The Culinary Scene in Banff

There's just one week until we leave for Banff, and if there's one thing we can all agree that we're excited for, its the food! Canadian cuisine is all about fondue, poutine, rich meats, and hearty vegetables, (and did I mention cheese?) and as a team, we're excited to try out some of the best restaurants Banff has to offer. Here's a sneak peak into some of the places we'll be dining at next week:

The Chimney Corner Fireside Dining is located in the Sunshine Mountain Lodge, it’s a great place to stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which makes a great place to come anytime. The name comes from having an abundance of cozy wood-burning fireplaces plus a sports bar to catch up on the sporting events. They mostly serve typical American cuisine like burgers, sandwiches, chicken wings, but they also have a Swiss-inspired fondue one their menu. The Chimney also offers several gluten free and/or vegetarian dining options. With large bay windows and wood-burning fireplaces, its the perfect location to sit back, relax, enjoy food, fun, and indulge in the mountain scenery.

Known for it's in-house handcrafted brews and cozy comfort food, Park Distillery is a great place to start our culinary experience on one of our first nights in Banff! Described as serving "family-style campfire food", this will be the perfect way to end a long day on the slopes.

While in Banff, we hope to explore a few local brunch options that are unique to the town. So on Sunday morning, we're headed to Melissa's Misteak! Melissa’s is known as being Banff’s best steakhouse and family restaurant, but they also offer wide variety of breakfast items ranging from simple items like fresh fruit and granola to more filling options like pancakes, french toast and eggs Benedict. Melissa’s is locally owned and operated and has been voted “Favorite Banff Restaurant” for seven consecutive years.

Here's some suggestions for when its time to warm up with a big cup of coffee and a pastry- Wild Flour Bakery and Evelyn's Coffee Bar both have many different menu options that will please everyone on the trip. Check these coffee shops out for that extra boost of espresso to get back to the slopes, or a steaming cup of hot chocolate to warm back up. And when in Banff- order coffee with a bear on top. 

For Thursday night's dinner we chose Bear Street Tavern for its relaxed atmosphere and its ridiculously good pizza. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, the Bear Street Tavern is a rustic hangout spot for the locals that offers thin crust pizza and craft beers on tap. The entrees range from pub grub like ribs, nachos, and wings to an assortment if pizzas that vary from hearty to healthy. With the simple cuisine and reasonable prices, the Bear Street Tavern seemed like the best fit for our early dinner on Thursday night.

Now lets get into the serious dinners- our last two nights in Banff will be filled with some of the best cuisine around, at The Maple Leaf Grill and Lounge and The Bison Restaurant and Terrace. Both are top ranked steak houses, with a traditional Canadian twist. Both have spectacular mountain views, and both will leave us needing an extra day on the slopes just to work off dinner. Enjoy some Canadian coastal seafood offerings at Maple Leaf, or a hearty steak at Bison. Whatever your preference, these final dinners are sure to be delicious.