BEST Banff Coffee Shops to Fuel Your Adventures

A cup of coffee is a great way to start your day when exploring Banff. Luckily, there are many great coffee shops in Banff to give you the energy to tackle the Rockies for the day. Check out these local coffee shops around Banff for a tasty brew, snack, breakfast, or lunch. This all comes from two self-professed local coffee snobs.

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The Best Banff Coffee Shops

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Whitebark Coffee

• Location: 401 Banff Ave, Banff (GPS)
• Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

As far as Banff coffee shops go, Whitebark is the ticket. 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.

Now that we live here, it’s our treat when we’re in Banff or on a bike ride through the valley. 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. As far as espresso-based drinks like a cappuccino or flat white, they definitely serve the best in Banff. However, it’s more of a takeaway joint with only a small counter to sit at and a few outdoor tables.

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Trailhead Cafe (in Lake Louise)

• Location: 101 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise (GPS)
• Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The Trailhead Cafe in Lake Louise Village is our favorite apres ski pick-me-up. A nice range of coffee drinks, tasty baked treats, soup, and sandwiches awaits you at this Lake Louise cafe. The staff is always friendly, and they serve some excellent coffee.

In addition to the usual hot drip coffee, they have espresso drinks and creative beverages like a peppermint latte or a “winter’s night.” We’ve yet to have something here we don’t like! It makes for the perfect fuel up or recharge when enjoying a day out in the mountains or coming off a frigid day at Lake Louise Ski Resort.

A particular highlight is all of their tasty baked treats! If you’re visiting from out of the country, you should try a Nanaimo bar, a classic Canadian pastry (warning: they’re pretty sweet).

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Sudden Sally

• Location: 600 Banff Ave (GPS)
• Hours: 7 a.m.–9 p.m.

Sudden Sally is located inside the Hotel Canoe & Suites on Banff Avenue. It is a breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktail spot, but it also serves amazing innovative lattes all day long.

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Wild Flour Bakery/ Little Wild

• Location: 211 Bear St #101, Banff, Canada (GPS)
• Hours: 7:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

This cafe serves up some great coffee and tea along with fresh-baked bread, sandwiches, pastries, and baked treats. It’s a great lunch spot as they have a great sandwich and soup/salad combo.

You can also find some gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food and drink options. They have two locations: the main bakery on Bear Street and a smaller cafe on Banff Ave called Little Wild.

If we’re after espresso in Banff, it’s a close second behind Whitebark as our go-to spot—unless we’re seeking lunch, in which case they have some great sandwiches.

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Evelyn’s Coffee Bar

• Location: 215 Banff Ave, Banff (GPS)
• Hours: 7:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

This coffee shop has been on Banff Ave for decades and has been serving coffee all this time. It has a nice seating area and serves several sandwiches, cakes, and wraps. It’s not our favorite coffee in town, but its location is tough to beat.

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Cliffhouse Bistro

• Location: Mt Norquay Scenic Dr (GPS)
• Hours: 11:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m. (Summer)

We hold a strong belief that coffee reaches its pinnacle of taste amidst the majestic mountains. Nestled within Mt Norquay ski resort, the renowned Cliffhouse Bistro awaits you, accessible via the Mount Norquay Chairlift in the summer.

The Cliffhouse Bistro is situated at the top of the Mt. Norquay Chairlift and is one of the most scenic restaurants in Banff. The Bistro started out as a meeting place for skiers that would brave some of the steepest slopes.

Since then, this 1950s tearoom has been restored and transformed into a modern bistro. The decor offers cozy cabin vibes, all while keeping its rich history.

Head here for a cappuccino and a full dining experience with views. Prepare yourself for an exceptional coffee experience complemented by awe-inspiring views of the mountains, as you savor your beverage at an elevation of 7,000ft. Though keep in mind you will need a cairlift ticket to access the Bistro.

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Banff National Perk

• Location: 220 Bear St (GPS)
• Hours: 6am – 9pm

Banff National Perk, right off Bear Street in the Bear Street Mall, has been cherished by locals since 1988. Here you’ll find a delightful array of specialty coffees, delectable baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, lunch sandwiches, wraps, soups, and desserts.

Additionally, if you’re going out for a hike, The Perk offers convenient box lunches so you don’t have to worry about what to eat while you’re exploring the park for the day!

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Good Earth

• Location: Banff – 333 Banff Ave
• Hours: 7:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m.

There are not a plethora of Banff coffee shops, but for a small town, you can always find a good spot for a cappuccino and to get some work done. Good Earth is one of those places! This is a local chain that began in Calgary that has since expanded all over Southern Alberta and Canada. While the Good Earth Coffeehouse is no longer in Canmore, you can still find a location in Banff, and in Calgary.

They also have great specialty lattes that change with the season, like a cherry blossom latte in the spring and eggnog latte in the winter. Look for this Banff coffee shop at the Elk+Avenue Hotel.

*Looking for cafes in nearby Canmore? See all our favorite Canmore coffee shops!

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Historic Teahouses (Summer Only)

Banff has a few notable teahouses that serve hikers in the summer. They’re a great place to grab a cup of coffee or tea paired with a baked good in nature after a long hike.

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Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse

Approximately 5.5 km and over 400 meters up from the shore of Lake Louise, you will come to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. Here you can purchase light lunch options, baked goods, and tea before continuing along the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. The historic teahouse was built in 1927 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and has been privately owned and operated by the same family since 1959.

The rustic and charming teahouse has been preserved in its original form, with no electricity. All of the food and beverages here are prepared on propane stoves and the supplies need to be carried in by the staff.

The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse typically opens up in late Spring and will stay open until the larch needles fall in early October. You will likely find that the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse is less busy than the very popular Lake Agnes Teahouse, making it an excellent alternative to hiking up to Lake Agnes. It’s best to bring cash (Canadian Dollars) to purchase your goodies at the teahouse.

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Lake Agnes Teahouse

The Lake Agnes Tea House (commonly referred to as the Banff Tea House or Lake Louise Tea House) dates back to 1901 while the name itself takes the name of Canada’s first First Lady, Lady Agnes MacDonald.

The historic tea house dates back to 1905 and has served hikers for over a century. If nothing else, it’s worth checking out the wooded building just to get a sense of the history and its close ties to the conservation movement in North America. Though getting to this historic tea house doesn’t come easily, and hikers will have to hike 7.6 km (round trip) and 433 meters of elevation to enjoy Lake Agnes and all the surroundings. We promise this Lake Louise hike is worth it though!

We recommend getting to the teahouse first thing in the summertime, preferably before 8 a.m. By midday, a long line forms outside the teahouse, and the Lake Louise Tea House is packed with visitors.

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