Best Restaurants in Banff and Jasper: A Guide

The best restaurants in Banff share the town with the mountains, and the setting is half the pleasure. Banff and Jasper are national park towns, so reserve in summer and on holiday weekends, expect higher prices, and look for bison and Alberta beef. Canmore is a calmer, cheaper base nearby.

Cook in your lodging if you have a kitchen, and never feed wildlife. Keep food sealed, and in the off-season expect some places to close or shorten their hours.

What are the best restaurants in Banff for local game?

Restaurants on Bear Street and around town serve bison and local game, and the best rooms have mountain views. Book ahead, and ask the server what is new on the menu.

Bison is lean, deep in flavour and slightly sweet. A steak or burger should be cooked medium rare to medium, since overcooking dries it. Ask the server about the day's cut.

Where can you find Banff bison?

Banff bison appears on menus across town, from a meatloaf made with lean ground bison and wild boar bacon to bison burgers, tartare and stews at pubs and lodges.

Alberta beef is the other local star. Steakhouses in the park towns serve thick cuts with local sides. For a lighter meal, look for Alberta trout and seasonal vegetables.

What is Banff dining with a view like?

Banff dining with a view is a specialty. Some bistros have some of the best views in town and serve dishes made from fresh local ingredients. Many restaurants in lodges and on upper floors have windows that look out on the mountains and the Bow Valley.

Reserve a window table if you can, and go at sunset. Ask for the view when you book, since the host may be able to hold a table by the glass, but be flexible about the time. Summer evenings stay light late, so a table at nine can still have a view of the peaks, and a late booking is often easier to get than a six o'clock one. The light on the peaks is a free part of the menu. Dress in layers, since mountain evenings are cool even in summer.

What are the Jasper restaurants like?

Jasper restaurants serve a quieter town, with a more relaxed pace than Banff. Diners can sample inventive twists on locally sourced ingredients such as bison, elk and Saskatoon berries, and park lodges offer formal dining, so check the current options.

Jasper has pubs, cafes and bakeries clustered along Connaught Drive. Wildlife, including elk, often wanders through the town, so watch for it on the walk to dinner. The town is smaller than Banff and quieter at night, so check the closing time of a kitchen before you settle in. Many restaurants stop taking orders earlier than visitors expect, and the town sleeps early after a day on the trails. The Saskatchewan comfort food guide covers the Prairies you cross to reach the mountains from the east.

What about Canmore dining?

Canmore dining is a useful alternative to Banff. The town sits about twenty to twenty-five minutes by car from Banff and has a mix of Canadian, Brazilian and casual restaurants, with fewer crowds in the evening. Look for contemporary Canadian cooking built on regional ingredients, and check hours before you go.

Stay in Canmore if you want lower hotel prices and a calmer evening, and drive to Banff for the day. The drive takes about twenty to twenty-five minutes. The Whitehorse guide covers a smaller northern town with a similar wild-food focus.

How do you plan meals in the parks?

Reservations matter in summer and on holiday weekends, when the parks are full. Book early for dinner and ask about patio seating, which fills fast in good weather. For lunch, a bakery or a deli counter is a quick option. Pack snacks for hikes, and carry water.

In the off-season, some places close or shorten their hours. Winter brings skiers and hungry crowds at night. Check each place's own page for the schedule.

How do you keep track of mountain meals?

After a week of hikes the dinners run together. In the Mosey app, rate the bison, the trout and the pub burger as separate dishes, tag the room Cosy or Outdoor seating and add each to a list called Banff and Jasper. An invite link lets your hiking partner add the bakery they found, and the list is a gift to the next friend who plans the trip.

How can you eat well on a budget?

The parks are expensive, but there are ways to eat well. Buy sandwiches and fruit from a grocery store for a picnic. Share a plate in a restaurant. Eat the large meal at lunch, when menus are often cheaper. Choose a pub over a fine dining room.

Cook in your lodging if you have a kitchen. Bring bread, cheese and local sausage for a mountain lunch. The Canada guides hub lists more regional pages.

How do you keep the wildlife safe?

Never feed animals, and keep food sealed. Do not leave food in a parked car or on a patio table. Follow park signs about bears and elk. Keep a respectful distance from wildlife at all times.

After the trip, get the Mosey app, rate the bison, the views and the patios you remember and build a list of mountain tables you would book again.