For a mountain town, Banff has many really great restaurants. However, not all of them provide diners with jaw-dropping views while they eat. If you seek a meal with an epic view, consider dining in one of these Banff restaurants with a view!
Best Banff Restaurants With a View
Cliffhouse Bistro
- Location: Mount Norquay
- Cuisine: Light Lunch
- Price: $$-$$$
- Reservations: Mt Norquay
The Cliffhouse Bistro is a 1950s tearoom turned into a modern bistro and is one of the most scenic restaurants in Banff in the summer. The Cliffhouse Bistro has some serious history.
In the 1950s, it was where hikers and outdoor enthusiasts met to socialize, even including a visit from Marilyn Monroe! Sitting on Mount Norquay, you may feel like you’re in Europe instead of the Canadian Rockies when having a meal here.
There are only 50 seats here at an elevation of 6900 feet, with each table looking to the iconic Mount Rundle. You can access the bistro by riding the Norquay sightseeing chairlift. Once here, expect a delicious mountain casual lunch.
Whitehorn Bistro
- Location: Lake Louise Ski Resort
- Cuisine: Canadian Lunch
- Price: $$
- Limited reservations are available between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Call 1 (403) 522-1310 to make a reservation.
There aren’t many restaurants on Lake Louise Ski Resort, but Whitehorn Bistro is the absolute best out of the ones there! It’s where you’ll head on a winter day in Banff when the sun is shining and snow is glistening. If you are skiing at Lake Louise, it’s best to stop here for an epic mid-ski lunch.
You can enjoy a light meal here, like Cauliflower Wings with King Mushrooms or an Alberta Whitehorn Burger!
Whitehorn Bistro is also open in the summer during lunch hours, though you’ll have to take the Lake Louise Gondola to get to it. Consider purchasing a Gondola and Gourmet ticket which gets you a discount on the combination.
Sky Bistro
- Location: At the top of Banff Gondola (Banff Gondola Upper Terminal)
- Cuisine: Canadian, Farm-to-table, Contemporary Canadian
- Price: $$$
- Reserve Online (Reservations are only available 30 days in advance and they book up fast)
You can not do better than the Sky Bistro at the top of Banff Gondola for the most jaw-dropping views from a restaurant in Banff. 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 anyway. Though you don’t have to take the Banff Gondola up to enjoy the Sky Bistro (you can hike the Sulphur Mountain Trail instead if you want too work for your food!)
They offer two unique combo tickets, one a daytime Banff lunch for around $105 and the other is a dinner experience for $144 per adult. This includes Banff Gondola tickets. They do use dynamic pricing based on demand, so you may find different price points. Though you can also order Ala Carte!
After you are done with dinner, take a walk around the platform. You’ll get killer views of Cascade Mountain and Downtown Banff. On a clear night, enjoy the epic stargazing.
*Window seating based on availability and is not guaranteed.
Lake Louise Railway Station & Restaurant
- Location: Lake Louise Village
- Price: $$
- Address: 200 Sentinel Rd
- See Menu
Not so much a scenic Banff restaurant but rather a genuinely unique restaurant around Lake Louise. It’s here that you can dine inside an old train cabin. Wondering why you would go to a train station for a meal? Well, this is no ordinary train station. This former train station serves Canadian cuisine in multiple areas, including in an old dining car!
You’ll be able to get some classic Canadian staples here or enjoy different food items like the Paradise Bowl (soba noodle dish) and a Spinach Herb Lasagna.
Because of this not-so-obvious location, the Railway station often gets overlooked. You have to know this Lake Louise restaurant is even there to really enjoy it, but once you experience dining in a historic rail cart, you may not want to go anywhere else!
Waldhaus Restaurant
- Location: Banff Springs (405 Spray Ave)
- Cuisine: Fondue
- Price: $$$-$$$$
- Reservations: Opentable
If you’re after a more refined setting celebrating Banff’s European connections check out the Banff Springs Hotel Waldhaus Restaurant for fondue. They serve an incredible Waldhaus Fondue Experience for $95 that consists of gruyere, Emmental, kirsch, and white wine, but there are plenty of other delicious renditions you can order.
We love fondue in the mountains; it’s particularly on a cold evening as it’s tough to beat the hearty calorie-rich mountain food. We also love it for the German beer and amazing views on a summer afternoon.
It’s the perfect spot for a scenic Banff lunch. You’ll enjoy the many golfers teeing off if you get a table overlooking the golf course outside! The Waldhaus is where we always go when we ride our bikes from Canmore to Banff!
Eden at Rimrock
- Location: Rimrock Hotel (300 Mountain Ave)
- Cuisine: Fine Dining
- Price: $$$-$$$$
- Reservations: Opentable
Eden is one of the nicest restaurants in Banff, and reservations here are essential. This Banff restaurant serves up some of the best food in the province, let alone Banff.
Eden is the only Five-Diamond Restaurant in all of Western Canada. The modern French restaurant is located in the Rimrock Hotel near Sulphur Mountain. They serve delicious dishes that leave a lasting impact thanks to the views out towards Mount Rundle.
The menu operates with several tasting menu options ranging from 4, 6, and 10 plate chef tasting meals. To pair, they have an extensive wine menu that is curated by a team of sommeliers.
Don’t miss having dinner at Eden if you are having a romantic night out, on a honeymoon, or looking for a truly memorable experience.
Juniper Bistro
- Location: In the Juniper Hotel (1 Juniper Way)
- Cuisine: Contemporary Canadian & American
- Price: $$-$$$
- Reservations: Opentable
The Juniper Hotel and Bistro is set on a hill, perched above the Trans-Canada highway, surrounded by endless mountains. The views of Mount Norquay from the hotel are stunning. Juniper Hotel is about two kilometers from Banff Avenue, and six kilometers from Mount Norquay Ski Resort. It’s a very short drive away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Banff.
The Juniper Hotel is a fantastic place to stay, but it’s perhaps best known for its wall-to-wall glass at the Bistro. Juniper Bistro looks out over one of the most renowned vistas in the Canadian Rockies, and you’ll get great views out towards Mount Rundle as you enjoy lunch or dinner here.
You don’t have to be a Juniper Hotel guest to have dinner here, but reservations are recommended. At the Juniper Bistro, you can enjoy fantastic cuisines like a warm mushroom salad and spinach and artichoke dip with mesmerizing views of the Bow Valley.
In the evening, as long as the weather permits, guests can enjoy the pit fire with cocktails under the starry skies in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Lakeview Lounge
- Location: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
- Price: $$$
- Address: 111 Lake Louise Dr
- Make Reservations
The Lakeview Lounge is easily one of the most scenic restaurants in Banff. Looking out towards Lake Louise and Mount Victoria, there aren’t many places to dine with better views. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to dine here, as the restaurant is for everyone who wants to enjoy the views! For those who wish to dine outside in the summer, you can sit on the stunning outdoor patio.
The Lakeview Lounge has various dishes, although my absolute go-to is the Apple Smoked Chicken on Butterfly Pea Sourdough Sandwich. If you can try to get a seat next to the big oval windows, though you may have to wait extra long to get this seat, it’s beyond worth it.
The Iron Goat
- Location: Canmore (703 Benchlands Trail)
- Cuisine: Pizza and Pub
- Price: $$
Okay, I know this isn’t a scenic Banff restaurant, but it’s in the nearby town of Canmore. There aren’t many scenic restaurants in Canmore, but if I had to choose the best one, it would be The Iron Goat. Sit on the patio here for epic views of the Three Sisters Mountains. Here, you can expect Canadian mountain food with a stunning view of the Bow Valley.
Although be forewarned on a beautiful summer weekend day, this place draws a serious crowd. At the Iron Goat, you’ll find tasty food items like an Alberta game meatloaf, cornbread, or chipotle mango duck wings.
Mount Engadine Lodge
- Location: Kananaskis Country (1 Mount Shark Rd)
- Cuisine: Pizza and Pub
- Price: $$
- Call directly at 587.807.0570 for reservations
Mount Engadine Lodge is one of the best cabins to stay in all of the Rockies. These cabins, tents, and yurts are located off Spray Lakes Rd with great views of Tent Ridge, Commonwealth Peak, and Mount Birdwood.
Guests can enjoy all-inclusive meals with their booking, but nonguests can also stop by the bistro and enjoy a fabulous afternoon tea. Prices for afternoon tea are $35.00 per person (daily from 2:00pm to 5:00pm), while Sunday brunch is $55 per person.
We were seriously impressed by the food at Mount Engadine. Every meal was on point, especially dinner, which rotates daily and can be enjoyed in your room or communal dining room. Reservations are highly recommended.
Hopefully, this helped you determine which scenic restaurants in Banff to try!
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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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!
