Doon Neighbourhood
This place needs even more recognition. It centers the French Quarter in Bonnie Doon and it executes winter city ideals better than anywhere in the city. Imagine if your basement was a quaint French cafe. Now make your house a mansion with a walkout leading to a sunken balcony framed in repurposed door and window frames and provençal garden party lighting. Then to keep everyone warm, lay out blankets across all the seating areas, position heaters overhead and build a fireplace that you keep running all day. It’s like a fairytale. Not enough? Just try the food. Come by on a moderate winter day and drink your coffee near the fire. I mean, I can’t make you do anything, but it snows for 8 months of the year here. Are you ready to live two-thirds of the rest of your life inside?
New Tagline: The Coffee Bar of Narnia
9910 | 3.5 meters | Hip Hop Karaoke | Oliver Neighbourhood
Like you’ve never seen before. Don’t show up the first time expecting to sing. This is a performance. Sign-ups before the event, no screens, a full stage, 99ten’s hip-hop karaoke is everything we need in Edmonton. One of the coolest nights out in town for sure. It’s a loving homage to hip-hop and an unexpectedly high-performance level. The space is gorgeous and the always have something going on if hip-hop karaoke doesn’t sound like your thing. If that is the case, maybe give your head a shake and then try again.
New Tagline: Basement Mixtapes for the Thirsty
Plaza Bowl | 4 meters | Time Machine Realness | Westwood Neighbourhood
Lanes? Where we’re going, we don’t need lanes. Okay, we still need lanes, but Plaza Bowl really is a relic of the 50s. Lovingly maintained by one family since the late 70s, it’s the most attractive bowling alley in the city. I’m sure we’ll see it play host to a Wes Anderson movie in our lifetime. Now you can grab local beers, a late night grilled cheese, and huck balls at some pins. Chase down that turkey and win a pin that you can show off to all of your friends. True to its history, Plaza is everything good about the fifty’s family legacy values without any of the generation’s human rights hiccups… Don’t forget to stretch. The stairs become a lot more difficult after 50 frames and an adventure through their beer fridge.
New Tagline: Bowling in a Bomb Shelter
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