The kind of place where you could hang out all day. Good food, nice and friendly service, and tons o' booze! nice old fashioned decor. Was only sorry I couldn't stick around for punk Rock Bingo night! Go there for a nosh, nurse a beer, read a book for hours on end, or to write the great American novel. Or just to get smashed with your crazy friends! read more

Another $0.02 from a Californian... I had no idea what to expect when a local friend suggested we meet at the Ship & Anchor for brunch on a weekend. The CA crew got there first, and I have to say I wasn't sure what the joke was. We were chatting outside under the awning waiting for her, and I'm thinking "We're going to eat brunch at a BAR?" It just didn't seem right. But I was pleasantly surprised at the menu selection and the quality of the food. It's not Michelin star material or whatever, but French toast made with brioche? YES please. And an omelette that's already set to be made with egg whites only so I don't have to specify and explain and hope for the best? Thanks for the like, totally real food. It was far too early for serious drinking, obviously. At least it was for me. So I can't really comment on much else besides the food and I think we were pretty much the first customers of the day, but it seemed like a good representation of what a pub should be and from the other reviews here, it sounds like it lives up. I dig it. read more

Great spot, staff was a little slow but overall good food and good beer selection. Pretty good food selection, typical bar food but also good asian food selection. read more

Ship & Anchor Pub - Noodle bowl with chicken - Pubs Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Love it. They make a great eggnog before christmas. Go early if you want a seat. The music mix is really good. It's all over the map. Where else would you follow up Notorious BIG with Willie Nelson and have it work? read more

The worst service my friends and I have ever had... everyone working there appeared to hate their life. I don't know if it was because my friends are young and they thought we wouldn't tip. The friends I was with leave larger tips than anyone I've met before... but we couldn't bring ourselves to after being treated like an inconvenience the whole time we were there. The bathrooms were cool but gross and smelled like an outhouse. The nachos were some of the best ones we've ever had though. Unfortunately food isn't a good enough reason to return. read more

I have been a regular at this pub for 18 years. My favorite pub in Calgary. Sanjay ! Nolan !! I love you guys !!! The service is always amazing, the food is always great, best patio in Calgary AND fantastic music. LOVE LOVE LOVE The Ship !!! read more

My home away from home. There's a reason this place has been open for more than 25 years. Great staff, awesome events, and fun recurring weekly events (like punk rock sing along in the summer.. which i'm headed to right now!) read more

This place is awesome for late night beers and live shows! It is also one of the few places in the city that plays English football games. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a night of good music and people! read more

This is my go to place when I want to see a great soccer game (unless it's to see Arsenal, then I go to the Pig and Duke). Cheap food that's decent, great beer, live bands on Sunday and its THE place for me for soccer (I loved watching the World Cup there), it's a local gem that's been around even before I went and graduated from Western Canada as a kid. Ship and Anchor, I love you. Don't ever change! read more

Ship & Anchor Pub is a Calgary institution. It's the perfect bar: perfect location, perfect pub food, perfect crowd. This spot appeals to everyone, which is why men in business suits will be seated right next to tattoo'd bikers. Ship's big patio right on 17th makes it the perfect stop before, after, or during a night out in Calgary. Despite its popularity, it's not too hard to find a seat. Inside is dive-bar-esque, with lots of seats and a tiny dance floor -- just the way I like it. Staff is attentive and menu is good pub fare at super affordable prices. Visit once and you'll be a regular like the rest of us in no time. read more

You have been told to visit this place, but you are still not sure what makes it different from any of the other bars that litter the street. read more

It was a gloomy Monday afternoon. The Hop in Brew was not set to open up for another couple hours, and I was to meet with a British couchsurfer for an afternoon pint. Charmed already, aren't you? I arrived at the Ship and Anchor just about on time, clutching onto my Umbrella outside as I waited for my British friend. As it turns out, he had tried to walk from another end of town, not perceiving how far it really was, and he turned up about half an hour late. This half hour allowed me really to take in the sight of the pub, and the rainy atmosphere. When he eventually showed up, we entered the pub, and it provided us with immediate warmth and rustic comfort. As it was still relatively dark inside, it fit in perfectly with the dreary grey sky and the rain (which if you haven't guessed by now, I love). As I sat across from this Londoner in a Clockwork Orange tshirt, with his hair dripping wet, slurping up a hearty bowl of beef barley soup, constantly offering me some of his "chips," in the corner of this dimly lit pub on a rainy afternoon, I felt as though I was in London itself. Or a movie. One of the two. And this is why I am now able to review the Ship. Because it charmed me a few afternoons ago, and you should be charmed too. While I enjoy the Ship best while seeking a nook to cozy up on a rainy day (I would have felt comfortable even bringing in some Hemingway and flying solo), if you catch them on a day where you can sip some ales on the patio, even better. Their food is pretty decent for pub fare, and they serve up a good mix of imports and local brews. The staff I've had the pleasure of knowing are great as well. I prefer it here on weekdays/weekday evenings, but if you're one for crowds, definitely head over on a Friday or Saturday night. I like you pretty okay, Ship and Anchor Pub. read more

This place has a great atmosphere. It is an authentic canadian pub with a great vibe. Easily accessible from the road.

My partner and I came here for lunch and I've honestly never been more disappointed with a restaurant as I have been today. We ordered two glasses of Pepsi, which were bitter and tasted closer to slightly brown tinged sparking water then Pepsi, which is a difficult thing to mess up. My partner ordered the chicken burger which had the consistency of rubber, was messily put together, and had no sauce in the slightest. Myself, I ordered the dirty pepperoni and mushroom pizza; the cheese was barely melted, the crust was similar to a papery cruton, and it was lukewarm. I can assure you that we were severely let down after hearing about how fantastic this place is supposed to be and will not be returning. read more

The burger and yam fries I got were completely burnt. I felt like I was eating char, I did not even have a chance to tell the waiter because she never came by. The waiter also said that the yam fries were 1$ extra as a side but it came to an extra 3$, not a deal breaker but a bit annoying. The food was the disappointment. I will never go back to this place. read more

The Ship & Anchor is an institution in Calgary! Good-sized outdoor patio, great for people-watching on 17th Ave (both the pub's patrons and those walking by!). Very mixed crowd where almost anything goes. Great beer selection, decent pub fare and good service. Overall a fun place to hang out with friends and pints. read more

I've been here a dozen times, and it's always nice to have their nachos. I find the prices very reasonable for this place. It's my go to when I have nowhere else to be on 17th ave. Always lively and exciting. read more

"Dive bar" with a velvet rope and bro bouncers? Kinda goes against the whole concept of a dive bar. Everything about this place feels stagey and faux. Not that great. read more

I've been to Ship & Anchor once and oddly enough, not for drinks. We went there on a Sunday for brunch and caesar's. Food was not particularly great, just your standard eggs benedict. Hollandaise sauce could use some work as it was a little thick. Will have to return in the evening for drinks possibly to catch the 'pub environment'. read more

One of my favorite pubs. They have a really decent veggie burger and enough beers on tap to keep even me topped up. The clientele is a mixed bag age wise usually between 18 and 35 but they all generally fit into some kind of alternative crowd, be it punk, indie or whatever. The service is generally super attentive and the patio is one of the best in the city. While the place seems full almost all the time rarely is it impossible to find a seat unless you are showing up pretty late another reason to show up a early is to avoid the inevitable line up that starts around 10. read more

I had their $55 Charcuterie plate - soooooo dissapointed. If you are going to charge so much, please make it worthwhile. The cuts of meats were all stuck together like they just defrosted the meat because they didn't expect anybody to actually order it. Way more meat than bread, and too little sauce. The place is also to hipserish for me. read more

Simply the best pub in town. Good beer and eats with great company. Soccer live on weekends and midweek for major tourneys. Good DJs, bands, no reason to say no to the Ship! read more

Never really been to the ship in the afternoon, but I am a fan of the place. Yes it can be overcrowded, yes it can be hard to find a table here, and yes uni/college people can dominate the crowd, but the place has character. From the scarfs of Premiership teams hung on the walls to the fact they stock one of my favourite beers (Boddington's) to a crowd that can be just as diverse than it was homogeneous the night before, this place is simply my first answer to anybody seeking a pub in Calgary. The beer selection is great covering cheap and quality domestics as well as tasty imports. The atmosphere mixes a youthful vibe with that traditional, slightly woodsy, and run-down feel of a pub. The crowd consists of the posh and down to earth, rich and poor and the bold and beautiful. In my opinion it's what a pub should be, a reflection of the community. read more

Cute place on 17th where everyone goes! This bar is pretty trendy but at the same time there isn't one specific type of person that goes here. I've had lots of fun here sipping beers with friends and I really do like the nautical theme. The fishing nets are a great addition. Whether you're here with a couple friends or a large group of people the ship has something for you! read more

This place is awesome! Very nice vibe from the moment you walk in and it just feels cool to be hanging out there. The food is also awesome and the service is really good as well. The only downside is that once you're in there it is very cramped but that's not really negative thing if you're into socializing and meeting some new people. It is extremely busy on weekends so prepare for a line up! read more

Service was alright but the manager came out and asked us if we were done here yet which was incredibly rude. We all still had drinks and that was very obvious as nobody was really nursing their drinks slowly. It was a table of lawyers and business professionals. It's not like we were hobos or something. I ended up also paying for someone else's drink at the table because the waiter didn't pay attention. I had the chicken burger and it was average at best. I would be very reluctant to go back after the service we experienced. I would probably elect to lower the patio music down a bit as nobody immediately across aside could hear anyone. I for sure would never go there with a date. read more

Came here on vacation for 4th of July which also happened to be Bingo. It was a lot of fun. My whole group had an awesome time and met a decent amount of locals that were all there just for Bingo. Half the table even won something at one point. The Ship & Anchor were really cool at playing up 4th of July since we were a group from the US and were all dressed up ready to celebrate. The drinks were really good and reasonably priced and there was the ability to go on stage and win free PBRs! read more

The food is actually pretty decent here, pub food wise. It's not fancy by any means. But if you want to go get loaded on 17th without shitty dance music, this is your place. read more

I remember this place when it was half the size and there was an old cd player for music! Service was quick in this crowded establishment. Lunch was ordered and arrived reasonably quickly. Fish and chips for around 10 bucks and lamb shank for 12 was good value. Fish was better than I have had in a while. While the Ship is a bit rundown....err...has character, it is a good spot for decent pub fare and pints! read more

I like to go in on my own a lot and the service is always fantastic. It's a Sense of community there. I had a really cool server buy me a beer last week which I thought was really sweet when I had an issue but it was just miscommunication. I love Monday nights music and vids. Hang out here if your passing through town, want a change of scene or just find something fun on a weekday night :) read more

Food is beyond bad. Drinks are quite expensive for a dump like ship and anchor. Don't get the whole hype about this place. For a dive the prices are way too high. read more

When in Calgary you must spend time at the Ship. Trust me. The people you meet is a cross-section of socially constructed reality. The food is well done yet simple, and the tap selection is all you really want. English style place. Have fun! read more

When I went there it was packed and really hard to get into our booth. We waited a long time for the waitress to come around who made herself out to be stuck up. She didn't bring us our menus right away and took forever to bring us our drinks. We got our drinks, drank them & asked for our bill. It was busy but I don't appreciate a snotty server so we left ! read more

Checked this place out for the first time last night. I loved it! Food was good. Our waiter was super nice. Drinks were stiff. Can't wait to go back. read more

OK, the Ship is a staple for University folk and has been since at least the 90's. The booze is cold and more or less reasonably priced for a downtown pub. Lots of friendly people and some not so friendly people. This place is PACKED almost all the time, so if you prefer to keep people at arms length or if you'll get peeved at someone spilling beer on your shoes then you should probably find somewhere else to go. The food is ok in the sense that it's bar food and can't really be expected to have four star dining. If you're planning on heading to the Ship on a summer Friday or Saturday evening you'll pretty much have to get there in the late afternoon to avoid lining up. read more

Great gluten free beer option with Mongoza (a Pilsener) but sad that they've taken curry fries off the menu. That used to be one of my faves on the menu! read more

I gave them my government issued ID which was a pilots license. The person who ID'd me asked me for a new piece of ID, but would not accept any secondary peices of ID I produced. I am a server and have my AGLC and know for a fact that this is not acceptable. AGLC asks for a primary piece of ID that must be government issued (a pilots license is) and if the primary piece doesn't work, a secondary piece of ID which does not have to be government issued can be compared. He didn't even bother to check my secondary ID. I told him that both my drivers license and passport was expired and this was my only ID for my birthday and he wouldn't have any of it, and turned is away. I've been to this place before and the service is definitely iffy. They need to update their policies otherwise they are losing valuable customers. read more

A Calgary institution. The beer selection is great, and priced well. The food is good quality pub food, also priced very reasonably. The atmosphere and service is pitch perfect. Live music, punk rock bingo, darts, the patio. Overall excellent beers, food, value and atmosphere. You just can't go wrong. It's the Ship for crying out loud! read more

I have walked miles just to sit at the bench near the wall facing the terrace, ordered a Guiness, taken advantage of the free wi-fi and listened to the lunch crowd guys yell whenever some rugby scrum went off, or some soccer game scored, but won't ever order anything battered and seafood... took one look at the still kind of white un-browned coating and saw it wasn't cooked properly. But the Guiness rocks, it's always got at least a dozen people there after 11am whenever open, did I say the Wi-Fi is free? They serve Guiness, and there are one or two girls in the afternoon who always seem to get my tips because as soon as my glass is near empty they ask if I want another (or maybe it's becaue I give good tips, which they desrve for making sure my glass is never empty)... I will always be back for the Guiness... bar food is just not my thing. If you're there after dark, don't bother being Number 1 - there are too many others who think they're rock stars... and you're number two read more

Even though they're so damn expensive it still makes me wince (the highest I've seen for pints drawn in the already ludicrously expensive Calgary), I gotta say I'm a bit of a fan. Maybe it's in part because there's no real grown up bars in Calgary, but since moving here I have felt obliged to make it the bar I go to when I go downtown (specially now the Bar Named Sue is no more). + The food is good. + They don't charge cover. + Mixed ages & little BS to contend with. Note - lotsa black clothing in there. And the lights go dim at night. I wore a white pullover last weekend and as I walked around I felt like a lightbulb in a coal chute. If you're legally blind you may want a seeing-eye human to help you get to the crappers..... read more