One Day in Edmonton: alt band RETROFILE

Recommendations on where to dine in Edmonton

Place elements of 80s pop, disco and 00s rock in a blender and you'll pleasantly end up with the alt duo RETROFILE.

Comprised of twins Noah and Luke Martino, the musical act first debuted back in 2017 with their debut single "Two Words" which has amassed close to 13 million streams on Spotify. In 2019, they released their first EP Heard It All Before to plenty of continued success.

RETROFILE has taken plenty of (pandemic-related) downtime since then to create music for their debut album, which is set for release later this year. The first single "In Stereo" is a fun taste of what's to come, so make sure to give it a listen.

(If you're in Toronto, you can also catch RETROFILE performing during Canadian Music Week 2023 later this month.)

Based in Edmonton, the duo loves to explore the city's food scene when they're not recording or performing live. From an iconic breakfast spot to a local-music-loving pub, Noah Martino of RETROFILE shares the band's favourite spots fo eats and drinks in the Alberta capital.

Breakfast

Luke and I's go-to breakfast spot in Edmonton is The Sugarbowl.

They have a killer Huevos Rancheros, and the Chicken and Waffles is the best in the city. Sometimes we’ll just swing by for a cup of coffee and a giant—and I mean giant—cinnamon bun.

Lunch

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dogpatch (@dogpatchyeg)

Dogpatch has become my favourite lunch spot in town. It’s located in the neighbourhood of Riverdale, which is tucked away along the North Saskatchewan, and a beautiful place to go for a walk.

The sandwiches are made on bread fresh from the bakery located in the same building. A personal favourite dish is the Fried Brussels Sprouts.

Dinner

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Bistro Praha (@bistro_praha)

One of the best dinner spots in Edmonton, which Luke and I have been going to since we were kids, is Bistro Praha.

The Wiener Schnitzel is fantastic. It’s also a place to leave room for dessert because they have incredible Crêpes. I usually order the pan-fried Banana Crêpe.

Drinks

Luke and I don’t drink, so I’ll tell you some of our go-to Cafés because Edmonton has a ton of local coffee shops and roasters.

Some personal favourites include Square 1, Little Brick, Block 1912, Café Bicyclette, and Transcend. All great for Espresso or a small bite to eat.

Watch: RETROFILE - Two Words (Official Audio)