May 12, 2026. Everything about the Maple leaf was…read moreoutstanding! My wife enjoyed a nice sparkling Prosecco to kick off the evening with our nice-sized Prince Edward Island oysters. We then shared a Waldorf salad, which was refreshing and nice. Then we both selected red wine varietals grown in Canada. I had a Cabernet/Merlot blend which was super great. Would've never guessed it was from Canada. Next, My wife enjoyed a Pinot Noir that was light and complimented our entrée perfectly. Our entrée was the fillet and prawns served over a garlic mashed potato. This is an absolutely extraordinary dish. We shared it and it was just enough for two people. It is a full meal for one person. The filet temperature preparation was perfect. The prawns were extraordinary, and the garlic mashed potato made you curl your toes! Then we closed the evening with the melted chocolate soufflé, which was divine. Here's the one thing that they missed and to me it's an important miss. They use an automated system for taking reservations. And it kept asking for my name to which I said "Chris" and the automated system kept asking me what's your name!? So it asked hey fourth time and in my frustration I got playful and I said "Big Daddy." And it happily received my name and took my reservation. And then asked if there was any special occasion and I said yes my wife and I are celebrating our anniversary. I get that it may not seem normal to say "Big Daddy party for two". So I'll kind of let that pass because neither front door or upstairs Host was willing to ask. But what I don't like that was missed was our anniversary wasn't acknowledged. I was a server for years, and every host gave the server some type of chit or note to let them know if there is a special occasion. We specifically selected a higher end restaurant for anniversary. So somewhere in there, even if you weren't brave enough to say "Big Daddy for two." Someone still should've checked if you were celebrating any special occasion to which we were. Our anniversary. Our server was fabulous. She was super kind helpful and shared about her experience being in Banff. She made us feel great. My overall experience, the Mapleleaf is a great restaurant. But I'm scoring you an A- because you missed our anniversary. and that's why we chose you. So if you're going to use AI, you can't miss special occasions. Chris & Trisha from Long Beach, CA

the maple leaf has a cozy ambiance and attentive service that made for a pleasant dining…read moreexperience. unfortunately, the food was a bit hit or miss the standout was definitely the slow braised bison short rib. it was incredibly tender, fell right off the bone, and was beautifully plated. the bison burger came in second and the patty had a wonderful smoky char the bison bolognese, however, left much to be desired. both the pasta and meat were on the drier side, and the flavors fell flat. the biggest disappointment was the maple glazed salmon and prawns. the glaze was more like a thick overly sweet syrup and the salmon and shrimp themselves were fairly bland with a slightly fishy flavor my experience is inconsistent with the other reviews, but personally id just recommend the bison short rib and skip the others

Beautiful brunch with exceptional service!…read more We had such a wonderful brunch at Juniper Bistro, but what really made our experience special was our server, Hena. Hena was honestly one of the most proactive and professional servers I've ever experienced. There was a mistake with one of our orders, and rather than simply letting it go, she noticed the issue and went out of her way to help us correct it. She was incredibly thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely considerate throughout our entire meal. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We enjoyed the Benny Trio: Jon ordered smoked salmon, mushroom and eggplant. I ordered the short rib, carrots and mushroom. Both orders came with crispy roasted potatoes! Everything was generous, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. And then there is the view! Sitting outside with the mountains surrounding us made the whole experience feel extra special. Hena even offered to our photo for us while we celebrated the beautiful day together. Juniper Bistro is definitely more than just a place to grab brunch. Great food + spectacular scenery + truly exceptional service. A huge thank-you to Hena for making our brunch so memorable. She is a gem and a real asset to Juniper Bistro! Highly recommend!

If anyone is still demanding you visit The Juniper Bistro in 2026, you need to strongly reconsider…read morehow much you want to value their opinion. Came here on a Thursday with a reservation - surprisingly, restaurant was sort of dead; about half the tables were empty and remained empty throughout the night. I won't go through a dissection of each dish, but I will just say, on paper, the flavors sound interesting and unique. However, execution is lacking. Dishes are all single notes that don't maintain interest. Above all else, our server Sidd was surprisingly inattentive. Initially, he seemed to be helpful with his service and input, but moments later, his attention seemed to reach a cliff. He seemed far more interested in hanging out by the pass and talking to coworkers than ensuring tables are tended to and water was filled in the fairly-empty restaurant. Stick to downtown Banff for some truly phenomenal or inspiring food.

This was my favorite food joint in Banff! They have the most amazing cocktails. We ordered the food…read moreand it's family style - we felt like we were being hosted by a friend - each cocktail more unique than the other and each dish had its own twist. The place is small inside and there is outdoor seating also available. The servers so friendly and gave us great suggestions! The owners also own Shoku and we landed up going there to try their cocktails and food. This place will not disappoint you!

This food was delicious! There were multiple vegan options that were bursting in flavor and…read morefilling! We got the mushroom risotto (so unique), the vegetarian bao bun, and the vegetarian lettuce wraps (make sure to ask for vegan so they can sub the non-vegan sauce). The only con was that the restaurant itself was small and can only take a few parties at a time. We got lucky and took the 6 remaining seats at the bar, but be prepared to wait if you're a bigger party. That said, the staff and bartender were very nice and service time was fairly normal. Would recommend!

Really enjoyed this. I don't eat of lot of burgers. Hadn't eaten all day. This place hit the…read morespot for a very large delicious burger with a cup of cowboy Cajun soup (kind of like Chili). Waitress was great.

What could improve: The based sauce. Cajun dish is a…read morebeautiful dance between the ingredients in holy trinity of Celery, Onion and Peppers . Then, for the gumbo, you slave over the hot stove to make that perfect roux. It has to be deep caramel and nutty but not burned in taste. Very sad that the mixture between the three was not holy. I want to say the it was not cooked long enough. You can taste the celery, onion and paprika separately. I cooked Gumbo, Etoufee, and Jambalaya enough to know that the longer you cooked it, the flavors would deepen. It's even better on the 2nd day. The dish was lacking depth!

Great happy hour and delicious pasta and drinks!…read more We got the happy hour Caesar salad, happy hour creste rigate, and regular sized spicy rigatoni. All really delicious, especially the rigatoni. We also got the frozen peach Bellini and earl of bergamot spritz. Both were good (and strong!)

Lovely place for Italian food-- bright and airy interior, friendly service, and beautifully…read morepresented and tasty food. We loved the variety of pasta shapes and flavors, and you can watch them make it in house too :) My favorite pasta was the truffle agnolotti and the tomato-based rigatoni with just a hint of spice. The agnolotti was unique and tasty; the cheese filling inside was so creamy, smooth, and thick without being pasty. And the perfectly sized rigatoni was simple but creamy and flavored just right (wished there was some meat though!). The pastas were cooked nicely, but I prefer just a smidge more al dente. Happy to have vegetable options too! The asparagus and beets were yummy and a little different (yellow beets with a goat cheese sauce instead of crumbled, almonds and burrata on the asparagus), and the salads were full of flavor without dousing them in dressing. Overall, a nicely presented and delicious meal for everyone! Our waiter, Dylan, was charming and friendly. He skillfully cleared our table's stacks of plates in one go with ease and kept our water glasses full (thank you!). They were busy for dinner-- definitely make a reservation during your stay in Banff!

Looking like a building or castle pulled straight out of Edinburgh Scotland the Fairmont here is a…read moremagnificent hotel and grounds. Nice accommodations and working areas for groups, with one running joke, 'where are the wash rooms". Helpful through and through. Close to downtown with public shuttle just out front riding an on time jitney. Elk wandering in nearby and summer crowds growing I very much enjoyed the overall vibe.

The RUNDLE Bar & Lounge-…read more My client had just completed delivering a 3-day Signature Program in Calgary, and our event location manager said "let's celebrate by going somewhere really nice." So he drove us into Banff NP. We stopped at Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Vermillion Lakes, the cascade falls, and then we began driving to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. What an absolutely beautiful hotel in one of Nature's most breathtaking masterpieces. The beautiful earth-toned cream colored hotel climbs from the lower mountain side and stands beautifully amongst the tall pines surrounding it. We made our way to the Vermillion Bar, where are post worked back in his college days, and were greeted by a super sweet server, Ayala, who lit up whenever she laughed and smiled with you. We enjoyed cocktails, beef, tartare, veggie Credit, charred, avocado, and a unique presentation of hot wings I've never had before - the actual wing that has two bones in it was pre-cut down the middle so you were served the 2 halves as their own individual wing. Great flavors and it was very unique and enjoyable. All of it was delicious and undeniably yummy, and fairly priced for such an elegant location. We were expecting a much higher price point and were delightfully surprised to see that even though it is a luxury location, it was not price gouging or ridiculously inflated that one often finds in so many other locations that are "elegant or nice". If you have the opportunity to treat yourself to a very beautiful sunset under the majestic Mount Rundle, and want to enjoy a modern setting in a historic landmark, this is absolutely a visit you must make while in Banff National Park. Thank you Ayala for treating us so well, and sharing your sweet Australian journey with us. Chris, David, Trisha, and Keith

Ambiance: I'll admit I had low expectations for a mountaintop bistro in a national park. This place…read morewas a legitimate high end restaurant however! The views are obviously top notch but the furnishings were comfy and very tasteful. My main complaints were that the place is very noise where you have to raise your voice to talk across the table and the servers, while friendly, were stretched thin so service could take a while. Doing drinks, apps, main course, and dessert took about 2 hrs and we were not intentionally trying to take our time. If you are needy or in a rush, you have been warned. Recommendations are definitely recommended otherwise you may have to wait 30-40 mins for a chance at a seat. Food: Everything was great. Beef carpaccio - A fun dish of shaved raw beef with mushrooms, strawberry, and radish. If is a fun dish to share to wake up your tongue. 4/5 Lamb ribs - This was the star of the evening, we unanimously agreed if this was offered in a main course option we would have gladly ordered it. The ribs are wonderfully crispy as if fried and served in a delicious Asian sweet chili sauce that we licked clean. 5/5 Short rib - So this is indeed a singular short rib but it is at least a very meaty one. While the volume is smaller than say a pasta dish it is delectably tender, moist, and savory as one would hope. I was not a fan of the dry hard wild rice cake but this was still my favorite entree. 4.5/5 Tagitelle - Made from their shredded remains of the short ribs, this was an equally savory and flavorful dill with the added benefit of fresh made al-dente pasta. If you're looking for a more filling version of the short rib above, this is it. 4.5/5 Duck frites - Very smokey duck but tender and served with a nice complement of sauces. The frites are crispy and well seasoned. 4/5 Desert - We actually got the trio of deserts which were a canola (think corn bread) with raspberry compote, a brown butter thyme tart, and the haskap (think blueberry) pastry with toasted merengue and ice cream. The haskap pastry was the winner by a long shot as the pastry was tender and the ice cream and merengue countered the tangy haskap beautifully. Drinks - I enjoyed trying the local whiskeys but did try to order some wine but found them all thin and tangy. Maybe my palate is spoilt by California big and bold flavors but I would recommend avoiding the Canadian red wines (they do have a larger selection of whole bottles which may have been better). Overall we had a great time as Sky Bistro. It serves legitimately high end food using fresh seasonal ingredients and probably better than anything you'll have in any other national park. They do charge high prices, portions are on the smaller side, and service runs slower as well but I'll definitely come here again the next time I visit Banff if that tells you anything.

Honestly I was shocked by how good the food was at this restaurant!…read more Not only was the view from the restaurant amazing, but the quality of the food was superb. The standout dishes were the Alberta beef steak (ordered this medium) the tagliatelle pasta, and the fish. Highly recommend this restaurant for both the ambiance and the food!

The game meat here is outstanding. You get thee kinds of meat on the fondue meal - buffalo/bison,…read morewild boar and venison. They were all cooked beautifully with none of that gamey taste you might expect. Honestly, I could eat this meal over and over again. Fair warning - Service takes about 3 hours, but the staff are attentive and friendly throughout the experience. The ambience is dark and moody, but in the best way. This space used to be a swing bar, and they have kept that original character alive rather than stripping it out for something generic. Reservations are a must because the place fills up and for good reason. A true gem in Banff!

It was my first time trying cheese fondue. It was definitely a unique and fun experience but…read morehonestly, the taste wasn't quite my favorite. Being able to dip bread and vegetables however you like made it interactive and enjoyable. The sausage platter was flavorful and paired well with the fondue. The steaks were also surprisingly good and cooked nicely. Overall, I'm glad I tried it at least once. The highlight of the visit was the service--our server was incredibly friendly, explained everything clearly and made the whole experience even better.

Great food and great service. We loved our server, she was very nice and explained the menu well…read more We got the Souvlaki plate with lemon chicken and added an additional spiced lamb skewer. We also got a side order of Greek fries. There was Mediterranean salad that came with the plate and it was such a highlight. So refreshing and a great addition to the whole meal. Overall, everything was delicious and we would definitely go back next time we visit Banff!

Had the loveliest server, Emily, who was warm and charming and helpful with directing our choices…read more Hubby had lemon chicken Souvlaki- very moist and tender, in a reasonable portion and I had the Greek bowl which had plenty of hummus buried under one side and a little bit of toubouli (wish there'd been a bit more of that). Felt like a huge salad, couldn't even finish it. All very fresh. Clean bathrooms. All staff seemed to work together and were all friendly and interested. Great option for lunch or dinner.

We had a wonderful breakfast Rimrock Hotel's restaurant, Primrose. The food was wonderful along…read morewith the great views from the table. We were traveling with friends and the four of us decided to go with the buffet. It was an easy choice both dollar wise and amount of items on the buffet. There were plenty of both hot and items from which to choose. It was nice that they had a nice wide variety of juices, both fresh squeezed and bottles. Our table took advantage with plenty of fresh brewed coffee. Our breakfasts consisted of Eggs Benedict, pancakes, French toast among other wonderful items available to us. All the food was excellent. I always say that you can taste fresh easily. The team here, and our server was wonderful. Actually the team here was a microcosm of all the wonderful people at both The Primrose and the entire facility. The comforting and relaxing ambiance along with the amazing views help set the tone of this restaurant. Morning was the perfect time to watch the light hitting the lake and Canadian Rockies. I personally kept running outside to photograph the beautiful views and reflections as the sun was rising. KUDO's to the team here.

Great dinner at the Rimrock Hotel's restaurant, Primrose. The restaurant features great views. We…read morehad seafood dishes. I had the halibut and my wife had the salmon. We shared a four scallop appetizer which was very good, the scallops were huge and cooked perfectly. Seafood isn't always easy to get right but the scallops, halibut and salmon were all done so well, they were all soft and not overcooked. Prices were a little high but overall it was an excellent meal with great service!