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We had great hospitality here with our server, Jorge! He provided really good recommendations, and he also took the time to share with us what to do after lunch! I had a dairy lactose intolerant situation and he was very helpful. We ordered the duck wings as our appetizer, and this blew my wife's mind because she never was into duck, but this dish changed the game for her. Very well prepared and it was super crispy and the presentation was everything. It had a chili Asian crisp taste to it. Our next dish was the vegetable Wellington! Surprisingly, this was really good for something that was vegan. Not that I'm a vegan person, but I just want to try something that was non-dairy. It paired really well with the sauce. The squash and mushroom hit it off. We also ordered some white prawns, and that was really fresh as well! And the most important thing was the view! Try to get an opportunity to sit next to the window because you have an awesome view of the mountains. What better way to enjoy lunch or dinner with the view.
What could be better than dining atop a beautiful mountain in the heart of Alberta Canada? During our trip to Banff National Park, I surprised my man with a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain and a tasty lunch at this bistro that comes with phenomenal views. Reservations are a must and make sure you book way in advance. We were there in late September so the season was shifting. Our day up here weather wise was overcast and a little chilly but we had a great time. Ok, let's talk about the food and drink. We started with a loaded Sky Caesar. This drink was perfect to share and it got our taste buds going. To begin our meal, we ordered the Caesar salad which was so light but really good. Next we enjoyed the Canadian Chowder, the beef burger (with delicious Alberta meat), and the Tagliatelle. We really loved our meal and trying the Canadian Chowder was fun. Service was great and our view was panoramic from every angle. I really love the huge windows that allow you to view the gorgeous Canadian Rockies. It was a perfect way to spend our last day here and I highly recommend should you take the gondola up to the top. A great date place!
Despite the smoke haze from nearby fires, the ceiling to floor windows overlooking Banff atop Sulfur Mountain was still amazing (even with the haze)! Moreover, the food was top notch. Sure, it came with a price, but it was far better than most top of the mountain foods I've crossed paths with in recent history. I ordered the smoked salmon which was served layered atop and in between potato pancakes. Dill cream cheese, roe, and some pickled onions also added bites of creaminess, richness, and acidity that made the dish very very tasty. My friends ordered a variety of other dishes including the bangers and mash, fried chicken, and a very plant forward pasta. Out of all of those, I do think the bangers and mash were my favorite. We also ordered some drinks and there was a Saskatoon cider that was super tasty! All in all, great experience! Get a reservation if you want a seat closer to the window to enjoy the views. You can take the gondola to this restaurant if you don't want to ascend the 2400m on foot, but my friends and I? We exercise to eat!
We got super lucky! No reservation. Just took a chance and walked in. We were willing to go back down the mountain and find something in town but thought what the heck... let's ask. I think we hit the timing 'just right'. Folks were leaving as we walked in. Plus, we were only 2 people. If you had more than 2... that'was more of a challenge and a long wait. The bar seating is first come, first serve. Of course, there are only like 5 seats at the small bar, and we would have sat there as it looked like people were finishing up, but the hostess said she had a table for 2 open up. Service was very good as was the food. The surprise of the night.... Pistachio Pate. I wanted to give it a try because it sounded different but really was not expecting it to be as good as it was. I mean... you don't even miss the 'meat'. It's rich and creamy and the pickled veg really help cut the richness. It's a creative... innovative dish that really is a delight. My duck was quite tasty although I wish the skin was a bit more cooked ... seared more. It was a bit too chewy. The husband ordered the Bison and it was rich and tender. Quite delicious! All in all... a lovely dinner and experience. If this is someplace you really really want to dine at... highly recommend a reservation. If you want to wing it like we did, I hope it works out as well for you as it did for us.
The views and ambiance-8/10 very beautiful, I recommend to get a reservation if you can Food-4/10 overpriced obviously, but if the quality was good I wouldn't mind. My burger came out well done even tho I told them medium rare....it took 100 years to get too. Service was sooooooo slow. Service -2/10. I understand if ur busy, but when people who came AFtER you get their food before you that is just ridiculous. And I'm expecting the food to be top notch if I wait a million years. The chowder soup we got was very good but it was lukewarm! It tasted like it had been sitting out! So disappointed.
The restaurant is located at the top of the gondola ride on the third floor of the building. We made reservations weeks in advanced. When we showed up 10-minutes early there was a couple in front of us that didn't have a reservation and they were given a shaded window seat with a view of Banff National Park. We, with reservations made weeks prior, were given seats with the sun beating on us and a gorgeous view of the their solar panels on their lower roof. This was upsetting to say the least. What was the point of making a reservation then? We ordered the smoked salmon and short rib beef tartine. The short rib beef tartine was solid, but I wasn't impressed by the "smoked" salmon. It was nothing special, the salmon didn't taste smoked at all. Would not recommend that dish to anyone. We also ordered the Apple mule zero-proof cocktail. This was fine. Our server, Makiko, was awesome. She talked through the menu and answered our questions. She heard that we're going down to Canmore tomorrow and recommended their farmers market. She was a rare bright spot in our dining experience.
I've heard that it's worth it to stop by for a meal at this spot but I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical due to it being in a tourist attraction. I'm glad I was wrong! This was one of the best experiences I had in Banff. The food was amazing, and actually reasonably priced for the premium meats/seafood you are getting. The short rib dish was incredible and the seafood chowder was loaded and delicious. And we really appreciated the service here and that they tried to seat my wife and I at the windows. It was a great lunch with absolutely spectacular views!
Our hosts brought us to the top of Sulphur mountain to enjoy some snowy views and planned for a lunch at Sky Bistro. It was completely foggy and snowy outside, which made it feel like we were dining in the clouds. The main dining area feels cozy and inviting, with great service from all the staff. The lunch came with a soup or salad and an entrée, I ended up getting the seafood chowder and the rancher's pie. The seafood chowder was really good, filled with tender clams, snappy shrimp, and smoky bacon without being overly heavy or thick. The topping of tobiko was really unique, it added a nice texture and brightness to the soup. The rancher's pie was a huge portion and came with a little side salad. The mashed potatoes were creamy and flavorful, and I appreciated the time they took to pipe it on top. The braised short rib below was so tender, with bits of delicious thick-cut bacon in the mix too. We got to enjoy conversation after lunch too, we weren't rushed in any regard. Overall, this was such a great meal, from the ambiance to the service to the food. Best meal I had in Alberta by far!
Love, love love this place! Not just for the view, but the food that I ordered was really delicious as well! I had the short rib, beef, tartine, and my mom had the tagliatelle, both delicious. Make reservations right away in advance and also make sure you have reservations for the Banff gondola as it's at the top and you have to have gondola tickets in order to get up there. If you're going to the number one destination in Banff, you might as well make a reservation at sky bistro as well! If you're in a group of two, you can get right by the window, but if you're in a bigger party more than likely, you will not be by the window so if you need to split up, I would do it. The service here is really nice as well.
Sky Bistro was an incredible dining experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was stunning, and having a reservation made everything smooth. The menu was refreshingly unique-- I had the smoked salmon, which was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Our server, Bam, was outstanding--friendly, knowledgeable, and gave great insight into both the menu and the local area. This spot is a must if you're taking the gondola to the top--well worth it for the view and the food!
What a memorable experience!! I took my husband here to celebrate his birthday. It was a surprise, and he had no idea. He was very impressed, especially with the views. We were lucky to be placed at a table right next to the window as it is first come first serve. My personal favorites of that day were pretty much everything we ordered. The pork chops were tender, perfectly complimented by a sweet glaze. The pistachio pate was quite interesting. It is completely vegan. I loved the creamy texture and how buttery it was. It was definitely a very decadent meal. The birthday cake was on the house, although it did not taste great and was dry, but we definitely appreciated the thought. It was also beautifully decorated. The staff were super sweet and accommodating. They really took the time to explain the menu. This experience is a must if you are visiting Banff for the first time and celebrating something special. It can be quite pricey, especially you also have to pay for the gondola ride up to the restaurant.
We ate at Sky Bistro after hiking up Sulphur Mountain. We were seated by the windows, overlooking the mountains. We started with a glass of Prosecco, and enjoyed the incredible view. I ordered the duck with Alberta grain, apple butter and endive. The duck had a smokey, yet salty flavour to it and the apple butter complemented it perfectly. The Alberta grain was cooked al dente and was a bit chewy. My friend ordered the short rib, which was very tender and flavourful. The food was very enjoyable, however I wish the portion sizes were larger. The service at the Sky Bistro was great; the hostess took our coats at the entrance and our waitress was friendly and attentive.
Wish I can add a few more stars to this place. Nothing but positive feedback. We walked in with no reservation but they were so kind to sit us down right away and we were able to get a window seat as I've heard(everybody's dream) the views are spectacular. Carla our waitress was the sweetest and make our visit even more enjoyable. If we had questions she didn't hesitate and was very well informed. We ordered some drinks, Beet salad & Minestrone to start off. I've been in the look out for Beet's salads everywhere I go and Man oh man.. this one I will remember. The flavors were out of this world and every bite had me going back for more. We ordered their Brisket Burger as well and that was delicious as well she was so kind as well to have them cut in half cause we're sharing. Our drinks were just epic I had the coconut fizz(no alcohol) but was till delicious and we also tried their passionfruit sour and that was mind blowing. Our experience here was fantastic. You have to come with an opened mind, you will pay for the view and drinks and experience for sure but well worth it in my opinion. When we left there were many people waiting outside. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation so can dine way up here it's an experience you will never forget.
Very pricey and what you're paying for is the view and location. Ordered two appetizers and two entrees: watermelon salad; pea soup with Canadian bacon; lamb chops; and ravioli. The only thing that was good (and by good I mean delicious and the reason this is a 3 stars and not 2) was the Pea Soup. The watermelon salad was literally watermelon tossed into an otherwise middle of the road salad; the lamb chops were the smallest things I've seen (and no mint jelly - what?!?!), and the ravioli? When they say ravioli, they mean one, singular, huge ravioli. The sauce was clear and more brothy than ravioli sauce - very unusual and I didn't finish eating it. I'm sure there were other better dishes (especially a seafood concoction I saw the couple next to me were partaking in) but for me, this place was not worth the money (again, other than the Pea Soup). I'd save the money and eat in Banff instead - so many options. read more
This is a fairly new restaurant at the top of Sulpher mountain. I don't know exactly how long it is been here for her but I know that it is relatively new. The building used to be a wooden structure and they have completely redone it and now it has glass window so you can see a complete view of the mountains around while you are enjoying your food. It is absolutely delicious food when I went I personally just had some baked goods these included whoopie pies as well as cupcakes in different flavours they have a Smore's cupcake as well as a cotton candy cupcake. The DeCora complements the restaurant as well as the atmosphere of Banff and Kenmore in the mountains very well I love it here and will definitely be going back. You got to take the gondola up the gondola is $50 a person but then you also get to take it back down and it is very worth it because the gondola is all windows as well just like the restaurant as you get a complete view of the mountains going down and up as well. Now that I have been there for desserts I deafly want to go back and try some of their savoury dishes! read more
5 years ago
9 years ago
Definitely enjoyed the experience. How often can you say you ate in the sky? However, it appears that they are still getting their act together. They recently changed the menu so the online menu may not actually match what they have (at least that was our experience). The selection was a little small but the food was well cooked. I ordered the seafood melody which I really enjoyed. What I did not enjoy was the way it was served. They serve it in the awkward bowl that slips and slides and splash liquid from a weird opening so there was really no "neat" way to eat it. Also the food took a really long time to come out. Our waiter apologized to us a few times. Even though our group ended up eating the plates as they sporadically came out we were all still satisfied. I would say definitely eat here for the experience, but be wary that they have a few things to work out. read more
7 years ago
Service was great. The same as the food. We came here as three, and we ordered different sandwiches. They said mine Chopped brisket melt was the best one. Also loveee the soup! Highly recommend read more
6 years ago
Amazing experience. We went on our last night in Banff. Alex was a wonderful waiter! He helped me chose what to order based on being dairy free. The beet salad was phenomenal! My chicken was tender and full of flavor. The view is breathtaking! read more
Wow! Who knew this place was here!?! I had never been in a gondola and when my hubby and I went to Banff for a quick surprise getaway I really wanted to check it out! On the way there he discovered the amazing deal for dinner and the gondola! Worked out to about $85 for the ride and a two course amazing dinner! The view is worth it alone but the food and the service and the beverage options were all wonderful! For a fixed menu I was really impressed!! I had the tasty duck wings and my hunny the seafood chowder- both delicious! For a main I had the short rib, that fell off the bone and delicious Brussels sports! Mark had the bison burger- I think he had to dislocate his jaw to eat it as it was huge but sooo good! We didn't have room for dessert but those that past us looked delicious!!! This place feels like magic! Go! Enjoy the view and truly live in the moment!! read more
3 years ago
If you're looking for dinner with a view - this is definitely your place. If you're looking for an abundance of food - this is probably not the stop you want to be making. I got the steak, which was tiny and a small salad. For the amount I paid for it - I was a little disappointed. They seemed to be missing quite a bit. My first two choices for wine were not there. They didn't have the salad dressing that I wanted, everything just seemed weird for a place that apparently had such high standards. My partner got the bison burger and loved it. It was cooked well, and had a ton of flavour and he was definitely a happy camper. Our dessert was a little less than what we bargained for. It was an amazing sculpture of that mountains constructed with Nanaimo and custard but it was extremely dry and basically tasted like stale coconut. The view was amazing, the restaurant was stunning, it was clean and beautiful. However, the food wasn't spectacular and the service wasn't great. At the end, we wish we would have went to the cafe instead - we left feeling hungry and a little disappointed. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
We had a reservation but still had to wait a bit for our table which was no problem, we ordered a drink while we waited. We bought the dinner and gondola package. Our waitress was from Japan and was very sweet. Everything we ordered was good and I loved the view. It was nice to watch the sun set from the roof deck after dinner. I enjoyed the mussels and salmon. Great views, great drinks; would recommend! read more
We purchased the dinner and wine tasting package and went with another couple. We all enjoyed it very much! The wine tasting is all sparkling wines, I would recommend to them to have different options since some prefer red wines. Other than that, everything was splendid! The menu was pre-fixed, you choose one appetizer, and one meal. The bring fresh bread to the table. We all chose different appetizers to share and meals. Everything was good. The duck wings were the best we have had! I ordered the chicken dinner and it was very tasty. I wish we had time to try dessert because it sounded delicious. Our server was from France and she was top notch! We highly recommend to make this a must while in Banff! read more
7 years ago
First of all, the view from in here is breathtakingly beautiful! I ordered carrot ginger soup and it was out of this world delicious. It was a cold and windy day, so it was especially delicious! Their coffee is yummy, too. It is very bold and smooth - far better than any of the chain coffee shops by a long shot. I'd go back just for a good cup of coffee. Everything on the plates around me looked delicious, too. Good food, friendly wait staff, gorgeous ambiance, good friends made for a perfect lunch stop. I highly recommend. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
Had a beautiful lunch here with an incredible view. The sights are to die for, perfect for couples as it has a very romantic feel. Waiting for a window seat is definitely worth it to eat with such a fantastic view of the mountains. Overall the food was also good, although a little pricey, that was to be expected. Portions were fair and we did not leave hungry! Would go back without a doubt. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
6 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
Wow the view but even better the food ! Get the mussels , get the fries, and the steak sandwich . Salad is excellent and the beer and wine is very good . Service is typically very good Canadian friendly as are all places in Canada - so refreshing from the rude service you get in the U.S. read more
My family and I had a reservation and we were seated right away. We chose to do the Sky Experience, which is definitely the way to go. You get the gondola ticket, an appetizer and entree included in the ticket for $109. This is a really good deal seeing as the gondola ticket itself is $62! Everyone loved their food, everything was delicious! The service was fantastic and it was cool how they had the waiters/waitresses put where they're from on their name tags (cute touch!). I'd definitely recommend going for a date night or if you're doing the gondola ride up to the top! Make sure to purchase the Sky Experience beforehand! read more
8 years ago
Wow wow wow!!! Exceptional food alongside breathtaking views atop Sulphur Mountain, what a treat!!! The onion rings and French fries were so good as accompaniments on our burgers that we had to order them separately. The steak sandwich was one of the best. read more
6 years ago
10 years ago
Great new restaurant at the summit of Sulphur Mountain - accessible via the Banff Gondola. I had the vegetarian lasagne for lunch, which was impressive. Great service from our server, coupled with the breathtaking mountain views. I would recommend. read more
9 years ago
Very nice place to have dinner. To be honest the view from the restaurant is not as good as the view that you have would have outside . The food is Average for fine dining nothing really wow me, but the price is reasonable and not really expensive for that kind of dining. The service is good overall. Their steak and their complimentary bread is really good but other than that everything is okay experience for me. read more
9 years ago
7 years ago
Being at the top of the gondola, I thought this was going to be an expensive, poor-quality, tourist trap- boy was I wrong! The prices are a little high but it is well worth it. I ordered the chicken ($34) and practically licked the plate clean. It was one of the best chicken dishes I have had. I also ordered an Aperol Spritz for my drink and strawberry butter cake for dessert; both were good. They do have gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options. Indoor seating only. The view is spectacular, even if you're sitting in the second row in from the window. It does get a little hot in the afternoon but the staff was very helpful (and extremely friendly) and lowered the shades to help with the heat but still allowing us to see the mountains. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
Sorry but I just can't give you a positive review for my lunch today. It was a total ripoff! The only reason I didn't give you 1 star was because it tasted good, but it was definitely NOT worth the price. If you're dining here, go for a burger...at least you read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
6 years ago
9 years ago
Visiting Banff is a once in a lifetime opportunity and to ride a gondola to the top of the mountain ($52 US a person) is a treat. In treating ourselves, we thought we hit the jackpot when we walked into an empty restaurant (minus one large party). We walked in to grab a glass or two of wine and take in the spectacular views.... and were denied. They were "no longer taking reservations due to the aforementioned "large party". There were two bartenders, three managers and at least three wait staff for the restaurant and they turned away business when there was not a single person sitting at the bar or the high tops near the bar (see picture). Turning away tourists at a destination spot when you have empty restaurant blows my mind. They did ask if we'd like to make a reservation for the following night- but as a tourist passing through town and at $52 US to get there, we refused. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
The view from the Sky Bistro (at the top of Sulphur Mountain) is phenomenal! Quite frankly, it's breath-taking, and I would say is worth the trip to make up here! MAIN COURSE: Grilled Winter Veggie Wrap with Fries The fries were my favourite part of this dish, as they were crispy (yet not oily) and wonderfully warm. The wrap itself was okay - it was more so a burrito as it was filled with a large amount of wild rice, along with grilled vegetables, onions, goat cheese, and some spicy salsa. Despite the numerous ingredients in the wrap, it lacked both seasoning and texture. All the ingredients in the wrap were relatively moist, making the bottom of the wrap rather soggy. Although the food experience was not the best, I would come back here for the views, and perhaps a special order of a plate of those delicious fries! read more
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