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River Café, Calgary, AB

River Café

4.5
4.5
4376 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 booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 54 times today
Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • 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
  • Area
    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
    Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Featured in

Experiences

  • Chef's Tasting Menu

    CA$130.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Let the Chef take you on a 5 course journey. An ever changing showcase of Canada's best ingredients.
    Chef's Tasting Menu photo

  • A Dinner of Community & Tradition

    CA$280.00 per person

    Prepaid

    1 Oct 2023 only
    River Café’s Chef Scott MacKenzie welcomes Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson of Vancouver’s Michelin-starred Published On Main & Chef Mandel Hitzer of Winnipeg's national award winning Deer + Almond to collaborate on a tasting menu exploring the rich local terroir of Western Canada through the lens of their shared German heritage. The chef’s share a deep dedication to hyper local & seasonal sourcing at their restaurants & they also share culinary influence handed down by family from their ancestral homeland. For this Terroir Signature Dinner the chef’s have created an inspired menu to pay homage to their personal journeys, drawing from their early culinary influences and family recipes.
    A Dinner of Community & Tradition photo

  • Thanksgiving

    CA$80.00 per person

    9 Oct 2023 only
    Enjoy a feast of Winter's Farm free-range turkey and all of the traditional favourite sides. Winter's Farm Alberta Free-Range Turkey, Sage Gravy, Deepwater Farms Baby Kale Salad, Innisfail Growers Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Leffers Farm Carrots, Sourdough Stuffing, Whipped Poplar Bluff Farm Mashed Potatoes, Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake. $80.00 per person $40.00 kids 12 & under Please note that our la carte menu will not be available on Monday evening.

What 4,376 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Calgary / Southern Alberta

    Most Booked

  • Calgary

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Calgary

    Great for scenic views

  • Calgary

    Canadian

  • Calgary

    Most Booked

4,374 Reviews

  1. CarlosF

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    This is a good restaurant, although a bit pricy. The ambient is great and the food is very good.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Vancouver

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    Food was delicious, the restaurant is very cosy and in a great location.

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  3. TanisM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The River Cafe is outstanding! The atmosphere is lovely, especially on a warm summer day when you can sit outside on the patio. The menu offers a variety of choices and each dish is prepared and presented beautifully! The service is always on point! I appreciate the casual vibe of the River Cafe and rank it at the top of places I would choose to dine at!

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  4. DraganaP

    Calgary

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food2service4ambience3
    Love the location of the restaurant. The food was nothing special. I had Arctic Char and the greens that came with it were old, felt like it came right out of the bag, I could taste/feel like it was already at its last leg. Dessert menu was not appealing at all, so we skipped it all together.

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  5. SydneeS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Couldn’t have been happier with our anniversary celebration at River Cafe. Our server (whose name I don’t remember) was insanely lovely. Food blew us away and we will definitely be coming back.

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  6. StuartM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Leila’s contribution to our dining experience was outstanding. We have been fortunate to have been assigned to her area each time we have visited Calgary and dined at the RC. And, of course, the food and ambiance are without equal. Should be on everyone’s list of premier places to dine in Calgary.

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  7. gleroy

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Well worth the investment. Yes it is pricey but you are enjoying a superb dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Conor

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall2food2service2ambience4
    We booked for mid afternoon Sunday. The only option was the weekend brunch menu (not specified on website that lunch menu not available) and food very basic - eggs, bacon, fried small bits of potato. Small enough portions. Service initially very slow until waiter went on break and more efficient waitress replaced him. Sat outside on a nice day. Better food in a Denny’s.

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  9. Eyeontheprize

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall2food5service1ambience3
    We were very disappointed with the service . The food was excellent as always though.

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  10. momo

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    The location is fabulous and food was very good. We have been escorted to one of the nicest table outside in my view, thanks to advance booking. Only thing is that one of the guest felt the staff was unfriendly, or somewhat rude, sounded as she wanted us to leave earlier. Without that, I think River cafe is definitely one of the best restaurant in Calgary.

    Is this helpful?

  11. OpenTable Diner

    Edmonton

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Great venue, beautiful day to sit on the patio,food was delicious!

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  12. SteveP

    Washington DC

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Eggs Benny just a little off, there are so few creations that work, but salted char may not be one. Not sure if they use egg circulator but why as custoner if soft is ok? But overall great and we shall return. Please teach staff why new wine glasses are needed after egg dishes. Thank tou.

    Is this helpful?

  13. SamA

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 September 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Really lovely place. The setting is very scenic amongst the trees and (of course) next to the adjacent. Staff were great too, even fitting us in despite us turning up on the wrong day! Food was tasty, slightly pricey but the ambience and general experience makes it easily worth it

    Is this helpful?

  14. DavidR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful patio with excellent service and tasty food!

    Is this helpful?

  15. Watertonite

    Calgary

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 15 September 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience5
    I have loved the RC for decades however the food at the last couple of visits was lacklustre! This time the tomatoes were ordinary and not related to the over goat tasting cheese. Separate flavours instead of layers of flavour. The char was good but I expected a smaller fish portion and a veggie portion. The service was par excellent!

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    Exclusive

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 12 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a lovely date night at the River Cafe. We decided to do the chef’s tasting menu, and it lived up to our expectations! The ambience was lovely. Just be prepared to spend some money!

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  17. luvfood

    Calgary

    32 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on 11 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My husband and I were celebrating our 70th birthdays. River Cafe has been our favourite restaurant in Calgary, a fact that our children knew. They purchased us a gift certificate to help us celebrate an evening out. We went for the Chef's Table (5 course meal) and we were not disappointed. The food was outstanding. We also did the wine pairings and the choices were delectable.

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  18. RyanM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Chefs plates were very tasty! Love coming back to eat here.

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  19. BobE

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding meal in a beautiful location. Had the Chef's dinner with no idea what we would get and it was amazing. Defiantly a little pricey but this is our place for a special dinner

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    London

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 10 September 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience3
    Always love celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at River Cafe. The food is always very good. I felt the wine selection and taste of wines not as good as in the past. We had a glass of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay which were just ok. The table service was rather slow from getting our drinks to wanting to order dessert. I think some retraining might be required. Overall the ambience is wonderful especially sitting outside on a beautiful September day.

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  21. Sadcustomer

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 September 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    For decades the River Cafe has been my favourite place to eat in Calgary. My meal yesterday with my daughter did not meat the usual standards I am used to. The staff was very busy & it took 20 minutes from when we were seated for any staff member to come near us. I had to ask 2 staff member if me might eventually get served for our brunch (which was prebooked the night before). I would not write this complaint letter, except that the River Cafe prices are high & normally that is the promise of an excellent meal & I don't mind paying for our 'once a year' treat. Sadly, the food was partly good & partly not...Everyone was racing to get ready for a wedding that followed our brunch. It was evident how stressed the staff were. I would have been fine had the whole experience not costed $140 for my daughter & I. When I left I felt like we had been 'in the way'. I've never felt that way before at this restaurant. Anyway I did not enjoy our time there and felt like that $140 could have been spent elsewhere. I did give the waitress a 20% tip as she tried hard once we finally got her attention to order.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 9 September 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    My first visit… With reservations we were seated promptly. I encourage to reserve if possible, long line up waiting for a table without Patio was lovely by the river. Perfect day for it Our server was pleasant and very polite Was disappojnted at end of meal being served coffee without spoons or sugar. Had to ask for it. A minor flaw in the experience The food. Sublime. Kudos to the kitchen staff Will return

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 9 September 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Fantastic service, great food, outstanding location and service.

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  24. SalettaH

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 September 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    It is beautiful. Was there for bday, not sure they do anything special for occassions. But in general excellent in all ways.

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  25. Middow

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 7 September 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    It was hard. to get there as you must walk the last part of the way.. Well worth the effort. Great ambience and yummy food. The service was attentive.

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  26. Lien

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 7 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good food,excellent location and great service Thanks

    Is this helpful?

  27. Yoly

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 September 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience4
    Great place, great food, great ambiance and great service :)

    Is this helpful?

  28. jamesb

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 5 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The five-course chef’s tasting menu, which we paired with a lovely selection of wines with assistance from the knowledgeable and excellent staff, was truly one of best dining experiences we’ve had anywhere.

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  29. LisaL

    Hawaii

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 3 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Never Disappointed celebrating our anniversary at River Cafe. Our server was fantastic! And the meal was exquisite.

    Is this helpful?

  30. Jenn

    Calgary

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 3 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our server Kevin was great, the food was delicious and accommodations for our gluten free guest was done without even a request

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  31. GeorgeD

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 3 September 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    I made the reservation for special occasion. We were put at the table inside in a very unpleasant draft location. It was cold, windy Service was kind but ordered beer was not what we were told it supposed to be. We needed to request the change. The hamburger was messy and cold. The desert menu very pricy and little choice if you wish to get a cake. I was quite disappointed since it was our special date.

    1 person found this helpful

  32. CandiceC

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 3 September 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Amazing food and atmosphere, and nice walk to the restaurant through the park. A bit pricey.

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  33. JohnS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 3 September 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience3
    Food and service were excellent, my only comment was the floors which were dirty and need of a good cleaning.

    Is this helpful?

  34. DRLR

    Edmonton

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 3 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful spot. Good value I thought. We had eggs Benedict and bacon and eggs. Some pastries ahead of time. All delicious. Very nice and attentive service. Highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  35. HansP

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 2 September 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience5
    Didn’t like that there was only the weekend brunch available. I would have liked more options instead of just breakfast.

    Is this helpful?

  36. amirk

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 2 September 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience5
    The location and ambiance were great. The food was okay. Service was slow.

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 2 September 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    One of the best breakfast’s I’ve ever had. Menu was creative and made from exclusively Canadian products. Food was amazing. Bonus points for the location and ambience.

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  38. CallieS

    Cincinnati

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on 1 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful experience. Limited menu and not for picky eaters, but would absolutely go again. I got the lentil hummus for an app and it was our favorite thing we got. I got the cauliflower for a main course and it was a little too unique for me, but very well prepared. My husband got the linguine and it was amazing. Drinks and service were also wonderful

    Is this helpful?

  39. OpenTable Diner

    Brazil

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 1 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing Ambiance, incredible service and food was superb. Would definitely recommend 👌

    Is this helpful?

  40. RichardL

    Montreal

    22 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 1 September 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    River cafe has been and will always be a special place. The food is very good. Although our server was very nice, we found the service to be slow. We waited what seemed to be a very long time between plates (we had the chef's tasting menu). I would also suggest better training as there were quite a few things service wise that should be fixed (i.e.: not reaching over guests to refill water).

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

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

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

River Café is rated 4.5 stars by 4376 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 54 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

  • Area
    Calgary
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch & Dinner Sat, Sun 10:00 am–10:00 pm Lunch & Dinner Wed–Fri 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • 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
    Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • 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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