The Ship & Anchor

First time in this place and I’ll be back for sure. The food was delicious, I definitely recommend the Ship Burger, the service was quality, I would only improve the attention at the entrance a little so that customers look for tables, but it does not affect much. Thanks !

My family isn't a drinking family so we've only tried their food. The food is really good and very reasonably priced. And their juice tastes really fresh so I would recommend that if you don't want a drink. They also have non alcoholic options too. It is a pretty popular pub though so expect it to be busy on like a Friday or Saturday night especially. There are tables to sit down and eat as well as bar stools and high tables if you want to grab a drink. The first time we went we had tried all the desserts and unfortunately they were all disappointing. We couldn't finish any of them but the servers were sweet and took them off our bill. Other than the desserts, everything else tasted amazing. We've gone a few times now and the servers are always great. It can be difficult to sometimes get their attention on busy nights however. It also gets pretty loud and stuffy but expect that from any bar or pub. Overall I would go back for their food at any time of the day. Highly recommend for a cheaper meal and a nice atmosphere.

Food was delicious, service was excellent and the interior was really cool looking. If you're looking for good pub style food, this is it! They also have a good drink menu. Our group ordered Nachos, Burgers, Fish&Chips, pizza and more. They were all very good!

I've been to the Ship and Anchor many times with friends for Punk Rock Bingo, and we've always enjoyed the atmosphere. We know seating is first come, first serve, so when we arrived at 6:20 PM recently, we expected it to be busy. Unfortunately, while the pub was full, it was unclear if all the tables were occupied, as some were empty but had glasses and other items on them. We decided to wait and try to speak to someone for clarification. When I finally found a waitress and asked if there were any available tables, I was met with an incredibly rude response. I explained that I understood the seating policy but was unsure which tables were spoken for. Instead of offering any assistance, she dismissively snapped, "Me either," in a short, ignorant tone before storming off without so much as a glance back. I get that it was busy, but there was absolutely no reason to be so unhelpful. What made it worse was that before I realized she was a waitress, I saw her standing at the bar chatting with people, so it's not like she was too overwhelmed to assist. A simple bit of customer service would have gone a long way. This experience left a bad taste in my mouth, and it’s disappointing given how much we’ve enjoyed coming here in the past.

First time back in over 20 years and it hasn't changed a bit. Same charm as always. Dry ribs were so-so, but the sunshine on the patio in mid-October was awesome.

Ship & Anchor is always the move! Great patio and inside has the coolest vibes. Hands down best gluten free pub food in the city - even have a separate fryer for the Celiacs!

Always a great time at the Ship! Definitely more fun if you get there early enough to have a table versus standing. Food-wise, the macaroni and cheese is delectable, and the french fries are fabulous!

Stopped in Sunday evening for some gluten free pub food. Our server was great! The food was delicious, we had the gluten free -calamari, gluten free - fish and chips, and a grilled chicken sandwich. We were pleased with the prices and portions. Definitely will be back!

First time in this place and I’ll be back for sure. The food was delicious, I definitely recommend the Ship Burger, the service was quality, I would only improve the attention at the entrance a little so that customers look for tables, but it does not affect much. Thanks !

My family isn't a drinking family so we've only tried their food. The food is really good and very reasonably priced. And their juice tastes really fresh so I would recommend that if you don't want a drink. They also have non alcoholic options too. It is a pretty popular pub though so expect it to be busy on like a Friday or Saturday night especially. There are tables to sit down and eat as well as bar stools and high tables if you want to grab a drink. The first time we went we had tried all the desserts and unfortunately they were all disappointing. We couldn't finish any of them but the servers were sweet and took them off our bill. Other than the desserts, everything else tasted amazing. We've gone a few times now and the servers are always great. It can be difficult to sometimes get their attention on busy nights however. It also gets pretty loud and stuffy but expect that from any bar or pub. Overall I would go back for their food at any time of the day. Highly recommend for a cheaper meal and a nice atmosphere.

Food was delicious, service was excellent and the interior was really cool looking. If you're looking for good pub style food, this is it! They also have a good drink menu. Our group ordered Nachos, Burgers, Fish&Chips, pizza and more. They were all very good!

I've been to the Ship and Anchor many times with friends for Punk Rock Bingo, and we've always enjoyed the atmosphere. We know seating is first come, first serve, so when we arrived at 6:20 PM recently, we expected it to be busy. Unfortunately, while the pub was full, it was unclear if all the tables were occupied, as some were empty but had glasses and other items on them. We decided to wait and try to speak to someone for clarification. When I finally found a waitress and asked if there were any available tables, I was met with an incredibly rude response. I explained that I understood the seating policy but was unsure which tables were spoken for. Instead of offering any assistance, she dismissively snapped, "Me either," in a short, ignorant tone before storming off without so much as a glance back. I get that it was busy, but there was absolutely no reason to be so unhelpful. What made it worse was that before I realized she was a waitress, I saw her standing at the bar chatting with people, so it's not like she was too overwhelmed to assist. A simple bit of customer service would have gone a long way. This experience left a bad taste in my mouth, and it’s disappointing given how much we’ve enjoyed coming here in the past.

First time back in over 20 years and it hasn't changed a bit. Same charm as always. Dry ribs were so-so, but the sunshine on the patio in mid-October was awesome.

Ship & Anchor is always the move! Great patio and inside has the coolest vibes. Hands down best gluten free pub food in the city - even have a separate fryer for the Celiacs!

Always a great time at the Ship! Definitely more fun if you get there early enough to have a table versus standing. Food-wise, the macaroni and cheese is delectable, and the french fries are fabulous!

Stopped in Sunday evening for some gluten free pub food. Our server was great! The food was delicious, we had the gluten free -calamari, gluten free - fish and chips, and a grilled chicken sandwich. We were pleased with the prices and portions. Definitely will be back!

What more can I say about the Ship that hasn't already been said. It's not the fanciest, it doesn't have the best food, it doesn't particularly stand out in any single way... yet somehow it is perfect exactly as it is. It tends to be a "must visit" everytime I come down to Calgary. They have a great beer selection and a classic pub fare food menu with clearly marked vegan and vegetarian options. I highly recommend the pickle pizza! The Ship is a great space to meet with friends and spend hours catching up over beers and boozy eggnog. Keep in mind, it is always going to be busy. There's a good chance you will need to wait for a table but if it's a nice enough day, even in the middle of winter, you can usually find a spot on the patio.

We have had good to great meals on this Calgary trip, until now!! I had heard this was one of the best fish chips in the city. Sadly it was not on this trip. the pub does have its charm as it does have the UEFA Champions League and there are a wide selection of beers. The ambience is that of a uk soccer pub with a fair bit of character. The service was lacking, i get that that it is during a busy time with the Europa matches but it could have been quicker. The food was average , my brother had a tortilla salad which was fine. i had the fish and chips and I noticed a big no-no. No cider vinegar for the fish, besides that the fish and chips and cole slaw were ok , but not spectacular. This could have been much better

This used to be a great spot for enjoying a couple of beers and terrific food with awesome service! One of the current mis-managers could have honed her clearly nescient customer service skills supervising a petting zoo, or perhaps learning the ropes at Chuck E Cheese for a few years before attempting to lead a handful of busy servers of a bustling, trendy watering hole full of adult customers. Speaking of servers, one in particular needs to stay home and finish her coloring books before venturing out into the world without adult supervision. Thanks Ship! Been a slice! I'm so happy to have brought our party there last night to get ruined by incompetent service!

This local pub is located on 17th ave in downtown Calgary, where patios and dine in are available! We were seated inside and tried a few of their drinks and ordered two separate entrees. The menu is quite versatile with from curry to pizza, so there's something for everyone. I ordered the Fish n Chips with 2 pieces of fish, and found it to be mediocre nothing too special about it. However, I did love the creamy coleslaw! The second dish was the Lamb Shank and gets a 5/5 for the quality, quantity and price! For $15 you get mashed potatoes (with skin mixed in FYI), green peas and tender lamb that falls off the bone! Cocktails range from $5-$6 and are delicious, highly recommend the Shipwreck if you enjoy sweet drinks. I personally wish they sold it as a pitcher! Great spot to try if you're in the area!

The food is such a pleasant surprise. Especially the veggie burger. I just can't help but like this place more every time I come here

Came here on a Wednesday night for some Pickle Pizza. Being from Chicago, I don't often get to sample crazy pizzas free from judgment. So, Pickle Pizza it is, and I loved it. The bar was moderately occupied and I got a seat right in front of a cash register. I love this spot because you get to engage in all the staff gossip...and in a bar, there's plenty of colorful characters and conversations to pass the time. Anyway, beer and liquor selection was on par with any downtown establishment. Staff was busy but attentive. Go there! Oh and get a t- shirt too!

Beef dip was okay.. 3 or 4 out of 5 stars. Fries continue to be delicious and the beer is nice and cool!! Good atmosphere inside.

I think the stench from this place is really the first thing you notice when you walk in. The service is sub par and many of its patrons super vulgar. Avoid this place and spend hard earned money elsewhere. Lots of nice pubs with more class and less stink in Cowtown.

We had an amazing experience here! The vibe was just what we wanted and our server, Sam, was incredible! Service was friendly and timely and she had a list of great recommendations for us out of towners to enjoy Calgary for our one night while we passing through.

Food was decent and great selection of beers, but what really makes or breaks a place is the service provided. Our server seemed like she hated her job today or having to work and deal with people - didn't even try to build a relationship with her customers. Service wasn't the best experience and that's why 1 star is given. Come on Shayl....you can do much better.

the rudest staff and manager I have experienced in my entire life. on two separate occassions I have had very negative experiences with staff that work here. when escalated to the manager he was condescending, belittling and discriminatory.

Awesome beers, great patio, super place for Sunday brunch. Great vegan options too, if that's your thing. Nice place to skip off work for a few hours, chill in the shade on a sunny day, and enjoy a cold one.

Service was great!....well not really. The server never actually approached us. But we did witness her serving tables from afar. She seemed to be doing a really great job with those guests. We realized time was ticking - Happy hour was about to end!! (tik tok tik tok). In our desperation we took matters into our own hands and ran to the bar to order drinks just in time. We made it back to our table, only to realize, we were camouflaged (literally we were wearing full blown camo) and that's why the server never found us! Thank god for hunting season. Too bad we haven't caught any pheasants yet. It's now been 45 minutes. A server has yet to come to us. Tik tok Tik tok. And the party definitely stopped. Goodbye. This ship has sunk.

Caution with the upselling: Ordered a 14 oz beer and was brought a 20 oz beer despite the same server taking my order, acknowledging the small beer and bringing me a large one. And old trick of the trade.

Great, great bar on 17th SW ave. The bar is much, much bigger than what I was expecting when walking by. They had bingo going on the night we walked in and there was a great atmosphere. We were seated right at the bar and greeted by the bartender, who was friendly and attentive to us the entire night. I got a blacksmith draft, which was delicious, and the poutine for dinner. The poutine was delicious, and I loved that they baked it before bringing it out to me. It looks like a major soccer/futbol bar, and I would love to watch a game there. Look forward to coming back!

Don't go here. Met 2 friends (8-1-20 8 pm) and very aggressive door guards used military style aggression concerning masks. I called the Bartender on duty and let him know I am writing a review and they should treat customers better. "shove your review up your ass" was the response (recorded for Liquor Board complaint) from this man who seemed hyped up on some substance. Manager came on repeatedly calling me "My man" not taking it seriously. If you love being abused, maybe spent time in a Communist Party Chinese Labour Camp, you will feel at home with the disrespect and strong arm military aggression at Ship and Anchor. The owner is harming our community with his aggressive unprofessional staff.

My husband and I are regulars. Most recently we came during thanksgiving weekend and they had the best hot turkey sandwich -total comfort food. Great large 22 oz pints of beers, one of the only places around here to offer this. No flames game but that's ok. Ask for the beautiful SAM She's the best

The ship is such a cool vibe, and one of the most underrated pubs on 17th Ave. Their burgers are great, last time I was in I tried the black bean burger to switch it up and it did not disappoint.

We hit up the Ship for Robbie Burn's and they did a great job incorporating a great Scottish day. They had drink specials, did the ceremonial walk with the haggis (which you could try) and we had a Scotch Egg poutine which was really good! I've been at the Ship on numerous occasions and a great time is always had. Inside for winter days and on their massive patio in the summer - best place to do some quality people watching while enjoying a cool beverage.

Awful, dirty and discriminatory. The food was gross. I gave this place a few chances but their behaviour after the mandates were lifted they continued to discriminate, that, on top of the fact it's one of the dirties places ive been to.

The best bar, the best vibe, the best food, the best service - a staple of this city. Deep fried pickles! Sld Island! So many pals! Go there.

Coming from coastal Canada and having sailed considerably, i have a moral objection to a landlocked city with a pub called the "ship and anchor". Apparently this is an institution in Calgary. Had a beer and left. Crowd was busy for a weeknight. Young though

A real pub is so much more than the beer and food they serve. It's an eclectic community of people from all walks of life together to blow off steam and have a good time, and THIS is why I love The Ship! Oh yah, the beer and food is kickin' too. PUNK ROCK BINGO! Oh, this ain't your Grannies bingo! Picture your classic game of bingo, but instead of lovely l'il 90 year old Betty (bless her heart) calling the shots, is a high-intensity leather-clad and foul-mouthed punk rocker to a back drop of heavy metal and hard core music! The prizes are a huge selection of garage sale gems! Over the years I've struck it rich with a mexican wrestling mask, a My Little Pony puzzle, and some 70's era Playboy magazines. Cha-ching! Tip: Know your cards and beware the "Bullsh*t Bingo". If you call 'em incorrectly you'll be bending over on stage for a public paddling. For shame! Leave your inhibitions at home and get ready for a great time. If you're committed to making it to work on Tuesday, and are looking for a little more low-key, This Ship is also a fantastic place for a summer evening patio session, or Sunday brunch. Props to Janna L. for talking Bingo with me and inspiring this review!

I have been a patron at the Ship for at least 22 years now. It's my favourite place to go. Whether it's for dinner with my kids, a date, drinks or to play punk rock bingo on Tuesdays. My new favourite menu item ? Yup the Mac and cheese, I get extra sauce Less bread crumbs and top it off with hot sauce! Since it's national burger day o will also suggest heading down for the best burger in this city !!! The staff are so cool and even care about #pronouns Love you all !!

Came here for lunch with my coworkers on a Thursday afternoon. I was really surprised that the patio was not packed like it usually is. Lucky for us, we were able to get spots for all 14 of us with ease. The service there was great! Drinks were filled quickly. Props to the waitress who brought us all water without us asking! Great attention to detail! It was a really hot day and keeping hydrated was definitely key. Between the 4 of us who ordered a steak salad, only 2 had exactly what they ordered in terms of how well the steak was cooked. It seems that the ship and anchor has a 50% chance of cooking their steak correctly. Either way, the steak may not be as great but the patio and the atmosphere is why people come here. Next time you see me there, I'll be opting for their fish and chips or burgers as from past experiences, these are definitely better choices.

I've been going to the Ship for many years off and on. Even tried to bring some new friends there friends out of town. The front door staff was very rude and it was hard getting service. Not the Ship I remember. Do not recommend. :(

We enjoyed the ambience, service was friendly and quick. This place was decorated nicely, almost felt as if we weren't in Calgary lol. This place is great if you want to have yummy pub food or even if it's for a few drinks. Will come again for sure.

The patio here is awesome (bright and sunny during summer brunches) and its right on 17th avenue which makes for great people watching. One small draw back, like most Calgary roads, there is a huge bump (damage!) before the corner on 5th street which makes all the good ol' boys pickup trucks rattle loudly when driving past. The noise can easily be drowned out by good company and a steady flow of drinks. Since I don't live in Calgary I have only ever eaten brunch here while hungover on a Sunday. I really enjoy the Caesars and the staff have no problem loading you up with extra garnish. The Eggs Florentine is my favourite and its only like $9 and the fries are better than the hash browns if you are into substituting. I do not eat the beef, but all my close friends and lovers rave about the loaded Ship Burger and if you can't trust your friends then why have them right? The service is sometimes a little slow but its because the staff are friendly and chatting to tables. I'd rather wait a minute longer for a healthy pour than have to deal with someones attitude that is poor. I hope to one day get to enjoy a night of debauchery here!

I'm not sure how this can be the first review of the Ship and Anchor, however I'm happy to oblige. Ship and Anchor is it absolutely institution in Calgary. Their happy hour on Friday seems so reasonable that you are almost certain they made a mistake on your bill. The food is very good, so it can be a good option for lunch any other time. The patio is large and in the summer it's a must stop. The Ship and Anchor has your typical bar fare beer whiskey Etc however a sphetmospherreputation makes this place I must stop in the summer.

Great service on the patio! This is the perfect place to meet up with your friends and have a few pints. We ordered the pork dumplings and the fried pickles, both were very good and while the patio provided a cozy atmosphere, the pub overall was a great place to meet new friends as well.

Lots of space for large groups, delicious food and drinks nand service is on point. looking forward to patio weather in the spring and summer as its great for people watching too.

I can't say I'm the biggest fan of the Ship & Anchor pub. I'll be the first to admit that I probably fit in quite well with the unusual indie crowd that frequents the place, but it's just not my favourite hangout. Okay, I do love going there in the middle of the afternoon and sitting on the patio for some lunch. They make a wicked mushroom cap burger... and anyone who knows me knows how much I love my mushrooms! This burger is so juicy and delicious that it makes Ship & Anchor my favourite lunchtime pub. Mmm, mushrooms! As for the evenings, though, I try to stay away from the Ship for the single reason that it gets waaay too busy. Once the night picks up the place is full to max capacity and a line begins to form outside. Why anyone would wait in line to get into a pub is beyond me. I can understand if there's a live band or some form of entertainment, but waiting for the sole purpose of sitting and having drinks is just ludicrous! People really do love this place! And I suppose I can see why. It isn't your typical sports bar or Irish pub. I mean, sure, they have a bunch of sports paraphernalia peppering the walls and ceiling, and they offer some of the regular pub food, but there's something about the Ship that makes it unique. It could be the three dart boards they have at the back, which act as the only form of sports played in the pub. Or it could be because a lot of the patrons are of the alternative genre. The Ship & Anchor is actually a great place to hang out. It's huge, has a lovely patio, employs pleasant staff, has mostly nice people visit and isn't all that expensive. If the Ship weren't always so damn busy I would probably go more. As it is, I do like to be able to move when I'm in a pub, and go to the bathroom without having a drink spilled down my back because it's so packed. People just really, really like the place and that's why it's always so full. It makes sense, I guess!

This is it. The Ship is the place to be on 17th! The food and drinks are reasonable and if you have a group of friends, this place probably has the largest nacho dish you can get from less than $13. This place was so good, that I went back the next night during my stay in Calgary and on a Monday night, looking for a bar, this place was one of the few with an open patio with people in it. The server did forget my friend's order and we had to wait half an hour before she noticed, and my friend's wings had a little too much sauce, but all in all, I had a fun time here and to me that's all that mattered. I would recommend the Wild Rose brown ale, the waitress that recommended it to me the first time I came here was right. Very creamy and tastes like Caramel. My only gripe is that the inside of the bar is very dark. But it's not that bad. It does remind you of a dark and dingy bar, but it's cozy. And the patio..the best patio in the city!

Cool spot. They had a band playing so the place was pretty packed. Good bar selection.

The kind of place where you could hang out all day. Good food, nice and friendly service, and tons o' booze! nice old fashioned decor. Was only sorry I couldn't stick around for punk Rock Bingo night! Go there for a nosh, nurse a beer, read a book for hours on end, or to write the great American novel. Or just to get smashed with your crazy friends!

I have been past the ship and anchor many times and have never eaten here. The main reason is I get seasick and have an extreme fear of large metal objects.

Did you know there's (free) bingo every Tuesday night starting at 8pm? You can win free stuff and participate in order to win free beer, the only downside is that seating is VERY limited and is based on a first come first serve, so get there early! The reason why I wrote free in parentheses (or brackets) is that yeah it can be free but a small donation is somewhat also required. The theme is punk rock and get ready to singalong to the music that's being played! Even if you feel left out just jump on with the crowed and get yourself involved! One thing I love about Ship & Anchor is their decor, it's so nautical plus they have a lot of trophy scarves. Their menu on the other hand features a map on one side. I enjoy my time at Ship and would definitely be back!

The worst service my friends and I have ever had... everyone working there appeared to hate their life. I don't know if it was because my friends are young and they thought we wouldn't tip. The friends I was with leave larger tips than anyone I've met before... but we couldn't bring ourselves to after being treated like an inconvenience the whole time we were there. The bathrooms were cool but gross and smelled like an outhouse. The nachos were some of the best ones we've ever had though. Unfortunately food isn't a good enough reason to return.

Me - "I think my salsa has cheese in it. This looks like cheese." Waitress - "No way, no, we don't add cheese to our salsa, man. That's like... an onion." *walks away* Homie 1 - "Nope, feels like cheese." Homie 2 - "Yup, tastes like cheese." Homie 3 - "Yeah, that's cheese!" Me - "Yeah, this definitely has bits of cheese in it." Waitress - "Okay man, but like, we don't like... add... cheese to salsa, you know? But yeah, okay, I'll check it out man." Me - "I'm guessing this salsa came from some sort of Nacho building station, and there was just cross-contamination." Homie 2 - "Yeah, definitely cross-contamination." - 10 minutes later - Waitress - "Okay, man! So like, I went to like, the kitchen, man, and checked it out for you. And I figured this out for you all by MYSELF, man! And like, man, what happened man was like, this salsa, is like kept next to like, the cheese man, you know, for Nachos, man! So what I did, was like, we got this salsa from a container from the fridge man. And it's like super fresh, man. Like, it only has tomatoes, and like onions and peppers, you know man, like super fresh. Tell us right away if you have a dairy allergy man, and WE WILL LOOK OUT FOR YOU." P.S. I'm not a man. But thanks, man.

My home away from home. There's a reason this place has been open for more than 25 years. Great staff, awesome events, and fun recurring weekly events (like punk rock sing along in the summer.. which i'm headed to right now!)

Damn you Calgary - share the pub wealth with your fair weather neighbours! If you were to send over just one or two of your nifty little pubs, I promise we'll stop talking about seafood quality in all our reviews. Deal? I'd steal The Ship. This little (not at all) local haunt is pretty damn well up my alley - from the live drinking tunes, to the somewhat blasé but epically entertaining service staff, to the access of rib sticking food to cure hangovers... it soundly gets this Newfoundlanders stamp of approval. (Hey, I said i'd stop talking about seafood, not our inherent ability to judge a good brew haunt.) They've got some sweet local beers on tap, as well as your basic Sunday morning classics - namely Strongbow (it's like beer for babies. Headache approved.) I only went in the one time, but the food was decent pub grub (if a little under seasoned), the patio was packed and it's a sweet spot to people watch (and if you're lucky, comes with a cute bulldog to make faces at. Bulldogs always win bonus points.) So would I go again? Yup. If I lived here, would I frequent this place for both hangover remedies and the libations that cause their need? You betcha. Did I have a moment where I thought - you know what? I could see myself living here, sipping beer on this patio every sunny day while my sidecar motorbike and doggle wearing, kerchief clad bulldog Frankie hangs out next to the railing? Momentarily. You're wearing this stubborn lass down Calgary. Good on ya. Go here. Drink booze. Talk to strangers and win Sunday.

Ship, you have my heart. I met my Fiance here, who stared at me all night from across the bar, he included your location in his scavenger hunt proposal, you are the closest thing to an English pub in this town and you welcome all who enter your doors. Whether you are a suit, prep, hipster, bearded, in your late 60's, have 3 kids who want brunch on a Sunday or just looking for a good time, the Ship is for you. Soccer scarves adorn the bar, they show English Premier League, FA Cup and World Cup here. Come early in the morning, get the soccer breakfast (basically the big breakfast but set in egg style) and watch the soccer action. They have open stage jams, concerts that are always no cover, DJs, Ship in and Ship out events where you buy a ticket, get on a bus and do something fun (sporting or cultural) in Calgary and come back to the bar and get a free pint! There is always a line, they have an amazing patio, great for people watching. Though it is easy to feel like an animal on parade when you walk past this patio. The servers and bartenders rock and soon ship nog will be back for the Holiday season, coating my stomach in its noggy goodness. Go to the Ship, it's a Calgary institution! Review #4 of Yelp's 30 Day Challenge 2012

It' not fancy, it's not trashy, it's just the Ship & Anchor. With a great mix of pub, music and sports as the mixed atmosphere, it's a great place to go at any time of the day or night. Have lunch and a pint, enjoy the patio, or get demolished, The Ship is always a comfortable place to be. They serve serve almost solely beers from independent companies, which I appreciate, and the bar staff know what they're doing. The food is pretty good for pub grub. During the summer I highly suggest having a drink and taking in open mic Saturday afternoon.

This is a classic pub located on 17th Ave. They have a huge patio in the summer that is always full and inside is a rustic Irish feel. Line ups usually start by 10 on a weekend! Probably the best pub food I have had. Anything from borscht to pizza to veggie burgers, I've never had a bad meal there. Prices are extremely reasonable too. There is also a couple of dart boards at the back of the bar to keep you entertained.

Ah, the ship. Everyone in Calgary needs to know the Ship & Anchor. It's a collection of everybody from all walks of life, and here is why. 1) The food is damn good. Many a dinner has been had at the ship, so I've had the majority of the menu and the only bad thing I've had were the nachos. Not enough cheese and kinda burned, but that may have been a one time thing. I'm sure I'll attempt them again later with some friends. 2) They have a lot of good beer on tap. Unfortunately this no longer includes Hoegaarden, but there are many more to choose from, including a delicious Village Brewery beer. 3) Eclectic crowd = meeting random people. Who doesn't love meeting someone new that is completely different from you? It's a lot of fun and you may make a new friend out of it. If anybody ever wants to head down, let me know ;).

This place is awesome for late night beers and live shows! It is also one of the few places in the city that plays English football games. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a night of good music and people!

3 words: OH. MY. GOD. The Ship & Anchor is notorious around Calgary. No matter who you run into, no matter how long they've lived in calgary, and no matter which area they live in; Everyone has heard of The Ship. How do I describe The Ship & Anchor to you? Let's see. Picture what you would expect if you went to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland. Picture a bunch of drunken sailors, all at the same place, at the same time. Now picture The Ship & Anchor. When I go to The Ship, I feel like I've left Calgary. I feel like I'm aboard some tiny vessel (tiny because it is always packed to the point where you can barely move) filled with friendly pirates and sailors, who are all half-drunk, overly friendly, and wanting to get to know everyone on the boat. It's a complete shit show. It feels a lot like frosh week or like a frat party. But if you go in expecting it, then you're bound to have a good time. In the summers, the patio is PACKED. Like you *think* you've seen a packed patio, and then you walk by The Ship and you realize that you had NO idea so many people could happily fit in one place at one time. The Ship is definitely not my scene, but I can appreciate it. I don't necessarily like people so close to me that they don't require an excuse to touch my bum. I don't necessarily like drunken people in my space, being overly friendly and wanting to be my best pal. And I sure as heck don't like overcrowded patios that smell like beer and sweat. BUT there is something about The Ship that is quite charming. Everyone checks their egos at the door and it's the type of place you kick back, have some brew, and get to know everyone around you.

So many great things about the Ship and Anchor! Great food, excellent beer selection, and often really good bands for no cover. I have seen Fishbone, You Say Party! and the Sharp Ends all for free on different occasions at the Ship. I think those opportunities alone make me feel it necessary to give the place a 5. For a pub, the food is creative and well-prepared, and if you order fries for your side, you are going to get a mountain of well-seasoned, fresh-cut deliciousness. Highly recommended.

I really wanted to go to The Ship & Anchor after seeing them win so many "Best of..." awards so maybe I had built up too much of an expectation when going. When we first got there and sat down, we had to wait a pretty long time for the waitress to bring us menus. When she brought them, we wanted to get our drinks right away but she told us she'd be right back and took another 10 minutes. She also did this to the table next to us who was more annoyed than we were. I ordered a burger and it was mediocre, definitely not good enough to place top 3 in "Best Burgers in Calgary". It was nothing special at all. I think if we had sat in the patio, we would have had a better experience people watching or enjoying the sun but it was very average - not good or bad - and definitely overrated by FFWD's ratings.