15 Best Canmore Breakfast and Brunch Spots
Start your day in the mountains with the perfect breakfast in Canmore. Make sure to fuel up before tackling the mountains and head to any of these restaurants or cafes in Canmore.
Of course, many will choose to dine at their hotel when breakfast is included. However, not everyone wants a lackluster breakfast buffet that can be hit or miss. Also, many hotels in the Bow Valley do not even include breakfast! Below, we share our favorite breakfast spots in Canmore for a hearty breakfast or delicious freshly brewed coffee!
Restaurants in Canmore for Breakfast
The Bankhead
Bankhead is a newish restaurant in Canmore that has become popular for breakfast and brunch lately – so popular that they have special breakfast and brunch hours! They have a fantastic patio off the Bow Valley Trail that everyone loves to enjoy on a nice sunny day in Canmore.
The Eggs Benedict is beloved here, and we love their homemade whipped Hollandaise sauce. They don’t just have one type of Benedict, though; there are many, including the famous beef brisket Benedict. However, that’s not what keeps us coming back. Truly, it’s the smashed baby potatoes that are a side on many plates.
The Wood
The Wood makes this list of great brunch restaurants because they simply have the best terrace in town. If it’s a beautiful day in Canmore, The Wood Patio is where you’ll want to head for a late breakfast or brunch (as they don’t open until 11am). Located right at the corner of 8th Street and 8th Ave, views don’t get much better than here – trust me.
Georgetown Pub
If you want a hearty breakfast in Canmore, head over to the Georgetown Pub for a full English breakfast. When you step inside, it feels like you’ve entered an English Pub in the mountains with lots of woodwork, a large bar, and mountain-inspired items like snowshoes on the wall. It’s beautifully done and doesn’t feel out of place even on a blustery mountain day.
If you’re not in the mood for baked beans for breakfast (they do serve a classic British fry-up), they have a nice selection of other options, like stuffed French toast, eggs Benedict, or a scotch egg. I particularly love their pancakes with berries and cream!
Communitea
Communitea is a great option for health-conscious food in a modern and bright cafe atmosphere. They dish up a fantastic Canmore brunch that is hard to complain about!
They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but we find the atmosphere and menu too relaxed for dinner. It’s easily the most popular lunch spot in town and has a light, airy feel with white tile, wood accents, and large windows.
They have a wide selection of health-conscious food, including plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Of course, given the name, they have a wide range of teas to sample! Our favorite breakfast meal is the vegan breakfast bowl. If you enjoy your coffee in the morning, you might want to head elsewhere, though, as it’s definitely tea-focused, although they do serve coffee.
Craigs’ Way Station
- Location: 1727 Mountain Ave, Canmore (GPS)
- Hours: 6:30 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Right off, the TransCanada Craig’s Way Station offers a classic diner-style breakfast at an affordable price. A lot of locals would consider it the best breakfast in town as it’s an old-school family restaurant that’s been around for ages.
The menu offers a wide range of options: pancakes, eggs, benny, home fries, hash, or a classic fry-up. If you want a classic spot for breakfast with no frills and great service, Craigs’ Way Station is tough to beat.
Fergus & Bix
Already an established restaurant in Calgary, Fergus and Bix is a popular place to grab a beer. By combining all these elements with the freshest locally brewed beers, it becomes evident that they genuinely love their craft.
Though a place that is open late and has beer flowing, every Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays you can find them serving a special family-friendly weekend brunch. With menu items like Dan’s Perfect Breakfast Sandwich, cinnamon swirl French Toast, and varying types of Eggs Benny – you can’t go wrong here!
Chez Francois
This French restaurant off the Bow Valley Trail is conveniently located next to many of the accommodation options in Canmore. We’ve only been twice to try out their Eggs Benedict, which is considered by many to be the best in town.
They have an extensive menu of omelets, smoothies, crepes, and even eggs benny poutine. If it’s a nice summer day, they also have a small patio if you’re lucky enough to snag a spot, as it’s a popular spot for brunch in Canmore in the summer.
Harvest Cafe
Harvest Cafe is right across the Street from Basecamp Resorts and Communitea. This locally owned and operated Canmore cafe claims to have the best cinnamon buns on this side of the Rockies. While they are delicious, they are only available on weekends! Beyond the cinnamon buns, Harvest has memorable baked goods made in-house, great soups, wraps, and paninis.
They’re well known for having Gluten-Free and Vegan options in the valley! This is a breakfast/lunch joint as they close in the evening, so make sure to hit them up before venturing out on a Canmore walk.
Cacao 70
Are you a chocolate lover? You can’t miss Cacoa 7 when searching for a sweet breakfast in Canmore. The team here has worked hard to source some of the best cocoa beans out there.
Head here for a chocolaty coffee, or a cocoa fruit cafe. Other star items are the sweet waffles made from scratch, or the Choco-Nut Waffle. If wanting a savory Canmore brunch item, opt for their delicious outlaw chicken waffle or strawberry & goat cheese salad.
Iron Goat
For a Canmore brunch with an epic Three Sisters view, the Iron Goat will not disappoint. While Iron Goat is mainly a pub with pub food, you can also come here for a great brunch or lunch under sunny skies on their patio!
Graze Canmore
Graze is located right on Main Street and serves one of the most memorable Canmore breakfasts around. Graze Food and Drink serves up scrumptious cuisine in a soul-rejuvenating environment. Indulge in their Eggs Benedict, breakfast poutine, or classic pancakes and waffles.
They cater to all preferences with diverse options like Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free dishes. In the summer one of the best things to do in Canmore is bring your furry friend to enjoy the outdoor patio!
Best Coffee Shops in Canmore
Eclipse Coffee
While it may not be the spot if you’re looking for a wonderful breakfast in Canmore, it is the spot for beautiful coffee. At Eclipse, you will find artisan roasts made in-house with a wide range of specialty coffees.
Expect to find the usual espresso drinks ranging from a flat white to a latte and a nice pour-over for true coffee aficionados. This is our favorite spot and where we like to pick our coffee roast for home. There isn’t a lot to eat, other than a few baked items though.
*Eclipse has two locations, one downtown on 8th Street, and one on Railway Avenue near Safeway.
Beamer’s Coffee Bar
Beamer’s has been a local establishment since 1994. They have some great drip coffee blends and delicious snacks for a quick morning. You can find all of the usual coffee drinks.
As far as coffee in Canmore goes, it’s a close second to Eclipse Coffee. In particular, we suggest trying one of their delicious muffins. It’s a toss-up between the two coffee shops as Beamer’s has better food, but Eclipse wins for coffee.
Best Canmore Bakeries
Rocky Mountain Bagel Company
I love a good bagel, and there is no place better to start your mornings than the Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. This breakfast joint is somewhat of an institution in town and now has two locations, including a massive new bakery.
Pick from their wide range of bagels for a mouth-watering sandwich, or opt for one of their homemade cream cheese spreads. I love their jalapeno cheddar and rosemary sea salt bagels.
You can grab a dozen bagels to prepare at home, and if you’re looking to save a buck, buy a mixture of their day-old bagels for a big discount. Rocky Mountain Bagel also offers takeaway breakfast in Canmore, so you can place an order online to save time!
J.K. Bakery
J.K. Bakery offers freshly baked goods every day with a wide selection of bread, sweets, wraps, sandwiches, and coffee. Pick from options like cinnamon buns, paninis, quiches, or even an apple strudel.
If we feel like the comfort of a bakery for breakfast or even a quick lunch, J.K. Bakery is our go-to in downtown Canmore. Best of all, prices are pretty reasonable considering the high quality.
We’ve picked up a number of their loaves of bread to make sandwiches for long days exploring the park. It’s a heck of a lot better than the stuff you can buy at the grocery store.
Le Fournil
- Location: 101-1205 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore (GPS)
- Hours: 7:30 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. (Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
- Website: Link
This French-inspired bakery creates wonderful pastries, bread, and desserts. If anyone loves a good croissant that tastes like you picked it up Paris, and coffee in the morning, this is a fantastic option.
Pastries are gorgeous here and look like little pieces of art. Stop by and grab a mouth-watering dessert or baguette. Their hot chocolate is also fantastic on a cold winter day! As one would expect, prices are slightly higher for the pastries than J.K Bakery.
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Recommended Experiences: There are many things to do in the Rockies, but our top recommendations include the Banff Gondola and a cruise on Lake Minnewanka (here’s a combo tour with both!). If you want a stress-free way to get to Moraine Lake, we highly recommend looking into Moraine Lake Bus Company. For a full day tour, we can’t recommend Radventures Best of Banff Tour enough! Only operating until October, this Ice Walk tour is a fantastic way to experience Athabasca Glacier along the Icefields Parkway!
- Get to Moraine Lake with Via Via until October 14th. Use “LARCH15” for 15% off!
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get Hiking: If hiking, we highly recommend you download offline maps with AllTrails+ to always know your location, preview trails to plan ahead and find trails that fit your schedule. Get wrong-turn alerts and advanced trail conditions to enjoy your hike with less stress and more preparation.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. For a campervan trip, you can check prices and compare on Outdoorsy.
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