Banff offers an astonishing number and variety of dining choices to suit almost everyone's dining style, taste buds, and budget. Many restaurants post a copy of their menu outside their establishment, so it's easy to make sure that the menu selections and prices fit with your expectations before you even go into the restaurant.
The dress code for all Banff restaurants is resort casual: no ripped clothing, no athletic clothing, no shorts. (This includes fine dining venues such as Le Beaujolais and the Banffshire Club. Eden recommends ties and jackets, but does not require them.) Of course, if you enjoy dressing up, that's not a problem. The dress code for casual restaurants is even more relaxed.
Tips (gratuities) are not automatically included in your restaurant bill (with some exceptions), however tipping is customary and expected. For more detailed information on tipping in Canada, see Canada - Tipping & Etiquette here at TripAdvisor.
This interactive restaurant map on the Town of Banff's site shows restaurant locations.
Breakfast
Banff's breakfast options are listed in great detail on their own page, Inside Banff - Breakfast.
Cafés
Evelyn's Coffee Bar: There are three different locations for this Banff-only 'micro-chain', and coffee is just the beginning... they've got made-to-order sandwiches, fruit crisp, sausage rolls, cookies and more! Locations: Two shops on downtown Banff Avenue, and the third is on Bear Street.
Jump Start: A quieter cafe with windows facing the riverside park. Lots of lunch options—sandwiches, spanakopita, sausage rolls, quiche. And save room for ice cream, with a half-dozen flavours & waffle cones Located on Buffalo Street just before the Bow River bridge.
Second Cup: Trusted and true Canadian coffee chain selling pastries, loaves, muffins and pre-made sandwiches… or cool down with an Italian soda! Wi-fi hotspot. Located in the Cascade Plaza mall, just off Banff Avenue on Wolf Street .
Starbucks: You know what they’re about… coffee. Location: In the second block of Banff Avenue .
Wild Flour Artisan Bakery and Café: A cafe serving organic, locally-roasted Kicking Horse Coffee with fresh baked breads, panini sandwiches, and delectable pastries (some gluten free). Located on Bear Street, which is parallel to Banff Avenue and one street over. Tip: They've got wi-fi for their customers, so order a latte and buttery croissant to enjoy while checking e-mails.
Serve yourself...
Barpa Bill's Souvlaki: This small joint pumps out garlic-loaded Greek food to go—donairs, spanakopita, souvlaki. Bar stools and counter eating area. Tip: The Greek-style Barpa burger has been voted best in town over and over. Located on Bear Street, beside the hardware store
Bison Lounge: This is the budget-savvy side of the Bison Mountain Lounge, offering gourmet, made to order sandwiches on multi-grain french bread. Enjoy with their house-made soup or salad. Try the smoked salmon sandwich complete with goat cheese, hard-boiled egg, and capers with a glass of white wine. Located on Bear Street, which runs parallel to Banff Ave, downstairs.
Fine Dining
Le Beaujolais: Exquisite classic French cuisine, interpreted with Canadian ingredients. French table service. Located upstairs near the corner of Buffalo Street and Banff Avenue, with windows looking onto Central Park.
Eden: Award-winning French cuisine and wine cellar. Located in the Rimrock Resort Hotel, on Mountain Avenue en route to the Upper Hot Springs and Banff Gondola.
Maple Leaf Grill: Canadian cuisine in a cozy lodge style interior. Game meats, wild BC salmon, Atlantic lobster and Canadian flair. Wall of wines and a sommelier to help navigate you to a perfect pairing. Located at the corner of Banff Avenue and Caribou Street
The New Banffshire Club: This restaurant recently revamped its French-style menu toward creating simple sensuous dishes. Located in the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Moderate Lunch & Dinner
Athena Pizza and Spaghetti House: Specializing in pizza, family friendly. Located upstairs on Banff Avenue downtown.
Balkan - the Greek Restaurant: Family-run restaurant offers Greek dishes and pasta. Their Rocky Mountain platter for two makes a great three-course intro to Greek cuisine. Tip: Greek dancing and plate smashing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Located on Banff Avenue
Bumper's - The Beef House: Reasonably priced old-school steak house with salad bar, located just off main street when your driving into town.
Bruno's Bar & Grill: Bison, beef, veggie, and even salmon burgers with every imaginable topping. classic eggs and bacon breakfasts, located just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street
Bison Mountain Lounge: A bit of everything on the brunch menu - burgers, pizza, salads, croque madame, classic breakfast — but in signature "Bison" style, it's all unique, fresh, local, and made from scratch, even the ketchup! Located on Bear Street.
Chili's Grill & Bar: Offers a huge and wide-ranging menu; their signature menu items include burgers, tacos, fajitas, and salads. Located in the Fox Hotel & Suites on Banff Ave, with a patio open in the summer months.
Coyotes Southwestern Grill: Meditteranean food with Mexican flair, healthy & light. Located just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street .
Elk and Oarsman Pub & Grill: Offers a bit of everything: flatbread pizza, meal-size salads, burgers & sandwiches, steaks, elk nachos & burgers and even green Thai curry. Tip: Steak sandwich special, Tuesdays, $9. Located: 119 Banff Avenue, 2nd floor, above the Ski Hub.
Keg Steakhouse & Bar: The Keg has something for everyone--although they are best known for steak and prime rib, they also have seafood, salads, and soups, and their lunch menu includes sandwiches, burgers, and stirfries. Two locations: 117 Banff Avenue (open for dinner only), and in the Banff Caribou Lodge (521 Banff Avenue). The Caribou Keg has lunch & dinner menus, and a patio is open in the summer months.
The Meatball Pizza & Pasta: Italian style menu with oven baked pizzas, pastas, and of course a few meatballs here and there. Located in the Banff Ptarmigan Inn on Banff Avenue.
Melissa's: Reasonably priced steak house downtown, classic eggs and bacon breakfasts, located on Lynx Street
Nourish Vegetarian Bistro and Tea House: Banff 's only vegetarian and vegan restaurant. Located on the second floor of the Cascade Plaza mall on Banff Avenue.
St. James's Gate Olde Irish Pub: Atmosphere of a classic Irish pub, with dishes to match, including mussels in a coconut curry sauce. Located: 207 Wolf St., near corner of Wolf and Bear St.
Saltlik Lounge: Downstairs portion of Saltlik steakhouse, offering sandwiches & burgers, rancher salads, three steaks, halibut, salmon, and a linguine dish. Excellent appetizers, great for groups to order together with drinks and share. Located on Bear Street, parallel to Banff Avenue but one block west.
Suginoya: This modest restaurant serves Japanese food that has become familiar to Canadians (sushi, Japanese noodles, donburi rice bowls), as well as more exotic Japanese dishes that are popular with Asian diners. Sushi bar; some semi-private tatami mat rooms give a view of Banff Avenue. Tip: "All inclusive" lunch specials from $10-$15 (soup, salad). Located at 225 Banff Avenue, 2nd floor.
Silver Dragon: Canadian-style Chinese food. Tip: Vegetarian menu available. Located at 211 Banff Avenue, 3rd floor, above Sukiyaki House.
Thai & Grill: Classic Thai & southeast Asian dishes–coconut cream curry, pad thai, pineapple fried rice, ginger pork, and to begin: won ton dumplings. Located just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street.
Upscale/more expensive dinners
Bison Mountain Bistro: Unique comfort dishes using fresh, local, and homemade ingredients. Stuffed zuchinni squah, pan roasted salmon, crab & shrimp tacos, and more… located on Bear Street, upstairs above the Lounge.
Saltlik Dining Room: (upstairs) upscale steak house with over 10 different steaks & several fish dishes. All meats are ordered a la carte, giving tables the opportunity to order “family-style sharing dishes” : scalloped potatoes, seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, etc.
Fast Food
Aardvarks Pizza & Subs: Pizza, poutine, falafels, and wings to suit your cravings until 4 am. Located just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street.
Cascade Plaza Food Court: Edo Japan, Dairy Queen, Booster Juice, Subway, Mrs. Vanelli's, Taste of Sri Lanka and Lotus Lotus.
McDonald's: The multinational burger giant, located on Banff Avenue.
Subway: Submarine sandwiches, made to order. Two locations - one just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street , another in the Cascade Plaza Food Court
Dining at the Fairmont Banff Springs is a way to experience the atmosphere, architecture, and history of this grand hotel without staying overnight. Castle Pantry is the least expensive and most casual dining option. Grapes Wine Bar specializes in food and wine pairings (with great fondue), while the Rundle Lounge offers an awesome view along with beverage service or a light meal. You can enjoy a full meal in any of the hotel's restaurants: Bow Valley Grill (buffet breakfast through brunch, a la carte dinner, dinner buffet in winter months, great view from windows), Waldhaus (German / Continental), Waldhaus Pub (casual, pub grub), Castello (Italian), Banffshire Club (fine dining), or Samurai (high-end Japanese restaurant with a focus on sashimi, sushi, and nabemono — dishes such as sukiyaki, yosenabe, and shabu shabu which you cook at the table yourself).
Dining Guides
Taxi Mike and Dining in Banff are great free guides to Banff 's restaurants.
Restaurant Inspection Reports
In July 2008, the Calgary Health Region (which includes Banff) made all recent restaurant inspections (starting with January 2008) available through online search. The five most recent reports can be viewed; make sure to have the name and address of the restaurant handy.