I was in downtown Calgary for work and along with a coworker, was looking for a place to grab some dinner. We were walking about 6 blocks from our hotel when it suddenly began to downpour! The owner of the James Joyce pub was outside pulling in their patio tables and in her adorable Irish accent, invited us to come in out of the rain. We were really impressed with the pub when we got inside- dark and cozy, really comfortable, with enough knick knacks around that it really felt authentic! We decided to eat here. There was kind of a bustling bar area with high tables, but we preferred a low table, so we were seated in a back area with some high-back booths and regular table & chairs. I thought the girl seating us(who ended up being our server) was very pleasant and accomodating. It is worth noting that at that time, we were the only occupied table back there and in the hour and a half we were at our table, we never saw another patron. At 7:30 on a Saturday night! Perusing the menu, I saw all the things you'd expect- shephard's pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips. But I saw no meatless options, so when our friendly server came by, I inquired about what a vegetarian might eat. She offered that they had a curry without meat or the Ploughman's lunch that could be ordered without the chicken and they'd add extra veggies. That sounded good, as I had seen in the description that there were lots of vegetables, so I was picturing a salad or something similar. My companion ordered their bangers and mash, on recommendation from the server. When our food arrived(and it was pretty quick!), I was dismayed to see the plate set in front of me! This is literally what was on it: - 3 slices of Roma tomato - 3 slices of pickle - 3 slices of cucumber - 1 slice of red onion - 2 slices of cheddar cheese, cut into 4 triangles - 4 pieces of small butter leaf lettuce - about 9 inches of white baguette bread that looked par-baked - thimble-size ramekin of what looked like dijon mustard I wish I had taken a picture, because it almost sounds like I am making this up, doesn't it? I guess I had not read the menu as carefully as I thought, because I was NOT expecting this plate of garnishes. I was actually kind of confused and didn't know what to do with all of this stuff at first until my coworker said, "I guess you just make your own sandwich...?" Which I did. And it was fine. Fine, as in I should've just microwaved my Lean Cuisine at the hotel. You don't dine out at a restaurant for Fine. Coworker, on the other hand, loved his bangers and mash! It was a very generous portion of garlic mashed potatoes(that he said tasted homemade!) and 3 pretty good sized sausages, covered in a dark gravy. He said it was filling and very good. Okay, so the bill comes out and his dinner(again, generous portion of homemade, warm food!) is $12. Mine(again, cold, very plain vegetarian sandwich that I assembled myself) was $13! We could not believe it! When our waitress came by, I mentioned that I thought that was a little steep. She said she'd talk to the owner about it and get back to me. 5 minutes later, she wordlessly dropped our bill on the table and walked away. Point taken. I will never dine here again and I don't think you should either. There are plenty of pub-type bars in this area. Patronize one that treats you with respect and values your business. Also, I do not think the menu they have online is the same one we were given in the restaurant. The one online looks more varied. read more

This was the first and probally the last time we will go here. We were meeting a group of friends, so while waitng we ordered the Lemon pepper calamari and the Vietnamese rolls. The calamari was HORRIBLE. as if the fried it and took it out of the oil and put it on the plate and then set it in front of me. The Vietnamese rolls were like the kind you buy in bulk at Costco. Overall the food was horible. After our group arrived we started with the drinks. I drink diet and bacardi. Totally was watered down. the waitress was ok although it took forever to get the second, third, and fourth round of drinks. The drinks were expensive, (remember they are watered down versions of the real stuff:) so all in all I wont go back. and the Irish are not known for their cuisine...... read more

If you're a beer drinker this is the place for you! Did I mention the beers are 800 dollars? Okay maybe not that much, but you'll dish out about 9 bucks an import pint. The food is dece, the service is just okay. But otherwise good beer selection. read more

So, sadly, I have to agree with Neil on this place. I haven't had the greatest experiences here either. Everything seems extremely overpriced... including the water. Okay, they don't actually charge for water, I was just trying to make a point. I expect that when I go out I'm going to be spending a few bucks, but I was absolutely floored when our bill came. $75 for a couple appetizers and 5 pints. That doesn't seem right to me. We paid our tab, but we weren't happy about it. The service was fine enough, I suppose. Our waitress didn't seem overly enthusiastic to be serving us, but she wasn't bitchy or rude or anything like that. Our foods and drinks came in a reasonably timely manner, which was nice, and they were cleared pretty quickly after we finished. The thing I didn't like is that they cleared glasses that still had beer in them. I went to the bathroom and when I returned my beer, which had at least three gulps left, was gone and I was forced to purchase another. Is that some sort of ploy? Our beers were good and so was our food, but the prices were waaay to high for us. We couldn't believe that 5 people had to pay almost $20 each for one drink and a couple bites of food. No thank-you. I'll save my money for somewhere a little cheaper. read more

Probably one of the most expensive pubs you'll experience in Calgary. After a beer or two and something to eat, you'll be asking James Joyce himself to write you a poem about being broke. This pub's location along Stephen Ave makes it very accessible and a central place to meet up with friends. But you want to spend the whole night here, because if you bank account is like mine, your night will come to a quick end. For me, the main draw of the The James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant is that you won't be able to find a single TV anywhere on site. Which means that, assuming you put your phone away, you'll be able to have a conversation with the person you came have a beer with. As with any irish pub, I recommend you try the Sheppard's Pie. I'm always a sucker for Sheppard's Pie. read more

James Joyce has an authentic Irish feel to it, right down to the prices. It feels like they're dealing in Euros here and you only have Canadian money. Other than it's too pricey, I like the place. It gets popular at supper time, filling with business guys on their way home looking to grab a scotch or a Guinness after work. They can probably afford it. But this is the best place in town to get a Guinness. It's poured properly and it tastes as fresh as you can get around here. Good place to stop in for a drink while on Stephen Ave. read more

I really wish I could rate this higher, but what a disappointment. this place was. The Inside is nice and traditional looking Irish pub with a very nice decour. I wanted to try the sheppards pie ( I'm always a sucker for shepp pie) $12. What a rip-off! It had about 5 ounces of meat sauce that looked like it came from a can and the rest was mostly potatos. Tasted like.... umm....whats a good word....... not good! The portion was so small it would'nt have satified a 5 year old. I also had 2 pints of beer. $8 / pint !!! WTF?, am I at a night club or what??!! I guess I should have looked at the price first. This place is a total rip off and the service was horrible to boot! Avoid it at all costs if your smart! read more

We went into the pub around 3pm and ordered from the dinner menu which is mostly identical to the lunch menu. The pub was empty when we arrived but started filling up when we were done one hour later. The atmosphere in this historic building is nice and the menu features some traditional food like Irish Stew and Shepard's Pie. Prices are ok and the food we had was good. read more

Nice wood and stained glass decor. Beef and Guinness Pie had rich brown gravy and a nice puff pastry topper but suffered from too much pepper. My freind had the same but found it cold in the center, as if from frozen. It was warmed on request. I asked if they offered a flights of their extensive whiskey selections and was given a paddle menu. It was only a list of whiskeys to choose 4 from, without the curation and info I'd expect from a flight so I passed. My freind had just returned from a trip to Dublin and Cork and was disappointed at a lack of authentic Irish pub qualities, siting the lack of live music and popular Irish beers. read more

This is my go to place. Whenever I have a lunch or dinner meeting this is where I suggest and go. Whenever I am incredibly homesick for Ireland this helps me to feel better. Ann and Gerard concern themselves immensely with the standards of quality in the food, drink and service and it shows. I have been a patron here since they opened and I love this place more each time I go; not once in all the years have I ever received bad service or bad quality food. The pour of the Guinness is the best outside of Ireland. Unlike other "pubs" in this city that have merely jumped on the Irish bandwagon, the Joyce understands the meaning behind the words Offig An Phost and that they are not just Irish words to be displayed to give off the air of authenticity. The knickknacks and artifacts decorating the pub are truly Irish and special. My Irish family and friends all leave the Joyce agreeing that if you want a bit of Ireland in the Heart of the West the only place is the Joyce. read more

I have to agree with a previous reviewer: this is a business man's Irish pub. It's a great place to go after work (or with work colleagues) where you can get good beer and it's not too pretentious. As far as prices go, this place is kind of expensive for an Irish pub. However, for Stephen Ave I think the prices are reasonable if not on par with everything else around. That being said, I have judged a couple of places harshly because of their prices so I guess I mostly just mean that they are what you would expect (but there are some appetizers and things below $10). The beer selection is pretty good and they have your standard cocktails as well as some seasonal varieties. I had the warm port and a friend of mine had some tasty martini concoction. My husband didn't get a drink but got their shepherds pie with kale salad which was delicious. A couple of other people I was with just got wine and beer but everyone was happy with the selection. The decor is also much fancier than a typical Irish pub. However I still found the atmosphere to be fairly casual. There is plenty of seating either in booths or at tables and there is amble bar space. The service is pretty good and even on a busy night the waitress came around quite a bit to check on us. All-in-all, I really like this place for an after dinner and drink. If it wasn't in the core, I'd probably give it 3 stars for the price, but considering its location I am very happy with what you get for the money. I will definitely be back. read more

My experience here was not great, based (surprise surprise) on all the same reasons that my fellow Yelpers have already mentioned. The reason however that I AM going to give these guys 3 stars as oppose to a measly 2 is solely based on the fact that they served me some of THE best nachos that I have EVER had. James Joyce's 'Irish Potato Nachos' are TO DIE FOR and the best part is that for those of us who can't eat wheat, we can actually enjoy this version of nachos! Jalapenos, onions, peppers and cheese on waffle fries, along with sour cream & salsa... trust me, your tongue will thank you. Your arteries, not so much, but hey, you only live once right?!?!?!? read more

I stayed at the Hyatt just down the street. The person at the front desk recommended this place. It is on a street closed down to traffic and has a beautiful exterior. Meal: I went with the Guinness stew with puff pastry and the bread pudding. Taste: Just like a lot of Canadian places I have ate it, it lacked serious flavor. Both were incredibly bland. I guess salt has been outlawed in the land up north. It wasn't that it tasted bad but it was like the cook was aiming to break even - he/she didn't want piss off anyone. But sometimes, if you really want to wow your guests, you can't aim to please everyone. 7 out of 10. Value: The stew was pretty well priced - $11. The beer and the dessert were on the price side. If I had to do it again, I would just stick to the meal and a water. 3 out of 5. Service/Cleanliness: This is the hard part. The waitress I had gave me some great recommendations for other places and was friendly. However, she was not attentive by any means. I was waiting for drinks and things of that sort. 7 out of 10. Atmosphere: I had a great atmosphere. Most Irish pubs are contrived. They just put up a bunch if Guinness posters and shit like that, then think "hey, we got ourselves an authentic Irish bar." This place was situated in a beautiful building, tin ceiling that did not appear to be new and the wood work looked original. I didn't hear cliche Irish music, which is a nice change of pace. 4 out of 5. Overall: Ehh, there are plenty of better places around if you are willing to walk a block further down. I probably won't go back to here again. 21 out of 30 points, 3 out of 5 stars. read more

I had been on their patio in the summer, and it is quite decent. Had their calamari salad, and it was alright. I would order it again. I was there again a few weeks ago and I made the mistake of ordering a burger. I had burger on my mind all day and when I was invited to James Joyce, I figured I'd order a burger! I did not even want to look at anything else on the menu. Anyway, the burger was a sad disappointment. It was quite generous in size, but the patty was overcooked, dense and dry. It was so dry, that even the sauce on top of it could not salvage anything. I can't remember what type of burger it was - it did have jalapenos on it - but it really does not matter because it was that unmemorable. The pub itself is okay. It is 'cleaner' or 'brighter' than other Irish pubs, which I appreciate. It was fairly packed too, and the crowd seemed like mostly professionals. read more

Forgot my honey, brought the wrong tea bag, asked for cheese on my sandwich and it came dairy free.... Hmmmm, I am thinking that it might be better to just stick to Guinness when at James Joyce. The location is awesome, I love that they have a patio where you can watch all the shenanigans happening on the Ave. The servers were quite friendly and the food did come at a quick pace. I just wished that my waitress would have come back to ask if I needed anything or if it was okay. Instead she was on to the next table and did not return until it was time to get the bill. With some attention to detail I think this quaint pub could easily go from 2 to 4 stars, for me at least. read more

Been here twice now. Nice atmosphere and staff. Tonight was busy so I sat outside Had curry with fries and wine. Both good! The wine price are higher than elsewhere, but to be expected. This is my highest review! read more

Went here last night I will start off by saying the atmosphere is nice. The beer was very good. My friend had a bud light pint and I had a Kilkenny, both pints rang in at $9.10 each. I thought $9.10 for bud is a tad expensive. Pretty average for the Kilkenny. Food wise I ordered the fish and chips based on another review I read about this place. The fish came out of a package was probably placed in the oven and reheated. It was not battered. All in all a forgettable meal that was over priced. I won't come here again as there are plenty of better establishments to give your business to so give this one a miss. read more

James Joyce is the business class of Irish pubs. Given the typical Irish pub that you find throughout the city, James Joyce takes a little bit of a different approach. With non-traditional food for a pub (higher class) and generally better service, this pub likes to treat you better. The wait staff provides a great level of service as well. My only problem with this pub is that the cost does not match the quality. I had a bowl of soup to start and then the steak salad. They were both quite good but not worth the steep price I later paid for them. Overall it's an alright place, but not worth the price in my opinion. Overpriced food and service but it's still good. read more

I don't normally like to give bad reviews, especially based on service. I've worked in retail for six years, blah blah blah everybody has bad days but for pretty much every waitress who waited on our table it seemed like it was a bad day. First, we order our beers and a round of waters. The alcoholic beverages came rather quickly so that was nice for me. But the waters, well never came. We waited a while our server passed us a few times and never stopped at our table, never brought us water or asked if we wanted food so we improvised and asked someone else. We order our food, I got the bacon wrapped hot dogs (I'm sure they had a nicer name but I don't remember). Yes oh yes they had me at bacon. Unfortunately one of the girls at our table ordered the special Dublin Dates (they sounded AMAZING) and they must have been cause they where sold out. So I guess that's something you should try if you go there. Our food finally arrived, it all looked so good. Except for the side order of rice and gravy the one guy at our table apparently order, no wonder we got strange looks when we order but the waitress must have miss heard him because he most definitely order FRIES and GRAVY. This was quite comical actually so no hard feelings. But on that note the food was kind of cold. I was getting antsy and needed another beer so I decided to go to the bar as it was faster and more reliable to just get my drink myself. I was floored at the price of one Shocktop pint it was like $10. It was a good beer but not that good. On the plus side it was one of the nicer Irish Pubs I've been to. And they had plenty of bacon related items so, I will be back because I have friends who adore bacon as much as I do. read more

Walked in on a whim and had the absolute best dining experience ever!! Service was great food was DELICIOUS!! And the Guiness cold.

It's a decent Irish pub. I stopped in twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. First time I was walking by looking for a place to eat and walked out of the saj because of the lack of ventilation. I cannot stand smelling like food when I'm at business. Walked out and over here. I thought I would try the shepard's pie but was told the bangers and mash, another Irish food I hadn't tried before, was popular so I went with that. Bangers and mash must mean sausages and mashed potatoes covered in gravy and onions, because that's what it was. The meal was good, and the sausages were perfectly cooked, though it's not my style of comfort food. The next time I stopped in I came with a work colleague and ordered the Irish beer sampler ($11.50/4 samples) and the "Traditional" Irish stew that came with lamb. Honestly, it was one step above Dinty Moore Beef Stew. I couldn't believe it at first, but there it was. Not too bad, but I wouldn't get it again since it was so close to the cheap canned version. Decent service both times. P.S. Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe Dinty had it right as a cheap version and I should laude this Irish pub for it's authenticity... read more

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The service was phenomenal. From the hostess to my waitress, the staff was excellent. (Thanks Edel!) I was greeted and settled into a nice table right away. My waitress came promptly and took my drink order. The bar got backed up and my drink took a few minutes to come, but Edel came by to let me know that my drink was only going to be another minute before I even had a chance to wonder where my drink was. The waitress knew the menu really well and helped me make my decision. I had the bacon wrapped dates and the guiness and steak pie. Instant food coma! The food was prepared so quickly and came to the table pipen hot! ( fresh from the oven hot...not warming lamp hot). And the food was so so so good. Not only did my waitress come to ask me how I was doing, but so did the hostess. I felt so well taken care of. This place is perfect. Good food, good drinks, great menu, AMAZING staff and a warm and friendly atmosphere. read more

I was looking for a venue not too far from my hotel where I could drink some beers, and have a decent meal in a cozy atmosphere. What is better than an Irish pub to get all of these? I have nothing to say about the beer, but the food was not really good. I know it's a pub, and not a big restaurant, but usually these pubs are doing some decent food to eat with your awesome beer. My plate was really below average! As for the service, it was OK. I think it was a bit slow as we were not a lot in the restaurant, but it was always done with a smile, and for me, this is also very important after a good day of work. Good place to go if you want to drink some beers with friends, but I would recommend that you go eat somewhere before (or after). read more

Visiting Calgary for a conference and this has become our favourite new home away from home pub. Great food and hospitality. Our server Karolina is exceptional- thank you for the great service and humour - it made our evening(s)! If her boss is reading this - she deserves a raise. read more

Great burgers, onion rings, salads, just good pub food served for a fair price and very fresh tasting. We sat outdoors and it was just a lovely lunch. So nice we returned there another day. read more

Very decent and reasonable Irish pub in my opinion. Had lunch on the patio today with a bunch of colleagues. The food menu is typical Irish fare - boxtys, curry, stews, fish & chips, burgers, etc. They did have a lovely selection of salads though. I had the special of the day, which was a 6oz steak salad. Steak was awesome and cooked to my liking (medium rare) and served on the side rather than cut up overtop. Very tasty meal. Prices seemed a bit steeper than usual for lunch ($15-$22 an entree) but who am I to judge. Service was reasonable and they have a nice patio. I didn't check out the interior besides a trip to the bathrooms, which were HUGE and very clean! read more

Sunny day, so had lunch on the patio with a former colleague. Service was prompt, helpful, and excellent despite the noon hour rush. My salmon burger was delicious, the fish was not overcooked, and the yam fries were crisp and flavourful even without the tangy cream dipping sauce. Great place for a business lunch, but take note, the ambient noise level is lively. read more

I didn't expect much and I was not disappointed. A tasty lamb burger and salad had a pleasant sauce and filled the bill for an inexpensive lunch outdoors. Nothing special by any means, but nothing to complain about. It was odd that the lunch menu is the same as the dinner menu, but I suppose that the limited pub food selection had to fill both sides of the menu card. read more

Great decor and authentic music, but food was lacking. The Steak and Guinness pie tasted like tepid Campbell's stew with a puff pastry dropped on top. I would back for a drink, maybe read more

Great place to have a beer after work. Definitely a step up from most "Irish bars". Bartenders are attentive and friendly, prices are reasonable and the food is great, best burger on Stephen Avenue Mall. Live music from time to time is nice, it's a favorite place to go. read more

I grabbed a quick business lunch at the James Joyce yesterday and Thought i would write up a little review! Not only does the venue match the name which sometimes is lacking in certain venues, But the food and the service was pretty good! I enjoyed the fish and chips and everyone else seemed to eat up their dishes! The server was attentive but not overly ( which i appreciated!) The bathrooms here Are HUGE for the ladies at least and though you do have to walk down some not so good stairs ( wouldn't be accessible for anyone in a wheel chair) -- I am also not sure if they have a more accessible washroom on the main floor. It was a good experience with a nice venue very traditional! read more

Had a fantastic burger with irish beer,Smithwicks,Kilkenny. Great old fashioned pub atmosphere. Highly recommend

Great location close to attractions. Great lunch specials Amazing service - sat at the bar Impressive selection on tap & with their whiskey's There's a lot more I could say about this place but I will leave it at "I definitely want my hubby to see this place." read more

We checked yelp, and place only had three stars. So naturally I was hesitant to try it. However I am so glad we did. The food was fresh, delicious, and healthy! Arsen, our waiter suggested we try the calamari on greens as an appetizer. We loved it. Although you can't go wrong with fried calamari , when you place it on greens the dressing and dip become very relevant and they turned out to be a perfect combination. It was a true Irish pub, in the sense that the beer was a highlight-so we tried a sampler and we were not disappointed. I had salmon on greens with strawberries and blackberries and my husband had chicken skewered satay on kale that he originally chose reluctantly. In the end, he was very pleased. The ambience was great since we ate outside with the music playing. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Had a wonderful experience at the James Joyce. My wife and I went out for dinner before the theater and we sat in what they call the library. It had a fire place, decorated with books and antiques. We sipped on wine and shared the Dublin dates (dates stuffed with goat cheese wrapped in bacon) they were incredible. My wife had the salmon kale salad which she thoroughly enjoyed while I had the fish and chips. Service was quick and friendly. We will definitely be back! read more

Don't bother with the food; Irish pubs are places for drinking, not eating! If you stick to the beer, you'll be alright. The prices are very high, though. read more

Okay pub for after work drinks. Appetizers were very meh. Definitely better pubs in Calgary.

Food and Drink: 2.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Overall experience: 2.5/5 (1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic) I thought coming here would be a great experience, heck it's an Irish pub after all! Alas, I was very disappointed =( My bf and I came here for lunch and we decided to sit outside on the patio since it was a nice day. I can't say much about what it's like inside and the decor except that the patio tables were ghetto covered in a plastic table cloth and was a little too small and cramped for two people. The service was pretty good, our waitress immediately greeted us when we sat down and presented us with menus. She was nice and patient with us especially when I couldn't figure out which beer to try until I finally decided to ask for some recommendations. One complaint though was that after we got our meals we still needed cutlery and it took us awhile to hunt down a server- I believe our server in the midst of a shift change. When we couldn't find our server we asked this one woman who looked like the manager or owner standing by the entrance for cutlery and she had the most confused kinda b!tchy look on her face until she realized what we needed. Their beers on tap is limited and consisted of a few domestic beers and one or two other ales. Nothing unique or 'Irish'. I highly suggest NOT coming here for drinks after work or to relax because not only does the selection suck, but it's hella pricey for a pint ($9). In fact I don't even remember them printing the price on the menu. The lunch menu (which is very similar to their dinner) consisted of your usual pub fair such as salads, gourmet burgers/ sandwiches, fish and chips, shepherds pie, pastas, and steaks. The sandwiches/burgers are pricey starting at about $13 for what you get. I decided to try their 6oz Apple and Brie Burger ($14) topped with danish brie, cinnamon plum port chutney and apple slices. It was accompanied with their home cut fries which were like giant potato sticks (about twice the size of your usual fry). My bf decided to try their Beef & Guinness Pie ($11) which consisted of sirloin tips of beef in a rich Guinness gravy topped with a flaky pastry. Overall, the food wasn't as good as I thought it would be especially the Beef and Guinness Pie. When it came out I was like WTF because there was this huge fish shape flaky pastry on top of a dinky dish of stew. My bf had a hard time eating it because pastry flakes kept falling on the table and his lap, and he wasn't able to get both the pastry and beef in one bite. The gravy had a weird, off putting taste and it just didn't measure up to the one he tried at another pub. Definitely SKIP this dish! My burger on the other hand was decent, but very plain and boring. The bun was too big for the burger and the so called 'apple slices' turned out to be one apple slice and was too thick which made every bite texturally odd. My only favourite thing about the burger was the chutney which I wish there was more of because it had a wonderful sweet apple flavour that complimented the beef very well. Once we got the bill we were shocked at how much we spent between the two of us (two meals and two pints) cost us about $50 including tip. James Joyce Irish Pub is very pricey and the food and drinks aren't all that great or unique either. I will not be coming back and I suggest you PASS on this place to avoid disappointment. read more

I was there last July. Food was quite good. Service was excellent. Place it great, but I've never seen such swarms of bar flies in a bar before. Not a few. LOTS. They need to clean up their act or their ratings are going to slip into the tank. Here's hoping they get their act together. read more

Food was ok... not the best service though, place was almost empty and we still had to spot where server was to get another drink... music was really boring, slow and you could barely listen to it... zzzzz, good thing we were with friends otherwise we would have left right after eating. read more