Backlot

About this place Backlot

Backlot is the gay patio bar that Calgary's summer was made for — a venue that understands the specific pleasure of drinking outdoors in a city that has warm, sunny summers and a culture of outdoor socialising that is genuine rather than forced. The patio at Backlot is large, well-designed, and set back from the street in a way that gives it the relaxed character of a proper outdoor space rather than a curbside table. The bar itself is straightforward and welcoming — drinks are fair, the staff know the regulars, and the atmosphere is the inclusive warmth that makes a good neighbourhood gay bar different from a mainstream venue. Backlot draws a broad cross-section of Calgary's LGBTQ+ community: men and women, young and older, Beltline regulars and visitors from across the city and province. The programming is lighter than Twisted Element's — fewer themed party nights, more emphasis on the social pleasure of a good patio on a warm evening. During the Stampede in July, Backlot becomes one of the most energetic places on the LGBTQ+ strip, with the cowboy aesthetic and the Pride aesthetic in productive collision. During Calgary Pride in September, the patio is among the most desirable outdoor spots in the city. For visitors who want to experience Calgary's gay scene in its most relaxed and sociable register, Backlot in summer is the answer.