We loved the view, the service and the food. It was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had! Make sure you reserve in advance. Our server, Matt, helped us to decide what to order. The pork chop was amazing! We also loved the heirloom tomato salad and seafood chowder. The short rib was tasty, but the pork was memorable! It was a great way to "launch" our Banff visit! read more

Sky Bistro - Short Rib - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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It's first come first serve, unless you're a person of color. I advise not coming here if you're a Latino. We tried to reserve a table with a view and were told that if we get there early and a table comes available near the window that we would get first pick. Two white couples came after us and I heard the waitress ensure them that they would give them a table with the view although we were told it was first come first serve. I overheard that their reservation time was the same as ours as well. They ended up seating us in a less than desirable spot but gave those other couples the window tables even though we were there first. When we talked to the manager and waitress they said "too bad so sad". I will not be back and this was the biggest disrespect we've encountered in Canada. Such a shame. read more

Seemed unnecessarily fussy process for timeline up/down the gondola and the price exorbitant - but our lunch and the hospitality of our server Tori made the experience special and memorable! Thank you Tori! And the views are spectacular read more

Came here for my sister's wedding rehearsal dinner, we had a large party of 21-23 or so, we had two tables with different servers. One table was told about the specialties and the other was not hence one table ordered the octopus and the other had no idea it was available. She had also called (weeks ahead) and tried to get reservations for 7pm which they told her 8pm would be better for our party. Once ordering apps and dinners about 9pm when we're eating the apps were asked if anyone wanted to order deserts because the kitchen would be closing soon. I thought that was odd why sit 20+ people at 8and close the kitchen at 9? So we put in desert orders right away, 9:15ish comes half are eating other half just started getting food. Shortly after that our server tells us the gondola shuts down at 10 (last call) so we're all worried and we need to hurry and finish. The groom then calls down and ask if we will get left up on the top and have to walk down because they were still eating! They say no of course not. We get desert about 9:30 and try to be mindful of the time, there's still other tables in the restaurant like 2. So once we finish everyone goes to the bathroom and then starts heading down to get on the gondola where one of the staff asks us if we were in the restaurant eating where we say yes and she apologizes to us saying she wanted to get everyone down quick it's been a long day... once we get down to the main lobby we were then kicked out to wait on the porch in the dark for our bus.. my 85 year old grandma was standing on the steps in the dark waiting about 20-30 mins for the bus.. all of us. The food was great, the service from our half of the group was great he was very polite and accommodating. The biggest issues was I felt we were being rushed. Dinner for 20+ people will take more than two hours, it was so disappointing for the gondola staff to radio up and get restaurant staff to get us to hurry up. This was a special evening for my sister and now husband and our two family's to share together, which we all felt was really rushed and then to top it off sitting on the front steps while all the staff came down off the mountain and into cars, some staff even got onto the same bus as us to go back into Banff. read more

Sky Bistro - Duck - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Absolutely amazing! Where do I even start..?! My fiancé enjoyed our time at the sky bistro. From the delicious cocktails, amazing food, beautiful views and outstanding servers we couldn't have had a better experience. I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation prior to your arrival to the gondola or plan around your reservation as they are very popular; understandably so. read more

The food is eclectic - the green apple kohlrabi salad with a chicken breast was tasty but it is a smaller lunch plate. The fried chicken was seasoned perfectly and the dish was presented beautifully. The potato pancake was like a big moist but odd muffin. We weren't a fan. The prices are a bit high but understandable - you are at the top of a mountain and they have to gondola the food up. The wait staff was charming and attentive. The ambiance is unbelievable. Such a gem on top of sulphur mountain. We had a table next to the window and it was a glorious experience. Highly recommend - yes it is a tourist place - we loved it! read more

Sky Bistro - The view across the restaurant - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Sky Bistro in Banff was truly an unforgettable experience. We had amazing seats right by the large window with a stunning view over the mountains, which was a real highlight of the evening. We both started with an espresso martini and steak tartare for our appetizer. Both were delicious. For mains, we had a beautiful cut of meat and duck, both perfectly prepared. We paired it with a lovely bottle of Tempranillo that really brought everything together. The service was excellent, warm and friendly. The whole experience, including the gondola ride up and the breathtaking location, made it something really special. read more

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Got the short rib beef tartine, trout, and tagliatelle pasta. Out of the three I would recommend the short rib beef tartine. The pasta was ok, it could use a little bit more flavor. Probably wouldn't order it again though. Overall paying to eat for the ambiance and nice views if you're lucky to sit next to the window. The service was good and attentive. read more

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Looked at the menu prior to coming and didn't see anything that stood out so came more for the experience than the food. Would recommend making reservations especially if you have a party of 2 and want to request to sit by the windows. Food was ok so probably wouldn't come back but glad I tried it out! read more

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Sky Bistro exceeded my expectations as my first meal in Banff. I planned my first day with a ride up Banff Gondola with dinner added to my ticket. I figured 2 hours of walking around and then eating dinner would be sufficient. One thing to note though is that depending on what you order here, the Gondola+Sky Bistro dinner ticket may end up costing you more if you were to do it separately. With the combo ticket, you get one free appetizer and one free entree. I did the math and I made sure to order the almost the expensive thing on both ends, so I saved some money. I will say they didn't, for some reason, have my ticket reservation in the system, so I had to wait a little bit for a table. Make sure you make a reservation in some form, otherwise you'll be waiting a while for a table. For starters, I ordered the Duck Wings. I never actually had duck before and I was interested in trying it, after all American Thanksgiving was a few days away at the time and I needed poultry to simulate Thanksgiving. The Duck Wings were magnificent. Expertly fried to the perfect crispness with a rich, intense flavor. It was tender, and I enjoyed how much fattier it was compared to chicken. The Berry Reduction that was dolloped on my plate was delicious as well and although the 3 dollops were for 3 of my duck wings, there wasn't enough. Still though, I truly enjoyed the duck even by itself. For my main course, I ordered the Beef Short Ribs. It was a hard toss-up between that and the Bison, but I knew I was going to have steak later in the week. The Beef Short Rib sat on top of pile of potato puree, which in the simplest description is "smoother" mashed potatoes. On top of the rib were a good portion of chanterelle mushrooms and an ample covering of red wine demi-glace. Next to it was a side of creamed spinach. The beef short rib was hands down, the BEST short rib I've ever eaten. Between the plump mushrooms, tender beef, savory demi-glace, and luxurious-creamy potatoes, each bite was heavenly. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It was so good; I was very careful to restrain myself from licking the plate when I was done. The creamed spinach was OK, it seemed more of a puree as well, but I nearly forgot about it because of the short rib itself. For dessert, I selected the apple tart with cinnamon gelato. I've never had cinnamon "ice cream" before and it went perfectly with the apple tart. The tart was crispy with slivers of slightly dried, tart apples layered on top. The tart was a little small and I wish it was bigger. The dessert was amazing nevertheless. Last but not least, the atmosphere was amazing. I didn't sit next to the window, but I sat really close to it. If you can dine here while the Sun is still illuminating the mountains, the view is breathtaking and very romantic. read more

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Harry C here, if you follow me you know I try and give me honest opinion anywhere I go. Sky Bistro has breathtaking views and a very unique menu. The service is exceptional. Try new things when you visit here, unique menu so try it out. We had Salmon Eggs, Bison Carpaccio, and the Ribeye. It did not disappoint. read more

We had dinner last night at sky bistro. The ambiance was amazing, service attentive and food off the charts. We started with the bison tartare which was so fresh and flavorful. For entrees we had the beef short rib and bison striploin. Both were absolutely perfect. We truly enjoyed the experience. Highly recommend read more

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This place is definitely worth the lift ticket and wait for the experience! This gorgeous restaurant sits at the top of Mt Sulphur. You have to purchase a gondola ticket to access it. The views on the way up are stunning and so is this restaurant. We came for appetizers and drinks. We got there right at the opening time and had seats right at the window. Our server Sophia was so professional and kind. She chatted with us about her recommendations and how much she loves Banff! We loved this place! The duck wings and Caesar salad were tasty and great for sharing. read more

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After a very cool gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain, my wife and I enjoyed lunch at Sky Bistro. You'll find this restaurant on the third level of the building. Make a reservation so you can get in, and so you can get a great seat next to the window looking out on the mountains and the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station. We saw bighorn sheep a few levels below from our table. I ordered the mushroom toast and seafood chowder. I enjoyed both. They were more filling that one would think. My wife got the Beef Brisket Burger (made with Alberta Angus Beef) with house cut fries (huge fries). She said it was tasty. Our server was attentive and very helpful with our questions. This is an excellent choice for a meal at the top of the gondola's observation area. You'll get good food and a wonderful view. read more

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Great place to grab a meal on top of Sulfur Mountain. Great view of banff and surrounding areas. Really enjoyed our meal- bison burger and elk bolognese. Service was great. Clean facilities. read more

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The food here is pretty good, although we didn't order that much since we weren't all that hungry. I think the chowder is about average but the beet salad was very delicious. I think what you really come here for is the experience of eating on a beautiful mountain top with gorgeous views after arriving on the Banff Bondola. read more

Sky Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Amazing views from top of Sulphur mountain! The food was yummy. The drinks were good. Good customer service. Recommend reservations. Only 2 person seating right at window. We went closer to closing between lunch and dinner so lots of empty seats. they didn't mind us going up to the window and taking pics and videos. They still seemed to allow ppl to get seated even after closing time. read more

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Well, the ambiance? Let's be honest; isn't that the reason to go here? A++ for the view. Somehow the restaurant itself seemed smaller than I expected. I did feel that it was stuffy and overly warm with a slightly off-putting aroma- (maybe from the rosemary sprig smoked cocktails they make(??) in the restaurant) throughout our entire visit. Our service was friendly and too-notch just as one might expect in this sort of establishment. I ordered a mocktail that was light and refreshing. Hubs had a local beer. We shared a Caesar salad and the popcorn seafood chowder as appetizers. Both of these dishes were simply outstanding. Genuinely! The "popcorn" was actually a sort of caviar that pops in your mouth as you eat. It was surprising in the best sense. It also added some additional seasoning to the dish that was welcome. I ordered the scallops starter as my entree. They were well-prepared and tasty but the three seemed more the size of bay scallops- very small- rather than a larger one you might expect. However, the chowder was very hearty and satisfying, so I could not have eaten more, to be honest. My husband ordered the short ribs. Savory, tender, delicious. This would have been a five star visit, but the close air made us uncomfortably clammy and warm. A bit overwhelming with no air moving in the room. read more

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After a long day at Johnston Canyon, we had a reservation at the Banff Gondola and were ecstatic to see that there were two restaurants on the mountain (aka the Sky Bistro and another one that has more of a buffet format). We visited on a Thursday evening in June and it was pretty crowded, both in the restaurant and in the outside Gondola areas. Luckily though, we were able to get a seat at the bar at the Sky Bistro, which we quickly loved and had so much fun at. We weren't incredibly hungry since we had eaten a late lunch, but during our stay, we got the beef tartare and one of the quinoa salads (which I unfortunately forgot the name of). They were delicious and very fresh tasting! At this point, my boyfriend and I came to the conclusion that the food scene in Canada is top notch and the food, in general, is very well thought out, creative, and well done. The beef tartare was unique in that it had a berry-like cream prepared with it, but we enjoyed it, as we have never had anything similar to that. However, what really stood out to us here were the cocktails and the expertise of the bartenders. WOW, the drinks are seriously well executed, tasty, fun, and seriously made the Banff Gondola experience better for us. We also were blessed to meet the mixology manager, Jenny, who was so freaking cool, sweet, and easy to talk to, and all her female bartenders were just as cool and kicking ass too. Because of Jenny and her bartending gang, we had the absolute best time here and we wanted to re-extend our gratitude for the great hospitality and for making my boyfriend's 30th birthday so much better with your kindness and that crazy chocolate dessert. We don't eat sweets often, but that really blew us away. Thanks again for everything during our limited time there and you all really made a forever lasting impression on us :')! read more

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Service was outstanding! Food was decent, nothing out of the ordinary. The view was magnificent!!!!!!

Sky Bistro offers a unique dining experience with breath-taking panoramic view of Banff phenomenal Canadian cuisine. I purchased the lunch package with the gondola ticket and it was totally worth it. Food, ambience, and service are exceptional. read more

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The staff didn't want to seat us in the dining room because we were wanting to just order a drink. There were others sitting and just only having a drink. Thanks for nothing. Make it make sense. read more

Sky Bistro - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

When we told our friends that we're eating here, our friends asked us: "is Dylan gonna propose there?" That's how beautiful and romantic this restaurant is. (Unfortunately I didn't propose). FOOD The food was pretty solid. We purchased the bundle that had the gondola ticket and this sky bistro meal included. The meal it self is pre-set but we also had some choices. I got the bison burger and it's honestly not that special. It tasted like a typical pulled pork sandwich and honestly I should've picked something else. We also had the ravioli as well. That dish is honestly just okay. It tasted as you can expect and nothing too special. SERVICE The service here is pretty mediocre as well. The waitress had like small attitude when speaking with us but honestly it's not that big of deal. I think they know they get a lot of tourist so they probably don't have to give too much effort since most people came here for the view anyway. ALL IN ALL, this is a pretty mediocre restaurant. I would've given 3 stars if it's not for the phenomenal views. read more

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After walking around the boardwalk, my husband and I ate at Sky Bistro. I recommend that you make a reservation for this establishment. Our reservation was for 1:30pm and they stayed at about 75% capacity throughout our meal. To start off, our server was so sweet and helpful with food recommendations. We also shared that were going to drive to Jasper in a couple days and he recommended some viewpoint stops and to make sure we had an offline map because there is limited service in between Banff and Jasper. We started off with the seafood chowder, it was a 10/10, would definitely recommend it. My husband got the rancher's pie, solid 9/10, the short rib was so tender and juicy and the potatoes on top were super creamy. It came with a small side salad, I wish they offered either a bit more of the salad, it felt a little heavy towards the end. I got the kale caesar salad with rainbow trout for my protein, would give the salad a 10/10, the trout an 8/10. The trout was a bit a dry and the skin was not as crispy as I would like. I wish we could have been seated closer to the windows, but the view was still wonderful from where we were. read more

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Great experience overall. You need to get on the gondola to get to the top of the mountain for this restaurant. The views were great where we were sitting; unfortunately we came during the summer when temps were a little warmer and the place has no A/C. Most places in Banff do not have a/c because the winter months are longer than the summer months. So it was very warm since we were seated by the window. We ordered the beef tartare, chips and fries, and braised short ribs. Portions were hefty and flavors were good. Overall, it's a very nice place to go on a date night. There's lots of things to do at the mountain around sky bistro. read more

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Let me give you the most honest review ever! You're paying for dining with a view. The food was mediocre. We ordered the Caesar Salad, Seafood Chowder and Bison Burger to share. The only thing that stood out was the Seafood Chowder. It was really flavorful and something I wouldn't mind eating again. Service was great. The staff was very attentive and inviting but not enough for me to come back or recommend everyone to go. If you're going to take the gondola up, I suggest packing a lunch or something from below and enjoying it on the sky deck or sky walk. read more

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If you choose to dine here be prepared to spend a lot of money. But it's all about the experiece. We opted for drinks and dessert so we wouldn't break the bank. Specifically an espresso mountini, a pineapple breeze (non-alcoholic), and a chocolate pistachio cake. The cake was awesome. The drinks were okay. The view was amazing. Talking to other diners we confirmed that the pricely, amazing-looking food they ordered was excellent. So go "cheap" or go expensive, but definitely go. It's a place not to be missed. read more

Very unique food, nice service and ambiance. I had the smoked salmon and it was very good but it could have had more salmon. It could have also been better in other spots like the bread in one of the dishes was dry. But otherwise I think it was a great experience. read more

Annie is great, food trash. Great view. Don't go again 85 character minimum............................. read more

Although we had a reservation, we still had to wait for almost twenty minutes before we were seated. Good thing it was a pleasant wait with stunning views just outside of the building. I do appreciate that the host sat us at a window table, and was a little sheepish feeling underdressed in our hiking clothes. We had hiked up, but even so, the portions were so small and actual dish composition underwhelmingly simple that we left quite hungry still. We thought the summer grain salad would be more robust, since it was listed as quinoa and corn with asparagus as greens. To call it a salad was overly generous. It was a smattering of the listed ingredients. The bison sirloin itself was good, but I wish they hadn't been skimpy on the sides. Overall, I recommend skipping a meal here and just grabbing drinks - which were not badly priced and quite tasty. read more

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It was an unforgettable dining experience! Stunning view and gorgeous restaurant! I loved the unique touch to their decor! I loved the spacing of the seating layout because it ensured that each table had privacy during their dining experience. The service was superb! No complaints! I had the smoked salmon and it was amazing! I would order it again! The reason for only giving 4 stars was my group's complaints about their dishes and my agreement after tasting their meals. The chowder soup, bangers and mash dish, and linguine dish were okay. For the price, the flavors were mediocre. I was taken back because my smoked salmon tasted so good and was not sure why the other plates were not as tasty. So, if I go back I would love to try their other dishes. read more

Beautiful views, don't forget to make a reservation! Options for vegetarians aren't too exciting, but we enjoyed the quinoa salad. The pasta was a bit dry but had potential and was flavorful. Kids loved their meals (pasta and chicken fingers) but especially loved their dessert (dirt and worms)! read more

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You are definitely here for the beautiful view and a steep ride on the Banff gondola (which is an additional cost per person). If you plan on riding the gondola, I mean why not dine up top at one of the two restaurants they have available right? The times are adjustable at the kiosks if you aren't sure what time you should book your uploading/downloading time. We shared a bowl of their chowder which was really strange.. not thick/creamy at all and very watery. The tobiko made the soup a little fishy. We ordered their elk pasta & salmon avocado toast. The elk pasta was so bland. It was just meat on pasta noodles and honestly so disappointing and dry. The salmon avocado toast was ok. I would definitely recommend reservations as they do not take walk-ins. Their reservations open up a month in advance and go pretty quickly. Although the food was terrible, we were still happy to enjoy the view of the mountains by the windows! read more

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Had such a great experience here, we made reservations about a month in advance. We got a beautiful window seat to experience the views. Our server Bheenaash was fabulous, friendly and provided great service. The food had a lot of options as well as very allergy friendly labeling all the items. Everything came out very quickly! read more

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Dish Fried chicken Pros Good wine selection Spectacular view Elegant restaurant Friendly staff Care about diet restrictions Fried chicken batter was light and crispy Cons Fried Chicken not flavorful (salt) Slaw (needs acid and flavors clashes) I would definitely go back to this restaurant, but would choose a different dish. The dish wasn't horrible, but it could use some attention. Staff is very friendly and I appreciate their customer service. read more

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This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Celebrating the New Year and five more years of life since beating the covid-coma, I took this trip to celebrate. The NYE experience was truly a lifetime event. The native music and lights of Night Rise were stunning! I attempted to walk the boardwalk to the weather station but the weather did not cooperate. The five course chef selected menu was astounding! It was truly a five-star offering! I loved the ginger dessert! all the food was sublime! I got to the restaurant early due to the weather, and the staff were so kind and accommodating! I sat at the bar until my table was ready, then I was given great attention by my server! I was the only solo diner, and had a window seat. However due to said weather it was pitch black outside but I was prepared in case I got the chance to see the northern lights! The gondola ride on the way down was cold but fast. I enjoyed the soothing voice of the storyteller. I cannot recommend this experience no matter what time of year, and I look forward to a warmer-weather visit here! read more

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We didn't have a reservation so 4 of us sat at the bar. Which we still got amazing service. Have great apps and even better drinks. read more

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Stunning views and of course prices to match. I'm sure it's not easy to get all those ingredients up the mountain! The food was...odd. Freeze dried strawberries on the burrata salad were not a hit. The pasta was a strange but okay mix of flavours. The chicken was apparently good. They were sweet to provide a complimentary dessert for my husband's birthday with forks for all. Thankfully I told my daughter not to eat it even though they said it did not contain her allergen - it did. read more

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Amazing view and a great spot to kill some time before or after doing the sulphur mountain walkway to the viewpoint. Service was kind and attentive. Food was good, but nothing absolutely outstanding. My friends loved their burgers and I got the chicken and waffles which had some unique flavors but maybe a bit too sweet for my liking. Good experience nonethless. read more

Sky Bistro - Chicken & Waffles - Canadian (New) Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We ate here after doing the first half of the famous Banff gondola. This location had many vegan and vegetarian options which was nice. My husband got the orecchiette and I got the roasted red pepper soup. My soup was so good, super flavorful and very warm and comforting like soup should be. My husbands dish was vegetarian so I was able to try it this time. It was okay, but not stellar. The service here was super nice. They sat us next to the window because they saw that it was my birthday lunch on the reservations. They also gave us a free dessert which was very sweet of them! Lastly the ambiance of this place is perfect. They have huge floor to ceiling windows with a great view of the mountains. Though the restaurant was a little pricey, we still had fun here. read more

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