Cactus Club Cafe is the Place To Be

After living in Calgary for a year (my birthplace) you could say I’ve been around the block. I moved back when I turned 20 because I wanted to understand more about who I was and what my roots were. Being 21, it’s no secret that I love to party! I’ve traversed many a bar, but today I feel compelled to talk about one of my absolute favorite spots; it’s called the “Cactus Club Cafe.” If you haven’t taken the time to check it out already, I highly recommend you do that on your off time because you won’t be disappointed.

The Cactus Club Cafe is a chain of trendy restaurants/bars with a total of 25 established locations Canada wide. The Cactus Club Cafe was originally established by a man by the name of Richard Jaffray.

When Jaffray was a teenager he spent his days waiting tables, but as soon as he hit 19 he had come to the realization that the restaurant industry had so much more potential than what was currently being exhibited in his experience. It had more to offer than just a measly “part-time” job. So with this in mind, in the year 1986, Richard opened up his first restaurant that went by the name Café Cucamongas. The menu? cappuccinos, sandwiches and ice cream. Seems legit. After some time had passed, in the year 1988 when Jaffray was 23 he sold his restaurant and opened up the very first Cactus club Cafe in North Vancouver, British Columbia. His vision? To create a fun, upscale restaurant where one would be welcomed with amazing food and friendly upbeat service in a relaxing environment. What a recipe for success, and success he struck indeed.

Over the last 25 years, The Cactus Club has expanded and branched out into 25 restaurants that span both British Columbia and Alberta alike, employing over 2000 individuals. This just goes to show that a little vision, and a hell of a lot of hard work can take you places. I can’t say I’ve been to every location, personally. The location I’m referring to particularly is on Macleod Trail near my old neighborhood. I used to go there roughly twice a month to treat myself. The setting in that location is so elegant, and if you go in the afternoon it has a club-like atmosphere. In my personal opinion, it’s hardly “Café-like” at all. It has more of a upbeat bar-like setting. This being said, if you do end up checking it out, my recommendation in terms of drinks is the Peach Bellini. It’s to die for, just trust me on this one. In all honesty, not only is the service there fantastic, but the drinks are most definitely on point. They are currently featuring their new Passion Fruit Bellini which I am thrilled about. I have yet to try it, but I’m definitely keeping it in mind the next time I go there.

I know that they just created a menu in Vancouver for low-alcohol content bevy’s for those who are designated drivers of the evening and want to keep their blood-alcohol levels at a minimum to ensure they are still within the legal limits. I think this is an excellent idea, and I’m hoping that they implement this menu option at the Calgary locations if they haven’t done so already. I believe it would be very beneficial in terms of expanding their customer count as well as meeting their already existing customer’s needs and promoting safer options.

In terms of the food, they serve high-quality meal options at reasonably affordable prices. The food presentation is absolutely gorgeous, and the service is expedient. This would most certainly be a place that I would recommend you take someone to treat them, whether it be a date, an intimate business meeting, or just to have lunch with a good friend. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out! Leave your comments below about your experience. I’d love to hear from you!

 To make a reservation at the Macleod Trail location call 403-255-1088 and for more information on their alternative locations and menu you can visit their official website, follow them on Twitter and ‘like’ their Facebook page.