New Whiskey Bar and Restaurant Shake Up the Downtown Calgary Dining Scene

CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - Aug 17, 2015) - Those looking for a bite to eat or a sip to drink in downtown Calgary can find it -- and so much more -- at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel's brand-new ONE18 EMPIRE bar and restaurant. Open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. until close, this whiskey bar and restaurant infuse every pour and sharable plate with a serving of local history. As a result, the food and drinks become as irresistible as the city itself.

ONE18 EMPIRE has shot to the top of the list among locals and visitors eager to explore the best of Calgary dining. Its versatile spaces wear a range of textured materials, including wooden planks, smooth stone and accents of metal.

Against this cool, contemporary backdrop that feels so original among Calgary's hotels, the restaurant specialises in shareable, locally-inspired cuisine and boasts more than 100 whiskeys, ryes, bourbons and scotches on hand. Guests can also sip on a wide range of craft beers, wine on tap and a selection of whiskey cocktails. Most importantly, however, the restaurant's chef-created menus are about more than food. The highly trained staff can impart the sort of background about each dish or drink that gives it a local context guests can really sink their teeth into.

Knowledge, in fact, informs a great deal of one's experience at this new hotspot. Unique among restaurants in downtown Calgary hotels, for example, ONE18 EMPIRE offers whiskey tastings in its stylish McTavish Room. Led by local whiskey experts and renowned Master Distillers, these events delve into the world of whiskey while offering a one-of-a-kind, local experience.

Calgary's Avenue Magazine recently included the restaurant's kale Caesar salad as one of the "6 Best Caesar Salads in Calgary": "...you can't go wrong with the kale Caesar...dressed with a preserved lemon vinaigrette, it's more lemony than garlicky and the big, rustic croutons are just the right amount of crunchy." The publication also included ONE18's burger as one of the five best new burgers in Calgary.

Another feature distinguishing the restaurant from those of other luxury hotels in Calgary is its flexible private dining options. Groups of up to 12 people can book anything from paired tastings, to private dinners, to business luncheons in the McTavish Room. Larger gatherings of 14 or more people, meanwhile, can reserve the back section of the restaurant (which can been separated from the rest of the dining room) for a private gathering. The options at ONE18 EMPIRE, in other words, simply epitomise good taste.

To see ONE18 EMPIRE's menu, learn about upcoming events and make a reservation, visit the restaurant's website.

About the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel
The Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel attracts business and leisure travellers with attentive service, plush accommodations and a variety of convenient amenities. Upon the completion of its multimillion-dollar renovation in Spring 2015, the hotel will welcome guests with a new lobby, Canada's first M Club Lounge, inspired dining options that include an onsite Starbucks and a new whiskey bar, and more than 11,000 square feet of dynamic meeting space. Guest rooms invite travellers to relax with luxury bedding, smart TVs and dramatic views of the city and the Canadian Rockies. Other features of this luxurious hotel include a fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment, an indoor pool, concierge service, a full-service business centre, laundry service and valet parking. Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, the hotel is near the famous Calgary Tower, Calgary Zoo and Glenbow Museum, as well as vibrant restaurants, bars and shops.