Please... please get the Scottish egg because I wish I could eat it everyday! It was an all we shared at our table and was my first Scottish egg! I had the burger for dinner which was good as well. My colleague had the curry and it was also very good!!! Great server as well, she was so personable and kind. Love the old building too. read more

James Joyce - Scottish egg - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Delicious, excellent service, lively environment. The Belfast Breakfast is the perfect, soda wheat toast freshly made.

Wanted to stop by and have a Guinness here at one of the many bars along the CORE walking corridor. Came on a weekday midafternoon that had a small crowd of folks from out of town for business and vacation. This review is just for the pint which hit the spot and a lot of cool memorabilia which one sees throughout the restaurant. Note: don't forget to check out the cool old school logo items on display in the basement while on the way to use the restroom. An objective 4 stars as I did not try any of the food. read more

James Joyce - Pint of a you know what. - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I'm going to break this down into sections: Authenticity 5 stars - No TVs no gambling just an old style pub. Quality of Guinness 5 stars again Menu - Meh, standard North American Irish pub fare, a little too assimilated to local tastes It got 5 not 4.5, I went here every day I stayed in Calgary. Much better than it's subterranean neighbor. read more

I stopped in this wonderful Irish pub while visiting Calgary and I was blown away. Their Guinness is perfection and their menu looks really good. I tried the stuffed dates and the onion rings. Both went perfectly with the beer. The employees and the ambiance made for a memorable experience. read more

Worst experience ever in a restaurant! Went to have a nice dinner prior to attending a Philharmonic concert. The restaurant was about 1/3 full inside, and only a few tables occupied outside. We chose to sit outside. After being seated, we waited about 10 minutes and nobody had come out to serve us. I went inside, and asked the person who had seated us if anyone was serving outside, and was told someone would be out in a minute. 5 minutes later, I went inside and asked again if someone was coming to serve us, and was told by the same person that someone would be out in a minute. 5 minutes later, I went back inside, and saw three serving staff standing at the side of the bar chatting. I asked the bar tender very nicely if there was a way to get someone to come and take our order, to which he responded harshly, "HEY, I'M THE BARTENDER", and walked away. I went back to the same person who I had asked three times to get someone to come and take our order, as it had now been over 20 minutes since we arrived, and a few minutes later, someone came out to take our order. I explained that we had to leave in about 30 minutes to get to the Philharmonic, and she apologized for the delay. I asked if there was a special menu for those attending the Philharmonic or Vertigo Theatre, and she said there was, and brought that menu. We made our selections, and again stated that we were cutting our time short, given the delays. We had asked for a glass of water each, which someone else brought out, and then the first of our three course dinner arrived after about 10 minutes - a bowl of mushroom soup (that was luke warm) and my brie appetizer (that was quite good). I reminded the server that we were now 20 minutes from having to leave, and asked that she check on our meals. I asked for ketchup as well for my fish and chips, which she brought out, and she then said that our meals were coming right up. NOPE! It was nearly 15 minutes later our food arrived. My wife ordered the beef sliders. There were 2 small sliders and the meat was completely charred, to the point it was inedible. Instead of the fish that was shown on the menu, of nicely battered cod, I was served what appeared to be a fish cake from Costco out of a box that was mostly tasteless. Our server came to ask how things were, and we showed her the burnt beef slider, and she apologized and said she would take it off the bill, which she did. I didn't mention the low-end piece of fish I had received, but told her we were now going to have to leave to get to the performance, and to bring our desert that we had ordered as part of our three-course meal special, and the bill. Someone else brought out our deserts, and they brought two of the same - not the one my wife had ordered. As our server was processing the bill, I mentioned that was the wrong desert, and she apologized, saying that was her fault. I think she was stressed out from the circus show we experienced at the restaurant, and she was very nice, so I did leave her a tip. However, we now know why the bar and restaurant was not very full...and this is a night where there is theatre, philharmonic, and a hockey game going on.... Don't know where all the 4 and 5-star ratings came from, but must have been friends of the owner. I know we will never go back, and will be sure to let others, if asked, know about the terrible experience we had at James Joyce on Stephen Avenue. read more

We received great service and food during our weekday lunch. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating has umbrellas to provide shade. The inside has great character. The chicken salad was made with fresh ingredients. The burger came with a beer and fries for $15. They do let you sub out the fries for a side salad. It was a fun place to relax and wAtch people walk by on Stephens Avenue. read more

James Joyce - Burger and a beer special for $15 - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Solid Irish Pub! Guinness was cool and smooth. They also have a frozen Irish cocktail and it's delicious. We shared several appetizers as well. Definitely recommend checking out there patio on a nice day. read more

James Joyce - Cheers! - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Oh my what a disappointing experience. First off, only 1 server for the dinner rush. Secondly, I had to send back the overcooked fish and the chips as well. Third, the burger was dry and the bun taste stale. And finally, the server was very responsive, thank goodness. The concerning point is this place is branding themselves as a "Irish Chip Shop", so already they raised the expectations. I'm leaving feeling hungry. Maybe they had an off night. I hope so. read more

James Joyce - Dry beef patty in a stale bun. - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Tiny portions! I had the Irish lamb stew,Im still looking for the lamb.Maybe had 4 tiny pieces. spouse had the shepherds pie,its kids size. read more

This place needs a better system because they lost our reservation. We made a lunch reservation for our staff back in January so that we'd be able to find a place during teacher's convention. We got an email confirmation from the restaurant. We weren't on the list and had to ask to speak to a manager. The manager apologized and offered to seat us in small groups of two or three at what I can only describe as the thinnest bar tables in the world. It might have been acceptable but it still wouldn't accommodate all of us. We had to look elsewhere. I wouldn't recommend this pub. read more

James Joyce - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Service was good, food is very blah even for bar food. Being an Irish pub wasn't very Irishy in that sense. Mind you this is a very touristy area. read more

Service was great, as was the ambiance. We had a great seat on the patio, lots of umbrellas to keep the sun off of us. Beer prices were as expected for draft as was the prices for the six mixed drinks I ordered. The only problem was three usually gets me tipsy, six is happy face drunk (we were walking, not driving). I was feeling it a little, but no way six whiskey/rye pours. I suggest stick with beer and wine. The measurements can not be miss poured. read more

Found this delightful place while strolling downtown Calgary. The atmosphere of James Joyce is phenomenal. It is in an older building and is decorated with lots of old antique items. We sat in a cute little booth in a smaller room. They have a decent selection of foreign and local beers. The whisky menu was pretty good as well and you have the option of doing whisky flights. My wife had a Kilkenny and it was poured well in a nice big pint. None of this 14 oz crap that passes for pints quite often these days! For an appetizer, we had the Colcannon Potato Croquettes which were very tasty. First time I have had a croquette and I really liked it. The curry aioli they came in was fantastic and you got five big croquettes. Surprisingly for supper I never had the fish and chips which is my typical stand by in an Irish pub. We both had the Bacon and Brie Burger which was excellent. Did not regret this decision at all. The apple went really well with the Brie and the bacon jam. The bun was nice too and the burger was about the perfect size. Could just barely get my mouth around it. The fries were excellent as well and I enjoyed the gravy I had with mine. We would have liked to tried the Irish Bread Pudding but that well have to wait another day as we were both stuffed. The service was decent and the place had a nice vibe. I am from Red Deer and wish we had a nice Irish pub like this. Something that is defiantly missing in Red Deer. Would defiantly come back to this place again. read more

We are in town visiting for a conference and had brunch here. One star for decor and the other for the hashbrowns. The rest of the experience was horrible. Horrible things in order of events: 1) hostess seated us and then noone served us for over a half hour, and we had to ask 2 different people to get any attention at all. No apology. Just excuse 2) drinks came no water 3) Over easy eggs were fried solid they were hard and brown. When I pointed it out he said "the kitchen is on the fritz" 4) one of us has serious allergies and when we asked to substitute the hashbrowns for one of our orders for a salad, we got an array of burger toppings such as a huge slice of red onion, dry lettuce, and 3 pickles. It was very strange. 5) sent the hard eggs back to the kitchen and it took 20min for them to come. We were done our breakfast by the time we they came and what was left was cold. AND they only brought eggs for one of us. 6) charged us the entire bill without any sort of Compensation for all of the blunders. Or apology. Note: we were very polite the entire time. read more

Kind of sad when you have to pay for two drinks when the bartender doesn't know how to make a drink . Especially when it's an easy drink . Who doesn't know how to make a dirty shirley temple. Very disappointed with service As well considering the bar empty and the patio was half full . read more

WHAT A GREAT PUB! They have fantastic selection and excellent food. Combined with friendly service and historical charm, this is definitely the pub of choice in downtown Calgary. We sat at the bar, ordered beers, and enjoyed a Scotch Egg and a Beet & Goat Cheese Salad. Plenty of food, very tasty, and a decent price. We love this place! read more

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Exploring downtown Calgary after driving from Banff, there was so much great restaurants to choose from but we wanted something light. We wanted to try this small irish pub and we are so glad we did! We started off with their amazing scotch eggs. These were the best scotch eggs i have ever had in my entire life. The egg is soft boiled so, and as you bit into it, its so soft and creamy! OMG so good! I ordered the meat board with the soda bread. The sausage was deliciously spiced and this was definitely shareable. It also came with a homemade mustard sauce and hard boiled eggs with some pickled veggies. Soda bread is always so heavy but i had to try the sausage with it. This was a true irish snack/meal as it was all about the meats! My husband had the Alberta burger again and enjoyed it all the way. The food we had here was so good, that we didn't even get to take pics of the entrees at all lol. I will definitely come back here again when in town, everything was authentic and good - servies was great. I've also concluded that everyone in Canada is just pleasant and nice! :) read more

James Joyce - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

A really nice Irish pub atmosphere on Stephen Avenue...and one of the more reasonably priced places as well... We've been here for the last four days, two to go, and I have to say that downtown Calgary is a treat as a conference place, our hotel is across from Stephen Avenue, so we've been up and down those four blocks numerous times in the last four days and it's a great place... Tonight, my colleague and I were just looking for more casual, we've been doing the upscale, it's been hit or miss, sometimes ya just want a freaking real vodka martini and some grub, it's been a joke in our group that I've been on the quest for a real vodka martini for the last four days, not some 1-oz, deconstructed artistic interpretation of a vodka martini, so when I explained my frustration to the nice young lady waitress and asked for a big, extra-dry dirty vodka martini with olives, she said, "Let me ask what we offer", and came back with the real deal saying that was the normal vodka martini they serve, it was a sigh of relief...OK, my quest was successful... We asked her for her recommendations, she listed several, but then added, 'The curry chicken is my favorite", we both were eyeing that, so that was two thumbs up... It was delicious, a full meal, the veggies were fresh, the sauce was tasty, just no complaints about that dish whatsoever...I wish I could offer an opinion on other items, but, for me, the meal was a complete success, a real vodka martini and a tasty bowl of curry chicken... The atmosphere is great, and consistent with our experiences in Calgary, the waitress was awesome, that's been our Calgary experience, the people are genuinely nice, they share their lives as you share yours, one could not ask for nicer evening in a really nice Irish pub... read more

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Came here for lunch on a Tuesday. You are able to make online reservations which is very convenient. Although on this day it was not too busy. Waitress came by right away and took drink orders. I had a pint of Guinness cause I was in an Irish Pub. For mains I had the large fish n chips - very filling probably could have gotten away with the small. My lunch companion had the lamb burger; that was my second choice and he said that was pretty good. Service was fast, friendly, and efficient. Everything you want in a quick lunch downtown. read more

Meh But I'm a good way. Kinda. Better than many though not Really quality -unfortunate. Better than a poke in the eye read more

Cold beer and good music. This is great place to stop in and get a hot pub style meal and cold beer. read more

James Joyce - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

We were thinking of a pub which wasn't as loud that we needed to shout at each other to have a conversation; one of my friends suggested to go to James Joyce. He made the reservation and since it was 12 of us the staff gave us a little room with four tables. It worked out perfectly because we had more privacy and it was easier to switch tables and talk to everyone. The noise level was much lower compared to other pubs which made it possible for us to talk. Food was tasty and drinks were served just right. Our server Clara was very friendly and made sure we always had drinks whenever we needed. It was a very pleasant visit overall and I hope we come back to this place soon. read more

James Joyce - a violin, fiddle, and guinness sign - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Visiting Calgary for two days waiting to start Rocky Mountaineer Train Trip. Ate here the first day and it was so good we came back the next day. Fish 'Chips were fantastic, so was the Irish Sheppard Pie and Lamb Stew. Next day we had Irish Pub Club, Jalapeño Burger and salads. Chips were fantastic. Guinness was perfect and served at perfect temperature. Wait could not have been more courteous and fun. read more

It waS absolutely brilliant spending St Patrick's Day at the James Joyce Restaurant and Pub in Calgary again. My friends and I bought the VIP tickets - WOW are they worth it. The owners ensure that seating can be reserved, swag treats given out and come and go privileges - worth every penny ! The Guinness flowed, wonderful Irish food all whilst the band played all day. The servers and additional staff worked so hard but laughed and enjoyed their day making us all feel special. You made new friends ( I even met someone here on vacation who live 3 doors from my home in Belfast! ) It truly is a small world on St Patrick's Day at the James Joyce in Calgary. I'm looking forward to many visits between now and March 17th, 2023 !! when I'll be there again. Thank you to all who made the experience so memorable read more

So many regrets...Walked in at dinner time to an empty restaurant except two people sitting in a corner. Took a few minutes for a server to come by. After being sat we received our drinks promptly and the server was extremely hospitable. It took over 30 minutes to get our food. My friend ordered fish and chips and I ordered the crispy chicken sandwich. The fish was mr fishmans out of a box the friends tasted and looked about three days old (not an exaggeration) the chicken sandwich was missing it's sauce and cold. The curry sauce had a skin on it thicker than my winter jacket. This place used to be good....Now, don't bother. read more

It is surprising how much difference a few blocks can make. The Joyce (on 8th) has a distinctly different feel in both atmosphere and cliente than the Joyce on 4th. Yeah, they serve all the same food and have the same beers on tap. The furniture for both was largely taken from Ireland. And the servers keep to about the same level of service. This Joyce feels a bit older and more staid - this is where my parents go for a pint. There are plenty of business people, usually skewing to the older side of things. It is friendly and chatty and rarely rowdy, which can be a bit different from the younger seeming Joyce on 4th. The strawberries and brie is an excellent starter, and a bit of a treat. Sometimes I will meet friends here and we'll enjoy some apps, but the expense of both alcohol and food discourages that. On weeknights, this place seems more dinneresque than just people sitting around having a pint. It picks up a bit on weekends, but mostly it is one of the quietest (although very nice) Irish Pubs I have ever been in. read more

James Joyce - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Remembering this place from one of our guided Calgary Ghost tours, a friend and I decided to grab a quick lunch here. It's built in the old Molson TD bank - most of the original decor (like the mosaic floor) are still present and the Victorian feel gives this place a cozy feel. Since there was a conference going on, a lot of the restaurants down Stephen Ave were pretty busy - including James Joyce. Luckily we were able to snag a seat, unfortunately it was on the corner of the bar inside. I understand that it was busy, but it was about 15 mins before our drink orders were taken. I scanned the menu, nothing really caught my eye and we both settled on the Halibut and chips (you can't go wrong with fried food right?). Our food actually came out fairly quickly and it looked tasty. The coleslaw was pretty awesome (house made sauce) and the cabbage was still crisp. The halibut was nice and flaky and really, you can't screw up fries. I wouldn't mind coming back and sitting on the patio on a sunny afternoon, I don't think the busy conference gave them a fair chance to shine. read more

James Joyce - Fish and chips - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Go for the atmosphere, beer, & dessert! The first time I visited I had the curry chicken boxty.....Dear James Joyce....NOTHING about curry is Irish! I was disappointed. By far the worst boxty ever. The second visit I had the Ploughman's salad. I was expecting a salad, right? Nope, it was more like the fixings of a sandwich. It was good but just confusing on how to go about eating it other than with my hands. They redeemed themselves with dessert. The Guiness brownie is to die for! It looks like it is made with dark chocolate so you expect it to be rich & maybe a little bitter. It wasn't at all! It was moist & decadent. The only suggestion I have is that they serve it with vanilla bean ice cream, not just plain vanilla ice cream. The New York style cheesecake with berry compote was excellent, also. I would have licked the plate if it wouldn't have embarrassed my company! read more

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The James Joyce is one of those pubs that I could never really figure from just looking at the outside and heard mixed reviews of so never really went out of my way to check out the inside. And yet, on a rainy day last month, I found myself in want of some comfort food. And who does comfort food better than an Irish pub? It's a bit fancier than what I'm used to in Irish pub land in Calgary. There was no seating of ourselves happening. Oh no, proper server, proper seating. And plenty of adornments on the walls. Most Guinness related. Go figure! In proper comfort food style, I ordered the Irish stew (where there is lamb on the menu, I will surely always order it). The best way to describe the rest of the menu? Hearty. Anyway, mid-week, rainy, comfort food and some good company made for a much more pleasant eve out than what most cold days could offer me. If you're there, make sure you take a trip to the washroom! The ladies' room is pretty fancy... and you've got to make it through a mini museum before you get there. read more

James Joyce - Now that's a powder room! - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Great pub food in this Irish owned pub. Fish n chips on point love the Irish apple cider read more

James Joyce - a glass of beer on a coaster - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

This is a great Irish Pub on Stephen Ave. My old hang out spot on Stephen Ave used to be the Bear & Kilt but as life has gotten busier the lack of service available became less appealing. So I was on the hunt for a new place, low and behold I walked into the James Joyce. There are downsides to this place so I am going to get them out of the way first. It's a bit pricier, not expensive but not the cheapest, mostly Pint's of Guinness are $8.95 (boooo). The only other thing that bothers me is that most of tables have stools or benches without backs, it gets a little tiring. But that's all. The food is really good, very reminiscent of my time in Ireland, and that is a good enough memory to go back there. The onion rings are super crispy and wonderful, the curry, boxty, stew, just great classics that the James Joyce does super well. And dessert, can I recommend anything more than the brownie! No restaurant has ever been able to figure out the brownie to ice cream ratio, UNTIL NOW! The James Joyce had lost two stars from me for extreme Guinness price until I had the brownie, that gained a star. Also try the French Press Coffee, it is nice a strong but with such a lovely easy to drink smoothness, it's glorious. My new favourite evening is to go to a show at the Epcor Centre then stop at the James Joyce for a Coffee and Brownie. What more could you want in an evening? Okay maybe you could go to Ireland, that would be a lovely evening. Sorry Bear & Kilt, I'm going next door. read more

We were at James Joyce Irish pub for a birthday gathering on a busy Saturday evening. I'm not usually one to go to pubs, but since it was close to St Patrick's Day, it was only fitting to check out this place! Atmosphere: 4/5 Located conveniently on Stephen's avenue downtown. Parking was a bit difficult but we managed. The pub itself has a great and unique atmosphere. Good noise level, interesting decor. Very versatile whether for a larger group gathering or dinner or drinks. Because we were a bigger group, it was nice to have a separate room area to ourselves. Food: 3/5 I had the salmon salad that was on special; overall good. Portions were a little smaller than I expected. I didn't explore the drinks menu as I don't usually drink, but it seemed like those who did enjoyed their drinks. Service: 2/5 Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed by the service. To be fair, it was a very busy night; however, we did have to wait a long time to order and had much difficulty flagging down the waitress repeatedly. We were told while booking reservations that there will be a 18% service charge for a large group, but when this was tagged onto our bill, it still felt undeserving for the service received. I am sure this may have been a once off occasion, however I do hope to have a more positive experience next time Price: 3/5 Reasonable Overall: 3/5 Overall I enjoyed the very unique and fun atmosphere at this pub, however the service can be improved esp given the 18% service charge for a large group. I like the versatility of coming for drinks or food with big or small groups and would consider trying some of their other menu items. read more

Great selection of British, Scottish and Irish beer. The British fare is surprisingly good and the service is top notch. I come to Calgary often and always stop in for a pint of Innis & Gunn, Smithwick's or Guinness, of course. read more

Chose the James Joyce for dinner while visiting Calgary. We received a friendly welcome from the bartender while waiting to be seated. Our waitress Jen, set the mood. She was prompt, attentive, helped personalize our food choices, recommended and described certain dishes. I thoroughly enjoyed the non greasy, not over battered fish and chips and my husband really liked the Irish stew. The atmosphere is what we expected from an "Irish" pub. We highly recommend it and will return! read more

While the service here was ok, our beers were terribly off. We told the server and they did nothing about it. It was $10.50 a beer and I couldn't event drink two sips of it, and the manager could have cared less. Would not recommend at all. read more

Definitely an Irish feeling place. Irish music and Irish waitress. We tried the sampler as well as Guinness steak and shepherds pie. Very good, cool place, waitress and host were very nice. Quiet on a Sunday night. read more

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We were looking for a place for takeout near our hotel and thought the menu was interesting. We ordered the Blackened Chicken Protein Bowl and the Black Bean Burger and both of them were excellent: a variety of items, a little heat and substantial portions. Service was both friendly and prompt. Will definitely be ordering from them again when we are back in town. read more

We came here as a first visit on vacation. Really great service - excellent food and a relaxed holiday atmosphere. Will come again. Between us we enjoyed a well "pulled" pint of Guinness & - Irish coffee. My husband had the shepherds pie which was served hot and was very tasty. I had a black bean burger - which had a nice spicy "kick" they offered gluten free option to their burger buns and were also happy to switch out for salad. read more

James Joyce - Irish Pub Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

My man and I had our first Canadian date here, and although I had a wonderful time, I have to admit that it was mostly due to the present company, and not so much the venue and food. Don't get me wrong -- the food is fine, just nothing I'd rave about to a friend looking for a Calgarian recommendation. Our waitress was very friendly (but so is every other Canadian in the world, it seems), and made some recommendations for us. We opted for the Halibut and Chips with a side of curry, as per our waitress's advice, and the Blackened Ribeye Steak with a salad of greens on the side. The food arrived promptly, and we dug in. We started with the greens, which were dressed with a berry-citrus vinaigrette of some sort. Not great. The Halibut and Chips were tasty, although I much preferred my malt vinegar over the side of curry. The Halibut was light and flaky, with the filet inside delightfully maintaining its moisture without being inundated with frying oil. Not bad, if I do say so myself! Although at $18 for 3 filets, I would expect at least this much. Note: the fries/chips weren't very good. :( I tried a bite of my hunny's steak, and though I give it ten points for being wonderfully tender, I have to take back points for being overseasoned. It was drenched in steak sauce of some sort, and any natural taste the steak might have had was completely overwhelmed. I've never had a $25+ restaurant steak this poorly done. It's worth mentioning, however, that I did like the setting of the place -- definitely very Irish pub-ish, laid back and fun. :) The verdict: food: 2 stars service: 4 stars price: a bit pricey. read more