13 AMAZING Banff Restaurants With a View!

For a mountain town, Banff has many great restaurants – over 150 of them to be exact! However, not all of them provide the most jaw-dropping views while diners eat. Being in a town surrounded by colossal peaks, wanting a meal with an epic view is justified. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either! If you want to book a special meal in the Canadian Rockies, consider dining in one of these Banff restaurants with a view!

Best Banff Restaurants With a View

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 during lunch hours in the summer, though you’ll have to take the Lake Louise Summer Gondola to get there.

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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 the Banff Gondola for the most jaw-dropping views from a restaurant in Banff. Sitting at 2415 meters, the restaurant operates on a “farm to summit” premise and, when available, sources as many local ingredients as possible.

Arrive at the restaurant in a unique way on the Banff Gondola, which soars up Sulphur Mountain in 8 minutes, providing stellar views the entire way up. However, 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 to work for your food!)

After dinner, take a walk around the platform. You’ll get killer views of Cascade Mountain and Downtown Banff. On a clear night, you may even enjoy a little stargazing.

This is a premium experience, if you are looking for something slightly more affordable that doesn’t require reservations check out the Northern Lights Kitchen, which is a buffet style restaurant with the same views.

*Window seating is based on availability and is not guaranteed.

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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 can get some classic Canadian staples here or enjoy different food items like the Paradise Bowl (a 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 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 in Lake Louise! The Heritage Cart is only open in the summer.

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Waldhaus Restaurant

• Location: Banff Springs (405 Spray Ave)
• Cuisine: Fondue
• Price: $$$-$$$$
• Reservations: Opentable

If you’re after a more refined setting to celebrate 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, particularly on a cold evening when the hearty, calorie-rich mountain food is tough to beat. We also love it for the German beer and amazing views on a summer afternoon.

It’s the perfect spot for a scenic 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! We love to stop here for a beer before turning around and heading back to Canmore.

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Eden at Rimrock

• Location: Rimrock Hotel (300 Mountain Ave)
• Cuisine: Fine Dining
• Price: $$$-$$$$
• Reservations: Opentable

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.

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, so even with the reservations and high price of a meal, it’s more than worth it.

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.

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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 Rundle 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 need to be a Juniper Hotel guest to dine 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. 

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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 offers a variety of dishes, but my 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.

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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 are a few scenic restaurants in Canmore with epic views of the Three Sisters, but if I had to choose the best one, it would be The Iron Goat. Sit on the patio here for unreal views of the Three Sisters Mountains. Here, you can expect Canadian mountain food in a laid-back setting.

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 Alberta game meatloaf, cornbread, or chipotle mango duck wings.

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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 in Kananaskis with great views of Tent Ridge, Commonwealth Peak, and Mount Birdwood.

Guests can enjoy all-inclusive meals with their booking, but non-guests can also stop by the bistro and enjoy a fabulous afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is $35.00 per person (daily from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), 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.

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Cilantro Cafe

• Location: Emerald Lake
• Cuisine: Light Lunch
• Price: $$

Although not located in Banff but nearby Yoho, we felt the Cilantro Cafe was well worth mentioning. Sitting under the President Mountain Range at the iconic Emerald Lake, their patio has one of the best views in the Canadian Rockies. Open for breakfast and lunch, Cilantro serves up light meals and hearty fares, meaning there is something everyone can enjoy.

Of course, you don’t have to dine at Cilantro to get the views, but if it’s a beautiful summer day on Emerald Lake, I wouldn’t hesitate to have a glass of wine here for a second!

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Lake Agnes Teahouse

• Location: Lake Agnes
• Cuisine: Pastries and Sandwiches
• Price: $ (bring cash).
• You must hike nearly 8km round trip and 433 meters to reach Lake Agnes from Lake Louise Lakeshore.

At 2134 meters, this is one of the highest restaurants in Banff. Though it’s not so much a restaurant as a place to have a light breakfast or lunch while hiking. Serving up easy options like tuna salad sandwiches, split pea soup, and banana bread, having a meal here is less about the meal and more about the views and history.

The Lake Agnes Tea House (commonly referred to as the Banff Tea House or Lake Louise Tea House) dates back to 1901, and its name is derived from Canada’s first First Lady. It’s a historic teahouse sitting at the shores of Lake Agnes, and now is one of the most popular stops in the park.

Reaching the teahouse requires a moderate hike from Lake Louise. It’s a busy hike, so we recommend starting your hike early so you’re one of the first to enjoy tea for the day! *Only operational during the summer.

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Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse

• Location: Lake Louise Lakeshore to Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
• Cuisine: Pastries and Sandwiches
• Price: $ (bring cash).
• You must hike 12km round trip and 300 meters of gain to reach the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. From there, we recommend continuing to the end of the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail.

Similar, but less busy than the Lake Agnes Teahouse, this historic teahouse was built in 1927 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and has been privately owned and operated by the same family since 1959. Standing as an iconic stop in the Canadian Rockies. The rustic and charming teahouse has been preserved in its original form, with no electricity. All of the food and drinks here are prepared on propane stoves and the supplies need to be carried in by the staff.

To reach the teahouse, you’ll hike approximately 6 km from the shores of Lake Louise along the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, eventually arriving at the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. Here you can purchase light lunch options, baked goods, and tea and enjoy the glacier views before continuing to the end of the trail.

The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse typically opens up in late Spring and stays open until the larch needles fall in early October. Bring cash for payment here.

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Cliffhouse Bistro

• Location: Mount Norquay
• Cuisine: Light Lunch
• Price: $$-$$$

The Cliffhouse Bistro is a 1950s tearoom transformed into a modern bistro and one of Banff’s most scenic restaurants in summer. Sitting at 2100 meters, 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 only access the bistro by riding the Norquay sightseeing chairlift.

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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.