Contemporary cuisine: the best places to taste it in Calgary

River Cafe

88/100 (5853 ratings)

Restaurants

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Contemporary

Canadian

Contemporary

Canadian

Gluten Free Options

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Brunch

Dinner

Lunch

Burger

Halibut

Beef

Polenta

Hummus

Eggs Benedict

Dumplings

Toasts

Lamb

Salad

Fish

Crab

Pork

Duck

Wild boar

Oyster

Tuna

Salmon

Sit down

Contemporary

Canadian

Seating

Highchairs Available

Table Service

Full Bar

Wheelchair Accessible

Free Wifi

Accepts Credit Cards

Serves Alcohol

Gift Cards Available

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Dinner

Lunch

Brunch

Fine Dining

"Love the ambiance of this restaurant. The food was amazing and the staff was fantastic. It was a bit of a walk but very romantic with all of the..."

Hungry Hungry Hippos

"I've the views and the ambiance of having a Sunday brunch here on a good day in the park. Service is excellent. The food was good just a bit on the..."

Marshmellie

"Been wanting to come here for quite some time, and finally had the chance! Such a great spot, and the perfect little walk to get there. I had the..."

Carli Van Heerden

"Considering the price, the food is not that great, but good. Food presentation is not up to my expectation for an upscale restaurant. My husband had..."

Catherine

"The food is consistently amazing at this restaurant but the servers seem robotic. And I've experienced this on more than one occasion and have heard..."

Jodibagyinka

"Came here with a coupe buddy for an early dinner I have never been here before & it is a beautiful spot on princess island park. I got the early..."

Michael Buchanan

"We went to River Cafe for Big Taste Gourmet menu and it was really good. The dishes are well thought out. The fusion of sauces, vegetable and protein..."

Food Generalist

"My fiance took me here for our anniversary (02/17/2017), and it was flawless. Our server, Ethan, was polite, animated and engaging while maintaining..."

Quipawittisism

"If Michelin rated Canadian restaurants, River Cafe would surely be considered for a star or two. Their consistency, service, and inventive dishes..."

Sumbe Yahe

"I love everything about River Cafe - the food, service, environment, and cool factor. If you haven't tried it, try it! It is on the expensive side,..."

Spencer Ryan

"This is a really beautiful restaurant with a calm and warm atmosphere. Looking out at the snow incased wonderland of Princes Island Park added to..."

Mermaid

"Our friend who lives in Calgary was really excited to bring us to this special restaurant. We wanted to go for lunch so I could try a bison burger ..."

Julia Louise Domanski

"It wasn't bad! service was a little lacking the food was presented well but needed more flavour. Great dishes on the menu! The atmosphere was..."

Brennanmcgillivray

"I have been here twice now. Once for lunch and then once for dinner. The service was slow both times, so if you were in a rush I wouldn't recommend..."

Brittany

"Went here for the first time during Big Taste YYC 2016 and the experience was okay... nothing too stellar. Also, our server was a bit arrogant or..."

Joanne E

"River Cafe is currently my favourite restaurants in Calgary. I have dined here a few times, and every time has been an experience I have savoured. ..."

JDragon

"You cannot get a better location for fine dinning in Calgary. Right next to the turquoise Bow River on Prince's Island Park, you are nestled right in..."

TraceyCharlotte

"Continue to believe that this little gem is one of Calgary's finest place to eat. Amazing ambience, great menu & beautifully presented / prepared..."

Susan M

"So, we're walking in Princess Island Park...sunny day. "Hey, isn't that the River Cafe?" So, we get the last table on the patio. "I hope the food's..."

Sovain

"Part of the Big Taste Foodie Festival held by the Calgary Downtown Association, River Cafe offered a $15 three-course lunch!. Located by the river on..."

Candy Chou

"I’ve been wanting to try River Café for a looooooong time. Located right in the middle of Prince’s Island Park, it’s the perfect spot to drop..."

Jonny

"We dined at River Cafe for Big Taste. The restaurant offered an exquisite fine dining experience with exceptional food, service and hospitality. The..."

Cathy Lin

"We all love brunch. An excuse for us to sleep in a little bit and enjoy delicious food afterwards. As part of the Big Taste Festival, the 5th stop is..."

Jenny

"Finally got to visit river cafe!To be honest expected more then what it really was.Service was good but the food was ok.Its a place i..."

Ha-Young Lee

"I have always enjoyed my visits at River Café. A major part of the experience is the short walk through Prince’s Island Park just to get to the..."

Wander Avec Mui

"At last! John and I finally made our way to River Cafe for the first time! It was Valentine’s Day and John wanted to take me out for Brunch...."

Kimmy W

"Located at Prince's Island Park, beautiful backdrop for this unique treasure in Calgary. No matter the season you are surrounded by nature & it is..."

CordovaPie

"We were there around Christmas time and honestly the place had a magical fairytale feel to it. It is located right in the park, so be prepared for a..."

Fooddood

"Delicious!! Best calamari I have ever had. Great wine menu. Beautiful interior! I want to get married at River Cafe! Absolutely loved everything..."

Errca Lynn

"Came here for a staff Christmas dinner last night and I can surely say that I left there very very happy. I had the tuna and pork belly, to be..."

Mortaloser

"Exceptional service, amazing food. We had a business dinner here and they treated us like kings. The staff are so professional and courteous...."

Terry H

"nice place to spend time with girls in the afternoon!! the food was good! and services was great! i recommended the fruit sorbet. it was so..."

Sabrina Albey

"Situated on Prince's Island, this is a treat! Beer on the patio on the afternoon between a bike ride. Or lunch and dinner if you can afford to drop a..."

Ryan Kelly

"I love how this place looks in the middle of the park. Perfect for walking around before or after your meal. I've only been for brunch and..."

M

"Love starting off with a small walk to the restaurant. It's a beautiful restaurant in a middle of a park. They have wonderful specials. I don't come..."

YYCFoodie

"Really nice place to visit, the service was great, the location is unique, and the food was good, definitely will visit again, specially when the..."

Omar M. Sunba

"I have only been here once and it was for Big Taste. I have always walked by river cafe when i'm down at Princes Island Park. I love that it has the..."

Sharon

"Great night out!Went for my girlfriends birthday dinner and we did the chefs menu... Every course was amazing! The wine pairing were excellent..."

Strawberry

"Set in the middle of Prince’s Island Park, this little restaurant has a rustic setting, surrounded by large trees and flower bushes. Our..."

Theresa

"Very rustic and romantic ambience. I went on a warm day, and sat outside on the patio and could hear the sound of the river and the birds. Great view..."

Xtee

"Always enjoy my experience with River Cafe, great food, great service! One of a kind in Calgary. I will definitely come back for another great..."

Jack Napier

"Romantic, Romantic, Romantic.... What more can be said about about the Cafe?I suppose that if you ever wanted to define what fine Canadian..."

Aaron Anten

"Had a great lunch. The food was delicious, the service was superb, the environment was rustic and..."

Sue.visser

"One of the best meals I've ever had was at River Cafe. Expensive menu, yes, but definitely worth the splurge. I decided to give it a try during Big..."

Lisa Nguyen

"Outstanding. I can't say a bad thing about this place. They source out local and fresh food. Provide excellent service and the ambiance is top notch...."

Azaq

"I love the atmosphere of this place. I love how they decorated their restaurant with boats, and mason jars. However the food was really bad. The soup..."

YEGirl

"Nice place for a summerdays. I enjoy walking to the island on a summer's day and sitting on this restaurant's patio. great way to spend a warm sunny..."

Tahn1971

"Great date spot. Went there for dinner on the weekend and loved..."

Noodlegirl67

"Wonderful Meal today. Went for lunch today and had the feature which was hog wild boar loin, ancient grain porchini risoto, hazelnut gremolata,..."

Mike

"Artful, locally-sourced food in a beautiful setting. I've been to the River Cafe a few times now and never been disappointed with my food, beverage,..."

Boccincini Babe

"Best restaurant in Calgary. Hands down, a personal favourite. Although expensive the food is always amazing and the service is second to none. I also..."

El Guapo

"Great Evening on the Patio. Had a fantastic evening on River Cafe's patio. Highly recommend the Fish and Game..."

Ryan.stewart

"River Cafe is Super. Great food, service, drinks, and..."

Schererdc

"Lovely spot for brunch. Nice brunch in the park, service was great food was even better and can't beat the ambience. Will be back for..."

Hannah

"A Perfect Spot. I have wanted to eat here for years now but never quite made it.The decor is kind of old, upscale fishing lodge. The foods is..."

GFH

"Spectacular. Words cannot describe my amazing experience here! My boyfriend and I came here for The Big Taste, since we've heard great things and..."

Lisa Nguyen

"Everything was perfect. The location, the decor, the service but most importantly..the FOOD! I got the BISON BURGER (Quince, Chive Aioli, Brie, House..."

OAK4EVER

"Amazing Place, Amazing Food. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The ambiance in this place is just unbeatable - it's quaint,..."

Stephanie Lee

"This Was my second time at the river cafe and I have to say I love it! Went there for a romantic date night on Saturday just after it snowed. It..."

Food Lover

"What a beautiful fall day in YYC!! After a lovely walk to the River Cafe, we were greeted by the smell of a wood burning fire. So happy to see this..."

Annams

"Pleasant. Went there for a casual business lunch. Very pleasant atmosphere away from busy downtown with nice views of the fall colours outside...."

Jurgen Kraus

"Late summer evenings. We've been planning a trip to River Cafe for a while and it did not disappoint. Great food and great service. I like to eat..."

Iainmartin

"Nice location. The location is great and so is the view. I enjoyed the beef tartare. Although I'm not vegetarian, I got the vegetarian main at the..."

Natalie

"Impressive!. I really enjoyed this restaurant! Casual, comfortable atmosphere, very well presented food, from amazing quality..."

Jessica

"Big 3. Service, food, ambience (and of course my date) were fantastic! Love this place. Great..."

SF

"Impressed again. I went to the river cafe a few years ago and just went again last month. The food was spectacular from appetizers to entrees. If I..."

Dansya

"Amazing food! Great service ! A bit pricey but worth it!!! Love the atmosphere A+++ can not wait to go..."

Candace Mather

"One of our favorite brunch places when we are in town. The menu is seasonal, so choices remain fresh. Food was delicious. Just be aware that they..."

Dennis G

"The best decision we made for our wedding was booking with River cafe. The planning process with them even during the covid19 pandemic was fantastic!..."

Nikolina Lozic

"Delicious food, impeccable service, wonderful all round experience. Cozy and inviting atmosphere, waitress was attentive without being overbearing...."

Jakub Pustol

"Location is beautiful and the service was quite quick. They sit 3 people at a 2 person table which is tight. Ordered the pastry trio but they forgot..."

LB

"We went for Sunday brunch . We ordered smoked salmon sandwiches and several other dishes . Everything fast great . All dishes were presented well and..."

Taniya Perera

"Had a great experience at River Cafe! It is a place definitely worth considering especially when looking to celebrate an important event or..."

Eric Leung

"We enjoyed the experience in River Café, the food was delicious (a bit costly), but for the celebration or some occasion you would pay for it, cause..."

Mapolenka S

Cibo

86/100 (5996 ratings)

Restaurants

Italian

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Contemporary

Canadian

Gluten Free Options

Pizza

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Gluten Free Options

After-hours

Dinner

Lunch

Burger

Polenta

Meatballs

Eggplant

Cannoli

Ice Cream

Prosciutto

Salad

Gelato

Calamari

Arancini

Risotto

Crostini

Tuna

Calamares

Tapas

"We had an amazing time at Cibo this past Saturday. We reserved the private room and the service was top notch! Morgan (our server) was súper..."

Andres Felipe Herrera

"Fantastic food. Fantastic service. Fresh. Tasty. Great location. I recommend this to..."

Shubumjeet Rakhra

"Love this place. Every time I come to Calgary I have to stop in for a bite. Amazing..."

Kevin Fyvie

"Great food. Great service. Nice ambience. The ravioli was first class. Pasta is made..."

Barb Beck

"The lightest crust on pizza that I have ever had. Variety of toppings like I've never seen on offer..."

Sharon Sutherland Porter

"The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive! The entire place was spotless, thank you for being amazing! You guys were wonderful..."

Anita Jeanine

"Had a great dinner last night! Food was amazing. Between the 3 of us we had the olives, parm fries, 2 pizzas and the pumpkin ravioli. Raviolis in my..."

Rucha Deo-Anturlikar

"Amazing experience. Went there with over 25 people and had exceptional service for a birthday party. Thank you for the great experience, can't wait..."

Jenna Matthews

"Food was great and Adam was an awesome server. Gave me some great ideas for traveling through the Rockies. We had a blast at Lake Louise, thanks..."

Matthew Redd

"Absolutely absolutely absolutely amazing! The food was amazing, the drinks were great, the staff were super friendly and for my first time being..."

Amanda O'Brien

"Fantastic Italian..."

B Tat

"Food was good but the potions were really small for the price. I think of Italian food as affordable and hearty; and unfortunately Cibo didn't live..."

Yyc_foodies123

"Decent 17th ave restaurant with an extensive food and drink menu. The decor is trendy rustic and vibe is fairly casual but can get busy for dinner..."

Whitegurlsushi

"We enjoyed the scodellina - very good choice. All food that we ordered tasted great. The service was amazing - thank you David. I ordered tiramisu..."

Merlina Almendra

"Even on a Friday night, we were seated quickly. I love that they have changed the appetizer menu, and increase the portion sizes. I have dined here..."

JDragon

"I love this place, the specials are amazing, and their are no mains over $20. I've visited many times and love sitting on the patio and enjoying a..."

Megan Sereda

"I was there for lunch. Lunch combos are 15-16 dollars. I didn’t like their sandwich combo with mushroom soup. Soup was quite salty and was not made..."

Catherine

"Yummy inexpensive pizza (I came during happy hour), good service. For lunch time it was pretty quiet, I'd come back here again. Only problem I..."

Leslie Anne

"Went to Cibo for a Birthday. Service was excellent from start to finish. Dining experience was exceptional, and the food was amazing right from the..."

Mike Lubkiwski

"Love the eggplant dip! Im a big fan of the tapas here. The happy hour is also great with $5 pizzas and wine. Great for an after work get..."

Shannon Marco

"This is a tough one.....I really like the food, and I think the value is excellent. Unfortunately I often find the service a bit lacking. I..."

Lex_11

"Cibo has an awesome happy hour and daily specials. On Sundays, Cibo features half off pizzas all day long, as well as four dollar draft beers. The..."

Hitting The Sauce

"Fair prices, good portion sizes and nice atmosphere. Pasta has lots of flavour as did the side salad. I'll have to try the pizza next time because..."

Mandy

"Tasty pizza, great atmosphere, awesome service. Had the pear pizza and wild boar bacon. Very unique and excellent. I would recommend it to anyone who..."

Coreofcoal

"What we ordered: prosciutto, house bread, mushroom ravioli and boar bacon pizzaThe good: Our water glasses were constantly refilled, quick..."

Sarah B

"Cibo offers fair priced Italian food. They are constantly changing their menu. Sometimes they add something that I love and then they remove it which..."

Food Maven

"Went to a special event, the bar was upstairs and it wasn't until the second glass of wine that the server informed me that an 18% gratuity had..."

Mr Jimmy

"Great pastas! Not as pricey as your formal Italian restaurant but more akin to a traditional trattoria (Fast, fresh, Italian soul food). Enjoyed..."

Mitchel

"Really good pasta dishes and great environment to enjoy. The patio in the summer is probably the nicest in Calgary, love the vines among the brick..."

Sumbe Yahe

"Absolutely love the whole concept at Cibo, where it is best to order several different plates and share between a few people. A big group of us came..."

Carli Van Heerden

"My friend and I drove by this restaurant many times and finally decided to give it a try. We ordered the 1lb salt spring mussels as an appetizer and..."

Vincy

"We got: White gold ricotta, Gorgonzola dolce, Prosciutto di parma, Salt roasted golden beets, and roasted eggplant. All of the spreads seemed so..."

Allermanger

"I love the patio here, the house wine is actually good, and I'm a big fan of there old tapas menu, in the new menu the golden beets really stood out..."

Simmer Minhas

"The food at Cibo was fresh and delicious. I especially loved the appetizers we had at the table. The only negative aspect was the service: our server..."

Lankanlioness

"Stopped in for a beer and appies on Sat night. Seated at the bar near the pizza ovens. Cool to watch them make the food and had great service and..."

Justin Kettle

"A best place for Italian food. The food and atmosphere were good. In general, I have nothing to..."

Tronnie

"This restaurant has a very nice ambience coupled with great dishes. The waiter was very friendly and professional as well. I ordered a pesto pasta..."

LT.

"This place has a lovely atmosphere! My favourite part of the interior design is the staircase, which has inspirational words highlighted at each..."

Chiq_pea

"Right on the 17th Ave where is the great area to hang out. It has a great bar and patio. Foods are average but I like the fancy embience. Good place..."

Gnocchi

"I love this place for the patio, and patio season is almost here. It's fun just to hang out. Oh, and the Zaa is fab too. The happy hour special is..."

Scruffle

"Had a very nice lunch on the patio. The service was great even though the patio got slammed. We had a tossed salad and prosciutto pizza. I would..."

Hungry Hungry Hippos

"You can never go wrong with Italian food! I have eaten at Cibo once before and it was also really good. We started with 3 items from the scodellina..."

Rachel Antony

"I've been to Cibo a number of times and the food is always warm and delicious. The only thing that disappoints is the service. Every single time I've..."

Nav

"Came with a large group and everyone was happy. The service was great, all the food was tasty. Everyone had fun picking off everyone's plate. ..."

Corner Deuce

"I love the atmosphere at Cibo! Lots of space, exposed brick, and casual trendy decor. Also they have parking! The pizza and pasta are pretty good. I..."

Miss Zin

"I absolutely cannot believe that they took their gnocchi off the menu! An absolute crowd favourite, it was always my go-to order and I would..."

Bridgette

"My family and I all gathered at Cibo on Saturday night to celebrate a milestone birthday for our mom, and it was a fantastic evening. I love the..."

Jennlikesbeer

"I love the boar bacon pizza! Another thing I like is their pasta selection which is also very good. The pastas aren't too heavy and all have a unique..."

Cindy

"I've been here three times and I've loved it every time. Sitting at the food prep area is fun. The staff working making the food will throw in their..."

Emily Russell

"The space inside Cibo is, for lack of a better term, humongous. A spacious bar area is visible immediately as you walk in, with the open kitchen..."

Beltline Bites

"Looooove coming here for their mushroom or pear pizza. Love it even more when we go during pizza happy hours right before they close! Tried their..."

R

"I came here with coworkers for lunch. We all got the lunch special for $16. I had the wild boar bacon pizza, roasted eggplant, and shredded chicken..."

Michael Leung

"I've been to Cibo for dinner and lunch now. We ordered almost all the appetizers and most were good. I also tried the pizza and pasta and for the..."

FoodAndMussels

"I've been here numerous times over the years and every time has been a wonderful experience. Always trying new things on the menu and it never..."

Miso_hangry

"This picture does not do this romantic but relaxed environment justice. I am never disappointed every time I am here. The environment makes it..."

Theresa

"Cibo's is an Italian inspired bistro that offers a classic interpretation catering to the ever growing popularity of pizza dishes. With two floors of..."

J.Chews

"It's a nice place for a first date if you're feeling like a baller. You'll feel right at home wearing jeans and a t shirt or dressing up a bit. Best..."

Norman B Potter

"I've been here many times because this is my favorite Italian restaurant in Calgary. It offers great food for a reasonable price. Its right..."

World Foodie

"Went here last night for the first time. The service was good and the atmosphere is pretty cool. Love that you can sit facing the kitchen, and that..."

Yum

"Cibo is fine, not exceptional and not bad. I'm giving them a 3.5 because I love the deals and specials and will go back for that reason. ..."

Banks

"cibo is definitely a hit or miss for me. i had the gnocchi and it was really good. the service was great and the overall meal was affordable and..."

Cindy W

"I've been here five times and every single time the food has been delicious and the service always amazing. Whenever anyone is looking for a new..."

Sarah Jane

"After a bout of the stomach flu, I am back! My apologies for the lack of posting the last 5 days, but, you can take solace in the fact that I’ve..."

Theresa

"One of my favourite spots on 17th. Atmosphere in here is great (sit upstairs!) service is great and the food is fairly consistent. Definitely..."

Snacker

"Awesome place! I always get the wild boar bacon pizza, can't go wrong with that! The service is usually good, they are attentive. They also have a..."

Jenna

"Appetizers: Ordered the bruschetta, roasted eggplant and prosciutto to share. I only recommend the bruschetta. FYI, you can ask for more crositini if..."

Ara Maxey Muico

"Always a great place to have get togethers and be in a lively environment. The food came fresh and pizza was quite good as well. Their appetizers are..."

Jenny

"Definitely try the Aranchini and the Wild Boar Bacon Pizza. Service was good, friendly but kinda slow. Would go here again for Happy Hour...."

Snguy000

"First time here today! I really liked their beef carpaccio! I ordered scodellina. The dishes we got were the roasted eggplant, prosciutto di Parma..."

Foodieitup__

"One of our favorite places in the city! Delicious pizza, the $5 pizza happy hour is awesome. Yummy drinks. Beautiful patio and huge space so rarely..."

A-and-C

"I really liked the atmosphere here. Great casual Italian place with a gorgeous patio. The pizza was great. Thick crust but it was very flavorful..."

Jen Aumuller Rawson

"Delicious Pizza. I will be short "best pizza i have ever had in my life..."

Gilrubet

"Its entree portion was quite small, given the price. Nothing blew my mind. Only thing I loved was arancini. Won't go again for dinner. Maybe happy..."

Cathy Lin

"Neat atmosphere. Late night Saturday date with the hubby - we both liked Cibo. The place was packed but the tables are nicely spaced so we could..."

Stacey

"Great pizza and slow service. I tried Cibo first time and was pleasantly surprised with pizza quality: good crust, aromatic dough and tasty toppings..."

VINOLVR

"Great Date Spot. Came here on a second date. great atmosphere, our waitress was attentive and was quick to point out some popular vegetarian dishes..."

Justine_2839

"Great service. I strongly recommend the pear pizza!..."

J

"Came here during happy hour to check out the new market concept Cibo opened. There is now a self serve style market on the main floor where you can..."

Oscar Kwok

"One of the best Italian restaurant in town. They have special everyday such as pasta Monday half price, half-price Burgers on Tuesday and Wednesday..."

Jackson Le

"This is my favourite pizza place in the city. They age their dough a few days so it has this great flavor and they have this oil for the crust that..."

Sav H

"Friendly staff with a large open space or multiple sized parties. The food here is non greasy and quite tasty. The specials here (one for every day..."

CY Siu

"I enjoyed eating here, the patio is amazing, so full of ambiance you feel as though you're in a little place in Italy. The Ravioli was amazing, the..."

Lisa Romyn

"Lunch portion is just right for me. The taste is the same as dinner quality! Try the truffle Parmesan fries! The anchovy on the ceasar salad is..."

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Contemporary cuisine: the best places to taste it in Calgary

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