An Evening at the Bear & Kilt Freehouse, Calgary Located in the heart of downtown Calgary, the Bear & Kilt Freehouse offers its patrons a distinct taste of the Irish lifestyle . I recently had the opportunity to dine there with a friend, and here's a balanced reflection on our experience, which I feel is a 3-star dining affair ⭐⭐⭐. The moment you walk into the Freehouse, you can't help but get absorbed by the charming Irish pub vibes. Wooden furnishings, vintage memorabilia, cozy seating, and inviting warmth make the interior feel more Dublin than Calgary . It's a sight that pleases and a feeling that endears. The location is as good as it gets, conveniently nestled amidst Calgary's hustle and bustle, making it a great spot for locals and tourists alike to take a breather. On to the main event - the food! I ordered the classic Fish and Chips, two pieces, while my friend opted for a Cheeseburger with Fries . The fish was nicely battered and golden, maintaining the ideal crunchiness on the outside while keeping the fish succulent and tender inside . Paired with perfectly crispy fries, it was a satisfying take on this British classic. As for the cheeseburger, it was a mouthful of juicy delight. The meat was well-cooked and paired with the creaminess of the cheese and the crispiness of fresh veggies. It was, as my friend described, "a comfort food classic done right." Now, the Freehouse isn't just about food and location, it's about the entire pub experience. This is where our journey took a bit of a downturn . A group of customers in the pub were rather noisy, making it hard for us to enjoy our food and conversation. At times, their behavior even bordered on aggression, causing an uncomfortable atmosphere that somewhat marred our otherwise pleasant evening. I am hopeful that this was an isolated incident, but it's worth mentioning for those seeking a quieter dining environment. To wrap up, the Bear & Kilt Freehouse certainly has a lot going for it. Authentic food , an atmosphere that transports you straight to Ireland, and a prime location in the heart of Calgary. However, our dining experience was dampened by the disruptive customers on this occasion. Nonetheless, it remains a good spot for a hearty meal if you're in the mood for an Irish pub experience in Calgary. Just be mindful that, like any lively pub, the noise level can vary greatly depending on the crowd. Happy dining!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 2
Recommended dishes
Burger and Fries with Cheese Curds, Fries

i stopped by with a large group of people for a quick drink, there was only one server and they were visibly very swamped with the size of our group. i don't know if it was just the day we went, but there were other patrons playing pool near us and some of the older men kept coming to our table trying to tell us jokes, and it generally made the entire room uncomfortable. a couple of the people in the same group were also calling some of our friends strippers and the server simply brushed them off. maybe the other patrons were regulars, but the comments they were making were totally uncalled for and inappropriate, and the staff did absolutely nothing about it other than asking the other patrons to leave us alone. it also wouldn't be a bad idea for the staff to wear nametags or some sort of identifier that they work there, as one of the servers that came in later initially unsettled us as we thought they were another patron trying to buy us drinks or make more inappropriate comments. i don't think i would return as this pub does not have the right crowd for me.

A group of friends and I came by on a weekend afternoon for lunch; place was not even half full and had only one waitress working. From the time we were seated till the time our order was taken was almost 45 minutes. Having worked in the food industry I can get how difficult it can be to be the only one on the floor, but the level of service was appalling. Even after our order was taken it was another good 45 minutes until our food arrived. In between that, the waitress made it a point to go out of her way to tell us in a condescending manner that one of our items (a bison burger) had to be cooked until it was well-done and it would need 20-30 minutes. Not sure how true that was, but it was moreso the delivery that bothered us. Here's a tip: just because you start off with "not to be rude" does not make you come off any less rude. The food itself was ok, but to top it off, we had to split the bill and operate the card machine ourselves to pay the bill. We would've been better off hitting the A&W down the street.

This place is great. Our server was wonderful. Very attentive, gave good suggestions on the menu and was just overall pleasant. The food was also amazingly good. I didn’t have high hopes, but was shocked at how good it was. I had the yorkies with mashed potatoes and gravy on the advice of our server and I was so glad I went with her recommendation. My one friend got the buffalo burger and yam fries and I tried that too and it was delicious. The happy hour here is one of the best on Stephen’s Ave. It goes right to 8pm. There’s pool tables, everything is clean and the ambience is fantastic. If you’re tall, watch your head, but the world just isn’t made for tall people, so I won’t hold it against this pub.

I moved to Calgary on my own back in 2018. Discovered the bear and kilt and it instantly became my second home. The staff here are awesome, I’ve never had a bad meal here and it’s always a great time. When I first moved here and was looking for a job, the staff asked their friends for me, when I was looking for a place to live, they asked around again. They truly care about their patrons and making sure that everyone is having a good time and is welcomed. The bear is a place where you go for one or two pints, leave 4 hours later after a great meal, fun conversation and an awesome time. And then come back again a couple days later for the exact same experience. Thank you!

It's rare I leave reviews and when I do they are usually a big toast! Sadly this is a roast. My boyfriend and I have always adored Bear & Kilt because of the fantastic food & hospitality from the crew. I decided to take my boyfriend out for dinner before he heads out for a month back home on vacation. We choose this spot because of the good memories we've had there....However the man that served us was for lack of better words was visibly annoyed & rude. We will definitely be back but not right away haha.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 3

I like the uniqueness about this place. A friend suggested this place and we tried it out. The ambience was different and gave a Scottish pub vibe which I liked. The waiter who served us disappeared and a new waiter appeared towards the end of the Night. When we got the bill, she split it 4 ways between the 4 of us and got visibly upset that only 2 out of the 4 of us left her a tip. I found this false sense of entitlement really absurd as she wasn’t even the waiter who provided most of the service.
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 5
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 4

Came here for a few drinks late at night, fantastic bartenders, great experience. The place has a lot of character and feels very cozy. Karl & Megan were very kind and treated my friends and I very well. Would definitely recommend for a late night endeavour of good people, good drinks at a good price, as well as good fun; including darts and pool. Good shot specials as well!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bison Burger, Cheesecake Taquitos

The Bear and Kilt is Calgary’s hidden hide-a-way. Take the stairs down on the famous Steven Ave Mall and get some great hospitality and fantastic food. An old school pub with great service and fantastic food. They often have monthly food features which are great…. The “Pizza of the month” is always creative and delicious. Definitely worth checking out if you are interested in good drinks and good times.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Steak Sandwich, Fish and Chips

This is a place I've had my ups and downs in. Plenty of hours spent punting back pints and playing darts and pool. It's a major mainstay for the unfussy post work crowd. One thing I can say is the food is top notch. Sometimes bar staff can be a little surly but hey, they are only human. 98 percent of the time it's perfect service in a great little "hidden" pub. I'd highly recommend heading down those stairs for a good cold pint and an order of nachos!

So this sucks because I love the original location, and I was incredibly stoked to see one opening near me, but the food is just bad at the 17 Ave location. Like whoever is cooking just seems to not care: pale, soggy chicken wings, bland, dry steak, and doughy, undercooked pizza crust. The front of house staff are great, but this place is the disappointment of the year. You need to have a talk with the cook because they are driving customers away.

The bad: Service in this place is dreadful. I hear it's hit or miss, but in my experiences they are either short-staffed, in a bad mood, or a person who is serving should not be serving. More than one time at the B&K I have had to go to the bar to order food and get drinks. The good: The perfect dive bar ambiance and entertainment. Decent food. Cozy. The French Onion Soup is to die for. Highly recommend. Great array of games. Fairly priced.

Nice gem hidden in the middle of downtown,atmosphere is great,service was fast and efficient,good beer and cocktails and good selection of food, i tried a couple of things and i can say were not the best but I was maybe unlucky,our fries and burgers were a tiny burn,but for sure something wont make me comeback
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Fries, The Bear Burger

The negative review here about the blue haired server is completely false. She's an excellent server. The negative comment was posted by a woman who was cut off and asked to leave the establishment due to her disrespectful behavior towards the server. The server did nothing but do her job with professionalism while also respecting herself
Price per person
$70–80
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We've been here on a few occasions and have had great service and a great time,.. tonight however the server with blue hair just gave an overall bad vibe, from talking bad about the clients, cutting them off because she didn't like them and yelling at customers to get out of the way while she was serving food, just overall super uncomfortable atmosphere, will not be back.
Service: 1

Honestly the chick who was at the door serving people during stampede was horrible. Incredibly rude to customers who were coming in yelling to stay on the stairs as we walked down and screaming from the bar to have our IDs out… a very embarrassing experience would not recommend! Used to come here for a good time but nope not anymore!
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

Great pub with an atmosphere that says 'relax and enjoy yourself' ice cold beer with many selections to satisfy your thirst, the food is amazing and varied enough to please everybody, I recommend this pub, you may lose track of time and forget about your problems (The Bear Trap)...CHEERS! Don't give up looking for this place, it's a big door leading down into the air conditioned pub.

Fantastic gem in the heart of downtown Calgary. The food is excellent and the menu is always creating awesome new monthly features. Drink prices are very fair and reasonable. Never had bad service here as well. Accidentally forgot my toque there one night, but the staff were nice enough to hold onto it until I came and picked it up the next day. Look forward to my next visit.

This was my first time here. I will go back for sure. The food was really good, the drinks were great and the atmosphere was perfect. Staff was super friendly and great to chat with. If enjoyed the evening. Only complaint.... No hot water in the washroom, so trying to get a good hand wash was not a fun experience. I regret not taking more photos inside the bar.

Great spot for a pint and a bite. We are here from the US and popped in on a rainy day. The staff is very welcoming and they have a great selection of local beers. And the food is terrific! We thoroughly enjoyed the poutine, soup of the day, and great salads but their traditional pub fare looks amazing. We may stop in again on our way home…

Nice cozy pub in heart of downtown. Two coin operated pool tables in good shape. A dart board and some video games. Had the nachos with beef very generous helping and tasty. Relaxing atmosphere. Friendly staff.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Nachos Supreme

The place was really cool and the vibes were good but the pizza we got was way overpriced for something worse and smaller than papa johns, there were very few toppings for a pizza that cost $24. Pool tables were lots of fun but the food needs work
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 1
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5

Worst service I have ever experience bartender double charged us and called us rude names. Never go here. I work in the service industry and could not believe how rude the bartender treated me and my party. Never even got a refund on the double charges and the owner of the 17th ave location was perfectly fine with that.

Love the Bear & Kilt! The food is delicious and the rotating monthly specials means you always have options to try something new. The daily specials are a fantastic bargain making it easy to get a delicious meal for cheaper than anywhere else on Stephen Ave. guaranteed and you can't beat a true 20 oz. pint for $7!

Good: the décor Bad: service. All of a sudden, they turned up the volume (I could not hear what my friend was saying), I told the waiter and he said: “This is a pub and that’s what pubs do…” and they turned up the volume again… ☹
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 3

Lovely place to enjoy some drinks and food with friends. The staff are very personable and respectful. I 1000% recommend this place to anyone looking for a cool place to hang
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bear Bangers, The Bear Burger, Cheesecake Taquitos

I went there on a Saturday night during Glowfest. The fish and chips were delicious! The place was busy. Our servers name was Spencer. He provided great service with an amazing attitude. People like that make the experience, and make you want to come again. Two thumbs up Spencer!! …

One of my favourite bars on Stephen Ave. It's pretty grungy inside but I don't mind it at all. I'm always happy with the food I get here and never had a bad experience. I love the seasonal menus they have with different entrees. And of course, the staff are super friendly and kind.

The atmosphere is pretty fun & the nachos are delicious. We love hanging out there and getting a few drinks! They have pool tables and darts.
Price per person
$50–60
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Nachos Supreme, Poutine

Easy to miss but worth checking out. It is downstairs and always nice and cool if you are looking to beat heat. The place has lots of character and I enjoy the atmosphere. I have always recieved fast and friendly service and the food is great pub grub for reasonable prices.

Great staff, great bar. Highly recommend if you're looking for a chill environment were you can meet some cool people. Also pool tables
Price per person
$40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bear Bangers, Yorkshire

Food and service was great. It's been a minute, or a decade rather since I've been there last,but enjoyed it all the same.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
8 Pizza, Steak Sandwich, Yorkshire

Great service, great vibe! Food is yummy and the staff is attentive. I used to go there a ton when i worked across the street and popped over for a couple beers and stayed all night.
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Really cool English style pub! In the basement, great atmosphere and awesome service! You really should stop here for an evening pool game or just for a meal if you're visiting Calgary. You won't be disappointed!
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Not as good as it used to be. They no longer split bills either, so going with friends or a group is a pain. The food portions appear to be smaller, drinks are more expensive and the overall vibe isn't as fun.
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3

Had a good time. Food was decent as we're the drinks. BUT, they only bring one tab for the table and refused to split it up for us like literally every other bar or restaurant I've ever been too. I wasn't ready for the math test at the end …

Local dive bar located in the heart of downtown Stephen Ave. Super friendly service but only complain is a pretty standard bar menu. However you don't go to the Bear & Kilt for food; you go there for the down to earth atmosphere and good drinks.

My favourite pub to go to after work. It's never too busy, but it offers great ambiance and cozy seating. The menu has regular pub fare but they also have specials every month which are pretty good. The amount of food you get for the price

We went to the B&K on Feb 28 2022 for our anniversary dinner. We had talked about the Yorkies before coming, and it was the deciding factor in our choice of restaurant. As I parked, my wife told the bartender of our plans, so when I walked

I've been going to this place for years, and I always love the friendly bartenders/servers. It's a go to when I'm on Stephen Ave, always! I will always love going and it's always a good time with pals! And the onion rings? Chef kiss!

This is my favorite pub! Love the atmosphere, love the staff, love the food! My friends and I have frequented this pub often over the last 8 years. We refer to it lovingly, as Grandma's Basement. Please don't ever change.

WOW!!! Pool, GREAT food and my service was awesome! A big fat yes on the Philly it's Alot of food, buffalo chicken sandwich is ridiculous to! The poutine was surprisingly good, come here for pool and food with the boys!

Great place to go have a pint and have some food. The staff were super friendly and nice. Full pints too. If you want a good old British style pub this is for you.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Nice place, great ambience and staff. Stopped for couple of drinks with nachos as I had another meeting somewhere. Would love to go again , best place to go for drinks or dinner with friends or a group meet up .

Great little pub! Burger could have been cooked a bit longer for its thickness! Nice atmosphere clean bathroom supplies full. The bartender served me very polite and friendly. I'd bring some friends here!

Food was good, no real complaints. Staff were helpful, locals were mostly friendly. I'd come here again, but don't be looking for fine dining - it's all atmosphere, staple food, and warm environment.

My favourite pub in the Province. The food is wicked good, big portions, tastes home made. The servers seem like they've been doing this for a while, I love the place. Very comfortable place!

Visited Saturday night during a Flames game. Super fun atmosphere with delicious shots and beer. Phil and Spencer were amazing bartenders and totally made our night!! 10/10 would visit again.

I visited here many times, in conclusion, let's say your experience is totally related to the server that you have. Overall, it's a great place to hang out with friends, have drinks and food.

One of our favorite places to go. Staff has always been friendly to us and the service is pretty good. You might have to go up to order when it is past supper time but the kitchen is

Met one of my friends for lunch. Enjoyed the atmosphere. Wait staff was attentive but not too attentive. The liver and onions was the best I have had in years. Will definitely be back

I have never been disappointed with food here. The beer is nothing special, but the atmosphere is.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great little old style pub, with great menu options and local flare. Great to watch the games, WWE, golf with a pool table in the back. LOOK FOR THE SIGN.. DON'T FALL DOWN THE STAIRS

Great bar and great staff!!❤️ best cheesecake taquitos in town ahaha
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bear Bangers, Cheesecake Taquitos

Great location for after hours. We went after a long day at work and decided to have some drinks and play some pool. I highly recommend for anyone to stop by and have a drink or two.

Excellent atmosphere, friendly staff. It's nothing fancy and that's exactly what I want in a pub. Food is excellent! I would come again and recommend to my friends as well.

Great place to haunt. Especially when you need to tuck away from the crowds. Love the Bison Burger and Mushroom Soup! It's a fav of mine for near 20 years. ;)

One of my favourite pubs in Calgary! Staff and food are always amazing! Plus they show WWE ppv events!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Absolute gem. Food was great. Have the poutine! Service is awesome, fast, attentive and friendly I hope they never close this heritage bar. Go. Now. …

It's the best dive bar in town. Always has amazing beer and food deals. Staff is friendly. They have 2 pool tables at $1.50 per game and 2 dart boards!

Decent food at a reasonable price but pretty dark and dingy in the basement, rustic I guess
Food: 3
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3

Cozy dive with good food. Beer list is okay and not the best place to watch a game, but staff are friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable.

Haven't been here in ages and not sure why. It's great, will certainly be coming back. Yummy food, cold beer, and the service is decent.

The full pub experience, gigantic menu, homestyle specials, great prices, entrance is small but if you find it you wont be disappointed

Great experience as a single female. Fish and chips were very good. Intimate but lively vibe with friendly people. Highly recommend!

Great little spot with friendly service. Love a good pub.
Price per person
$10–20
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Very good food and atmosphere. My favorite restaurant in Calgary:)
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Best fish and chips, the gravy is to die for! Service was awesome, food came out fast, we were 5 guests at lunch.

Great service and the food was good, decor was a little dated. Good bar eats though so definitely worth a visit.

Nice bar in a basement. Great ambience, pizza and awesome drinks. Amazing service and they have pool tables too.

I can't tell you how many times I have been here over the years. Pool tables, darts, beers and great food.

Very cozy British style pub and it’s basement location makes it feel even more so. Food was very good.

It was great as always. Great staff and reasonable prices.
Price per person
$10–20

It took 40 minutes for the food to come out and the server definitely needs to be kinder.

Nice bar with a great non-pretentious atmosphere with good people. I highly recommend it.

Everything that has come out of the kitchen on every visit has been amazing. 11/10.

Love this place. Best place on Stephen Avenue to get cheap craft beer and good food.

Great staff always kind and friendly great place for groups and the food is awesome

Hidden Gem Pizza is amazing
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Good pub atmosphere and great nachos!