The Vermilion Room is one of the best, upscale restaurants to visit in Banff.The food and atmosphere are both exceptional but not overly lavish. Choose from an array of French inspired dishes cooked to perfection, from beef tartare and onion soup to steak frites and filet mignon rossini. However, the deciding factor was the environmental stewardship initiative from Fairmont. They have been awarded the Zero Waste Trailblazers Award by the Town of Banff for their environmental leadership in Banff. Furthermore, the hotel has taken the initiative to set up all kitchens with the goal of reducing food waste. Over 75% of produce is locally sourced from Alberta and the hotel even grows some of its own produce in their own greenhouses. If you’re looking for an upscale, environmentally friendly restaurant with outstanding food and service, look no further than the Vermilion Room.
Wild Flour bakery is the perfect place to grab a delicious coffee, freshly baked croissant, great breakfast, and quick lunch. It is a favourite spot with the locals, myself included. Rivaling any bakery in France, the croissants, baguettes, sourdough breads and coffee are the best in Banff. Wild Flour definitely meets the criteria in terms of taste and service, but what else does this place have to offer? The environment is at heart here, taking pride in using organic flour, free range eggs and ethically sourced coffee. There are in house recycling options and the bakery also supports local charities and community initiatives. Furthermore, Wild Flour is part of the Town of Banff zero waste trail and works to minimize waste as much as possible. Make sure to stop on by during your trip to Banff National Park.
Banff’s best Italian restaurant, named in the top 100 restaurants on OpenTable and Canadas100Best. Lupo is an authentic and contemporary Italian dining experience, with delicious pizzas and pastas to forno roasted wild shrimp and beef bistecca as well as Banff’s best tiramisu. The wine list is very Italian and the atmosphere of the restaurant will transport you to the streets of Italy. As part of the Banff Hospitality Collective, Lupo is a big proponent of giving back to the collective community. A major success has been the elimination of all plastic straws from any BHC venue, which now only uses a perfectly compostable straw. Furthermore, the collective restaurants are “diverse, inclusive, accepting, welcoming, and a safe space for everyone”. Overall, Lupo and its sister restaurants are excellent choices for a meal in Banff.
For an elevated Indian food experience, look no further than the 2023 established Zyka. The extensive menu features great tasting classics such as chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Delicious appetizers include onion bhaji and chili garlic prawns. Enjoy lamb or beef saag, vindaloo, madras, lamb seek kebab, tandoori chicken and many more with a plethora of naan and rice options. Expect a warm welcome and attentive service throughout, bringing the best out of your experience. The restaurant is very supportive of local students and the family is well known throughout the community. Stop by for an all you can eat lunch buffet or A La Carte dinner.
This landmark restaurant in Banff is an excellent lunch or dinner spot. On the lunch menu, you can opt for a “hot rock” lunch, schnitzel, meat loaf and more for an affordable price of around 20$. To finish, enjoy the chocolate fondue which is the best in Banff. If visiting for dinner, you can treat yourself to a complete fondue dinner, with alpine cheese fondue, a wild game hot rock, and bison steak plus many more options. Overall, the meal will make for a memorable experience, but that is not all. The grizzly house has major involvement in the community of Banff and was offering meals to people across the town during times of difficulty during the Covid pandemic. Seniors in town received frequent meals when it was hard for them to get out and about. The Grizzly House is the perfect place to go for a fondue dinner in the heart of Banff.
“Waldhaus”, meaning forest house, boasts some of the best views from a restaurant in Banff. With stunning views of Mt Rundle, the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course and the Spray River, this place is a must if good views, good beer and good food is your kind of thing. You can order Banff’s best burger, delicious schnitzel, savoury sausages, alpine fondue, housemade pretzels, nachos and an incredible chocolate fondue here. What could be better? As a part of the Fairmont Banff Springs, the core values of the Waldhaus are environmental protection to make the world a better place. Stop in for a quick drink, game of pool or a complete and hearty dinner.