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  3. Calgary / Southern Alberta
  4. Waterton Lakes
  5. Waterton Park
Thirsty Bear Kitchen + Bar, Waterton Park, AB

Thirsty Bear Kitchen + Bar

3.7
3.7
57 Reviews
CAN$30 and under
Pub
Top tags:
The Thirsty Bear Kitchen + Bar just completed a massive renovation and is now one of the highest rated restaurants in Waterton Park! With an amazing gourmet gastro pub menu and Waterton’s largest selection of local craft beers on tap, the “Bear” is a must when visiting the park. We have live every weekend and an amazing heated patio right on Main St! No minors allowed, must be 18 years old.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    CAN$30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Pub
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (403) 859-2211
  • Website
    http://www.thirstybearwaterton.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Business Casual

What 57 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

3.7
3.7 based on recent ratings
  • 3.6Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 3.9Ambience
  • 3.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Calgary / Southern Alberta

    Great for live music

57 Reviews

  1. MaureenZ

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 27, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Nice place in a quiet town off season. Food was good.

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  2. calgarycowgirl100

    Calgary

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Busy spot on Saturday night. Two musicians-very good! Food was average-we had 3 appetizers. Burgers seemed to be quite popular here, Nice server-friendly. We would go back again and order burgers

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  3. MrsMc

    New Orleans

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Did not disappoint! Great atmosphere, love music and attentive staff. The food was delicious-burria quesadilla s-excellent! Spicy chicken sandwich-as advertised. Beer selection was winding down since it is end of season, but still found one that went perfectly with the meal. Highly recommend.

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  4. KimK

    Edmonton

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Live music while you eat delicious food with good portion size. Location is perfect. Top it off with a awesome view! Casual night out

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  5. GaryH

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food ands service were both great. We enjoyed sitting outside on a nice evening.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Richmond

    6 reviews

    1.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Our only disappointing dining experience of our 2 week vacation. Server forgot to put our order in but was too “afraid” of chef to tell him. After an hour the manager could not tell us if or when we would be served. We left. Locals told us the chef had a reputation of being difficult.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Fried pickles so so. Vermicelli bowls were quite good while the bison in the fajitas was tough. The churros were rock hard. Service was excellent.

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  8. SherylR

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Decent food. Terrible service. It took over an hour to get our main dishes.

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  9. Orlando

    St. Louis

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service were excellent and also had great entertainment. Would definitely return.

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  10. ebin

    Tucson

    14 reviews

    1.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    We chose to go to the Thirsty Bear because of the menu and the web page mentioned entertainment for this specific night. My husband and I had been there last year. But our friends had not. First off, I know it is a bar, but one person in our party only drinks Chardonnay Wine. So she was disappointed ! Then no music due to a staff party, ( which the restaurant should of reached out to people who had reservations to let them know the band was canceled and that we had to be out by 8pm) The food was not as good as I remembered either.

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  11. OpenTable Diner

    Baja California Sur

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Love the atmosphere, staff and food- great place but the music is way too loud.

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great experience on the patio! Happy we are able to bring along our 2 well behaved, leashed dogs.

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  13. GiseleP

    Oklahoma City

    19 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on August 8, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice Patio. Shared appetizers and dessert. Shrimp Dumplings and Brisket tacos were great. Had fried apple pie with ice cream…yummy!

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  14. ElaineV

    Vancouver

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The staff was polite and knowledgeable! It was a great dinner. We enjoyed the singer. She had a lovely voice.

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    Edmonton

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place to relax and enjoy a casual dining experience!

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Came to Waterton with friends July long weekend and had dinner at Thirsty Bear on live music night. I was worried the music would be too loud and it would be hard to visit but it was not. The menu is smallish but everything we ordered was excellent. The sweet potato fries were crispy and delicious. I ordered the flank steak fajitas and they were excellent and included all the toppings imaginable. The guys ordered the burgers and kept saying how good they were. The Caesar’s were very tasty and the bar had Crown Royal for hubby which made him happy. The service was excellent! We had a very nice dinner! Not the ordinary experience I would say, we were impressed 🤣

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tolles Restaurant mit gutem Essen. Teilweise sogar mit Live Musik.

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  18. JaniceG

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It was very expensive. We got one nacho plate and drank water and it came to over $40. There was supposed to be live music from 6-9 and there was none.

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  19. JanicePM

    Calgary

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on June 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good selection of craft beers. Food was delicious. Our group enjoyed the shrimp gyoza, burgers, fajitas and chocolate sundae. Servers were friendly and prompt. Looking forward to returning!

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  20. LucyS

    Calgary

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 10, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    We were greeted by our server by her asking us what was so funny ( we were deep in conversation when she arrived at our table) which seemed a very strange way to greet us and made us feel like we shouldn’t be enjoying ourselves. Fish tacos were cold and the bison fajitas tasted burnt and the tortillas had been slashed with a knife so you couldn’t put any filling in them. We would have mentioned this but once we got our food the server disappeared and we didn’t see her again until it was time for the bill. The restaurant was so cold as it was a chilly evening and the front doors were wedged open. The entertainment was good ( not great). We left feeling hungry and given the food quality and terrible service we went elsewhere for dessert.

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nothing better than great food in Waterton. We love the Thirsty Bear. Great atmosphere with good live music from local artists, tasty food and great service.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2022

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Live music was a bit too loud. Had pretty good service. Meal was a bit pricey for what it was. The drinks seemed small. Found tomatos in my cheese cake dessert

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  23. Arep

    New York Area

    26 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2022

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was just okay, Service and live music really nice

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 23, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sat at the bar. Big portions of good food. Nice atmosphere. Good service. Great music

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  25. DaveM

    Edmonton

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 16, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome service good food great entertainment with John Hewitt

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  26. AdrianT

    Calgary

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 5, 2022

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great service and live music. Lovely restaurant with nice decor.

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  27. Susan

    Richmond

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 24, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Had great time, good food, good service, good live music. I highly recommend

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  28. Snwflake

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 21, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and ambiance, live music, good food, decent prices, highly recommend it!

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  29. EvelinaG

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 29, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, great service, we enjoyed ourselves very much!

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  30. Steve

    Calgary

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on May 22, 2022

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Really enjoyed the live music by Eric Braun. The wings and the fish tacos were excellent and the service was great.

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  31. JonR

    Vancouver

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 19, 2022

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Battle of Alberta hockey game and wouldn’t turn the sound on?! Roof was leaking pretty bad

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  32. CandaceZ

    Edmonton

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Megan was so sweet, food was amazing, will definitely come back.

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  33. Tito

    Calgary

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on September 11, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great establishment with friendly service and great food. The beef brisket was wonderful. Great selection of beers! Live band made the evening that much better.

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  34. Carmen

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 4, 2021

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Server would just say yes when the answer was no. I asked if a sandwich was a beef dip and she said yes, never had olives for a greek wrap, and serve was extremely slow and would never stick around to get questions from both of us. Never asked how our appy was. Sat with empty drinks more than once. Sub par at best. Could answer anything about the pub. Our server knew nothing about waterton when asked simple questions. Food was over priced. There is not many options so i guess go but hope for a better experience than we got.

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  35. CherylG

    Toronto

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 28, 2021

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The atmosphere was great with live band and the service was good. The food was not great. The fish tacos were like nothing I have ever seen before a full piece of fried fish like large with a small tortilla wrapped around it. I actually took a pic of it as I thought it was a joke as fish tacos are usually cut up and seasoned. We also ordered veggie burger and it tasted like gummed up paste. Not good. Drinks and appetizers were good.

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  36. PeterT

    Calgary

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 14, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome staff. Friendly service. Must visit.

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  37. Dean

    Calgary

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2021

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great place, just should have been told about the extra $5.50 for replacing fries with salad. Other than that, very good all around.

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  38. Lolly

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 27, 2021

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    The food was terrible. I had the lettuce wraps and they were over seasoned and chicken was dry.

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 12, 2021

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food took about 1 hour to arrive

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  40. AmberH

    Calgary

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 10, 2021

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    When we arrived we were told it would be a 20min wait for a table outside. We were totally fine with that and asked if we could sit at the bar for a drink while we wait. Bar service was quick but when we asked about ordering food (an appy) the bartender basically said we couldn't order food and then move to a table outside because it would be taking a server's table. So we said fine we'd wait till we got outside. We paid for our drinks and went out to our table with them (it only took 15min). When our waitress came over, she asked where we got our drinks and basically made us feel bad that we had brought our drinks from the bar even though the host and the bartender both asked us to pay at the bar before we left!! It was completely inappropriate for her to say and as a Lo g time waitress, I was not impressed. We were still going to order food and possibly another drink from the waitress so I'm not sure what she was worried about. She didn't come back after I said we did what we were asked to do so I had to stop another waitress to take our food order. The new waitress was great and the food/ambiance was fantastic. It was unfortunate that both the waitress and bartender seemed to be money hungry over one round of drinks.

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FAQs

Thirsty Bear Kitchen + Bar is rated 3.7 stars by 57 OpenTable diners.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Google Map for Thirsty Bear Kitchen + Bar

111 Waterton Ave, Waterton Park, AB T0K 2M0

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    Waterton Park
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Daily 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    CAN$30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Pub
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress Code
    Business Casual
  • Parking Details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
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