If you're staying in Banff or just passing through, Castillo Italiana at the Banff Springs is absolutely worth the stop. My wife and I went for dinner on our last night in Banff, and it was one of those meals you walk away from genuinely impressed. On the advice of our server, David, we started with the focaccia bread and meatballs. Both were spot-on--simple, flavourful, and exactly what you'd hope for from an Italian kitchen that takes its craft seriously. David clearly knew the menu well and didn't steer us wrong. For mains, we had the Lobster Carbonara and the Lasagna. The Carbonara was rich and full of flavour with a generous amount of lobster, and the Lasagna had that classic, comforting depth you want--no shortcuts, just solid cooking done right.. We learned Chef Tony, Who is of Italian heritage, learned much of his skills from his Nona. What really stood out was the service. David made the whole experience easygoing and enjoyable. Professional, attentive, and genuinely helpful without being over the top. He's the kind of server who elevates a night out simply by being good at what he does. David told us he had been in the area for 15 years and his level of service shows just that. Overall, the food was phenomenal--exactly the quality you expect from a Fairmont property--and the atmosphere matched it. Castillo Italiana delivered a great evening for both of us. Highly recommend! Dress up or dress down - They'll look after you either way! read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Bow River Falls - A short walk from Castillo. - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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First off, I'd like to say the service was impeccable! The attention to detail and the effort the staff made to ensure we felt comfortable really stood out. To top it off, the food came out fast, fresh, and hot. I was exhausted and a bit hangry, so I couldn't fully appreciate the taste of everything we ordered. That said, the dishes that stood out were the seasoned lamb chops, the big prawns, and the fried calamari were all very tasty. Their special lobster carbonara was disappointing, although the lobster itself was good. By the time the food was served that evening, after a full afternoon of activities, it was more about refueling than indulging. read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Look at that dinner spread !! - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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This the fine dining spot in l the Fairmont Banff and it's hard to get a reservation. It's fine Italian dining and the location is quiet and interesting. It's a new circular room with air and light. The staff is terrific. The focaccia is enormous and tasty. The pasta is quite good. A good execution of northern Italian cuisine. Yum. read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Castello Italiana was such a solid Italian spot in Banff. We started with the Caesar salad and it was genuinely delicious -- I love a good Caesar, and this one absolutely delivered. For mains, we ordered the lobster carbonara and the lasagne bolognese, and both were rich, comforting, and really well done. Everything felt hearty without being heavy. Our server really made the night too -- super sweet and great with recommendations, which always elevates the whole experience. And do not skip dessert -- the tiramisu was incredible. So fluffy, light, and perfectly balanced, it honestly ended the meal on the best note. Great food, great service, and a place I'd happily come back to. read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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I'd recommend this for a cozy Italian dinner. The food was fresh and tasty, but nothing particularly stood out. The ambiance is also cozy and comfortable. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and provided recommendations. We don't eat veal but it looked amazing. We ordered the lobster carbonara and the eggplant Parmesan. The pasta was perfectly al dente! They also gifted us an anniversary dessert. This is a great option if you're staying in the Fairmont! read more

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This place is expensive, but it is also good. The thing I would absolutely skip the next time is the bread. Not the best bread I have had, but it was fine. It's also a lot for just two people, but would be better if you had 3 or 4 folks. We also had the carrots to start which were a better choice. They were cooked very nicely which is rare for whole carrots that way. I feel like they are usually undercooked, but these ones were not undercooked. I got the gnocchi and it was very good. There was a solid amount of meat which is great for a meat sauce! I definitely enjoyed my meal. My husband had the lobster carbonara. I tried it taking a bit without lobster on it and it definitely still tasted like lobster. He enjoyed it. The place is a bit small, and you should know that you are unlikely to have much of a view here. Still, it was nice and I enjoyed my meal there. read more

Amazing food and wonderful service! It was a great find in Banff while on vacation. Being gluten free, I had more option than I have ever had in any other Italian restaurant. We hope to be back when back in Banff. read more

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Very nice dining experience! However, be prepared to spend more than a few dollars. Why did we pick this restaurant? 1) It was included in our trip, so we were allowed to order, 1 appetizer, 1 main and 1 dessert each. (Alcohol was at our expense.) 2) I saw octopus and a number of other dishes that looked tasty and thought we needed to try this. Ambiance: 4 stars Small space so you need to make reservations. I'd call it Upscale Casual. Meaning not jeans (definitely no shorts), but you could wear khakis and a blouse. Conversation is easy and the sound in the room is good so that you don't have to scream at your dinner companion. Windows all around so it has a lot of natural light. And with nights lasting til almost 10pm, they don't need a lot of artificial lighting when it's clear out. Menu: 4 stars Really good options from pastas to meats to seafoods. I saw a number of different things I wanted to try. I could have easily made a meal out of the Antipasti, Insalada and Bruschetta sections without even going for the Primi or Secondi. But our meal plan was to order 1 starter, 1 main and 1 dessert, so I went the conventional route. Wine options: 4 stars They had a nice selection of wines by the glass. There wasn't a lot of options for each varietal, but there was at least 1 of each varietal. If you wanted a bottle, there list was pretty extensive with lots of options from around the world. Note, most wines by the glass start about CAD$13 and bottle prices start around CAD$60. Food / Flavors: 4 stars Chopped Salad - So good. Super fresh! Chopped hazelnuts on this salad add a nice flavor and crunch so no need for croutons! Love it. Charred Octopus - I'm picky when it comes to grilled or charred octopus.... while this was good, it wasn't quite what I expected. This seems more like it was steamed with hardly any char, and the meat was pretty chewy. The flavor wasn't fishy but it was hard to get past the chewiness of the octopus. (Note, I compare all octopus dishes to the one at Estiatorio Milos in Vegas which balances flavors and textures so perfectly.) Now, the sauce it was in was awesome... you can't go wrong with butter and garlic. This dish also had kale and chick peas ... both of which I really liked. Eggplant Parmesan - Special for the day - This is Mom's favorite dish so naturally she ordered it, and she was quite happy with it. The eggplant was cut thick and was not overly drenched in breading which was nice. Plus, it wasn't drowning in red sauce... so the eggplant was able to shine through. Speck wrapped Halibut - The dish was nicely prepared and presented. The fava beans were on point. YUM! Grilled halibut was good but not spectacular. And the speck (thin sliced bacon) seemed a little tough. Tiramisu - YUM! YUM! YUM! This is one of the best I've enjoyed in a long time. Nice balance of creaminess to coffee flavor to ladyfinger. Lemon Semifreddo - Surprisingly light and refreshing. A good palate cleanser and finish to a meal. If you want dessert, but don't want something heavy, order this. Good lemon flavor and pairs great with the crunchy almond crumble. Service: 5 stars Excellent Service! Polite, Professional and Helpful! read more

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This place is so lovely. The service and staff were friendly and professional. The food was excellent. And the cocktails were exceptional!

So obsessed with this divine Italian restaurant. It's located in the Fairmont and the concierge recommended it so we booked it. We loved it and can't recommend it enough. The restaurant is tiny and has the most romantic ambiance. It's beautifully lit, has perfect decor, great service, soft jams, and the list goes on. This was the best food we had on our trip to Banff. We started with the Caprese salad and it was the best we've ever had - truly divine and a generous portion. We then shared fresh bread, arancini, and the garganelli pasta. Everything was superb! The pasta had a bit of heat and was so tasty!! We shared everything and left full ... too full to try dessert. This is the perfect spot for a romantic, date night in a place with cool ambiance, great service, and delicious food. Fairmont - you knocked this one out of the park!! read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Every dish we ordered was absolutely amazing! The service was phenomenal. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Would highly recommend! read more

The ambiance was very nice. The staff was on top of things and extremely attentive and very accommodating to our table. The portions compared to other places in Banff were generous. The food was good, but nothing that would set it apart or above any other Italian restaurant I have ever visited. It is not bad, it is pricey, but ok. Since it at the Banff Springs Hotel, I was expecting a little better. If it was in the city and about 30% cheaper it would be above average. read more

I have to admit that I don't understand the appeal of Castello. We went there for a glass of wine and some appetizers which seemed largely to annoy the staff. Sorry, I guess? Extremely overpriced overall, but generally good quality. We had some arancini and antipasti which were quite delicious, but ultimately made up of ingredients you can source just here in Canmore for a hilariously small fraction of the total cost. I won't say it wasn't delicious, including some beautifully pickled olives and fresh breads, but it was simply too expensive. This is the problem with most Italian food. It is inherently inexpensive to make. This has not stopped restaurants for attempting to elevate it, and usually failing to do so while staying coherent to their demanded pricing. Castello does this to extremes. For those that place a 5 star review on this place, I do recommend you branch out to other Italian restaurants. Take the drive to Calgary and visit Bonterra (for a more contemporary experience) or Buon Giorno (for a more classic experience) if you're after some quality Italian food at much more reasonable pricing. read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Antipasti and arancini - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

The price is not expensive at this Italian restaurant at the high end Fairmont Banff hotel. So the price Is good and the service was amazing. I would rate the food as 3 stars as thy came too salty and meat texture too dry and rough. I was expecting the meats to be moist, juicy and tender, that was not the case. However, all levels of serving staffs put in all effort to ensure us being satisfied. Because the risotto came out too salty, we have to have it changed. Our waiter was very kind to help us. And the floor manager was aware of it too. In the end they gave us the very tasty dessert for free. I would rate their service 5+ stars, which saved the overall rating to a 4. If the food actually taste good, I will come again. I hope the meat texture and saltiness get fixed. read more

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Our favorite place to dine in Banff. Can't say anything bad about Castello. The roasted garlic and breads they start you off with is to die for. I don't normally indulge in the bread basket, but I do here. The rest of the food is always good... I have never had a bad meal here and I've been several times. We always eat here at least once when we stay in the hotel. I love the relaxed ambiance of the restaurant. It's not a huge space, which is nice. It feels quite intimate. The service is excellent... you know it's good when most of the staff have been there 10+ years and you recognize familiar faces year after year. read more

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Baked garlic and fresh bread is awesome! Meatball appetizer truly delicious and lounge-side dining is faster with 75% of the ristorante menu so a great combo if seeking drinks with the meal. The modern classics menu of drinks is a great shot at bringing esoteric ingredients into play so give it a shot but prepare to drop $25 for 2.5 oz silver Parton... We had great service at the bar side dining area and despite the dark lounge-like environs the quality of food was amazing. read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Entrance - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We went into this restaurant with minimal expectations because of the 3 1/2 stars it currently had. However, everything we ordered was exceptional! The drinks, appetizer, entrees, and service were all great. The prices are high, but in my opinion they were on par with the quality. read more

Seafood Mixed Grill was really just not good. Two in the party could not eat much of it. Salads were very good & presentation was nice. Serving dishes were lovely with all things served. Cannelloni was really special. It is the Tiramisu that was off the charts. I never order this anymore because it all seems to taste & look frozen or prepared for cafeteria presentation. Believe me when I say you will be disappointed when ordering in Italy if you choose this cloud - like offering. If they loose the pastry chef, I cry for you! Go for late nite dessert & coffee! read more

My husband and I came to Castello during our visit to Banff for our anniversary. We weren't staying at the Fairmont, so reservations are a must!! The ambience of the restaurant along with the grand hotel are both very appealing! We were seated right away and greeted by friendly staff along with great service. Prices are a little high, however I think you are paying more for the hotel and service. The food is good, but we devoured the garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar toast brought to our table!! I would definitely recommend ordering their Tiramisu, it is light, fluffy and perfect!! read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Came here for my birthday dinner, made reservations online with open table- you should probably always make a reservation here, it gets quite busy. Dinner was delish they started you off with a bread basket with olive oil and balsamic and also roasted garlic cloves Meal was great had the margarita pizza and my husband has the viel and said it was the best he's ever had ! Garlic Parmesan Brussels sprouts were my fave side - yum! The tiramisu is to die for her - tip for dessert lovers. Great wine list and the staff was very friendly . Will be back! read more

Italian fair in the Fairmont Banff Springs. I wasn't feeling so well this night and couldnt really eat any of the main courses. The Appetizers were great and the service is spot on. Elegant, romantic, and expensive, I approve if your in the Castle read more

Ate dinner here on Christmas night. My husband and I are both vegan and they were able to accommodate our needs. The prices are on the high end for what you get. The crispy polenta with vegan sausage was really incredible. We started with the bruschetta which was also pretty good. Our second entree was a pasta dish they made for us. It was ok but not great. Pasta was undercooked and just an underwhelming dish overall. Server was super nice. Glad they could accommodate a vegan diet but it felt like we were putting them out by asking for vegan options and it shouldn't have felt that way. Our reservation noted we were vegan and it seemed like the staff in the kitchen wasn't aware. read more

The mussels were cooked to perfection with the white wine sauce, tomatoes, and lemon zest! The Veal was well worth it! It was super tender, with the prosciutto was the best meal I had in a long time! The sausage with linguini was on the salty side. I would pass on that in the future. But the over all experience a 5! Service was good and the ambiance was scenery was spectacular! Almost forget about the fresh roasted garlic for the bread, it was so good. Just don't eat to much and spoil your dinner! read more

Came here for dinner on Saturday night of the long weekend. We were staying at the hotel so it was nice just to take the elevator down to the restaurant. We were seated at a table for 6, a nice big round table. We ordered drinks, beer, white and red wine. Some of my party had the Roasted red pepper and tomato soup $12 which they all enjoyed. My sister and I split the beet salad $15 and it was brought split in 2 plates which was very nice. I had the arugula and pear salad $15 for my main (minus the shaved prosciutto) it was very tasty, but small portion. My father had the spaghetti and meatballs $27 which he really liked. He asked if they could make it with whole wheat pasta and the server checked with the chef, he said that they could but they wouldn't be fresh noodles though. So my father declined and had the fresh regular pasta. My mother had the tagliatelle with seafood and broth $28, she really liked this dish. Younger sister ordered the butternut squash ravioli $25, she really liked it as well. Older sister had the eggplant parm lasagna $29 which is listed under the mains vs pasta. It came with some vegetables and was a bigger portion than just pasta. We ordered 2 sides, the Sicilian accompaniment which was so delicious! It had Organic Roasted Peppers, Zucchini, Eggplant, Fresh Basil & Stewed Tomatoes $12. And the truffled wild mushrooms $13. Overall, we all really enjoyed our dinner and had a lovely evening at Castello. I would recommend it if you are staying at the hotel and want a nice Italian meal. read more

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Very nice experience. Great staff and presentation of food. I do wish they required dressy attire to make the experience nicer. Background music was the perfect volume with a good selection of songs. No pressure on purchases and they even gave us a complimentary dessert for our honeymoon. read more

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Started off great with delicious bread and roasted garlic. Then for apps we had the Margherita Pizza, Mushroom Pizza and Calamari...all dishes were great! As an entree, I had the Marsala Chicken. For me, the sauce was too sweet and some of the veggies were a little chewy. But everyone else loved their dishes so overall I enjoyed my dinning experience. read more

CASTELLO ITALIANA - Marsala Chicken - Italian Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Calamari was good. Worst halibut we have ever had. They recommended it. They need to rethink that. Very small portion of linguine. Go elsewhere. read more

Situated in The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, this quaint restaurant impresses with atmosphere, service and of course, a traditional Italian dining experience. We sampled the swordfish and the seafood in broth, paired with a Petite Syrah. The wine menu was extensive and well priced. Every dish that passed us looked quite delicious, and we wanted to try one of everything. I'm not sure if they had gluten free pasta, but they did have gluten-free starter bread (I was shocked!) which came with roasted garlic and balsamic/oil. The service was great as expected when paying $40/plate. This was the second of two places I dined at during my visit at the Banff Springs, and I don't remember them advertising their gluten-free options on the menu. I'm glad I asked, however, I'd suggest they include this detail on their menus, as often people just assume these products are not available. read more

Everything here was excellent. The starter bread was very tasty and they give you a bunch of roasted garlic to spread all over. The arancini balls didn't blow me away but it came with great sauce. The caprese salad was fresh and delicious. The chicken piccata was unlike any other I've had -- more like a stuffed chicken -- but delivered. I had a bite of the spicy sausage pasta -- quite spicy, which matches my taste, but be advised. Service was excellent as well. read more

Dinner was well done. Had the caprese and calamari appetizer and enjoyed them. We had the chicken piccata which was excellent, spaghetti which was well done and a pasta with sausage dish. Dinners were excellent! And dessert is a must have - especially the chocolate and raspberry dessert. My only criticism was that everything was on the salty side, however we usually have minimal salt normally. read more

Great staff and nice ambiance, but the food was hit and miss. On the upside, our Chicken Piccata was delicious -- perfectly cooked and well seasoned over creamy polenta. Our salad was nice too. On the downside, the meatballs were hard and lacked much flavor. Plus, our Calamari was tasty, but mostly corn meal breading. As a result, the place is way over-priced. read more

Perfect restaurant for a special occasion or treat night out! Small in size and intimate, located just off the main wing of the Banff Springs Hotel. Our food and service here was impeccable. We were served fresh bread with roasted garlic and an olive oil/vinegar plate to dip - we finished it so fast they brought us more bread. My wild mushroom pasta was amazing, and one of the most unique and delicious pasta dishes I have eaten in recent memory. The portion was large, and I was stuffed after finishing it. We didn't order dessert, but they did bring out a plate with a small sweet treat for us on our anniversary. Go hungry, and take the time to savor your meal and the ambiance. read more

Had the calamari to start as well as some red wine! I would say the food quality is worth the price! Definitely recommend and will be back!

This was just okay. It was definitely the least quality of food we had at our stay in the Banff Springs Hotel. We tried about 5 places and this is the only one I would not recommend. read more

Castello was our first"fine dining" experience at the Fairmont Banff Springs and we left the restaurant a mailing, full, and groaning that we were so full we had no room for dessert. Manager Erick treated us like royalty and the food was absolutely suburb. The wait staff was on the top of their game from our drinks to the sorbet interlude to my incredible chicken picatta. Starting off with bread and roasted garlic I knew this was going to be a meal I would remember for a long, long time. My friends and family ordered an assortment from fish to veal to pasta and everything receive raves. You will not be disappointed. But go hungry so you can eat every bite. And let me know how the desserts are! read more

It is a nice restaurant that doesn't quite feel Italian with the odd yellow paint and decor - feels more like a southern 50s place. The service was prompt but somewhat judgemental - we were there for appetizers before going to the spa and our server seemed shocked and annoyed he had to waste his time with us. The food was on point however - we had the antipasto and arancini. The antipasto plate had truffle salami and thick cut prosciutto with honey figs and pickled vegetables. It came with blue cheese and pecorino. As typical there is never enough bread/crackers but fortunately they also brought out some ciabatta with roasted garlic to spread that worked great to put the extra meat and cheese on. The arancini came with a white cream sauce and cheese and were very delicious. If it weren't for the awkward unwelcoming service this place would have received more stars because the food was really good. read more

Please don't eat here! The worst pasta I've ever had. The pasta was so overcooked and looked like mush. I couldn't believe they served it. The poker ragout was tasteless and barely had any pork in it. The chicken parm looked like it came out of a microwave dinner and tasted pretty similar. I poured the balsamic dinner for my bread and a big clot poured out. Couldn't even believe how bad it was! read more

Delicious Italian food! We had the lamb duo- awesome, and the eggplant Parmesan pasta, and beef carpaccio. The portions are very large! Too full to order dessert. read more