Top restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise everyone is talking about

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Top restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise everyone is talking about

In the last two years, eight new restaurants have opened in Banff and Lake Louise, further elevating the area’s already vibrant dining scene. The ski and snowboard destination has become a foodie haven. Work up your appetite at SkiBig3’s extraordinary resorts – Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay — and then tuck into dishes rife with global flavours accentuated by local ingredients. Here are the top restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise right now.

What’s new: Top restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise

Añejo

Located in the heart of Banff, the town’s newest restaurant, Añejo, features mezcal, margaritas, and a wide range of Mexican favourites, like tacos and chiles rellenos, as well as some less expected choices: Mezcal adobo mussels or the outstanding molcajete de mariscos with grilled cactus, steelhead trout, whitefish, and mussels. Opened October 2022.

Explore their menu.

Location: 111 Banff Ave, Banff

Bluebird Restaurant and Lobby Bar

After a bluebird day on the hill, unwind at Bluebird Restaurant and Lobby Bar. Banff’s newest eatery is located inside one of Banff’s most historic, 100-year-old buildings, extensively renovated to seat 180 people while maintaining its valued ceiling, rich wooden walls and stonework mimicking the town’s main bridge. The mid-century chalet setting is only topped by the restaurant’s fun, cocktail-fueled dinner-party vibe. Tuck into wood-fired meats and fish and fire-roasted vegetables cooked on the hearth in the open-concept kitchen. Settle in for dessert or relocate to the cozy-chic lounge for a nightcap. Brunch is Bluebird’s best-kept secret. Opened September 2022.

Explore their menu.

Location: 218 Lynx St, Banff

top restaurants in banff - bluebird - BHC - skibig3 blog
The creative (and delecious) Rubarb Negroni at Bluebird Restaurant + Lobby Bar. | Photo by Banff Hospitality Collective

Brazen

Brazen, located inside the historic Mount Royal Hotel (circa 1908), pays homage to the pioneers of Banff, honouring the spirit of explorers, mountaineers, and mavericks in every detail. Enjoy shareable plates at this bold new restaurant in the heart of Banff. Opened June 2022.

Explore their menu.

Location: 138 Banff Ave, Banff

Lupo

Featuring one of the best mountain-view rooftop patios in downtown Banff, Lupo’s market-inspired open kitchen churns out authentic Italian fare, including wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta like lobster ravioli, bucatini carbonara, ricotta dumplings and more. Family-style main dishes and an extensive wine list — more than 150 bottles of vino Italiano — make it a memorable spot to toast a perfect day on the hill. Opened March 2022.

Explore their menu.

Location: 208 Wolf St, Banff

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Did someone say flambe? It’s all about performance at Brazen. | Photo by Pursuit

Hello Sunshine

Hello Sunshine features sushi and Japanese barbecue in a retro-cool setting replete with fire tables and two private karaoke rooms. The sleek open dining room features high ceilings and moody lighting, and the wall of windows looking out onto downtown Banff makes this a great spot for pre-dinner drinks or an adventurous meal. Book the Tiny Bar for sake flights or matcha-coladas with up to six of your closest friends. Opened Fall 2021.

Explore their menu.

Location: 208 Wolf St, Banff

Three Bears Brewery and Restaurant

Three Bears Brewery and Restaurant, Banff’s newest brewery, brings the outdoors in with a retractable roof for stargazing, a beer garden with cozy patio spaces and a towering 25-foot pine tree. Add in inventive shareables like crab doughnuts and carne asada lettuce wraps, delectable salads, sandwiches and pizza and you’ll be ready for adventure. Their all-season patio, complete with tabletop campfires and warm, woolen lap blankets, is the ideal après spot for those still sporting goggles and snow gear. Opened Fall 2021.

Explore their menu.

Location: 205 Bear St, Banff

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Sushi? In a ski town? Hello Sunshine nails it with fantastic dishes and trendy decor. | Photo by Banff Hospitality Collective

Shoku Izakaya

Shoku Izakaya is a self-proclaimed Japanese pub serving up rice bowls, noodles, bao buns and sushi as well as fun offerings like nori-dusted Tokyo Fries with mayo, Takoyaki sauce and smoked bonito shavings. Don’t skip the maple miso crème brulee for dessert. Opened Fall 2021.

Explore their menu.

Location: 304 Caribou St, Banff

Farm & Fire

Farm & Fire is a wood-fired craft kitchen in the heart of Banff serving up a menu focused on locally sourced, farm-to-table ingredients: Scotch eggs, cab beef tartare, confit pig wings, and 24-hour brined rotisserie chicken. Unwind, share stories and enjoy local food in a fabulous setting. Opened June 2020.

Explore their menu.

Location: 333 Banff Ave, Banff

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Want to slow down the pace? Start your morning with a farm-to-table brunch at Farm & Fire. | Photo by Pursuit

More top restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise 

If you want fine dining…

Don’t skip these classic Banff fine dining experiences. These classics are still considered top restaurants in Banff and Lake Louise.

The Bison

The Bison, for creative farm-to-table fare paired with a hip atmosphere that somehow feels upscale yet low-key.

Location: 211 Bear St, Banff

Chuck’s Steakhouse

Chuck’s Steakhouse, for an Alberta steakhouse experience with showstopper grilled grass-fed Wagyu beef and family-style sides.

Location: 101 Banff Ave, Banff

Eden

Eden, for an internationally influenced multi-course meal that’s both luxurious and imaginative. Certified sommeliers can choreograph wine pairings from the 17,000+ bottle collection.

Location: Rimrock Resort Hotel, 300 Mountain Ave, Banff

Sky Bistro

Sky Bistro, for a “dine in the sky” experience, take the gondola to this fine dining hotspot atop Sulphur Mountain for elevated Canadian fare paired with panoramic views.

Location: Top of Banff Gondola, 100 Mountain Ave, Banff

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Fine dining that’s relaxed and unpretentious. The Bison is one of Banff and Lake Louise’s hidden gems. | Photo by Banff Hospitality Collective

If it’s happy hour…

After a fantastic day on the hill, head to Park Distillery in Banff to sip the light, limey gin-based “Sunshine Meadows” cocktail.

Lively brewpub Banff Ave Brewing Co. serves up flights of craft beers to wash down tasty burgers, steaks, pasta and poutine. Try their new Norquay 97: Rusty Edges Amber Ale, inspired by the slopes of SkiBig3.

Indulge in a boutique cocktail at the spectacular two-story Rundle Bar at Fairmont Banff Springs, which reopened in 2020 after an extensive $5M renovation. This sleek spot overlooks Rundle Mountain and is the stop for an inventive cocktail or mocktail.

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New on tap – the Norquay 97: Rusty Edges Amber Ale! | Photo by Banff Ave. Brewing Co.

If you’re craving fondue…

While you’re at the Fairmont Banff Springs, don’t skip fondue at the cozy Waldhaus Restaurant, a Bavarian-style cottage in the woods famous for classic fondue, soft pretzels, and divine schnitzel. If you’ve booked your stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise spend an evening at the authentically European Walliser Stube. The dark wood interior and alluring views of Victoria Glacier and Lake Louise provide the perfect setting to indulge in the renowned Swiss fondue. If sharing memories on the slopes is more your style, gather around a piping hot pot of rich, cheese fondue at Lake Louise Ski Resort’s Whitehorn Bistro, located at 6,500 feet.

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A germanic cottage tucked in the woods beside the Fairmont Banff Springs featuring pretzels, Kolsch, and of course – fondue! | Photo by Fairmont Banff Springs

Book a foodie vacation in Banff and Lake Louise

To book your next ski vacation with SkiBig3, check out our featured Ski & Stay vacation packages or call us at 1-844-754-2443. We’re locals, and we can tell you all the best places to eat in Banff and Lake Louise!

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