Maybe my favourite pubs in Calgary. It's a total dive. not pretentious at all. great food. cool staff. Reasonably priced. read more

Incredible times and dart board, poutine was righteous. Great spot to go to before the game.

I love this pub. My other half and I stumbled upon this pub years ago. I keep coming back when I find myself in downtown Calgary. It's got amazing pub decor, it's got great music and friendly staff. The food came fast and the portion is huge, especially since it's a reasonably priced place to eat. So happy to be here for the monthly special of Toad in the Hole. Mmm pub food. read more

Bear & Kilt - Toad in the Hole, April special. - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Came to Bear & Kilt on an early Tuesday afternoon to relax and get some down time. It wasn't too crowded and there was plenty of space available, the music playing was good too. Ordered a Wild Rose IPA and some Bear Bangers. The Bear Bangers were unique and tasted really good, I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for some light bites with their drinks. The server was friendly and attentive. If you're looking for good food and drinks at a dive bar, you'll definitely have to come here, prices are affordable and not over the top. read more

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Great atmosphere! Open late even on a Monday night. Good selection of beer. Will definitely be back! read more

I was in Calgary last week on a business trip. During the last evening in town, I had the pleasure of meeting up with my retired friend Jim. We enjoyed the better part of 3 hours chatting about our time together at Shell, trading insights on Company news, and talking family and friends. The Bear & Kilt was a great place to catch up. Yes, it's a bit noisy, depending what game is on the television, and it was after all a Friday night. However, with a booth, a "few" wee pints (I walked here, while Jim took public transit), and some pretty good pub grub, our time together flowed easily, and perhaps too quickly. The wait guy, was pretty cool too, and took my joking California requests for organic food with sprouts in great sarcastic stride. This pub is not fine dining (which is available close by), but it sure is a great place for friends to reconnect. Next time, I'll try on one of those hats. read more

Great Pub, friendly staff, and really good eats. Had some wings and (huge) nachos with a couple of drinks, before walking back to my hotel full & happy. Whenever in Calgary, I'll be sure to go back here! read more

Bear & Kilt - Great Nachos here - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Great food and good times. Beer also excellent. Highly recommended. Excellent service. Very friendly

We have been in Calgary for 6 nights and 3 of them have been spent in this gem of local pub. Phil and Greg run the bar like champions, adding laughter and exceptional service to your experience. The food is excellent, the drinks are lovely and the company makes it a perfect ambiance! This is a must if you are in Calgary and want to have memories to last a lifetime! read more

this my 2nd post . I sent you a post concerning a new billiard game but obviously you were not interested in creating an afternoon & evening crowd for your slower days of the week (Mon. , Tues. & Weds.) and promotional event for Sunday . With a little imagination this game would allow you to promote your business You were given my e mail address and you were informed that I would come to your business and show how the game would operate and let you decide why did I choose you 1: great location 2: you had a couple of pool tables 3 : you have no idea how to keep your pool tables busy 4 : you definitely need help I offered you help but obviously empty pool tables & customer spending are not what your after Your pool tables are promotional tools that could create additional income if you only had the balls to be different than all your competitors read more

One of my friends can't meet up for after work drinks until 5:30pm and so I'm always looking for happy hour deals that go past 6pm. This place has weekday $10 meal and pint daily deals from 4pm - 8pm (and 12pm - 8pm on Saturdays). Perfect! They also discount a bunch of their drinks by $1 for happy hour so a $6.50 local pint becomes $5.50. But you should probably splurge on the extra $4.50 and get some tasty food. The first time I went here was on a Friday and tried their fried pickles and pint deal (note: the deals come with any local pint, I recommend their Wild Rose options) for $10. Tasty! I haven't had many fried pickles in my life but these were right up there and I recall the chipotle sauce being extremely tasty. The pickles are normally $9 so really you're paying $1 for a pint! I went here last week for their Thursday night special (steak sandwich and pint). Firstly the steak sandwich alone is normally $14. And it's pretty tasty, which explains why they didn't have many left by 6pm so get there early! Plus it comes on garlic toast with mushrooms and fries. Mmm... Plus the place is a total dive, but in a great way. They have a bunch of old booths that look like they have emerged from someone's basement - that were previously rescued from grandma's house. The service is always good, never amazing but it's got a great relaxed vibe to it. Two thumbs up. read more

Bear & Kilt - A new Tuesday special? - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

The Bear and Kilt is a bit of a hidden gem. Located in an underground lair (sounds better than "basement") along Stephen Avenue mall, I find that even though I know exactly where it is I walk by it when I haven't been in in a while. I like it that way. The Bear and Kilt is pleasantly busy - which means that your crew is not the only one in the bar but you're not fighting to use the pool table either. I guess I like it because it is so relaxed. Sometimes I feel like the clientele is leaning over to the side of hipster and it will change, but then it bounces right back. Maybe my fear is due to the Canadian Hoser woody hudson's bay company everything is forty years old kind of decor they've got going on. It's just enough to be ironic, so I'm gonna declare a hipster alert right now. Luckily the cheap beer and decent food make it a destination for some awesome downtownians too. Last time I was in there were some business looking people, a bunch of rocker looking guys and probably some other people, but the ratio was decent and our party was pretty big so we got some great service. Our server was just lovely, making friends with the guys and only gently ribbing me for sticking with water because I was sick as a dog. I couldn't eat this time, but I can recommend the wings, the philly beef dip, and anything that comes with fries because they are just that good. read more

Bear & Kilt - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Don't judge a book by its cover - The Bear & Kilt has a lot more to serve up than meets the eye. The first time I came here, I was pretty skeptical - the faint smell of smoke in the walls, and the dark atmosphere made it feel like it was a pretty run-down place. But the friendliness of the staff and the quality of the food here more than makes up for the lacklustre appearance. They have a decent selection of beers on tap, including some of the local craft beers, and there's always a monthly special menu, on top of their regular fare. I can definitely recommend the pizzas here, and the Yorkshire puddings are deadly. Don't be afraid to bring a group here - there's a few large tables, and the booths all comfortably seat at least 6 people. If you're in for the long-haul, keep in mind they'll also serve up pitchers of beer, so you won't have to keep hitting up the bar or harassing your server. read more

Bear & Kilt - Daily Happy Hour specials. - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

"Well hello there neighbour!" or next girl waiting in line for an available washroom stall. For real, stall walls, super short. Me, averagely tall. I was happy nobody else was in the washroom with me. Bear & Kilt is another basement bar in C-town.. And yes, totally in the running for dive bar. On a Friday afternoon when everyone else is enjoying sunny patio weather in Stephen Ave, there's plenty of room here. Service is decent but sporadic. Food.. Good if you order perogies, I haven't tried anything else. read more

Bear & Kilt - Perogies!! - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Although I've been here 3 times now, I'm treated like family. Very welcoming and attentive service. Open late and the kitchen rocks until 12 am. Perfect for me as a flight attendant that lands at 10. Phil the bartender is the best. Need food or beverage suggestions, he's the man. read more

Bear & Kilt - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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absolutely terrible place, watch your personal items staff will go through it, they double charge, disgusting place

Love this place. It felt like an old fashioned pirate pub with friendly and welcoming staff. I had the bison burger, which was delish, and my partner absolutely *loved* the meat lovers pizza. We had to try the cheesecake taquitos as the monthly special desert and were so happy with the result. We'll definitely be back. read more

Great pub in a cold place. Bunch of things on the wall that make it fun to try and look at in a dark, woody, downstairs, creepy guy looking at you kinda place. Good bar food and Canadians that speak Canadian, Good fun and cool place for a chat. Get the pierogies, you won't be sorry! And if you are. . .I'm sorry. read more

Bear & Kilt - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

It was better than just "A-OK" but less than "Yay! I'm a fan". A couple of us were looking for a place to hang out and wandered into the Bear and Kilt. It was a nice place to just relax and hang out with friends. read more

This is a pub with international flair: the smells and dingy of a Louisiana hole in the wall, the portion sizes of Texas and the taste of heaven with a side of fries. It was awesome. I met up with colleagues for lunch and since I wasn't feeling too hungry, I order the soup of the day as well as ribs and sweet potato fries off the appetizer menu. When my sweet potato fries showed up 10 minutes later in a 12 inch basket, I knew I was in trouble. The soup was a butternut squash corn chowder which hit the spot. Then my ribs came with a side of carrots and celery and I fought off the chains of restraint in an attempt to clean my plate. I was almost successful. I could barely eat the fries because I.WAS.STUFFED. Other table occupants had the bison burger and quesadilla - both very good. The service was pleasant and efficient despite a busy lunch hour but I still felt a little nervous about the bill. Absolutely no need to. 3 ver satisfied customers, $44 bill. The only thing better than good food is cheap good food. I love this place. The end. read more

Bear & Kilt - THIS is the small soup! - Dive Bars Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I have been going here for years. The meals are good and affordable, the staff is efficient and on the ball. There are no tv screens, so this is a true pub, somewhere to go and talk with the people you are with. read more

Dingy dive bar. Waiter was rude and condescending. Stayed for 1 beer and left. Will never return.

I decided to try the Bear because it was close to my hotel. Friendly staff, good vibes. Shepherds pie was good enough, but nothing to write home about. I was hoping to find Tullamoore Dew or Powers whiskey, no luck. Phil recommended Woodford Reserve, and that was fine. I'll be back to try the Elk Burger. read more

Cheap drinks and great daily specials, this is a fun little pub for an after work hang out. If you're into sunlight, this is definitely not your place. It's a dark, underground pub in the best kind of way. Nestled in the basement of an old building, Bear & Kilt has raggedy stone walls, beaten up wooden tables and low ceilings, yet again, in the best kind of way. It's cozy, comfortable, and come as you are. The appies are good ol' fashioned pub quality. The beer selection isn't inspiring, but isn't terrible either. I think I could make this place my home. I'm looking forward to a game of darts and a few after work beers in your cozy dungeon. read more

Not bad, not bad at all! Went here tonight for after work drinks and the place was packed - not really surprising since it's a long weekend. It took a bit to find a table, but it happened - and then we got bumped to another table by the wait staff when a smaller one opened up so they could sit a bigger group at ours. Vaguely annoying, but understandable. Service was sporadic - the great table move was about the only time we didn't have to flag them down - but everything got taken care of in the end. It's dark & divey and reminds me of the pubs back in England. It's a welcoming aura, one where you don't feel like you have to be done up to the nines to hang out (unlike so many other bars on 8th ave). Yes, it's loud, but it's easy enough to carry on a conversation with your table mates if you don't mind shouting a bit. Drinks and food came quickly enough (although our second round of drinks took a while, and the water I requested never showed up). The 'Bear Bangers' (chicken taquitos) made a good sharing snack, and while my red wine was definitely 'plonk', at $5 a glass I'm not expecting anything except that it's sour and strong. And good lord was it strong... don't ask me how long it had been fermenting, but that's the first time two glasses of wine have set me completely beyond the limit. I swear I even saw the Easter Bunny hopping down the street on my walk to the bus afterwards... read more

I can't believe this place exists. Walking by, you wouldn't even notice it. This charming underground gem has a feeling of another place. I don't feel like I'm in downtown Calgary at all. Its great! The beer is cheap and cold, and the typical pub fare fills the hole. read more

My favourite bar in Calgary, and dare I say the world. The staff are always welcoming and kind. I've become a regular in the past 2 years, and I've had birthdays and other celebrations here to great success. The beer is decently priced and the food is really good (have the Shepard's pie!). I don't see myself straying too far from this place anytime soon. read more

Is it a dive bar? Yep. Does it go underground making you think you are entering a dungeon? Indeed. Are there people here with missing teeth? Very likely. Do they serve Wild Rose Brown Ale? I wouldn't be here if they didn't. Bear and Kilt has a lot of character and characters. You could film a reality show here. I like it here because I've always had a good time. There is usually room because it always seems busy but never full. It is also a good place to catch the game. I had the ribs and they weren't the best I ever had, but they did fine. read more

One of my friends said that since this place has no windows, the time track can be easily lost. He went there one day for lunch and ended up crawling out when the work day was gone. So, yesterday I was on Stephen Avenue with my prospective new b/f. (Yes, for those who follow my reviews it is a SHOCKER, I hope). I figured - if my friend managed to have such good time there, we should too? Nope. 1. The look and feel is truly great and cozy and really disattaches you from reality right in the heart of the downtown. 4 stars for that, for sure. One star went missing, because they do not fix their broken furniture. This cushion on the bench I was sitting on - got loose and I kept sliding and while doing that, kept kicking the table, which resulted in some spilled beer. On the brighter side, my new man pulled me closer to him onto his bench. Awww.... 2. Food was OK. Served pretty fast, great presentation, tasty. well, the potato skins were a bit dry. 4 stars for that. 3. Service. Do we have any negative stars here? The waiter appeared quite quickly and for some reason chose to stand about 3 feet away from the table. I did take a shower before my date, so I was not sure why he did that. It is important to mention that next table was full of some really loud, rowdy and drunk people. I mean, really loud people. So, the server is standing where he is standing, and I figured - may be we are to play a lip sync game? So much fun! So, I am placing the order. I can't hear myself because of the next table, but I do trust the server.... "I can't hear a word you are saying", - he says that with a straight face and stands still, and in fact, i thought he even leaned back a little. I repeat the order, instinctively leaning forward a bit. "I have no idea what you are saying". i contemplated for a second that may be I am expected to get up, get closer to him and yell it in his ear. i didn't. I just took the menu and pointed out what I wanted. The waiter gave me a dirty look but did nod. When he brought the food, he kind of threw it on the table. I looked at him trying to find any signs that this could be a result of "I just got the news they fired me". Didn't see any. Same story with the bill. Have no idea what his problem was. may be, tired... May be just hated me... Oh, Wait, may be he was my ex's friend I did not know about? So, overall would not probably recommend this place at 5 pm... Too many people make the servers there act strangely. Other than that - it's OK. read more

Service is so, so bad. The guys are so rude, unfriendly, and unprofessional. Won't spend my money here again. read more

Well, it's a dive bar alright. It's dark, cluttered and dank. There's a weird mix of short tables crammed together, and tall bat tables here and there. Beer cost the same as at the James Joyce right next door. Didn't try the food, we just wanted to drink up and get the hell out. read more

Best pub in the city. One of the few basement pubs that remain - I hope it never changes.

Really torn... probably a solid 2.5 stars but being generous I'll round up to three... Starting with the good news, the Bear & Kilt is one of the handfull of 'true pubs' downtown Calgary (think James Joyce, Unicorn, Buchanan's) and certainly is a 'hide away' spot. The kind of place you can sneak away to for a pint and never be seen... just ask my Server. Pubs, however, ought not to confuse pub feel with Grungy and Dillapidated... unfortunately the K&B has more than it's share of G&D. Service was ok but it seemed the single lunch time server was a bit overwhelmed by the 12 person lunch time crush... If you need a seat you're sure to find one for lunch at the B&K. Food was ok but left nothing memorable to write about. hmmmm... having started writing I'm suddenly leaning towards rounding down to two stars... probably the place you might end up if the James Joyce is full for lunch (and it's raining and you're on crutches). read more

My favourite dive bar in Calgary! You know when you want to get a huge group of people together, for say some birthday drinks, any sort of celebration on a weekend and you sit there and go - EFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF where will we find a table for 8 -12 people? LOOK NO FURTHER Cause nestled away on Stephen Ave, basically next to the James Joyce, there is a door, and when you open that door and go downstairs you will be in an underground beer haven. It's dingy, it has two women's toilet stalls, that makes getting into the stall like a game of Tetris if someone happens to be washing their hands. It also has the best prices for booze on Stephen Ave! What do you need to know? Darts, pool, booths, tables, chairs, table service until 10. I am pretty sure the same staff has worked here since my 18th birthday, when I emptied my stomach contents into two pitchers on the table. They have a good menu. Where else would nachos be listed as an English pub's signature dish? I keep coming back, it's my go-to spot when I am north of 11 ave. Love you, you dingy basement bar you! read more

Very cheap drinks and some good Happy Hour options. I stopped by on a Weds and had a plate of wings and a pint of beer for $10. Only two bartenders working- but they seemed to have everything under control. The crowd can be a little rough- but I think it just adds to the character. read more

I have been a regular at the bear and kilt since I was 18. It's a total Industry bar where cooks and servers can relax after a long day at work. The food is amazing and the staff never forget who you are. I moved away for a year and a half and they still remembered me when I moved home. There is plenty to do and everyone is usually willing to play a game of doubles at the pool tables. Darts are fun and so is the buck hunter. They play really good music that isn't too overbearing or loud. 6 years later it is still one of my favorite places to hang out and see old friends and meet new ones. read more

I enjoy their food! good solid English pub style nosh! The service is horrible though, at some point in the early evening all the waitresses go away and then you are left having to go to the bar to order your drinks there Its good to go here with some close friends read more

I have been going to this place for years, Before and after Calgary Flames games. I have had Birthday parties where entire sections of the bar were accommodating to everyone that was at the pub. Also have just stopped by to have a casual beer ever now and again. The staff is extremely friendly and food comes out quick and the prices for everything are extremely good. You never pay an arm and a leg for food and drinks with there daily specials which give you a pint and food for $10.00. I have been to a lot of bars in Calgary and I always find myself going here and always having a great time. (Plus they have pool and darts!!!!) read more

The best discoveries are often made in your own backyard, so when I heeded the call of my friend's birthday party here, I knew it deserved a chance. Being closer to the east end of Stephen Avenue, it's a little more out of the way compared to Flames Central and the King Henry VIII. Considering that and it's a basement bar, I shouldn't have been too surprised when it was a little sparsely inhabited. I've only been there twice before writing this review on a saturday and tuesday respectively, but I haven't seen more than 8 people in the bar at a time; and I LIKE IT THIS WAY. A bar for me is supposed to be a quiet place to hang your hat and hide from the rest of the world for a few hours, and the Bear meets this standard with ease. When I go alone, it's easy for me to sit and think without being distracted, and being there with friends is easy too, since I don't have to strain myself to hear what anybody said. Compared with say, the Liberty Lounge while I did review them favorably, they've had a problem with setting their music volume too high. Some days, indoor voices are just not an option. Getting to the food though, I started with stealing fries from everybody else's plates, and I could swear that they were crisp, yet melting in my mouth. I was amazed; it was as if they were cooked in fat. Later on I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and to tell you how good it is, all I need to do is say that they also put the coleslaw right into the sandwich. The rest of the details don't even matter, get a copy of the menu if you care (this has nothing to do with my memory being spotty on the rest of the details. Quiet you!) Beers on tap is respectable. You get staples like Newcastle, Kokanee, and so forth with about 6 more to choose from. The liquor stock will just have to be amended to this review later after the next time I go. I do know they got Jagermeister though, because our barman did a birthday shot with us during my friend's celebration. Lastly, I should point out that when I was there on a tuesday night after seeing a play, I came here for a pint and was sitting next to a staff member of the Palomino watching the hockey game that night. It is of my belief that if staff from more popular bars come somewhere to drink, it has to be a good place to go. So go! Go there and give them your money for spirits and chow! read more

OMG YES - everything about this place YES !!!! Pool, seedy atmosphere, darts amazing decor - this THIS is a place that I can relax and enjoy a pint ! I didn't eat sadly but I'm convinced that if I did I would have been delighted with satisfactory amounts of grease. It's downstairs and slightly hard to find but that just adds to the overall ambience - there was even a sufficient amount of local regulars ready to oggle any attractive young ladies playing pool, if you're into being oogled (aherm perhaps that was just a poor wardrobe choice on my part). The next time I'm in Calgary I am absolutely going back, admittedly in jeans but it was fun and divey and everything I needed for my pre-flight fun :) read more