The Best Restaurants in Jasper, Alberta

For something a little different (by Jasper standards), Raven Bistro offers Mediterranean fusion cuisine. Lunch jumps from a niçoise salad to a coconut kaffir lime seafood pot served over sweet potato noodles. Dinners can start with a meze board or feta-stuffed falafels, followed by some west coast mussels steamed in local craft beer, piri piri and mango broth. Elk osso buco is a showstopper with smoked mushroom risotto, while the Spanish spiced wings are a hit at the daily happy hour.

What self-respecting town doesn’t have a Neapolitan pizzeria these days? Famoso does things right, with tomatoes from Campania that are hand-milled and caramelized, Canadian fior di latte, hand-torn basil and low-gluten 00 flour that creates a soft and crispy crust. The pizzaiolos hand-toss each pie and cook them for 90 seconds at 900F (482C) in a bell-shaped oven imported from Italy. The Jasper outpost of this lively pizzeria covers multiple food bases, with New York, Sicilian-style, thick-crust pizza, Italian sandwiches, pasta and more. End with an affogato – a shot of espresso poured over gelato.

This year-round, lakeside dining spot comes with views of Pyramid Lake and the mountains. The Canadian-inspired menu draws on local, seasonal ingredients, so expect local charcuterie, Alberta angus chuck burgers, pan-seared sockeye salmon from British Columbia and gnocchi with tomato sauce and shaved Oka cheese. If you’re going to drive here, make time to head out onto the water, or explore the area on a mountain bike. In winter, go skating, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing before sitting down for a meal.

Under executive chef Tim Barath, Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen sets itself apart with its smokehouse flavors, such as a 16-hour smoked brisket and venison sausage. Side dishes include mac and cheese, baked beans and more. On the café front, try the spiced hot chocolate with rum and a torched marshmallow. On the 10-minute drive from the townsite of Jasper, watch for wildlife. The restaurant is right by the trailhead for Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park.

Who can fault a place that calls itself “Jasper’s original happy place”? Here, the 10-inch, wood-fired pizzas are the main attraction, but there are wings, burgers, steaks, salads, pasta and thick-crust, oven pizzas to attract families, sports teams and large groups. It has the only rooftop patio in town, and well-behaved dogs are welcome on the front patio.