Here is your ACN-Approved Healthy City Guide to the best vibrant living Edmonton, AB has to offer!

Edmonton, AB is quickly climbing the ranks as one of Canada’s must-visit destinations. With over 150 kilometers of walking and biking trails, Edmonton is proud to be home to the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America – so think green, green and more green! With its vibrant summer festivals, close proximity to the mountains, and a growing arts and culture scene, Edmonton should be on the top of your “Must See!” list.

You can also feel the city’s excitement in the up and coming health scene, with new conscious eateries popping up all over town, boutique fitness studios coming in by the dozen, and a ton of seasonal markets opening up across town. The community spirit that exists in the city is nothing short of amazing, and the opportunities to experience, explore and expand are endless!

Where to Eat

Café Mosaics. This vegetarian and vegan restaurant started out as a hidden gem back in the 90’s and grew into a modern gathering spot for the health conscious individual. They focus on using whole foods and tonic herbs in both their food and drink options in an approachable way, which lends to the laid back vibe of the restaurant. This casual and eclectic spot right on Edmonton’s main strip, Whyte Ave., has become a meeting spot for seasoned veggie-loving friends as well as those diving into healthy living for the first time. The “Laughing Monkey Hot Pot” is a must-try on their menu, so much so that all of my friends end up ordering it after they see me slurping away!

Noorish. This conscious eatery near Whyte Ave. has it all. An organic/local/raw vegan eatery, an elixir bar to excite your senses, a teaching kitchen featuring monthly workshops, a retail store boasting superfoods, herbs and other goods, and a yoga studio to top it all off! This multi-purpose space is beautifully adorned with warming colours and friendly staff ready to take you on an adventure through the all-vegan menu. You could spend your entire day here re-inspiring and rejuvenating your mind, body and soul.

Under the High Wheel. Located in the beautiful Roots on Whyte building, Under the High Wheel serves locally sourced, seasonal, and beautifully plated meals. Attached to Da Capo Caffe, you can expect a great cup of coffee, a menu full of healthy comfort food, and a warming environment to put your senses in overload. My absolute favourite menu item is the Savoury Belgain Waffles, which includes the perfect amount of sweet and salty breakfast items to set you up right for your day! You will also find a few other Edmonton gems in the building, including Blush Lane Organic Market, Wellness on Whyte, Sattva Yoga Studio, and a health conscious hair salon and dentist office to name a few.

KB & Co. The new kid in town, KB + Co., is already blowing up the Edmonton scene. With plant-based, on-the-go food options, this healthy take-out joint is quickly becoming a staple in the downtown Edmonton community. Their menu is free of meat, dairy, egg and soy-based foods, so it is a safe spot for those looking for an alternative dining option. This is the place to go if you are looking to grab a smoothie, a healthy plant-based bowl, and a raw treat on your lunchtime break. This is also the perfect Saturday spot to refuel at after checking out the Downtown 104th Street market.

Glow Juicery. This juice bar and raw food cafe is a tried and true Edmonton staple, and has more than 10 locations popping up across Canada. Glow offers a lineup of 8 different juices, including the veggie-packed After Glow, my personal favourite. Glow also offers beginner, intermediate and advanced juice cleanses, as well as an option for a juice + raw food cleanse combination. Grab a juice at the location off Whyte Ave. before you go out for a weekend stroll!

Revojuiceinary. 100% raw, organic based Revojuiceinary offers 12 different juices, smoothies and raw mylks, which can be found on local business shelves all over the city. Revojuiceinary offers “Epically Green” juice cleanses, as well as nutrient-packed soups, and even offers a bonus – they will deliver right to your house!

Best Markets

Old Strathcona Farmers Market. An all-year-round indoor Saturday market, The OSFM is located right off of Whyte Ave. and boasts over 130 vendors. You can find anything from farm fresh veggies, organic meat, hand crafted items from a dozen artisan vendors, and fresh BC fruit. The market is an all-ages event, with local musicians playing a tune, face painting for kids (or adventurous adults!) and friends gathering at tables enjoying a warm drink from the market café.

Downtown Market – 104th St. This outdoor summer market opens mid-May (and moves inside mid-October) and is the gathering spot for many Edmontonians and their furry friends! Stroll down 104th St, and you are sure to bump into a friend, pet a few dogs, sample a few delicious snacks, and grab some local groceries for dinner. The best part of the market is the community vibe that radiates from each and every person there. Even if you’re a visitor to the city, you’ll feel immediately welcome when visiting this market!

Blush Lane Organic Market. Blush Lane, located in the Roots on Whyte building, is the place to grab your organic groceries and stay up to date with all things healthy living. Monthly workshops, promoting health, nutrition and other holistic topics, are the focus of this community-centered grocery market.

Earth’s General Store. This grassroots market is full of community spirit and focuses on local, ethical and organic goods. Grab your reusable bag and stock up on some of your favourite goods, including refillable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash options. With two central locations, this is a great go-to market if you wish to leave a smaller footprint on the world.

Yoga and Fitness

Lion’s Breath Yoga. A beautiful yoga studio located in Downtown Edmonton, Lion’s Breath features a variety of classes including flow, yin, power yoga, and my personal favourite, a soul-reviving restorative class. This studio also offers massage therapy including Thai massage, personal training and yoga teacher training courses.

SVPT Fitness + Athletics. This fitness studio offers individual and group personal training sessions for everyone, including those new on the scene and training geared towards the elite athlete. Personal lifestyle and health goals are taken into consideration at this studio, making it a community-focused and individually based fitness experience.

Fitset. If you’re looking to try out a number of boutique fitness studios around the city, including on-land surfing, rock climbing, ballet barre, and group fitness classes, the Fitset pass is for you. For a flat-rate fee per month, you can get access to some of Edmonton’s hottest fitness studios, including my favourites, The Surf Studio and Barre Body Studio. Get ready to challenge your body and try something new….and remember to bring a friend!

Natural Spas

Modern Gravity Float. If you’re looking for a new way to relax, try floating! The Modern Gravity Float Studio offers reduced-gravity floating chambers where all you need to do is shed your clothes, relax and float away. The experience allows you to completely release all stress and tension, and focus on relaxing every inch of your body. You also have the option of enjoying a display of stars while you float or turning off all of the lights and making time to reflect within.

Kolya Naturals. This multi-purpose space within Optimum Health Vitamins is a natural skincare boutique, apothecary and spa. Visit Kolya for a custom facial with organic skincare products or chat with one of the knowledgeable staff members about the many natural beauty products on their shelves. While in the store, be sure to visit the beautiful Earth’s Aromatique, which houses everything from herbs, essential oils, diffusers, and custom tea blends (as well as a tea bar)!

Wellness on Whyte. This beautiful wellness studio in the Roots on Whyte building offers many different healing modalities with the same focus – rejuvenating the body, mind and soul. Upon walking into the studio, you will feel a sense of peace and wellness, as the staff has worked hard to create a sanctuary within the walls. Services include Acupuncture, Massage, Reiki, Infrared Sauna and Lifestyle Coaching.

Activities

River Valley. With over 150 kilometers of trails, Edmonton’s River Valley is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast. Filled with all different types of flora and fauna, the river valley is ideal for an afternoon walk, a mountain bike ride, or a canoe trip down the North Saskatchewan river. Grab a friend and go for a leisurely walk around one of Edmonton’s most coveted attractions.

Summer Festivals. Edmonton is all about its summer festivals. The harsh winters provoke a summer spirit that cannot be stopped, so get ready to experience Festival City. We are proud to host the Folk Music Festival, which gets close to selling out quickly year after year, and is one of Edmonton’s biggest community events. Edmonton’s Fringe Festival is one of the biggest Fringe Festivals in North America, with performers coming from all edges of the world to perform on some of the city’s best stages. The Heritage Festival is a 3-day event in the popular Hawrelak Park, where ethnic food from all over the world can be sampled. There are a plethora of summer festivals all around the city, that it would be impossible to list them all!

Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair. This bi-annual arts and crafts fair highlights the powerful arts scene growing in Edmonton by the day. Local artisans promote their handmade items, and interactive exhibits and installations catch your eye at this community-focused event.

Made Social. If you can get your name on the list for one of Made Social’s coveted craft workshops, you’ve hit the jackpot! Two best buds have combined their love for all things beautiful and crafty, and now host one of the most sought-after monthly workshops in the city.

Where To Stay

Metterra. This contemporary hotel right on the busy and thriving Whyte Ave. is a fantastic accommodation choice if you’re hoping to stay right in the thick of all the action. With natural wood furnishings and an eclectic design, the Met is the perfect option for those wanting to opt for comfort and style.

Union Bank Inn. This one-of-a-kind boutique inn is situated in Downtown Edmonton, a short skip from the Art Gallery of Alberta. A historical building, formally the Union Bank of Canada, is now a 34-room inn consisting of designer suites focused on comfort and tranquility. This is the perfect getaway if you’d like to be close to the Downtown action.

Are you from Edmonton? Taken your own healthy adventures here? What did we miss? What are your favourite health spots?