James Joyce, Downtown

The James Joyce is one of my favourite places to go for a pint when my wife does not want to go out. I always have trouble deciding what to choose on the menu. the appies or so good but the fish and chips are amazing. i had not been to this bar for a long number of months and was dissapointed to learn that my favourite bartender Shane had left. He pulled a great pint of Guinness. I understand the prices are more than other bars but the beers are good and i love not having any tvs.

Had lunch on patio yesterday. After being seated at table for 4 on patio and ordered a pint the owner told me that you cannot save tables on the patio. My collegues were on the way. 2nd guest shows up and she says we have to give away the other table as can only sit goups if they are all there. 3rd person arrives (all within 10 minutes of my arrival) and we are now grudgingly 'allowed' to stay. Never heard of this type of policy before but I will be urging all my fellow oil patch collegues to avoid this place in the future. Too bad for them as our lunch bill was in close to $300.00 and I am sure we would have returned at leaset once a week....Food was OK but $9.00 for a pint is a little pricy....

I had stumbled across this pub after work one day with a couple collegues. The atmosphere was amazing, service was one of the best that I've experienced in a pub in Calgary, and the food was great!!
We had wanted a place to relax and have a great time. We've been to other places on Stephen Ave and had never found a place that we would ever consider frequeting often. This place is now our new hang out. Beers are a little pricey but well worth it. They have a long list of beers that are offered on tap which would satisfy anyones need. Guinness is the best in the city and poured correctly. I've been to Ireland a few years back and haven't had a Guinness that's even compairable until now.
The server was great. We were just wanting a few appetizers to munch on and she recommended a few that were great! One of which were Nachos that were made with Potatoes instead of Tortilla chips!
The atmosphere is great with high vaulted ceilings, not blaring music or TV's, and a awesome bar.
I recommend all of my clients that are coming in from out of town to go there and haven't had a bad comment since!
Go to this place! It will not disappoint!!

If you want terrible food, and expensive drinks then this is the place for you. We had been regulars going with a fair sized group of people about once a month for about a year, and this particular day it was my husbands birthday. So I made a cake and when I entered asked if it was possible for them to put it in the fridge for me. The girl said no problem and took it away. The servers shift was over and when the next one started I asked if she could bring it out after we all had dinner (there were about 6 of us) she said sure and asked if the other waitress had told us about a "cake surcharge" a cake surcharge ?! I thought, but said no she had not, the girl explained that it was for the plates that we were going to use... so they bring the cake and the 6 plates and forks and when the bill arrives it was $25!!!! has anyone heard of such and obsurd thing?! To make matters worse when the clear plastic lid for the cake finally made its way back to the table, it had finger marks all on the inside to where previously some of the top of the cake had smeard! DISGUSTING!
Please save your self the time never go here!