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River Café, Calgary, AB

River Café

4.6
4.6
4450 Reviews
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Canadian
Top Tags:
An extraordinary dining experience is to embark on a journey. We have created a beautiful place in an extraordinary setting and have tended to the details that make you feel at home: staff who care, chefs who are passionate about quality and the regional seasonal ingredients that bring to your palate a taste of place.

Getting to River Cafe is just a walk in the park.

Access River Café on Prince's Island Park from:
1. North side crossing the Bow River and Memorial Drive at the Calgary Curling Club.
2. South East end of the island at the 2nd street SW bridge, directly East of Eau Claire Market.
3. South West end of the island at 6th Street SW and Eau Claire Way near the Peace Bridge.

Eau Claire Plaza is currently closed for construction.
Parking is available on the street in the Eau Claire area, underground at Eau Claire Market or North of Memorial Drive.

Thank you for choosing to dine with us.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 29 times today
Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    CAN$31 to CAN$50
  • Cuisines
    Canadian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Canadian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch & Dinner Sat, Sun 10:00 am–10:00 pm Lunch & Dinner Wed–Fri 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (403) 261-7670
  • Website
    http://www.river-cafe.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Scott MacKenzie
  • Catering
    Enjoy an exclusive cocktail party or dinner in your home presented and prepared by River Café. Our accomplished culinary team will prepare an exquisite menu tailored specifically to your event, executed by our professional service team. Experience a culinary journey presented with the elegance, beauty, and professional service. You and your guests can relax while we look after all of the details.
  • Private party facilities
    For an intimate gathering of 8 guests or a stylish cocktail party reception of 250, we are pleased to cater to your every need. Private and semi-private events are available. Please contact our Event Manager for more information, events@river-cafe.com
  • Private party contact
    June Doan: (403) 261-7670
  • Location
    Prince's Island Park, 25 Prince's Island Park SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0R1
  • Neighborhood
    Calgary
  • Parking details
    Paid parking is available on the street during the day and no charge after 6pm. Free street parking on Sundays. Heated underground parking at Eau Claire Market for a $5 flat rate evenings and weekends. Calgary Parking Authority lot near the Calgary Curling Club across memorial drive.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Chef's Tasting Menu

    CA$130.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    November Friends & Family pricing: $105 per person. Let the Chef take you on a 5 course culinary journey. An ever changing showcase of Canada's best organic, seasonal ingredients including Oceanwise seafood and Alberta grass fed beef.
    Chef's Tasting Menu Photo

  • Valentine's Day

    CA$130.00 per person

    Feb 14, 2024 only
    Join us for a special Valentine's Day five course Chef’s Tasting Menu with your sweetheart or loved ones. Vegetarian Tasting Menu also available. $130 per person + gst. Optional Standard Wine Pairing, Premium Wine Pairing or 0-Proof Cocktail Pairing. All parties have 2 hours to dine with us.
    Valentine's Day Photo

What 4,450 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Calgary

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Calgary

    Great for scenic views

  • Calgary

    Canadian

4,448 Reviews

  1. Bingbong

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The river cafe is the perfect place for a lovely meal with those you love.

    Is this helpful?

  2. LynelS

    Calgary

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    The wait for the meal was a bit longer than last time but all in all a good experience again.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lesley

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Loved our experience. Nice vibes. The bread to start was great, the halloumi to start was surprisingly excellent. For our mains, we loved the pork belly. The duck was a bit tough to chew and the side wasn't our favorite, but not bad. Our server was pleasant and attentive. We stayed and chatted for a long time so was happy with the pace of service.

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We travelled to Calgary from Red Deer for a weekend getaway, and booked a table for 2 for brunch at the River Cafe at 10:30am on November 25th, 2023. This place is quite unique, has a wonderful rustic cabin designed interior, and came highly recommended. They focus on fresh, local ingredients whenever possible, and take pride in creating dishes that are delightful and bursting with flavour. Kevin was our Waiter and was very friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgable about the menu items and the restaurants focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. He was an absolute pleasure to talk to! We began with the Island Fizz drinks, which were very refreshing. Followed those with a Cappuccino and a Baileys and coffee which were much appreciated after the walk to the restaurant in some brisk cold weather that morning. To start, we asked for the Pastry Trio, which was marvellous and made fresh every morning! The Zucchini chocolate muffin was amazing and my personal favourite, but all 3 were delectable. We ordered both the Man’s farm eggs with Hillview Heritage Farm Honey Ham, and the Braised Beef Short Rib and Caremelized Onion Eggs Benedict which were amazing (the eggs were done to perfection), and the Poplar Bluff potato hash was sooooo good! The River Cafe is amazing, and we can’t wait to visit in the Summer time to dine outdoors! Thanks again Kevin and the rest of the River Cafe staff for the wonderful service and superb brunch, we will definitely be back!! 10/10 all the way!!

    Is this helpful?

  5. DayanaraT

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and service, beautiful setting for any occasion.

    Is this helpful?

  6. SteveF

    Houston

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food, service and ambiance across the board

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Easy to see why the River Cafe in Calgary was acknowledged by La Liste as one of the best restaurants in the world.

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  8. Slay

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The best meal! I ordered the arctic char and my partner ordered the bison and they were both 5/5.

    Is this helpful?

  9. JeffG

    Calgary

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Great value with the tasting menu . Was a little tough to access the restaurant due to construction in the area

    Is this helpful?

  10. ElizabethC

    Exclusive

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Our food was served quickly, hot, and delicious! A very enjoyable brunch experience.

    Is this helpful?

  11. Matt

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ordered Eggs Benedict with Beef Rib for a Saturday brunch. Presentation was excellent and also cooked to perfection.

    Is this helpful?

  12. Matthijs

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Amazing food in an amazing atmosphere. We had the five-course tasting menu and we all agreed it was Michelin star worthy. Wine pairings with each course were excellent, though a bit pricy.

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  13. JonM

    Calgary

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Consistently great food. Many happy memories at the River Cafe!

    Is this helpful?

  14. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic as usual! One of our favorite places to Dine in Calgary.

    Is this helpful?

  15. OpenTable Diner

    Edmonton

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    overall1food2service5ambience4
    Food was not as good as past visits.

    Is this helpful?

  16. Gps1378

    Hawaii

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Really good service. Dishes were really well prepared. Enjoyed the very well thought out flavours and perfect pacing of the courses. The Cactus Club atmosphere with the Dean House decor was a little odd.

    Is this helpful?

  17. KellyL

    Calgary

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As also, the food and service were outstanding, the best in the city.

    Is this helpful?

  18. DavidW

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I love this beautiful oasis, just blocks from downtown. The ambiance is warm, particularly if seated near the fireplace (think cabin/chateau in the woods), and the service excellent. The food is different enough to be special (interesting combinations of local flora and fauna), without being too unusual for "meat and potatoes" diehards to enjoy.

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  19. GabrielB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We took the 5 course dinner and every plate was awesome. Service was courteous.

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food and wine was really good. I liked it.

    1 person found this helpful

  21. KenR

    Calgary

    19 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful room and amazing food. Not an every week occurrence but that’s good; definitely makes each visit special. Some great value wines too!

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food3service5ambience4
    Wonderful. Beautiful place. Excellent food and service.

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  23. TeamCY

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    Tasting Menu and Ambience were 8/10. Service was 6/10. Server went thru the motions but seemed disinterested. Also 2 of 5 courses came before the wine. Very little info on wines paired with food (wasn’t told the price before hand) and wine pairing cost as much as the food. Value 6/10

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  24. LiudmilaT

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall2food1service4ambience3
    The food was horrible. I ordered lamb. I was served with entire plate of lamb grease sprinkled with burnt greasy kale. Fancy, and absolutely uneatable. Some soggy Saskatoon berries and cheap tomato paste rolled chunks of zucchini. I basically left everything on the plate. And for this kind of food my husband had to pay 54 dollars to treat me on my birthday. My last visit to this pretentious place. The server was very nice.

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  25. Kino

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall3food5service2ambience4
    The food was outstanding. The service however was slow and absent. We had reservations at 6:00 PM. The restaurant was empty at that time. Only a few tables were filled. As the night progressed the restaurant filled. The first couple courses came out at a reasonable pace but the middle 2 took about 30 mins after we were done. It took 2 hours to get through the 5 course tasting menu. There was no effort to soften the wait by bringing bread or offering some type of amuse bouche. At this level, I expect more. I expect, not having to ask, but the server to read the table. Yes, you are held to a higher standard as the River Cafe. Despite serving great food and being a great venu it was my experience that the River Cafe need to work on their hospitality.

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  26. MeghanS

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The service was spectacular! The hummus was also amazing. We found the tartare a bit off and wouldn’t order again.

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  27. OpenTable Diner

    Toronto

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on October 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Jared was the best server, extremely receptive, accommodating, sharp and patient. His level of service was something every server should aspire to reach. I have dined in Michelin starred restaurants, and have not enjoyed this level of service in any of them. Easily my top 3 servers I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. The food was amazing as well, with the Tenderloin being the best thing I have ever tasted. The view was gorgeous and the decor was warm and inviting. Absolutely deserves every accolade it has received and more!!

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  28. StefanG

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing ambiance. Great food with a sufficient vegetarian options. Service friendly professional albeit bit slow - and it wasn't crowded.

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The restaurant is situated in a very nice park, the service and food is high quality. Will recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  30. EmilyH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I was a bit hesitant when the waitress recommended the short rib benny, but I was pleasantly surprised! Easily one of the best bennys I’ve ever had. The walk through the park was also beautiful. Great location, great atmosphere, great food.

    Is this helpful?

  31. NickyF

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had the oysters, smoked sable fish for our appetizers. For our mains we had duck breast and lamb. It was amazing, the flavour of the mains were very well balanced.

    Is this helpful?

  32. ShereeA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A wonderful dining experience! Set in lovely parkland near a river and with city views, the River Cafe lives up to expectations as a one-of-a-kind dining experience. The food is locally sourced and cooked to perfection. The hospitality staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The atmosphere within the venue is quirky yet comfortable and down-to-earth for relaxed enjoyment of both food and company. It was a marvellous experience. Well worth it.

    Is this helpful?

  33. Sarah

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely food and service. The bison was especially delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  34. BB22

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Service was excellent and attentive. Adjusted our order when the halibut was not to our liking. Steak was medium rare when asked for medium which was fine sauce was tasty. Lamb sauce was nice. Desserts were very good! Overall a great experience.

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  35. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall4food2service5ambience5
    First time we have gone to River Cafe. We loved the ambiance and our server did a very good job. I had the lamb dinner and it was disappointing as the serving was very, very small with about a 1/3 of the lamb nothing but fat pieces. We did enjoy the appetizer platter with the smoked salmon etc. My had the Halibut and she thought the dish overall was very bland so it was just ok

    1 person found this helpful

  36. MarkH

    Calgary

    42 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience. This restaurant is located in an exceptional location. The food was marvelous. The service was superb.

    Is this helpful?

  37. SusanneB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a delightful anniversary dinner. The service and the ambiance were wonderful. Highly recommend for a special evening.

    Is this helpful?

  38. CodyR

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience3
    Was excited from the reviews to sit down to a nice dinner wich the setting was very nice except for how close together all the tables are And unfortunately there was not 1 thing me or my girlfriend found appetizing

    1 person found this helpful

  39. KarenA

    Calgary

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I had the lamb tenderloin which was beautiful, with carrots and a delicious sauce. My dinner date had the beef tenderloin which was also delicious apparently. The service was great too, best meal we've had at River Cafe for a long time.

    Is this helpful?

  40. GeorgiaG

    Calgary

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was absolutely incredible - you know the food’s good when the scallops/tortellini from the Chef’s Tasting Menu makes you cry knowing this will be one of the best meals you’ll ever have. Our service was phenomenal, they were always tending to our drinks and were friendly and knowledgeable. Our waiter suggested the Maury which was the most amazing accompaniment to the dessert. This was a once in a lifetime experience we will never forget.

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

River Café is rated 4.6 stars by 4450 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 29 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for River Café

Prince's Island Park, 25 Prince's Island Park SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0R1

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Calgary
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch & Dinner Sat, Sun 10:00 am–10:00 pm Lunch & Dinner Wed–Fri 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    CAN$31 to CAN$50
  • Cuisines
    Canadian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Canadian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Paid parking is available on the street during the day and no charge after 6pm. Free street parking on Sundays. Heated underground parking at Eau Claire Market for a $5 flat rate evenings and weekends. Calgary Parking Authority lot near the Calgary Curling Club across memorial drive.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Scott MacKenzie
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.river-cafe.com/
  • Phone number
    (403) 261-7670
  • Catering
    Enjoy an exclusive cocktail party or dinner in your home presented and prepared by River Café. Our accomplished culinary team will prepare an exquisite menu tailored specifically to your event, executed by our professional service team. Experience a culinary journey presented with the elegance, beauty, and professional service. You and your guests can relax while we look after all of the details.
  • Private party facilities
    For an intimate gathering of 8 guests or a stylish cocktail party reception of 250, we are pleased to cater to your every need. Private and semi-private events are available. Please contact our Event Manager for more information, events@river-cafe.com
  • Private party contact
    June Doan: (403) 261-7670

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