The recently renovated Mount Royal Hotel in Banff is a historic hotel that dates back to 1908. It is ideally located on Banff Ave, so you have quick access to everything you could want in Banff. Inside, modern interiors and amenities are certain to provide guests with a comfortable stay.
It is one of our favorite hotels in the center of town. It comes with a slew of perks, such as easy access to transportation, shops, bars, and the best Banff restaurants.
Quick Details About the Mount Royal Hotel
- Address — 138 Banff Ave (GPS)
- Neighborhood — Downtown Banff
- Booking.com — Mount Royal Hotel
- Hotels.com — Mount Royal Hotel
What’s a Stay at the Mount Royal Hotel Like?
The Mount Royal Hotel in Banff makes an appearance in thousands of photographs every year as it’s located in the center of Banff Ave. It’s easy to see why, as the views down the center street in Banff to Cascade Mountain rank among the best in the world.
While the hotel dates back to 1908, it has plenty of stories and has served many travelers. Even though the building dates back over a century, the hotel interiors and facilities are up to date.
In 2018, the hotel underwent a renovation that modernized its interior. It is part of Pursuit’s Banff Jasper Collection, which operates many of the top attractions around the parks, such as the Columbia Icefield Center, the Maligne Lake Cruise, and the Banff Gondola.
Don’t worry—the renovation did manage to retain much of the original character. The hotel’s halls span a collection of buildings that the hotel expanded to over the years, and they are adorned with dozens of historical images from around Banff. Overall the interiors and common spaces are beautifully designed! Once you step into the lobby, you quickly realize the hotel feels very stylish and modern.
The Rooms
As far as design touches go, the Mount Royal did a wonderful job with the rooms. They are fairly simple rooms with nice design choices that lend well to a comfortable stay. All of the rooms offer some sort of a view of the mountains surrounding the town of Banff. Our room was at the rear of the building, which gave us wonderful views of Mt. Rundle and a quiet parking lot.
The beds are luxurious with nice linens and the perfect way to recharge after a day tackling an awesome Banff hike. Inside the rooms are a large flat-screen TV, wardrobe, desk, mini-fridge, Nespresso machine, toiletries, and high-speed internet. The decor is fairly minimal, but it is tasteful with a nice headboard above the bed, prints on the wall, and chic lamps.
The bathrooms were a standout, as they were quite sleek and spotless. Showers are cubicles with no swinging doors or shower curtains, which we prefer in hotels as it lends well to cleaning and ease of use.
The white tile used throughout the bathroom and good lighting make the bathrooms feel fresh and inviting. Several room options allow guests to select the room view and bed types, which vary between one king and two queen beds.
The Amenities
There are several great amenities at the hotel, with the most notable being the two rooftop hot tubs. Views from the hot tubs are sure to wow as they provide tremendous views of Cascade Mountain and Mt. Norquay. Guests can also enjoy the Cascade Lounge, which serves drinks and small bites to relax and enjoy the views from the rooftop.
Guests can take advantage of the lobby that overlooks the library on the lower floors. We stayed over a Banff Christmas and the whole area was wonderfully decorated. In addition, the lobby features a large fireplace and seating in an intimate setting.
Guests can visit Brazen attached to the hotel that has a separate bar and dining area from the hotel lobby. Of course, the location of the hotel provides tremendous access to the numerous restaurants in Banff.
Mount Royal Hotel does not have a pool or gym facilities — granted the surrounding mountain lakes and hikes provide plenty of exercise in our opinion. Those looking for a room with AC (a rarity in Banff (should look into booking a a stay here), as the new renovation means it’s one of the few hotels in Banff that provide the cooling comfort.
Service at the Mount Royal Hotel
As expected, the hotel’s service was great. The staff was kind and helpful during our brief interactions with them. We didn’t get the chance to put them through the wringer with questions about the area, as we probably know it best.
The Location
It’s near impossible to find a better location if you like to be in the center of everything. A few steps out of the hotel and you’re in the center of downtown Banff, across the street from Starbucks, Banff Sushi House, and near Cows ice cream.
This provides great access to the tasty restaurants, shops, art galleries, bars, attractions, and cafes around town. We were so happy that we were only steps away from Farm and Fire Restaurant, where we decided to enjoy a meal for the night. It made walking in the cold that much easier.
Since the hotel is located right on Banff Ave, there is the possibility of some road noise in the rooms facing the street. However, soundproofing is well done in the hotel rooms, and you’re unlikely to notice after a long day in the mountains. It should also be noted that Banff isn’t exactly a party town, and things generally wind down by 10:00 at night, especially outside of high season.
If you’re wondering about the neighborhoods in Banff, see this guide!
Mount Royal Hotel Parking
Being in Downtown Banff, parking often poses a problem especially during peak summertime and around the holidays in the winter. We were pleased to find out that the Mount Royal Hotel offers free parking for hotel guests, which makes driving here with a rental car an absolute breeze.
Who is the Mount Royal Best For?
This is an upscale hotel right on Banff Avenue well suited for couples, solo, or groups of friends. Because the rooms aren’t huge and there are no kitchen facilities it’s not the top place we would recommend for a family.
It’s far from the most luxurious hotel or budget hotel, making it a solid mid range hotel choice. Rates vary from $150/night in the low season to up to $500 a night during the Banff summer months.
The Best Things to Do in Banff National Park
So you have your hotel sorted and now looking for the best things to do in Banff! Some of the best things to do within walking distance of the Mount Royal Hotel are to check out Bow Falls, hike up Tunnel Mountain, take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, or enjoy a soak in the Banff Hot Springs.
Of course, there are tons of things to do all over Banff National Park, so we suggest taking a look at our epic guide to figure out what is right for you!
Book A Stay at the Mount Royal Hotel
Hopefully, this helped you determine if you want to stay at the Mount Royal Hotel in Banff! If you have any other questions leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies travel guide for more articles about photography spots, lakes, hikes, and everything else.
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Tours (New in 2024): The Banff Blog is partnering with one of the leading tour companies in Western Canada so readers can experience the magic of the Rockies with other travelers – without having to think about a thing. See all our 2024 tour offerings here!
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get to Banff or Canmore Without a Car: The Banff Airporter provides fantastic service connecting you from the Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Banff or Canmore.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. Or embark on an epic campervan trip. We like to compare prices on Motorhome Republic and Outdoorsy.
- Cheaper Airfare: We also use Going to watch for cheap airfare deals!
- Hop On, Hop Off: This tour is taking Banff by storm. It’s exactly what it sounds like, hop on and off a bus bound for all the best attractions at your own pace!
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