26 DELICIOUS Banff Restaurants to Try in 2023! (Recommended by Locals)

Seeking out the best restaurants in Banff or wondering where you should eat in Banff? We share our favorite Banff restaurants in the picturesque mountain town. While most mountain towns might struggle to supply visitors with a wide selection of restaurants, that is certainly not the case in Banff.

You can find a wide range of cuisines, restaurants, price points, and places to eat in Banff. It’s the perfect place to fill yourself up after a long day out exploring the wild Canadian Rockies. From ramen, to Indian, to steak, here is the Banff food you can get!

*Please make reservations at these Banff restaurants during the summer months.

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Best Banff Restaurants to Try

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The Bison

• Location: 211 Bear Street
• Cuisine: Canadian/ Americana
• Price: $$$
• Make Reservations: Opentable

Our favorite restaurant in Banff with a great atmosphere and high-quality farm-to-table food. They have a seasonal menu and won several national awards in Canada for exceptional service. It’s well known as the best spot in Banff for brunch on Sundays.

The menu is more varied than several other restaurants in Banff, with several options for vegans or vegetarians. You’ll find options like elk poutine, butternut bruschetta, duck breast, steelhead trout, and roasted cauliflower.

It’s a hip Banff restaurant with tasty cocktails and wonderfully creative food options. Long has it been our go-to for date nights and the perfect spot for couples or special occasions.

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Eden

• Location: The Rimrock Resort Hotel
• Cuisine: Modern French
• Price: $$$$
• Make Reservations: Opentable

Experience fine dining with incredible views at Eden in the Rimrock Hotel. This is one of the most scenic Banff restaurants and serves up some of the best food in the province, let alone Banff. It is the only Five-Diamond Restaurant in all of Western Canada. The modern French restaurant serves up playful and delicious dishes that leave a lasting impact, much like the views.

The menu operates with several tasting menu options ranging from 4, 6, and 10 plate chef tasting meals. To pair, they have an extensive wine menu that is curated by a team of sommeliers.

If you’re looking for an extraordinary dining experience, this is an excellent selection. It’s one of the most romantic Banff restaurants.

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Magpie & Stump

• Location: 203 Caribou St
• Cuisine: Mexican
• Price: $$
• Make Reservations: Opentable

This is a Banff local hotspot and serves up delicious Mexican dishes. Mexican food has long been my favorite cuisine, so they get the nod for my favorite restaurant in Banff.

The interior is rustic, and you get a Mexicana cantina vibe the moment you set foot inside. Order a hearty burrito and pair it with a Cerveza for a tasty apres-ski or snowshoe meal.

They also launched a Banff rooftop patio for summertime in Banff called El Patio, serving modern Mexican street food like tacos and margaritas. It’s an amazing place to soak up the gorgeous weather we have in Banff during the summer months.

In the summer months, this is my go-to spot. I love the environment, creative margaritas, paletas (popsicles), and fresh tacos. Who doesn’t love a margarita in the sunshine?

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Whitebark Cafe

• Location: 401 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Coffee
• Price: $

Not so much a restaurant, but it is the best coffee shop in Banff. Whitebark has been known to deliver the best coffee in Banff for a while now. On our first trip to Banff, we stopped by for several top-ups before we made the move here. They serve fair-trade organic coffee from Moja Coffee in North Vancouver and loose leaf teas from Banff Tea Co.

They serve several nice pastries that include the occasional vegan or gluten-free option. If you like a light breakfast, pick up pastry before you set off to tackle some of Banff’s fantastic hiking trails.

As far as espresso-based drinks like a cappuccino or flat white, they definitely serve the best in the Banff. However, it’s more a takeaway joint with only a small counter to sit at and a few outdoor tables.

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Storm Mountain Lodge

• Location: Highway 93 South, Banff National Park
• Cuisine: Americana/Canadian
• Price: $$$
• Make Reservations: Call-(403)762-4155//Email [email protected]

Not inside the town of Banff, but a half-hour away from town is the Storm Mountain Lodge, one of the best Banff cabins there is. The lodge restaurant serves up meals with freshly baked sourdough bread, braised short ribs, and fondue.

A great menu that changes seasonally, so check their website for the latest offerings. It’s the perfect spot to go have a meal in a quiet, cozy setting amongst nature.

It feels extraordinary in the winter months when it’s covered in a fresh blanket of snow with roaring fireplaces inside. Winter restaurant hours are limited to the weekends and it’s best to make a reservation.

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Farm & Fire

• Location: 333 Banff Ave.
• Cuisine: Americana/Canadian
• Price: $$$
• Make Reservations: Opentable

Farm & Fire is a new restaurant in Banff that serves up new Canadian cuisine focused on farm-to-table. Open for brunch and dinner, they have a mouth-watering menu with a good selection of options for most diets. We haven’t had brunch here yet, but highlights from our dinners include the fried Brussel sprouts, rotisserie chicken, and forno carrots.

It is a fantastic spot for dinner, thanks to a well-decorated interior and full-service bar. It’s located in the Elk & Avenue Hotel, convenient for those staying in the nearby hotels.

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Park Distillery

• Location: 219 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Modern Camp Food / Canadian / Distillery
• Price: $$
• Make Reservations: Opentable

With a prime location on Banff Ave, it’s tough to miss the local distillery. Park Distillery is where we take friends and family to eat when they’re in town. Park Distillery has quickly made a name for itself in town for their spirits, such as Gin and Vodka distilled with Rocky Mountain water. We love the modern mountain interior, and they have large garage doors to open up the restaurant to fresh mountain air in the summer months.

The Banff food here follows the theme of the camp and Canadian mountain food, along with many vegan options. You’ll find everything from tofu bowls to cornbread, short ribs, burgers, and baked beans, or a modern twist on s’mores for dessert on the menu. They also have an extensive cocktail list of inventive cocktails made with their spirits.

If you’re looking for a classic, try their Caesar made with chili vodka at brunch. For the international crowd, caesar is a classic Canadian cocktail similar to a bloody mary but made with Clamato juice, tomato juice mixed with a bit of clam juice.

It’s a popular spot and draws a crowd, so expect to wait in peak summer or call ahead for reservations. Take a bottle of one of their spirits home for a gift or souvenir, perhaps both.

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Saffron Bistro

• Location: 205 Wolf St.
• Cuisine: Indian/Indo-Chinese
• Price: $-$$
• Reservations: Book a Table

If you are looking for the best Indian restaurant in Banff, look no further than Saffron Bistro. Located at Wolf St, this is a great takeout joint in Banff that also serves vegetarian food. Though that’s not to say they don’t have dine-in because there are certainly places to sit and hang out with friends and family.

They are open for both lunch and dinner, but lunch is when they offer an amazing deal. 11 – 3 daily enjoy a Lunch Thali combos starting at $15.99, which is a great deal in Banff.

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Hello Sunshine

• Location: 208 Wolf St
• Cuisine: Sushi/Japanese Fusion
• Price: $$
• Make Reservations: Opentable

Hello Sunshine is one of the newest Banff restaurants, and they made sure to make it fun! This is a retro restaurant with funky interior, and a karaoke bar that only gives off positive vibes.

It’s a pretty groovy place with a sushi bar and modern bar food like Duck Tataki and Miso Aged Shortrib. If you’re really in the mood for something special in Banff, make sure to book their tiny bar. The tiny bar only seats 6 people, so reservations are necessary. Here you can enjoy an 8-course omakase tasting menu! Hello Sunshine has daily Happy Hour drink specials too (from 9-11).

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High Rollers

• Location: 110 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Pizza / Bowling
• Price: $ – $$
• Book a Lane: Online

If you’re after the best pizza in Banff, head to High Rollers for some bowling. It’s a fantastic thing to do in Banff, when it’s raining outside. It’s your old-school bowling alley that feels grungy; instead, you’ll find modern decor, craft beer, wings, and delicious NY-style pizza. Don’t miss out on their super tasty waffle fries or poutine.

Perfect for a relaxed evening with friends or family, they do have limited hours to kids in the evening as it shifts towards a bar. However, during the day and early evening, it’s definitely family-friendly.

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Banff Ave Brewing Co.

• Location: 110 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Brewery Pub
• Price: $
• Reservations: Opentable

If you’re not much for cocktails at Park Distillery, go down the street to Banff Ave Brewery. This Banff brewery was opened by the same crew who opened the Jasper Brewing Co (Canada’s first National Park Brewery) after great success.

Located on Banff Avenue, this two-story restaurant and bar serve up delicious food and great beer. It’s an updated take on bar food with a nice selection of options like nachos, smoked bbq cauliflower, buffalo chicken sandwiches, halloumi fries, and bison burgers.

It’s well worth a stop for anyone visiting Banff. Try to get a seat outside in the summer and watch life go by! Warning, the deck space is pretty limited, so you’re lucky if you snag a seat on the weekend. They’re also our favorite local brewery beating out the Grizzly Paw and Canmore Brewing in the neighboring town of Canmore.

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Ramen Arashi

• Location: 2nd floor Sundance Mall, 215 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Ramen / Japanese
• Price: $
• Reservations: Not Necessary

This is an excellent and cheap spot to eat in Banff. We love to have ramen after a cold day in the mountains as it’s one of our favorite comfort foods from Japan. Ramen Arashi is located in a small location on the second floor of the Sundance Mall, so it’s good if you’re a small group or if you want to order some takeout.

It’s pretty authentic ramen with your usual base and topping options. We love Tan Tan Black Veggie and Devil’s Arashi ramen. Japanese food is our favorite cuisine, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Ramen Arashi and Banff Sushi House are two of our most frequented Banff restaurants. There’s also a location in Canmore as well!

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Sushi House Banff

• Location: 304 Caribou Street
• Cuisine: Sushi Train
• Price: $
• Reservations: First Come First Serve

For cheap sushi that is authentic and high quality, check out Banff Sushi House. It’s a pretty small hole-in-the-wall spot, and there isn’t much of an ambiance, but we still consider it a fantastic Banff restaurants, especially for kids that need some entertainment while eating.

However, the sushi is cheap, delicious, and the staff is amiable. Plus, we love the fact the sushi plates ride around on a Canadian Pacific toy train.

It’s a local spot that is Japanese-owned and run and has been around for decades now. We love to stop in for a quick bite to eat right when we get off the ski hill as the food is ready pretty much immediately if you can get a seat. They offer takeaway if you feel like grabbing sushi to go, but we personally prefer it fresh.

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The Eddie Burger Bar

• Location: 137 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Burgers
• Price: $$
• Reservations: Opentable

If you’re after the best burger in town, then The Eddie Burger Bar is naturally the spot unless you’re in Canmore. It’s a small bar that fills up pretty fast, so you’ll either have to wait or get there early.

It’s great for small groups looking for a burger. The Eddie Burger Bar is definitely more of a bar, so probably not as family-friendly as other restaurants in Banff. They serve up tasty milkshakes, mouthwatering burgers, and of course, poutine.

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The Grizzly House

• Location: 207 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Fondue / Steak House
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Call Ahead (403-762-4055)

If you can’t tell by its exterior, The Grizzly House is a little quirky. However, the food here is delicious, and they do offer some great fondue. While we’re on fondue, if you’re surprised to find it at so many Banff restaurants in town, it’s due to the Swiss mountaineers who helped pioneer the mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. The Swiss influence is easy to find throughout Banff National Park.

The fondue experience is paired, followed by a meat course with a wide selection from beef to elk, bison, or even ostrich. Similar to the fondue, they bring out a pot of oil to cook the meats at your table. To drive home that Swiss influence even more, they finish off the meal with a Toblerone fondue. The one downside to this feast is you’ll leave stinking like food.

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The Maple Leaf Grill and Lounge

• Location: 137 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Canadian/Americana
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Opentable

The Maple Leaf Grill and Lounge has a warm mountain atmosphere with a lot of Canadian Inspired dishes. They use local Canadian ingredients such as an Alberta beef ribeye and or maple dijon B.C. salmon.

Steaks are a real specialty here, along with their impressive seafood towers. An extensive wine list is great to pair with your meal. You can expect great service and delicious food here in a cozy atmosphere.

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Sky Bistro

• Location: Banff Gondola Summit
• Cuisine: Canadian
• Price: $$ – $$$
• Reservations: Online

For most jaw-dropping views from a restaurant in Banff, you can not do better than the Sky Bistro at the top of Banff Gondola. The restaurant operates on a “farm to summit” premise and, when available, sources as many local ingredients as possible. If you book one of their dining experiences, it’s a pretty good deal if you had plans to head up the Banff Gondola anyways.

They offer two unique combo tickets, one a daytime Banff lunch for around $85 and the other their “Northern Lights Experience” for around $69. Keep in mind they do use dynamic pricing based on demand, so it’s possible you find different price points.

We’ve never done the experience personally. However, it has great reviews, and we’ve climbed to the top of Sulphur Mountain many times and can attest to the view.

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Nourish Bistro

• Location: 211 Bear Street
• Cuisine: Vegetarian
• Price: $$
• Reservations: Opentable

If you’re after some delicious vegetarian food, you can’t do better than Nourish Bistro. Most of the restaurants in town have at least have a couple vegetarian options; Nourish Bistro is dedicated to vegetarian food, so you’ll be spoilt for options.

It’s amazing vegetarian food that is more the line of a gourmet restaurant with a wide range of creative dishes. There are also options for vegan, raw, and gluten-free dietary requirements as well. To top it off, they craft cocktail menu with several wonderful drinks. Head to this Banff restaurant if you’re in search of a healthy meal!

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Saltlik

• Location: 221 Bear Street
• Cuisine: Steakhouse
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Call (403) 762-2467

Saltlik is one of two great steakhouses in town and one of the best Banff restaurants to try when you are looking to have a nice night out. They deliver sumptuous high quality certified Angus Beef and a nice selection of tasty sides. On the menu, you’ll find cuts like filet mignon, bison tenderloin, and ribeye.

Sides are a real plus with options like truffle mac & cheese, maple roasted brussels sprouts or lobster mashed potatoes. The interior is mountain modern, and to pair with your steak, you’ll have a nice selection of cocktails.

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Balkan Restaurant

• Location: 120 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Greek
• Price: $$
• Reservations: Opentable

We love Greek food, and the best place to find it in town is the aptly named Balkan Restaurant. You’ll find all the usual fixings such as homemade pitas, gyros, greek salad, and baklava. It’s a large restaurant, so it’s great for large families or groups.

A particular highlight is the greek fries, saganaki, and gyros. Every Tuesday and Friday night they host a Greek Night with live entertainment belly dancing, ouzo, and plate smashing.

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Tooloulous

• Location: 204 Caribou Street
• Cuisine: Cajun
• Price: $$
• Reservations: Call (403) 762-2633 (Dinner Only)

This is an unassuming spot because not many expect to find cajun food in the Canadian Rockies, and the restaurant has an unassuming decor. However, Tooloulous has some solid cajun food on offer and serves up some of the best breakfast in Banff.

Expect spicy food and lots of comfort food items. Since I’m from the South, I always love some good comfort food, like tasty cornbread. Prices are pretty affordable too when you consider Banff can be pretty expensive for dining.

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Chuck’s Steakhouse

• Location: 101 Banff Ave
• Cuisine: Steakhouse
• Price: $$$-$$$$
• Reservations: Opentable

Chuck’s Steakhouse is one of two great steakhouses in town. It’s arguably the best steakhouse in town. That being said, we prefer the location and dining room of Chuck’s Steakhouse.

Its decor includes eclectic cowboy artifacts with exposed wood and plush leather, a fresh look that remains rustic and at home in Alberta.

They use high-quality steaks and beef, and the price reflects that quality. However, it’s all perfectly done with a wide selection of cuts and a delicious spread of sides. Compliment the meal with one of the most extensive wine lists in town.

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The Waldhaus Restaurant

• Location: Banff Springs
• Cuisine: Fondue
• Price: $$$-$$$$
• Reservations: Opentable

If you’re after a more refined setting that celebrates Banff’s Swiss connections check out the Banff Springs Hotel Waldhaus Restaurant for fondue. They serve an incredible Alpine Cheese Fondue for $88 that consists of gruyere, emmental, kirsch, and white wine.

We love fondue in the mountains; it’s particularly on a cold evening as it’s tough to beat the hearty calorie-rich mountain food. We also love it for the german beer and amazing views on a summer afternoon! It’s the perfect spot for a scenic Banff lunch!

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Shoku Izakaya

• Location: 304 Caribou St.
• Cuisine: Japanese
• Price: $$-$$$
• Reservations: First Come First Serve

To get authentic Japanese Izakaya food, I would have to travel to Japan, but that is no longer with the brand new Shoku Izakaya. An Izakaya is a type of Japanese bar that serves drinks and snacks.

In Japan, they are often a place of after-work drinking that goes later into the night. At Shoku, you can arrive and have sake with friends while enjoying Tako Yaki or Chicken Yakitori!

Shoku Izakaya does not take reservations and is first-come, first-serve only. There’s been plenty of hype about this place so arrive early to ensure seating.

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Three Ravens Restaurant and Wine Bar

• Location: 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr
• Cuisine: Wine / Bistro
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Temp closed

Fantastic service, excellent food, great views, and an extensive wine menu are outside the main part of town, the Three Ravens Restaurant and Wine Bar. It’s been rated a top restaurant in Canada a few times over, including making Opentable’s top 100 list.

It’s one of the best Banff restaurants for a romantic night with wonderful views. If you’re on a Banff honeymoon or romantic holiday, don’t hesitate to make a reservation here. Call ahead and ask for a reservation around by the window if you want to woo over your significant other.

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Three Bears Restaurants (and Brewery)

• Location: 205 Bear St
• Cuisine: Brewery/Bar Food
• Price: $$
• Reservations: Opentable

This is the newest restaurant and brewery to the Banff beer scene, and boy is it a good one! Located on Bear Street, this is a great restaurant to head to after a long day in the mountains.

While their brews are delicious, I particularly love that they serve vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options like their Tuna Tostada, which is gluten-friendly, or their amazing vegan Three Bears Summer Salad.

If you hit them up between 3-5, you’ll be able to take advantage of their awesome Happy Hour specials. $12 pizzas, $6 pints, and $5 Shrimp Bao Buns.

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Banff Food Items to Try!

While it’s tough to consider this “local food” or Canadian, there are some classic staples in Banff to try while visiting and you’ll find them on many Banff restaurants menu. Here are our favorite Banff foods to make sure and eat while here.

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Poutine

Along with maple syrup, this is possibly nothing more Canadian than poutine. It’s the ultimate, savory late-night dish that’s become ubiquitous with Canada. The dish’s origins are up for debate, but it is at least credited as a Quebecois dish.

It consists of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. You’ll find this dish all over the town of Banff, and it’s most common in the bars.

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Beavertail

A beavertail is right up there, with poutine as a quintessential Canadian food item. Of course, it’s not some beautiful culinary feat as it comes from a chain found throughout Canada. However, the crispy, spongey, and sweet fried “beavertails” are delicious.

The novelty of having a beavertail is not lost on visitors and the two shops on Banff Ave. Frequently have a line around the corner. It’s tough to blame anyone as they’re devilishly sweet and warm, so they hit the spot on a cold evening while walking around the town. It’s pretty much a funnel cake brushed with butter and topped with cinnamon sugar. There are also a variety of different toppings if you feel like mixing it up.

Even if it comes from a chain, this is a pretty fun food to try in Banff.

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Cowboy BBQ

For an awesome activity and a fun meal, try a Cowboy BBQ. It’s one of those “Banff foods” that taste so much better in the mountains. It’s a tour that takes to the trail on horseback around Banff before arriving at a cowboy BBQ. Expect an evening with cowboy beans, cornbread, steak, and live entertainment around a campfire.

Banff Trail Riders offer the tour, and it’s appropriate for even beginner riders. It’s one of the most quintessential ways to explore Banff and an activity that’s been popular with visitors to park since its earliest days.

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Wild Game

With its rich ranching and exploration history, the concept of wild game is still prevalent in Alberta. Many Albertans enjoy elk and deer hunting when in season, not in the park, and you’ll find a wild range of restaurants that serve wild game in Banff. The two classic options for meat in Banff are elk and bison.

I enjoy elk a bit more as I’m a fan of the taste of wild game like venison or duck, which is similar to elk. While Bison is a more mild red meat that you’ll find very similar to traditional beef. Chefs in town make all manner of dishes using these meats that range from tartare to burgers or steaks.

If you want some weird options for meat, you can head to The Grizzly House which serves meat options like ostrich and crocodile, although very far from anything local.

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A Caeser

A caesar is the Canadian equivalent of an American Bloody Mary: tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. While a caesar is Clamato juice – tomato juice mixed with a bit of clam juice. One of the best places to have one is Park Disterilly.

It’s one of the best bars in the Canadian Rockies – though Caesars can be found all over! They also offer distillery tours every day if you’re looking to learn more. Take a bottle of one of their spirits home for a gift or souvenir, perhaps both.

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Steak

While steak is far from revolutionary, the beef industry and cowboys have long been a staple of Alberta. Calgary even hosts the largest rodeo in the world every summer called the Calgary Stampede.

Head to one of Banff’s many great steakhouses and order some local Albertan-raised beef. If you’re looking for suggestions, two of the most famous are Chuck’s Steakhouse and Saltlik.

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Fondue

There are a plethora of restaurants around Banff that serve up this classic mountain dish originating from Switzerland. In part, this is because of the Swiss influence on the Canadian Rockies. It all stems from the first mountaineering death in 1896 that occurred near Lake Louise. Afterward, the Canadian Pacific Railway hired several Swiss Mountaineers to help develop tourism and guide guests in the Canadian Rockies.

Over time more Swiss mountaineers would follow and help guide early mountaineers and guests as they continued to explore the Canadian Rockies. Along with their knowledge of accessing these amazing peaks, their culture bled over, and its impact can still be seen today in Banff National Park.

Fondue is a mixture of melted cheeses served in a large communal pot for those that don’t know. Patrons will then traditionally dip bread in the fondue, but many places offer more exciting options like vegetables to dip. Be warned, it’s a vibrant flavor and packed full of calories, but who cares you need to reenergize after exploring the Rockies.

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Best Banff Restaurants Map

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Our Favorite Banff Hotels

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Hopefully, this helped you determine which restaurant in Banff to eat at.

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.

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