Not only is Banff a great place to explore the outdoors, the food scene is equally as spectacular as the scenery! Below you will find my favorite food experiences from my time in Banff, which was a rainy one.
Block Kitchen + Bar
This was by far my favorite find in Banff. I highly suggest sitting at the bar and ordering at least a cocktail. The bartender was very talented and put on quite a show. There was a global array of foods varying from small plates, tapas and entrees. We ordered yellow curry mussels and a side of fries with our drinks. For dessert we ordered the matcha cheesecake which blew me away, I seriously contemplated going back for more multiple times. So glad I stumbled upon this quaint little restaurant.
Park Distillery
You can’t go wrong with locally made spirits and fresh food, our cocktails and salads were delicious. Park Distillery is located on Banff Avenue right in the thick of things. And to top it all off, all the servers were super friendly and more than willing to give tips on were to take a walk or go for a hike. They even offer a free distillery tour every day at 3:30pm.
Sky Bistro
Sky Bistro is located at the top of Sulphur Mountain, you can either hike up or ride the Banff Gondola. We opted to hike up and take the gondola down, which is free to ride down after 7pm. The views were amazing from the restaurant and the food was just as impressive. Portion sizes were small, so I suggest getting an appetizer and a dessert, not a bad thing!
Tapas Bar & Restaurant (Canmore)
This romantic restaurant is the ideal place for a special occasion! We opted for the chefs choice 5 course meal for my birthday dinner and it was well worth it. We started the meal with some assorted olives and the best bread & butter I’ve ever had. The next two courses were a gnocchi and a fish dish that just melted in your mouth. And last, but not least, we ended dinner with the chocolate dessert of your dreams!
The Grizzly Paw Pub (Canmore)
The Grizzly Paw Pub is a great place to stop for a burger and a beer for lunch on a sunny day. They offer locally brewed beers and an awesome patio overlooking the main road in town make this place a great stop. My favorite beer was the Beavertail Raspberry Ale. Head across the street after for ice cream from a converted school bus.
Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to find that restaurants in the Banff area make it very easy for people with food restrictions. Most menus I saw indicated when dishes were gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan, locally sourced and/or ocean friendly. I am not sure if this is a Banff thing or a Canada thing, but I really wish more places (hint hint wink wink, the U.S.) would do this. It would make going out to eat a lot easier for me as I am recently gluten and dairy free, as well as many more people with similar food restrictions. Kudos to you Banff!
Bon Appetit!
Don’t forget to book your trip with your favorite travel planner, yours truly. If you liked this post, be sure to check out The Best of Buffalo!
