The ice cream was ok, the service was good but the serving portions were very small. You stand in line, usually a long line to get ice cream. I'll try another ice cream joint instead of coming back here. read more

Friendly service and delicious ice cream--not overly sweet yet still tasty. Many out of the ordinary flavors from which to choose. The cow theme was fun too. Expect a long wait/line and fairly high prices. read more

very busy ice cream spot in the banff downtown area; you might see a huge line outside waiting to get in the ice cream shop. prices are reasonable. You get one scope for 6 to 7 bucks. I think it's cool. It's a very small ice cream shop so don't expect to have some chairs to dine in inside. read more

This is supposed to be an incredible ice cream place. I was not impressed with the ice cream. Especially this size of the scoop. The flavor from the cone overpowered the ice cream. After being in Canada for a whole week and trying several ice cream places like Rosie's in Bayfield, AMAZING, I could not believe how let down I was from this place. I did purchase the cheese and that was delicious, that I recommend. But had to give this place 2 stars because of how cheap they were on their portion. I recommend getting 2 scoops or letting them know that you should get what you paid for. Again, I'm sure other flavors were better but the mint chip was uneventful. read more

Saw a long line waiting for this so We decided to try. The line move quite quickly. When get in they let us sample the ice cream before orders it. This is a plus because some of the flavors we don't have in US so it was nice to try it before we ordered it. Single scoops comes with original waffle with no extra charge. If you pick other waffle will be additional $1.50. We ordered single scoop- the Nanamoo and my friend for cookies monster. They both good! I also sample the sea salt toffee that also good. Next will definitely get it. So if you're thinking about trying, try! It's good! You won't regret. read more

COWS - Nanamoo and cookies monster - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

This place consistently has a line out the door around dinner time, so a few friends stopped by to see what it was all about. The line does go by pretty fast even though it's long. I tried the Messie Bessie and it is suuuuper chocolatey, so if you're in the mood to indulge, I'd recommend this flavor. I liked the English toffee chucks in the chocolate ice cream! Overall, I liked Cows! Their merch is also extremely cute. I bought the ice cream pajamas for my nephew and the ice cream hair scrunchy for myself :) read more

COWS - Messie Bessie - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Great ice cream! We picked Ciwandian Maple, Moo Crunch flavors. The line looks long, but moves pretty fast! read more

this is the cutest store ever and ice cream shop we came twice during our 5-day vacation. cannot remember the names of the flavors but they were so good!! I love how everything is cow themed and I even got a cow bucket hat as a souvenir for my boyfriend back home. I definitely think that they should have this as a retail chain especially back in the USA because I would most definitely come again and again! their service is also very fast and friendly. read more

Over the years the price only goes up as the serving sizes go down. The flavors used to be full of yummy additions and now you're lucky if you get one small piece of a half cookie dough bite. Wish I could recommend like before but sadly not worth the price anymore read more

Love it! Worth the line. Delicious ice cream and hilarious shirts I had the strawberry and peanut butter cup ones. And I loved both. read more

COWS - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Had a 15-20 min wait but was worth it! Lots of different flavors and had an attached gift shop with bunch of cute cow themed items. Service once you got to the front was fast and the staff was very nice. A little pricey but we really enjoyed the Messie Bessie and Wowie Cowie read more

Located within the main Banff shopping strip. They have a lot of cute and funny cow merchandise. Found this place and surprisingly had a lot of people getting ice-cream during the winter. They had creative and unique flavors - they recommended me the Wowie-cowie (vanilla ice cream with English toffee marble, chocolate flakes and moo crunch and it was delicious!! Even my husband who doesn't really have a sweet tooth enjoyed it! Very creamy and tasty. We tried it on a cone the first time and it wasn't anything to rave about so we got it in a cup the second time. Yes, we were there for only a few days in Banff and went there twice! Recommend to check them out for dessert! read more

COWS - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

See all

I was living in Lake Louise so I would visit Banff quite often for groceries and going out in the town. I would always see a huge line up of all the tourists and locals outside of Cow's Ice-cream Shop! I believe the price was a little higher than what I'm used to back home in Ontario, but it is a tourist town so it's to be expected. I got 2 scoops in a cup for about $7-10 I believe. It was really good ice-cream and you could try samples of the flavours before you made your final choice! It was such a nice little sweet treat in the summer months. Picture taken in front of the iconic cascade mountain read more

COWS - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Pretty decent ice cream. They also sell some really cute and punny merch inside so I would recommend checking them out. read more

COWS - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Fantastic ice cream - we picked up a couple of pints to bring back to our hotel, highly recommend gooey mooey (Burnt sugar ice cream, English toffee marble, caramel cups, and chocolate flakes) holy smokes is it ridiculously good. read more

Cute little ice cream shop. A wide variety of flavours and options for anyone to enjoy. I think what makes it so interesting is the mix variety of flavours and the simple fact that it's a hidden gem. I like the word play they use to name their flavours. read more

COWS - Moochiato. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Ehhh sorry to disappoint but the ice cream was just OK. We had a ton of ice cream on our trip and out of the 5 places we went it was the 3rd best? Also, they had run out of a bunch of flavors so didn't even get to try the kind we wanted. Service was to be expected just nuts and get em in get em out because of the line. Wish we had gone to beaver tail or whatever but we left the next AM so didn't have a chance. read more

I came in very primed to give a five-star review, but unfortunately I don't think I can justify it in this case. Two of the three ice cream flavors we tried were quite good, but unfortunately the line is pretty long, and the new policy of not allowing samples is pretty disappointing when you wait in such a long line for your ice cream. Still, I think worth a visit if you're going to be in a line of, say, less than 15 minutes. Beyond that, I probably wouldn't do this again, or at least would pick very carefully which flavors. Specifically, we tried the mint chocolate and found it much more mint-forward than we were expecting. The different flavors with chocolate crunch we thought were pretty good and would definitely get again in the future. The store does have a variety of fun cow-themed merchandise, which we enjoyed looking at, although found a bit pricey to purchase. read more

This location of cows was very popular. There was a line outside the door every time I passed by. Though there was a long line well outside the door, the employees worked very quickly to keep the line moving. There were a variety of flavors that rotated. Many of the flavors were cow puns, so it was a bit difficult to decipher what was in each flavor until you were in the front of the line. I had a shake, which was delicious and my friend had a single scoop which was a quite small portion size. The waffle cone was fresh and delicious. This location had a good amount of merchandise for sale, but no washroom, though, this location is close to the public washrooms down the street. read more

I LOVE COWS!! This was my first time trying the native Canada ice cream brand and it was so good! The line for COWS was about a 30 minute wait, but it was well worth it because as soon as you enter the establishment you're greeted by the sweet smell of ice cream. I got the birthday cake flavor and it was wonderful with a delicious vanilla base folded with blue frosting and colorful sprinkles. For the cost, this ice cream is incredible, and the wait wasn't terribly horrible considering the waits in Banff overall. read more

Staff was rude and impatient, they spent a ton of time weighing cones (to make sure to not give you too much) the cone was as hard as a rock and the ice cream nothing special. Staff made tips seem mandatory on the checkout screen. I wouldn't go back even if it was 110 degrees out. read more

I takes 20 minutes to get into the building cause the huge lines and the ice cream is MID

Cows is a great dessert place along with gift shop showing memorabilia of cows! We decided to try it out for dessert, since that Baklava from Balkans Restaurant was a bit overwhelming. We shared a basic coffee ice cream in a cup. Pretty thick, creamy (not icy), and good coffee flavor. They had a sign advertising being on someone's top ten list of best ice creams in the world, but I find such lists udderly unreliable. Folks from SF Bay Area would have a cow if places like Mitchells, Bi-Rite, or my personal favorite Yersen Gelato in Danville didn't crack that top-ten. They even put Ben & Jerry's up there! Anyways, the store has quick and friendly service. I liked the gift shop - very cute. read more

See all

Cows is a Canadian ice cream shop. There are ten locations spread throughout Canada. I was curious to try the ice cream here as I had never heard of it before. The cow logo lured me in and I really wasn't expecting much. There was so much cow decor, this place just screams cows. Right next to the ice cream they sell a variety of cow t-shirts, mostly parodies of movies, games, websites, and lifestyles. For example, Moovengers, Moogle, Moonions, yeah they replace the names with Moo. The flavors were limited probably around 10-15. I don't remember what flavors they had just remembered the one that I chose. I had Oreo Cookie ice cream and I normally don't like saying best I ever had, but seriously it was the best. The oreo cookies had good texture, it wasn't chalky. Good oreo cookie flavor. The flavor of the sweet cream part was just fantastic. It wasn't overly sweet but super smooth and I devoured the whole thing. It wasn't until after I ate the ice cream that I saw a sign saying that Cows was voted Canada's Best Ice Cream. After having their ice cream, I do believe it. We went back here for another day because I wanted a cow t-shirt. I ended up getting a Moonions one. I couldn't resist! It happened to snow heavily the second time I went there so it was no surprise that the ice cream part of the shop was closed for that day. The service was good. The employees at the shirt area and the ice cream area were pretty friendly! Overall, a great ice cream shop with some funny cow shirts. Will be back here when I'm in Banff! read more

See all

Great ice cream. You'll smell the wafting aroma of their waffle cones as you wait. The service was okay; I had a new employee who was very kind but a bit unsure. read more

Like someone else said, it wasn't bad at all. However if you have been to Salt and Straw, this isn't in the same league. Blueberry was light flavor, cherry was similar to cherry Garcia. Not worth a huge wait in line, especially for price. read more

Average ice cream. Not worth the line if it's 5+ min. Positive you can find other ice cream in Banff. Employees where nice.

Ice cream was good. They must be open all year because we were there in January and were able to get ice cream. I appreciate that! Just because it's cold doesn't mean I don't want to eat cold food. The ice cream was good, but it didn't change my life like I thought it would from the other reviews. The flavors weren't super spectacular, which is ok. I'm fine with just killer ice cream. This was good, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't amazing. It's a good place to stop for ice cream, though, when on the strip. read more

I came here 4 times in 2 days! Lol So I think it's safe to say that I give this a resounding 5 stars. This is the only local ice cream shop that I came across in Banff. You can't miss it with the small of fresh waffle cones coming from the store. Just follow the smell. The line can get long but it goes fairly quick. Scopes are done by weight. I'm not exactly sure what the weight is but you'll see them weigh the cone / cup after they've scoped it. Ice cream flavor names are cow themed, and all of them were great! There wasn't one I got that I didn't like. Loved that it's rich and creamy. There is an adjacent store where you can purchase Cow souvenirs. No seating available inside but most people sit / stand outside the building or you'll see people walking around with ice cream cones. read more

COWS - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

This place has really cute merchandise and smells amazing from their waffle cones they are making. The ice cream is really yummy. long lines in the summertime. I bought some chocolate covered potato chips and had an ice cream waffle cone. Yummy! read more

COWS - Cute backpack - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

If you see a long line, you have arrived at Cows. Famously known for their ice cream & their cute cow accessories & cow puns. I sampled more than enough flavors, thank you by the way!, & they have a flavor to fit everyone's craving. Wowie Cowie: Their most popular. If you like caramel, this is the flavor for you. Very creamy. read more

I still remember visiting the original Cows in Prince Edward Island several decades ago. Can't recall the rest of the trip, absolutely recall the ice cream. Now, as an adult, this Banff outpost seems as focused on pedaling brightly colored cow-themed merch as it does on the ice cream itself. The counter staff here seemed friendly, and didn't begrudge my request for multiple samples. A single scoop in a chocolate-dipped cone will run you $6+, which is a bit steep in my book for a good but not mind-blowing serving of the frozen stuff. Also, this place has absolutely no seating, except for an interior window ledge which you can perch on if you're really committed to staying inside. Cows ticks all of the tourist boxes. It's got a cheerful vibe that kids would love. I wish the prices were a bit lower, and that they had more seating, but otherwise it's A-OK for the occasional treat. read more

COWS - Peanut Butter Boom in a chocolate dipped cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Banff is cold in winter but don't let that stop you from eating ice cream from cow! It's so creamy and make you feel like a kid with no responsibilities again! I recommend the coffee and strawberry sorbet. It was excellent! read more

COWS - Coffee and strawberry - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Line is ALWAYS out the door, but it must mean that it is delicious! We waited, and the line moved fast enough (we went to the dog store next door to pass time) I really enjoyed the pei blueberry and pei strawberry. The maple walnut and vanilla were good as well! The prices are a little steep for the amount of ice cream you get. read more

I liked the malted moo crunch! Reminded me of Ben & Jerry's "Americone Dream" - my favorite flavor. Line was out the door, and since it's crowded inside it's hard to see all he flavors and sample what you want. I think they need a better system, because it was super cramped in there and it was hard to read the descriptions of the ice creams. Especially since all the flavor names aren't descriptive. Wish they had a board with the descriptions while you're waiting in line to get an idea. read more

Every time I am at Banff, I have to visit this ice-cream place. It has great flavor and delicious. Clean, friendly and the line can be long but it moves fast before you know it, it is your turn to place the order. I always have a dilemma because I want to try everything but always ended up with some kind of coffee flavor/theme. Definitely a must place to visit when you are in the area. read more

COWS - Line is always long. Sign of a great ice cream, right? - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

This is the most important dessert shop in Banff! The lines are always out the door! Luckily, my fiancé and I kept an eye on the shop and were able to pop in while everyone was at dinner... yep, we had ice cream before dinner! It's easily some of the best ice cream we have ever had. The prices are a bit high but it's also about the experience and trying ALL of the crazy flavors. We will definitely be back! read more

COWS - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Not worth the hype and wait. I walked by several times and there was a line out the door, so I thought to myself, hey seems like I gotta try it! They have a bunch of flavors that aren't the usual, but as I read the ingredients not as many appealed to me. Because of the line and mass amount of people there's also a lot of pressure to order quickly and get out of the way. They're willing to give samples, but again with the amount of people around, I felt like I could only taste a couple. I THINK I ended up ordering the peach melba, which was delicious, but nothing TOO special. If there was no line, would I stop by again? Probably! Wouldn't wait in the line again though. read more

Super long lines but worth the hype? If you're coming from SoCal or are used to the best of the best icecream (salt and straw, jenis!) then cows doesn't quite live up to the hype buuut I'd say solid 3.5-4 stars overall. I love chunky icecream and they had lots of chunky icecream although I'd love even more pieces in every bite but that's just me. I enjoyed the nanaimoo flavor (custard base, lots of mix ins), and we tried most of the cute funny named ones that included their Chocolate covered chips (like messie bessie, cowie wowie) and those were all delish but again wish I had more mix ins with each bite! The icecream base was pretty spot on though, not too rich or too icy, and it was the perfect temp too. The plain waffle cones were good but could've been crisper and thinner. Service was nice enough. As other reviews have noted, if only they'd have a big sign in the front and inside with all their flavors and descriptions I think the line would move much quicker - you can't actually see the descriptions until you're up close to the front. read more

Pretty mediocre ice cream. There's almost always a huge line outside but definitely have had much better ice cream else where. It's a nice place for a little snack but the place has definitely been hyped up too much. It's worth a visit if you're in town but don't hold your expectations too high. Especially given the price for such small scoops of ice cream. read more

COWS - Ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Banff, Alberta