In the heart of the Canadian Rockies lies this resort town – Banff – mesmerising visitors with its pristine creeks, fresh mountain air, and snow-capped mountains.
Apart from the breathtaking views, a plethora of outdoor activities to engage in, and incredible wildlife sightings, the place also offers delectable cuisines.
From authentic and elevated Canadian fare to international cuisine, you can taste it all in Banff, and the following are some of the most popular ones you should make note of:
1. Sky Bistro
With six Rocky Mountain ranges as its backdrop, Sky Bistro justifies its description – “A Dining Sanctuary in the Sky”. This classy mountaintop restaurant can be reached after a thrilling 8-minute Banff Gondola ride to the top, where you can enjoy Canadian Rocky Mountain cuisine made with locally-sourced seasonal ingredients.
Remember, the menu at Sky Bistro is seasonal, which means the menu when you visit could be different from ours. Nevertheless, from our experience, we can guarantee that you will have a memorable dining experience here regardless of its for dinner or brunch!
The Duck Wings with honey fresno chilli glaze is a finger-licking-good starter. The perfectly cooked duck wings are tender and nicely crispy on the outside, and the honey chilli glaze gives the meat a beautiful sweet/spicy flavour. The haskap berry compote adds another powerful layer of flavour to the dish.
From their Mains, we loved the Chicken and Pork.
The Chicken is lemon garlic brined, which infuses tons of flavour into it, and all the other elements on the plate prove to be the perfect accompaniments.
The Pork comes maple glazed, and the house demi adds a deep and rich flavour, making the dish amazingly delectable.
Sky Bistro has an extensive wine list. But, if you choose to go the cocktail route, make sure you get the Smoked Old Fashioned. Smoked right at your table, this classic drink is certainly a showstopper.
What to order: Duck Wings, Chicken, Pork, Smoked Old Fashioned
Address: 100 Mountain Avenue, Banff, AB T1L 1J3
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2. Brazen
A new entry to Banff’s food scene is Brazen, a restaurant lounge serving contemporary takes on classic, seasonal-inspired Canadian cuisine and cocktails. The restaurant is located inside the historic Mount Royal Hotel, and the bold and diverse menu pays homage to the mavericks who played a huge role in building the town.
Start with the Smoked Beef Tartare. Made with cognac, pickled onion, and truffle oil, the tartare has a unique flavour to it – citrusy and earthy at the same time, and the smoke infusion gives it an enjoyable smoky flavour.
Served with fragrant carrot ginger puree, pleasantly salty and sour pickled mustard, and sour maple, the Pork Belly is crispy, juicy, fatty, and incredibly delicious.
Ginger Beef is a dish that comes highly recommended. Served with ginger syrup, onions, and blistered shishito peppers, the beef is tender, juicy, and fully flavour-packed. It is a favourite on Brazen’s menu for a reason!
The Green Tea Mussels have a unique and interesting flavour. The matcha broth is so good, you’ll soak up every drop with the crusty sourdough slice that comes with it.
Their Crème Brûlée is designed to look like an ashtray, and not only looks fun and interesting but also tastes amazing.
What to order: Smoked Beef Tartare, Pork Belly, Ginger Beef, Green Tea Mussels, Crème Brûlée
Address: 138 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB T1L 1A7
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3. Farm & Fire
Farm & Fire, which was once Ricky’s All Day Grill, is known for its delicious food made with the freshest locally sourced ingredients and prepared in a wood-fired craft kitchen. With fire features throughout their indoor and outdoor dining spaces, this contemporary space is all about bringing people together with good food in sharing plates.
The Wild Mushroom Loaf is unique and is most likely to be one of the surprisingly delicious dishes you’ve tried in a long time. Mushrooms, cream sauce, cheese, truffle oil – all winning elements come together to create this wonderfully scrumptious dish. Just order it, and thank us later!
Available in full and half sizes, the Rotisserie Chicken, citrus-brined, is juicy and extremely comforting, and tastes heavenly with the house jus.
If you visit the place for brunch and have quite an appetite, try the Holy Cow bowl. The beef on the plate comes finely cooked – tender, juicy, and seasoned well – and the slightly sweet and charred roasted red pepper sauce brings together all the elements seamlessly.
Their flatbreads/pizzas are made in a wood-fired oven, which means you cannot not try one! The Funghi comes with the freshest ingredients, including wild mushrooms, basil arugula pesto, and pickled red onions. The crust is wonderfully crispy and charred, and the open fire infuses the flatbread with a beautiful earthy flavour, making it taste incredible.
What to order: Wild Mushroom Loaf, Rotisserie Chicken, Holy Cow bowl, Funghi
Address: 333 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB T1L 1B1
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4. Shoku Izakaya
Banff’s first izakaya, Shoku Izakaya is a Japanese pub serving traditional fare along with quite a few modern Asian offerings as well. The space is cute and modern and has an easygoing vibe, perfect for lunch or dinner with family, friends, and/or colleagues.
Their Shoku Roll could possibly be the tastiest sushi roll you’ve ever had! Everything in the roll is fresh, and they simply melt in your mouth as you start enjoying the flavours.
Shoku’s Skewers are quite popular, and we absolutely love the crispy, spicy, and chewy rice cake skewers – Ttoekkochi Rice Cakes.
The Pork Katsu Bao Buns are very filling and mouth-wateringly delicious. The pork is crispy, juicy, and tender, and the tonkatsu sauce and Japanese curry sauce add a balanced savoury touch.
The sweet and spicy Korean Fried Chicken is something you’ll see on almost every table around the restaurant, and the Spicy Shrimp Roll is on fire!
You can also find some wonderful fusion desserts at Shoku Izakaya, like the Matcha Blondie and Maple Miso Creme Brulee. It goes without saying that both taste exquisite!
What to order: Shoku Roll, Ttoekkochi Rice Cakes, Pork Katsu Bao Buns, Korean Fried Chicken, Matcha Blondie, Maple Miso Creme Brulee
Address: 304 Caribou Street, Banff, AB T1L 1A1
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5. The Bison Restaurant
Named one of the top fine dining restaurants in Canada, The Bison follows a farm-to-table approach, with an ever-changing seasonal menu that features locally grown, sustainably farmed, and organic protein and produce. The place screams rustic elegance, offering unbeatable mountain views.
How can the restaurant be “The Bison” without bison on their menu?! Their bison creations taste out of this world, especially the Bison Short Rib. Tender, succulent, and falling off the bone, the meat is so flavourful, you’ll want to eat it slowly to make it last forever, and tastes even better with the other elements on the plate.
The Bison Bolognese tastes equally good if not better, and is more soulful and satisfying.
The Cast Iron Lasagna is classic comfort food amplified! Made fresh, from scratch, this pasta dish is meaty, cheesy, saucy, and all things drool-worthy!
If you’re ordering dessert, you have to get their Seasonal Sorbet. No matter the flavour, what you get will be an absolutely refreshing wonder!
What to order: Bison Short Rib, Bison Bolognese, Cast Iron Lasagna, Seasonal Sorbet
Address: 211 Bear Street #213, Banff, AB T1L 1E4
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6. SALTLIK Banff
With locations in Calgary and Banff, SALTLIK is an upscale Canadian steakhouse focused on offering premium dishes along with wine and craft cocktails. Nestled under the Banff mountain peaks, the elegant modern ambience of the place matches perfectly with the solitude of the mountains.
Starting your meal with the sweet, savoury, and bubbly French Onion Soup would be just perfect!
Steaks at SALTLIK hit the spot just right, every time, and you can never go wrong with the Ribeye. While you can select from different sauces to go with your steak, we always love a good Peppercorn Sauce for the kick.
Do you know what goes well with a perfectly cooked steak? SALTLIK’s famous Lobster Mashed Potato. You can taste the smooth and creamy mash, and the buttery and sweet lobster, no compromise whatsoever!
Served on a bed of cauliflower puree, and roasted vegetable and asparagus on the side, the New York Striploin will tingle your taste buds as it arrives at your table. The beautifully and evenly seared and cooked meat glistens with a pink hue on the inside and tastes marvellous.
And don’t forget the Sticky Toffee Pudding. The dense and gooey toffee sponge soaks in the sticky toffee sauce, and the subtle vanilla bean ice cream cuts the sweetness, making the dessert all the more seductive.
What to order: French Onion Soup, Ribeye with Peppercorn Sauce, Lobster Mashed Potato, New York Striploin, Sticky Toffee Pudding
Address: 221 Bear Street Banff, AB T1L 1B3
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8. Waldhaus Restaurant
Located in a Bavarian-style cottage by the Spray River, Waldhaus brings to you authentic Alpine cuisine, both hearty and memorably delicious. With a large fireplace, wood panelling, and a rustic wine cabinet, the restaurant is warm, cosy, and charming.
Waldhaus brings Germany to the Canadian Rockies with its exemplary food offerings.
Start with the Soft Pretzels. Served with whipped butter and mild and flavourful beer mustard, the pretzels are warm, crisp, brittle, and pleasantly tasty.
At Waldhaus, you can have a classic Swiss fondue experience right by the mountains and rivers. The Classic fondue never goes out of style; it comes to your table hot and bubbling, and you get apples, baguette, and gherkins to dip into the cheesy goodness.
We strongly recommend that you get cured meats for dipping into the bubbly cheese, at an extra cost; it will be totally worth it!
And of course, you should get the most popular Waldhaus Schweineschnitzel. Try the Classic, with just fresh lemon, or go with the Jaeger, which comes smothered in a rich and decadent mushroom and onion cream sauce.
For dessert, we recommend the classic, flaky, buttery, and sweet Apple Strudel.
What to order: Soft Pretzels, Classic fondue, Waldhaus Schweineschnitzel (Classic or Jaeger), Apple Strudel
Address: 405 Spray Avenue Banff Springs Hotel Banff, AB T0L
9. Block Kitchen + Bar
A lovely, dynamic, and vibrant hot spot in Banff, Block Kitchen + Bar offers a globally-inspired menu along with creative and refreshing cocktails to be enjoyed in a hip-rustic setting. The restaurant comes highly recommended by its regulars and is the kind of place that will make you a regular right after your first visit.
The lightly-seared Ahi Tuna Tataki tastes fresh and melts away as soon as it touches the tongue. The sesame crust adds a contrasting texture to the fish, and the zen dressing gives it a citrusy punch.
The Thai Mushroom Risotto, flavoured with fragrant and distinctly flavoured Thai curry broth, is likely to rank among the top 3 risottos you’ve had in your life. Yes, it isn’t the classic, but it most certainly deserves the spot!
Served with house chutney and crostinis, the Pig Duck & Fig Rillettes is chunky, fatty, well-seasoned, fragrant, and an extremely enticing delicacy.
Another outstanding dish here is the Pan-Flashed Spicy Prawns. The flavour-dense peanut sauce makes the ideal dipping sauce for the enjoyably hot prawns.
What to order: Ahi Tuna Tataki, Thai Mushroom Risotto, Pig Duck & Fig Rillettes, Pan-Flashed Spicy Prawns
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10. Coyotes Southwestern Grill
A vegan-friendly restaurant where everything is made from scratch with fresh, quality ingredients – Coyotes Southwestern Grill delivers bold flavours of the Southwest in the heart of Banff. This locally-owned place is quite small and has a homey atmosphere loved by everybody.
Coyotes’ homemade soups are heartwarming and tasty, like the Corn Tortilla & Chicken Soup. The soup is filled with Southwestern flavours – bold, flavourful, smoky, and spicy – and tastes great with the crispy tortillas garnished on top.
The Chimayo Chile and Honey Glazed Salmon is fresh, flaky, sweet, and smoky, and is easily one of the best-prepared salmon dishes in the region.
The restaurant’s enchiladas have an exclusive fan following. Try the Blue Corn Chicken Enchilada and Pulled Pork Enchilada to know why!
Open for breakfast too, Coyotes serves some seriously wicked bennies, like the Southwestern Spicy Chorizo Sausage benedict.
An indulgent breakfast option would be the Cream Cheese and Berry French Toast. Here, sourdough bread is stuffed with mixed berries and cream cheese to form a sinfully indulgent breakfast dish.
What to order: Corn Tortilla & Chicken Soup, Chimayo Chile and Honey Glazed Salmon, Blue Corn Chicken Enchilada, Pulled Pork Enchilada, Southwestern Spicy Chorizo Sausage benedict, Cream Cheese and Berry French Toast
Address: 206 Caribou Street Banff, AB T1L 1A2
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11. The Grizzly House
Operating since 1967, The Grizzly House is the OG of fondue in the Canadian Rockies. This landmark restaurant continues to be a space for the community to gather, has a rustic atmosphere, and offers a unique and adventurous menu for a standout dining experience.
To enjoy the complete fondue experience at The Grizzly House, you can choose from one of their Complete Fondue Dinners. This four-course meal starts with a soup or salad, and the remaining three courses revolve around different types of fondue, delivered to your preference.
Feeling adventurous? Try the Rattlesnake Fondue (that’s right!). Served on a hot rock with their special sauces, the meat of the snake is quite gamey and chewy, and tastes quite good. Of course, you need to bring out the daredevil in you to taste this dish, but in the end, you’ll like it.
The BC Smoked Trout is a light appetiser. Of course, the fish is fresh and flaky, and the trout pate it is served with is deliciously creamy.
Served with rich, creamy, and earthy wild mushroom sauce, the Alberta Ribeye Steak comes cooked perfectly and tastes rich, buttery, and delicious.
What to order: Complete Fondue Dinner, Rattlesnake Fondue, BC Smoked Trout, Alberta Ribeye Steak
Address: 207 Banff Avenue Banff, AB T1L 1B4
12. Maclab Bistro
Wanna grab a quick meal to enjoy it on the picnic tables? Maclab Bistro is your next stop! Providing you with all types of house-made burgers, flatbreads, salad, and drinks, Maclab Bistro also has a large dog-friendly green area looking out over the Bourgeau Range where you can take away and enjoy the food outside.
Settle down with the Pepperoni & Bacon Pizza, which is fairly basic but delicious and super cheesy with double shaved Grizzly gouda, and shredded mozzarella. It’s never out of trend, isn’t it? Or you can also have the Marinated Chicken Filets, which is no less stunning with sweet-salty, herbal-ish taste and creamy, cheesy texture.
Maclab Bistro is also known and loved for the Pulled Pork Sandwich that comes up with juicy pork shoulder, goat cheese, creamy garlic sauce that tastes too good to be true!
What to order: Pepperoni and Bacon Pizza, Marinated Chicken Filets Pizza, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Cheeseburger, Caesar Salad, Chicken Strips.
Address: 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive Banff, AB T1L 1H5
13. Ticino Swiss-Italian Restaurant
Being one of the oldest restaurants in Banff, Ticino Swiss-Italian Restaurant will bring you the true taste and atmosphere blending of Swiss, Italian, and Canadian influences. In case you especially want to slow down a bit, feeling relaxed and unwind to enjoy the quality food, there can’t be any better options than this cozy, welcoming restaurant on the main strip of Banff Avenue.
You can never go wrong with their Fonduta “Mar-E-Mont”, a light fondue with thinly sliced beef and cooked shrimp, complemented by a variety of house-made sauces that are hard to turn a blind eye on. For a sweeter, creamier version, try out the famous Fonduta di cioccolata! A traditional Swiss chocolate fondue served with seasonal fruits and house-made banana bread.
Don’t leave without having their Fruitti de mare in your order. This mildly spicy pasta with seafood and vodka tomato sauce can light up your day (and night)!
What to order: Fonduta “Mar-e-mont”, Fonduta di cioccolata, Fruitti de mare, Ravioli ripeni di vitello, Salmone grigliato
Address: High Country Inn 415 Banff Avenue Banff, AB T1L 1B5
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14. Nourish Bistro Banff
Shout out to all the vegetarians, this place is specially made for you! Located right off the beaten path, Nourish Bistro has been Banff’s very own vegetarians’ heaven with fresh, creative vegan cuisine. Step inside to fully their vibrant atmosphere, and plant-based comfort food like nowhere else.
Settle down with some Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Kimchi Burger, and the top-favorite World Famous Nachos. While the ravioli is pretty mild, elegant, and balanced with an exotic mix of lobster mushroom, house vegan cashew cheese, lavender cream sauce; the burger is giving you a tastebud kick with house-fermented kimchi, cheese, and sweet chili sauce drizzling all over.
Finally, the king of the show – World Famous Nachos! Fully loaded with over 27 ingredients, everything from beans and quinoa to dill pickles and strawberries. It tastes so unique and incredible that you will instantly want more and more!
What to order: Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Kimchi Burger, World Famous Nachos, King Kong Noodle, Mac ‘n’ Squeeze.
Address: 110-211 Bear Street Banff, AB T1L 1A8
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15. Magpie & Stump Restaurant
Magpie & Stump is one of Banff’s oldest restaurants that offers all sorts of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and a wide variety of cocktails. “Come for the food and stay for the drink”, that’s what they always say about Magpie & Stump. With a sun-drenched rooftop and an open-air patio, come by and enjoy this amazing, little piece of Mexico in Banff.
In case you need some advice, always have yourself some Mexican Wings, their tastes are literally a bomb! These wings are marinated in authentic Mexican style, perfectly fried, and remain that on-point moist. Dip them in Magpie & Stump secret hot sauce to see how powerful they are!
Up next, don’t hesitate to go for the G.O.A.T Nachos, which is in short of Greatest Of All Time, and it is. Combining carnitas pork, sour cream, hot peppers, black olives, and stuff, this nachos is rich, mouth-watering, and full of flavors. A solid 10 out of 10!
What to order: Mexican Wings, G.O.A.T Nachos, Baja California, Shrimp Tostada, Chicken Quesadilla.
Address: 203 Caribou Street Banff, AB T1L 1A8
The immaculate natural beauty of Banff makes dining out a glorious experience, no matter the time of day. For amazing brunch places in town, all you need to do is check out our best Banff brunch restaurants post.
Where to stay in Banff
Deciding where to eat in Banff can be frustrating as there are tons of options. However, we hope to get you covered with these suggestions above, from casual, affordable eats to more upscale bites! Plus, be sure to follow up on Things To Do In Banff in order not to any information about this famous mountain town!