How to show a menu bar calendar on Mac

The simplest method: SeventyCal

Install SeventyCal, turn on the menu bar in settings, then click the icon: the whole month drops down in a panel, today circled in blue. Arrows to change month, a "Today" button to jump back in one click, double-click a date to open it in Calendar.app. No access to your events is requested: the app only draws the grid, it reads nothing in your calendar.

Download the free SeventyCal trial (7 days, macOS 13+).

Why not just open Calendar.app

• A glance without switching apps: no need to interrupt what you're doing, open a window, and close it again just to check a date or day of the week.
• Always in the same place: the icon stays within reach in the menu bar, whatever app is in front.
• Direct access when you really need it: double-clicking a date opens Calendar.app right on that day, without navigating months yourself.

Why no permission is requested

SeventyCal uses no access to your events at all: it only computes the month grid (days, weeks, today) from the system date. Since nothing is read from your calendar, no Calendar authorization is needed, and nothing can be sent anywhere.

Week numbers and first day

In settings, a toggle adds the ISO week number column to the left of the grid, handy for professional planning. The first day of the week is also your choice: Monday by default, or Sunday if you prefer.

Mistakes to avoid

• Opening Calendar.app just to check a day of the week: an unnecessary round trip for information that fits in the menu bar.
• Using an app that asks for access to your events for a simple date grid: more permissions than needed for what you want to do.
• Hunting for today's date in another app: the icon's title can show it directly, at all times.

Get SeventyCal: 7-day trial, then a lifetime license.