We came here for my grandmas 75th birthday and it was so good and so beautiful! You start with a nice walk up to the top .. so wear good footwear! However, if people have a hard time walking they can be driven to the top! For brunch we had: - artisan bagel BLTs - daily soup being cream of mushroom soup - farmers breakfast - eggs Benedict on scones which is way better than egg McMuffins in my opinion read more

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Food was just OK Service was excellent, we had a lovely waitress. Ambiance was lovely The Parking is a big problem as we need to climb up to the restaurant to get a parking pass and walk down to put it in the car and climb back up to the restaurant . This could be difficult for those who may have some walking issues. No signs to direct you to which gate to go through to the restaurant ??? If you have any walking issues I recommend you not go here as walking is on uneven ground both ways from the parking lot to the restaurant and back down again. Restaurant needs to find a better way to give out parking passes! read more

The service was the worst I have ever experienced in my 70 years! I would give no stars if it was an open. Although my meal was good I would never recommend Reader's Garden Cafe. read more

This was my second visit but I won't be going back since the same issues came up again. The food is fine, not stellar, but okay and the price point is affordable. The thing is that the service is absolutely terrible and the owner pushes back if you have a request and don't like something. Yesterday I ordered lemonade and it tasted funny. I asked my moms to try it and they both agreed that it was, for lack of a better term, unpleasant. When the owner came by for our order I very politely said the lemonade wasn't to my taste and I would just have water. He looked askance and said, "what's wrong with it? It's just lemons and sugar and water." Then, when I asked for my mom's burger to be cut in half, he again looked skeptical and said it was already cut in half (referring to the burger bun). Should I have to explain that my mom is 82 and can't hold an entire burger in her little hands? Finally, the service was almost non-existent. No one came to ask if we would like more coffee until way after the end of the meal and we had to ask for the bill twice. Yes, we left a tip, but only 10% because it simply wasn't worth more than that. read more

Service was friendly. Atmosphere was lovely. Aside from this there are absolutely no redeeming qualities about this place. The baking items were barely cooked. Mushy and flavorless. The eggs Benedict was on a scone that was also undercooked and literally crumbled beneath the eggs. The Hollandaise tasted as if it possibly came from a mix. The potatoes even appeared to be cooked ahead and reheated. And we were there when it opened! I would never return for the food. Truly awful. read more

Reader's Garden Cafe - a basket of pastries - Cafes Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Great atmosphere for our Mother's Day brunch. Felt like we were at the Drangonfly Inn(for any Gilmore fans). Some homemade breakfast pastries and a Greek yogurt are set out when you arrive which were wonderful. The food ordered was good food not great food, lacked a bit of flavour. The post breakfast puff pastry was amazing. Price for food quality doesn't line up. The staff were friendly but could have been more attentive. Getting cream and sugar for our coffee, we wanted to order a side of bacon after the fact but by the time the server came back around would not have been worth it. Directions will take you right to the restaurant but there is no parking right at the aside from a handicap stall. Your meant to park at the readers garden entrance and enjoy a brief walk up through the flowers and beauty first. read more

I didn't even know this existed until recently and tried it out today. The rating is 5 for location, views and atmosphere being in a fabulous garden overlooking the city on a hilltop. We were concerned about service and the food as there seems to be very mixed reviews. Service was actually pretty good, considering there was only one server for the entire restaurant and the owner which helped her out. Food was not bad but nothing to write home about. We had the classic benedicts served on a scone and the Hugo cocktails. Would rate 3 for food and drink. Restaurant decor itself is dated but had a certain charm to it. The dishes are a little pricey but understand it is necessary given the prime location. Wouldn't return for a meal but would revisit for a nice walk around the garden. The accessibility is not great for wheelchairs or those that have mobility difficulties. You park at the bottom of the hill and walk up to the cafe (look for the signs to direct you to the cafe). The footpath are stone stairs through the garden and are decently steep. Wheelchair access is on the side on gravel path but still steep. read more

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Went for breakfast with family members from out of town. The food was generally ok, they forgot my toast and didn't bring it until after we were finished. The customer service was poor, we overhead the chef swearing and at one point he was arguing with customers who were waiting for their food. I wouldn't eat there again. Not sure what the other reviews are about but I would take them with a grain of salt. read more

This place is a little oasis in the middle of the city. To get there, you park at the bottom of the hill and walk up, taking any number of paths. At the top of the hill (really, it is not a strenuous walk) you get to the cafe itself (there is a different access route if you have mobility challenges - consult their website for info). As you are walking up, you get to experience the glory of the gardens themselves - and they are glorious. Plants have been chosen to bloom at different times all through the spring, summer and fall. The official name of the rock garden is Reader Rock Garden, named after the guy who started the garden back in about 1912. If you see a picture of the place before he started the garden, you can see it was simply bald-a*s prairie, so what has been accomplished here is amazing. The building for the cafe is actually an exact replica of the original house that burned in about 1950 (?). There is plenty of room inside and there are also a number of tables on the front deck. As you sit in the cafe, you are surrounded by the gardens and the trees, so you don't even know that you are smack dab in the middle of the city. The menu is relatively small, which is an excellent idea, and it is eclectic. Whatever I've had there is very good. They are licensed, and the coffee is also good. It is one of my favourite places. Not open for dinner. read more

Born and raised in Calgary but having gotten used to living in The Okanagan - this hidden gem is a very pleasant surprise nestled in the inner city! With its charm and rustic feel, the experience feels like a weekend getaway rather than just a meal. One can tell that both the food AND service is about quality & not quantity; but yet you leave on a full stomach! Now really...isn't that what it should be about? :-) read more

Reader's Garden Cafe - View of the grounds rgt fr our tableside window & their Ham Eggs Benny & Chkn Salad Sandwich served w/their Rustic Tomato Soup. - Cafes Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I've lived in Calgary since 1986, and yet I only recently discovered this place on the hilltop of Readers Garden. It's a beautifully restored heritage estate home that feels utterly secluded from the bustle of the city below. I ordered the free range buttermilk chicken sandwich with the featured soup of the day--delicious and filling, with fresh, high quality local ingredients put together with care. read more

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This is a Historic place to bring your best friend, your grandma, or a group of ladies for an afternoon with a view of downtown and the Saddledome. The walk up to the house is spectacular as you wind your way through indigenous plants, wild flowers and trees indigenous to Southern Alberta and the Calgary area. The house is a replica of one that stood on that site back in 1912 and was owned by the Reader family whose father was a parks superintendent. The hours for the cafe are from 11-3 pm Thursday - Sunday. I have been two times now and both were very different based on the service. If it's too hot for tea, I suggest a pitcher of Sangria which is made fresh to order. Follow with the Blackcurrant Sumac Scones which come with clotted cream and house preserves. The salmon eggs Benedict were fantastic! They were so good, I had them the second time around. It's best to make a reservation and outdoor seating is first come first served. If you have any mobility issues, call ahead and you can drive up to the front door instead of walking from down in the parking lot. Enjoy! read more

Situated next to the beautiful Readers garden (and a cemetary on the other side), this historic landmark has some really wonderful food. Local and as organic as it comes. read more

Today was a beautiful fall day... all the leaves are turning yellow and orange! A perfect afternoon to go visit this garden paradise in Calgary! This was always a place I've wanted to visit and I'm glad my husband & I visited it! It's such a beautiful calm place and I will have to come back and see it in the spring as well as summer to see various flowers blooming! There were many rock paths leading up and around various garden areas. The jagged rock steps may be difficult for those who do not have sturdy balance and you have to be careful not to trip or stumble in some areas. But I enjoyed our walk around as well as my husband! The cafe was closing so we did not have afternoon coffee here but there were several customers enjoying themselves earlier inside! A very beautiful garden setting and many people taking garden photos . A nice place for wedding or engagement pictures or forest like setting. There are little waterfalls, a wooden pagoda, lovely wooden bridge , unique tree shapes and a beautiful stone wall for photo taking. Go check out this lovely place and you will love it! Fall is so beautiful in Calgary! read more

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This is a lovely, secluded spot tucked away above the Stampede grounds. A peaceful and beautifully detailed garden surround the cafe. A lovely place for a brunch or quiet moment with a secret friend. read more