Vern's — Restaurant in Calgary

If you’re on the hunt for a genuine dive bar experience, Vern’s is the place to be! Nestled in a cozy corner of the city on Steven Ave! this spot exudes a rugged charm that’s hard to find in more polished establishments. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by the familiar and nostalgic scent of well-loved, old cigarettes, mingling with a hint of something wild—perhaps it's the spirit of past nights filled with untamed joy. Or worse.

The atmosphere is electric, with the walls vibrating from the loud live music that spills out from the stage. Each strum of the guitar feels like a pulse that makes you wanna dance like nobody's watching. The countless artists that have graced this stage are enshrined in the very air you breathe, making every beat feel like a tribute to the dive bar culture we love and cherish. No shortage of broken symbols and a graveyard of various broken instruments!

What truly sets Vern’s apart is the sense of community. Strangers quickly become friends over shared stories and laughter, all while cradling a drink that might have a bit of character to it (and potentially a splash of the bar's history). It’s a place where you can let loose and feel at home, no matter how “rough around the edges” it may seem.

So many amazing memories have been made at Vern’s!

If you’re looking for a polished cocktail bar with pretentious vibes, this isn't it. But if you crave a raw, unfiltered experience filled with laughter, grit, and unrivaled music, then come to Vern’s. Join the throbbing heartbeat of this bar where life vibrates at the decibel level of pure ecstasy.

Raise your glass to Vern’s—may it continue to echo the stories of fabulous nights for years to come! Make sure your tetanus shot are up to date.

Feel free to bring some duct tape as the pool table is completely...

My review is a little late (just over a week after I was there).

I've been to many shows at many different venues with "professional" sound guys, and sometimes, even the bands' own selected sound guy, but in all the shows I've attended, Vern's stands out. Why does it stand out? Because I could actually hear things. I could hear the vocals, guitars, bass, drums, all of it - and all that, through my cheap Home Depot earplug things. Every other venue made me question why I was even attending the show. Nah, not at Vern's. I was happy, even standing right in front of the giant monitors.

Clint handles both the bar, and the sound thingy, and the guy really knows what he's doing!

The atmosphere of the bar was pretty chill, and lots of decent folks. Also, I can't say enough good thing's about Clint. Not only is the guy the best at managing the sound, but he also treats the bands & his customers well! I stuck around after the show I was attending, and he's got some decent stories to tell!

Would highly suggest more people visit Vern's & chat it up a bit with Clint! It's a simple operation, but definitely an 11/10 venue! It was worth the drive...

I have kind of a love/hate relationship with this venue. I started coming to Vern's in the early 2000s, back when it was TA Verns on 11th Avenue SW. I promoted/booked my very first show in Calgary here, at the 8th Avenue SW location, back in 2013, and hosted several events over the years; my last one being in 2017. Lots of show memories at Vern's, and totally the CBGB of Calgary.

My only complaint was lack of advertising for events/no website, and wasn't a fan of the sound system. Kudos for it to continue to stay open during the live music killing pandemic. The owner (Clint) was always about having a good time, and...