Life is hard. Drinking and mingling should be easy.

The point is, good times are important. In Calgary, finding a reliable watering hole to toss back a few brews and check out some bands can be challenging, so we've picked some quality recurring nights that have carved out solid reputations over the years. Comprehensive it ain’t, but if you’re looking for a consistently good night, it’s a great place to start.

• Drum and Monkey — since moving from the Castle Pub to the Drum and Monkey nearly 10 years ago, Dub at the Pub has been laying down the reggae beats for a faithful following every Tuesday. Chilling with a plate of nachos and few pints is a swell way to break up the week, and as the night progresses, jungle beats from the attached Bamboo Tiki Room get the crowd grooving.

Drum cooks Tyler Wilson and Mark Schmidt have been attending the mellow DJ dub-fest religiously for three years. "The music carries the peaceful vibe," Wilson says, adding it's not a scenester hub, but a come-as-you-are social event. "You can be yourself," agrees Schmidt.

• Broken City — Wednesday nights at Broken City are being revived by Ben Leon, punk rocker of the band The Nymphets, who’s launching Spins and Needles. An East Coast transplant, he's itching to create the kind of night that's easy to find in Montreal and New York. He says the word is getting out, and it's fast becoming a frenetic dance night, complete with cheap drinks and rock ’n’ roll poutine. Leon, in an exclamation-riddled e-mail from New York (The Nymphets are based in Brooklyn and he alternates his time between New York and Calgary), is brimming with pride about his new creative endeavour. "Of course, it was a little slow starting up and has had a few ups and downs, but the crowds are really fun,” he says. “They come have a beer, hang out. Although it is mid-week, I don't think it matters that much."

• The Palomino — a huge vintage poster of Johnny Cash flipping the bird greets the clusters of diners gnawing on bacon-wrapped corn on the cob and southern barbeque upstairs at the Palomino. Downstairs, Saturday nights have earned a reputation as the ultimate basement party. From out-of-towners like Fred Eaglesmith to the best local talent, it's all about the music. Booze flows freely from the sunken bar, and some of Calgary's rock star bartenders, including Christine Berger, pour up a storm. Sound tech Bill Crapelle says booking manager Spencer Brown has brought out the best in Calgary talent, providing an intimate venue, free meals and an atmosphere of respect for the artists. Crapelle also says the crowds are what make the subterranean bar a reliable night out. "We're blessed with a smart clientele," he says.

At the Ironwood, Sunday morning come-downs are a breeze, thanks to the Big Band Brunch. For $30 a head, audiences get an 18-piece jazz ensemble performing classics by the likes of Benny Goodman. A hearty morning buffet is spread out at noon, with heaps of sausages, pastries and made-to-order eggs. Owner and manager Pat MacIntyre says the event brings out the die-hard jazz fans along with the younger set checking out the old standards, and everyone gets along swimmingly.

“It’s a big mingler,” he says.