The 9 Best Bubble Tea Shops in Calgary Where You’ll Find Your New Favorite Drink
Back when I was a university student, I was pretty much addicted to coffee. I had to drink several cups a day just to get through my classes, and I practically bathed in it during finals season.
The sad part is that I didn’t even like the taste of regular coffee that much. I just relied on it to keep me awake.
It was only when one of my friends introduced me to bubble tea that my life changed. I finally found a drink that was delicious but also woke me up with a nice sugar rush.
Since then, I’ve basically been to all the cafes and shops that serve my favorite sweet treat. In case you’re curious, listed below are the best bubble tea shops in Calgary that I’d be happy to come back to over and over again.
1. Bubblemania
– Media credit: bubblemaniayyc
Address: 455 16 Ave NE
Contact details: +1 403 277 9398
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday – 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Wednesday to Thursday, Sunday – 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Must-order: Black Sugar Oolong Milk Tea
Bubblemania came to Calgary over 20 years ago, and it was one of the first ever bubble tea shops in the city. This means that they were around long before bubble tea became trendy.
But apart from being ‘one of the OGs’, Bubblemania is also known as the place to go to when you have late-night cravings. It’s common to see customers getting their sugar fix here way past dinner.
My drink of choice is their Black Sugar Oolong Milk Tea. I like that it’s not just sweet, but also has a rich, toasty Oolong taste.
It also pairs well with the shop’s signature chicken wings. These are the perfect crispy and savory snacks to balance out the sweet milk tea.
| Pro tip: Bubblemania has a spacious private dining area that’s great for parties. Their staff can help you plan any event and ensure that everything goes smoothly. |
2. Gong Cha
– Media credit: gongcha_yyc
Address: Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Trl SW #0261
Contact details: +1 403 258 1999
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Lychee Mango Green Tea
Gong Cha has come a long way since it was first introduced in Taiwan back in 1996. Today, they’re one of the most popular bubble tea brands all over the world. In fact, they have 5 shops just in Calgary alone.
The one I end up going to the most is their location in Chinook Centre. I always stop by whenever I need a quick snack break from shopping.
Although it may seem like a small thing, I like that they let customers choose their sugar and ice levels. It makes each drink feel much more personalized.
Speaking of drinks, their fruity options are the best. Most regulars recommend their Lychee Mango Green Tea, which combines two refreshing flavors in one. It also contains chewy coconut jelly that people are very fond of.
| Pro tip: There’s only one type of snack available at Gong Cha, but it’s perfect with their tea. Their famous egg waffle comes in 5 appetizing flavors: Original, Sesame, Matcha, Chocolate, and Oreo. |
3. Royaltea
– Media credit: royaltea_calgary
Address: 931 10 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 403 454 5483
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Matcha Slush with Mousse
There’s a huge chance you may have already seen Royaltea drinks on social media. They have the cutest bear-shaped cups for their bubble tea, and customers just love taking pictures of them.
But before you can start planning your camera angles, you’ll have to go through their menu first. It’s a very extensive selection with every type of flavor and color of tea imaginable.
Thankfully, their amazing staff is always happy to help. In case you can’t make up your mind, they know everything by heart and can explain what each drink tastes like.
After several visits here, I’ve chosen the Matcha Slush with Mousse as my favorite. The creamy mousse goes so well with the rich, earthy matcha. Plus, it’s caffeinated, so it’ll give you a nice boost for the day.
| Pro tip: In case you’re not sure what to order, Royaltea has a cheat sheet for you. They have a section at the very end of their menu that lists their top 15 bestselling teas, which you can choose from. |
4. Kung Fu Tea Huntington Hills
– Media credit: kungfuteacalgary
Address: 564 64 Ave NE
Contact details: +1 403 454 3960
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Must-order: Assam Black Tea
Kung Fu Tea Huntington Hills is located in a trendy area full of restaurants. This makes them the number one go-to for diners in search of dessert.
One of their main selling points is that they use honey instead of sugar for sweetness. This adds an extra layer of flavor to the drinks that you won’t easily find in other bubble tea shops.
It’s also one of the reasons why I love ordering the Assam Black Tea here. Even though it has a strong, bold, and malty flavor, you’ll still be able to taste a hint of honey underneath it all.
Their toppings make it much more fun to drink their tea as well. Whether your drink has pearls, agar jelly, or grass jelly, all of these toppings are soft and satisfying to chew on.
| Pro tip: Regular customers would highly benefit from getting Kung Fu Tea’s convenient mobile app. You’ll be able to order online easily and collect points for discounts. |
5. vitaminboba
– Media credit: vitaminboba
Address: 4537 Bowness Rd NW
Contact details: +1 866 247 7469
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Buttercake Milk Tea
Even though vitaminboba is still quite new, it already gets packed from time to time. Students especially love coming to this store on the weekends.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is the cutest bubble tea shop you’ll ever see. It’s well decorated with pastel colors and cute characters, so it’s hard not to snap a pic of every corner.
Their bestselling Buttercake Thai Milk Tea looks just as delightful as everything else in the shop. But it’s not just pretty, it also provides delicious creamy, buttery goodness with every sip.
| Pro tip: Vitaminboba doesn’t just sell drinks. They also have a bubble tea-themed merch shop where you can buy cutely decorated everyday items such as caps, phone cases, tote bags, and more. |
6. Chatime
– Media credit: chatimeyyc
Address: 4307 130 Ave SE #23
Contact details: +1 403 455 4888
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Must-order: Brown Sugar Roasted Milk Tea
Chatime is probably one of the brand names that immediately comes to mind when you think of bubble tea. Ever since it was established 20 years ago, this global franchise has been dominating the bubble tea conversation.
Part of why they’re so popular is their atmosphere. Each shop feels inviting and comfortable to relax in, so diners are always attracted to hang out.
But of course, the teas are the star of the show. Their fans particularly like that all of their drinks have a strong tea flavor, which isn’t always the case with bubble tea.
The Brown Sugar Roasted Milk Tea is a great example of this. You can really taste the roasted, smoky flavor of the tea, even though the drink is still perfectly sweet.
| Pro tip: Although they’re mainly known for teas, don’t overlook Chatime’s snack menu. They have yummy snacks like takoyaki, fries, popcorn chicken, onion rings, and more. |
7. Bubble Tea Brewers
– Media credit: bubbleteabrewers
Address: Glamorgan Shopping Centre, 3913 Richmond Rd SW Unit #1
Contact details: +1 403 475 2117
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Halo-halo Milk Tea
Bubble Tea Brewers is one of the rare bubble tea shops that proudly started in Calgary. And as a tea brand that some would consider “international”, they’ve found a way to make their menu even more diverse.
Instead of just sticking to classic options that originated from Taiwan, Bubble Tea Brewers takes inspiration from flavors you’d find all over the world. As a result, they offer teas that you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
If you’ve never been here, you have to try their unique Halo-halo Milk Tea. It’s based on a Philippine dessert, so it has similar ingredients, such as sweet evaporated milk and a creamy ube ice cream on top.
| Pro tip: The staff at Bubble Tea Brewers isn’t just great at crafting drinks, they’re fantastic at making pastries too. You have to try one of their famous croffles when you visit. It’ll have you feeling like 1 piece isn’t enough. |
8. Xing Fu Tang
– Media credit: xftheritage
Address: 25 Heritage Meadows Way SE, Unit 120
Contact details: +1 403 258 0605
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Must-order: Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea
Xing Fu Tang goes the extra mile to stay authentic. They regularly import ingredients straight from Taiwan to achieve the true taste of milk tea.
Their most popular offering is the Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea. It’s sweet and creamy, as you would expect, but what sets it apart is its caramelized top, which gives it a toasted flavor that makes it more intense.
It’s even more special since customers get to see the baristas making the brown sugar pearls by hand in-store. The way they knead makes the pearls extra soft and even more fun to chew.
| Pro tip: If you’re a fan of cute things, you should order one of Xing Fu Tang’s fruit teas. They come with an adorable bunny jelly on top that’s perfect for pictures. |
9. The Alley
– Media credit: thealley.ca
Address: 3941 University Ave NW
Contact details: +1 587 349 5093
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Must-order: Deerioca Ube Taro
The Alley is a favorite among students and young professionals. The bright and well-organized interiors set the perfect atmosphere for deep focus and work.
For most of the regulars, their preferred choice of study companion is the Deerioca Ube Taro. They say that the delectable taste of ube keeps them engaged and energized while working.
Sadly, this shop’s popularity means that it runs out of some flavors from time to time. But lucky for us, they have quite an impressive menu, so there are plenty of other drinks to choose from.
| Pro tip: Those who plan on working at The Alley should reserve a table before going there. Otherwise, you might end up sitting somewhere without any charging ports. |