Banff in Alberta, Canada, is more than just a beautiful destination. There are great food places in Banff for discovering local cuisine. Writer Lisa Truesdale visited and came away with these three options for where to eat in Banff, each part of Pursuit’s Banff/Jasper Collection of properties, for Real Food Travel readers to choose from.

Save this article about food in Banff to Pinterest to help you remember where to go when you visit. Photos by Lisa Truesdale. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

While exploring the awesome shops in downtown Banff on a sunny but chilly summer day, I saw a guy wearing a massive backpack, stocking up on freeze-dried camping foods and protein bars. He seemed pretty pumped for his Canadian Rockies adventure to start, and I was just excited for mine, even though the two experiences were destined to be worlds apart. Instead of pitching a tent on the side of a mountain, I would be relaxing in my luxurious room at the historic Mount Royal Hotel. And, rather than pouring boiling water into a pouch while huddled over a campfire, I would be savoring some of Banff’s most celebrated cuisine. I hope he had a great trip; I know I did!

Banff is a popular year-round destination, with hiking, rafting, and camping in the summer. It’s also the perfect starting point for traveling the Icefields Parkway between Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. In the winter, it’s your home base for cold-weather fun like skiing, dogsledding, snowshoeing, and guided ice walks, or just relaxing in your hotel sipping hot chocolate by the roaring fire.

The exterior of the Mount Royal Hotel.

Here are three of my favorite Banff culinary destinations:

Brazen at the Mount Royal

The Mount Royal, originally known as the Banff Hotel, opened in 1908. After a 2016 fire, it was completely renovated. When it reopened in 2018, the hotel’s long history came to life. The hallways are divided by decades; interpretive signs guide you as you step from one decade to the next, marveling at the difference in the look and feel of each section. (The hotel’s façade also features separate sections by decade.)

The public areas are filled with history, including a small lobby museum with artifacts, photos, and artwork. Located right in the center of town, the Mount Royal is within walking distance to enough shopping, nightlife, attractions, and dining to keep you busy for days. Yet I didn’t even have to leave the hotel for one of my favorite dining experiences—Brazen, right off the lobby.

The dinner menu at Brazen features small and large shareable plates, like tapas. Since we had a table of six, we were able to order one of just about everything on the menu. The Pork Belly, served over carrot ginger purée, practically melted in my mouth. I’ve never tasted pork belly cooked so perfectly, and I have since tried to copy this dish at home, to no avail. The French Onion Mac and Cheese tastes just like it sounds—an indulgent yet homey combo of French onion soup and classic mac. The Lobster Dip had a unique twist, with corn, poblano, and lime. I think we ordered seconds of that one. But the most memorable dish, to me, was the Baby Back Greek Ribs, delicious fall-off-the-bone delights with roasted garlic, honey, oregano, lemongrass, and a tzatziki sauce that I could have eaten an entire bowl of, yogurt-style.

Brazen, within the Mount Royal Hotel, is one of the best food places in Banff.

Dessert was just as unique of an experience. The Crème Brulée is served in an ashtray-shaped bowl, complete with cookie crumbs that look like ashes and rolled white chocolate as the “cigarette.” If you can’t quite bring yourself to dip into that one, try Death by Chocolate, featuring dark, milk, and white chocolate with a refreshing cherry coulis.

The cleverly created Creme Brulee dessert looks like cigarettes in an ashtray.

When staying at the Mount Royal, also try Brazen for brunch, because some of the offerings are just distinctive as the ones on the dinner menu. I was still full from dinner the night before, so I opted for eggs and toast, but I was regretting not trying the Grilled Cheese Benedict, which one of my companions ordered. I’ve seen lots of twists on classic Benedicts, but this one really looked and sounded tasty, with two kinds of cheese, tomato-basil jam, and sauce choron (tomato-spiked béarnaise).

Because the chef at Brazen sources fresh, local, seasonal ingredients, the menu is subject to change. (But I hope you get to try those ribs.)

Farm & Fire

Speaking of benedicts, Farm & Fire, a farm-to-table restaurant just a few blocks from the Mount Royal, is known for theirs, including one topped with braised bison. Their brunch bowls are also popular; I had Cluckin’ Good Time, a twist on chicken and waffles with pineapple salsa and jalapeño maple gastrique. The chicken was perfectly crispy and the gastrique had just the right amount of spice. One of my companions had This Little Piggy, with pulled BBQ pork and cilantro fennel lime slaw.

We didn’t get to eat at Farm & Fire for dinner, but I studied the menu, and I asked the server for recommendations. Try a flatbread from their wood-fired oven, like the one topped with slow-roasted brisket, tomato demi, dill pickle, red onion, red pepper, horseradish cream, asiago, mozzarella, and crispy onion. Or try the decadent-sounding Vegetarian Wellington, with oyster mushrooms, roasted red pepper, and a variety of other seasonal produce. Entrée choices also include bison tomahawk, pork tenderloin, and rainbow trout.

Breakfast selections from Farm & Fire in Banff. Photo courtesy of Farm & Fire.

Sky Bistro

The Banff Gondola, open year-round, is one of the most popular attractions in town. It whisks you up above the treetops to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where you’re treated to breathtaking views of Banff and the surrounding mountains. While at the top, explore the Interpretive Centre, with interactive, family-friendly activities; watch a film in the theatre; or cruise along the spacious boardwalk to discover more amazing views.

The gondola’s Sky Bistro is definitely not to be missed. This restaurant, called “a dining sanctuary in the sky,” features floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive mountain views for every vantage point in the restaurant. The food, inspired by and sourced by local producers, is just as memorable. The seafood chowder is out of this world, with Canadian mussels and clams, Kuterra trout, British Columbia prawns, tobiko (flying fish roe), and bacon. For a starter, I really enjoyed the scallop, with maple and bacon, which also featured a surprising crunch: popcorn! The hearty entrees are just as creative, including grilled cauliflower that you’ve never imagined before, spiced with gochujang BBQ and topped with walnuts and green apple fennel slaw. The thoughtful, creative sauces on the entrees are quite a treat, like the blueberry demi on the bison and the rhubarb apple glaze on the smoked duck breast.

The Scallop appetizer from Sky Bistro.

As you can imagine, Sky Bistro is very popular, especially for special occasions (two engagements on the evening I was there!). Reservations can be made 30 days in advance, and gondola admission must be purchased separately. Seating along the window isn’t guaranteed, and most tables with that stunning view are two-tops. Also, like Brazen, the menu can change based on the season and the local ingredients available.

-Story and photos, except where noted, by Lisa Truesdale

Please note, as is common practice in this industry, this was a hosted visit, however, all opinions are honest and based on the author’s opinion for the purpose of informing our readers.