Food · Banff · Canada
What to eat in Banff
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Banff, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ethan Sahagun, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Alberta beef, Bison and elk and Cheese fondue. The Fairmont Banff Springs and the Fairmont Château Lake Louise serve afternoon tea with views of the mountains; book ahead in summer. Book dinner reservations in summer and over ski holidays; popular places on Banff Avenue fill early.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Alberta beef
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tip about 15–20% in restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink, and tip guides and…
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Alberta beef
Alberta-raised steak and prime rib anchor many Banff menus, from steakhouses on Banff Avenue to the dining rooms of the big resort hotels.
Where: Steakhouses on Banff Avenue and Caribou Street, and the Fairmont restaurants.
Dish
2.Bison and elk
Game such as bison burgers, elk sausage and venison appears on many 'Rocky Mountain cuisine' menus; it is ranched, not hunted in the park.
Where: Restaurants focused on Canadian ingredients in Banff and Canmore.
Dish · Vegetarian
3.Cheese fondue
Swiss-style fondue is a long-standing après-ski tradition in Banff, a legacy of the Swiss mountain guides who worked here; some restaurants serve chocolate fondue and hot-stone grills too.
Where: Fondue restaurants downtown and some hotel restaurants in winter.
Snack
4.Poutine
Fries with cheese curds and gravy are a ski-lodge and late-night staple, sometimes topped with braised beef or game.
Where: Pubs on Banff Avenue and ski-resort cafeterias.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.BeaverTails
A stretched, fried whole-wheat pastry topped with cinnamon sugar, chocolate or other spreads; a Canadian chain with a busy outlet in Banff.
Where: The BeaverTails outlet on Banff Avenue.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Teahouse tea and biscuits
The mountain teahouses above Lake Louise serve loose-leaf tea, soups and baked goods carried or flown up, a reward at the end of a climb.
Where: Lake Agnes and Plain of Six Glaciers teahouses, summer only.
Drink
7.Caesar
Canada's clam-tomato vodka cocktail, created in Calgary, is the standard après-ski and brunch drink.
Where: Every bar in town, and ski-lodge bars.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Local craft beer
Banff and Canmore have breweries pouring ales and lagers named after local peaks and trails.
Where: Brewpubs in Banff and on Canmore's Main Street.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Nanaimo bar
A no-bake Canadian layered square of crumb base, custard buttercream and chocolate, sold in bakeries and cafés across the country.
Where: Bakeries and cafés in Banff and Canmore.
Food experiences
Afternoon tea at a castle hotel
The Fairmont Banff Springs and the Fairmont Château Lake Louise serve afternoon tea with views of the mountains; book ahead in summer.
Teahouse hike
Hike from Lake Louise to the Lake Agnes or Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse for tea and soup in a log cabin; cash only.
Fondue après-ski
After a day on the slopes, share a cheese or chocolate fondue in one of Banff's long-running Swiss-style restaurants.
Canmore dinner
Canmore's Main Street has many independent restaurants and a brewery scene, often with shorter waits and lower prices than Banff.
Quick bites and street food
- Poutine — Pubs on Banff Avenue and ski-resort cafeterias.
- Teahouse tea and biscuits — Lake Agnes and Plain of Six Glaciers teahouses, summer only.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Cheese fondue, BeaverTails, Teahouse tea and biscuits, Local craft beer and Nanaimo bar. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book dinner reservations in summer and over ski holidays; popular places on Banff Avenue fill early.
- Grocery stores in Banff and Canmore make picnics and packed hiking lunches easy and much cheaper.
- Restaurants at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are limited; bring food for a full day at the lakes.
- Kitchens tend to close earlier than in cities; plan dinner before about 9pm.
- Prices exclude 5% GST, and a 15–20% tip is expected.
Tipping
Tip about 15–20% in restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink, and tip guides and tour drivers at the end of a trip if service was good.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Park pass | Parks Canada admission, required to stop in the park |
| Bear jam | Traffic stopped to watch a bear on the roadside |
| Larch season | Late September when larch trees turn gold |
| Après | Drinks and food after skiing |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Banff famous for?
Alberta beef, Bison and elk, Cheese fondue and Poutine. Alberta-raised steak and prime rib anchor many Banff menus, from steakhouses on Banff Avenue to the dining rooms of the big resort hotels.
+Is Banff good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Cheese fondue, BeaverTails and Teahouse tea and biscuits.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Banff?
Tip about 15–20% in restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink, and tip guides and tour drivers at the end of a trip if service was good.