The Best Restaurants to Visit in Banff, Canada

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Balkan brings lively Mediterranean flavors and hospitality to the heart of Banff. Opened more than 30 years ago by Jason and Joanna Karlos, the restaurant specializes in authentic Greek recipes with fresh ingredients. The couple’s sons, Stavros and Yanni, recently modernized the decor and menu while remaining true to Greek culinary traditions. The interior features rock walls, a hardwood communal table and colorful Greek art. There are special dinner nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays, featuring belly-dancing, ouzo shooters, and – of course – plate smashing.

This bistro, in the hotel of the same name, offers international dishes with a local spin, such as Moroccan-style lamb saddle made with fig, olive, spinach and spice, as well as classic dishes such as the Juniper burger: a house beef brisket and short rib patty on a brioche bun, topped with thick-cut black pepper bacon, smoked cheddar and juniper berry mustard. Set on the slopes of Mount Norquay, the Juniper Bistro has views of Mount Rundle, Vermilion Lakes and the town of Banff, which you can enjoy from the terrace.

The Bison specializes in sophisticated Canadian cuisine made using organic, local ingredients in a rustic chic setting with Douglas fir beams, concrete floors and views of the copper open kitchen. Windows on three sides offer views of Mount Rundle, or you can enjoy the scenery out on the bright terrace. As the name suggests, bison is the signature dish. Try the short ribs with roasted potatoes, or burger topped with red pepper relish, bacon pickle aïoli, cheese curds and double-smoked bacon – served up with delicious fingerling potatoes tossed in a pesto mayo. A wine list that’s strong on labels from Canada and the Pacific Northwest completes the menu.

The Maple Leaf serves upscale Canadian cuisine in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The menu is all about Canadian steak, seafood and wild game with dishes such as grass-fed bison stroganoff and cast-iron west coast halibut. The alpine decor matches the food, with copper and wrought-iron touches, rock fireplaces and lots of wood and leather. The walls are lined with bottles representing the restaurant’s 600 wine labels – it has been recognised with a Wine Spectator excellence award, and the wine list highlights vineyards across Canada in addition to a few well-chosen international selections.

This Banff institution, known for its fondue dinners and retro decor, opened in 1967 as a disco nightclub and began serving fondue to comply with local liquor laws. Little has changed since the early days: the interior features a disco ball, bearskin rugs, wood-paneled walls and other vintage furnishings and the soundtrack is straight out of the 1970s. Each table has a working old-fashioned telephone, which once helped singles connect to each other. In addition to 14 types of fondue, the menu offers Alberta beef steaks and wild game, along with a selection of more than 100 wines.

La Terrazza is an elegant restaurant set in the Banff Park Lodge. The menu changes with the seasons, with both à la carte and multi-course tasting menus available. Dishes include the Alberta wild boar tenderloin, marinated in a fig-infused balsamic then pan-seared, demonstrating the chef’s ability to prepare local seasonal ingredients with flare. Panoramic windows offer fantastic views stretching from Sulphur Mountain to Mount Norquay. The inviting atmosphere encourages diners to linger after diner, sipping a glass of wine by the fireplace.

At the top of the Sally Borden Building, Three Ravens Restaurant & Wine Bar offers some of the best views in Banff thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. Watch the sun set over the mountains while choosing a meal from the seasonal menu. The selection changes regularly, but you can expect dishes such as maple and sake-glazed sablefish with mushrooms, golden beet coulis, dashi braised daikon, alumette potatoes, and nori dust. The menu also offers suggested pairings from the extensive wine list.

A Banff landmark for more than 30 years, Melissa’s Missteak has been voted one of the town’s top restaurants by Calgary Herald readers for seven straight years. Locally owned and operated, Melissa’s, set in a historic building dating back to the early 20th century, offers breakfast until 4pm; burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads for lunch; and a choice of seafood, BBQ, steaks and other Canadian mains for dinner. The upstairs bar is where locals gather in the evening, featuring sports on plasma TVs, darts, pool, pinball and affordable drink specials.