Always the best place to visit in Banff. I make it a point to come here every time I'm in town. The Lil Yokirs are to doe for and the poutine is exquisite! Yum! Harp, Guinness, Smithwicks, and all the scotch your little lush heart desires. This place is less a pub and more a destination. read more

Horrible service and lack of attention from servers, got there around 7pm not busy at all got seated right away and waited 15 or so minutes just to see anyone attending to our section by the time a our server Kieran finally showed up we ordered our drinks and food at the same time which were a burger wings and a cottage pie. Wings came out with a different person but with no silverware or napkins no one brought us napkins until I got up to go to the bar I saw our server and asked him myself for them. After that it was maybe an hour of wait time for our food while watching people in other sections come in after us order and receive their food and still no sign of our server. After finally finding him and telling him our food hadn't arrived he told us the kitchen was backed up with makes no sense since people coming in after ordering are receiving their food. If you forgot to put in the rest of our order just tell us we would have understood that accidents happen but to lie and make us wait there for over an hour for a burger is the reason I'm leaving a one star review. read more

So unexpected!! We came in for drinks while we waited for our original restaurant of choice to open up our seats and ended up staying for dinner instead. What a great decision!! Pub food extremely well executed. One of the best Mac 'n cheese ever!! We had it with bangers as well and it was sooooo gooood!! The whole dish was so tasty, and not overly salted like it normally would be. I actually felt good eating it and not grossly stuffed afterwards. The fish and chips was great as well. The fish was so flaky and the fries so crisp. I didn't love the coleslaw as it wasn't as creamy as I like it to be. My friends also had the bangers and mash. I could eat those bangers all the time. read more

Our server Dev was so accommodating and sweet. After leaving another local pub because of bad service she was a breath of fresh air.

Service was top notch. That is what you need to know about this place as the food was generally just OK. We stopped in during a visit and had a lovely evening but that mainly had to do with the great service we received. The Guinness Pie was about 50% gravy and puff pastry, poutine was very flavorful with lots of fresh cheese curds and the shepherd's pie and mussels were about average. read more

Good selection of beer and live music on a Saturday night. A bit greasy "dark" feeling inside! Could use a refresh! Typical wet floors from beer being spilled from drunk young patrons! The live Celtic band was a nice touch! read more

ordered liver which was over cooked like leather. asked for extra onions and also received extra grease. didn't eat a third of liver and told host. sorry was the reply. coffee was warm apparently from fresh pot. asked to zap in microwave read more

I didn't actually eat here and will update later when I do, however I felt it necessary to put forward my 2 cents for the service I received. I'll make it quick so whomever reads this can get back to their exciting game of Pong. First impressions were pretty good. The place was busy, the waitresses were decked out in short Irish-style skirts (YAY!) and the decor definitely had a bit of a tavern feel as it was almost entirely wood. Our waitress was very quick to get to us for our drink orders in the corner table that we designated as our private fort. And she was gorgeous to boot. As the night progressed and the pub got even busier, this did not slow her down from having drinks on our table before we even needed to ask. I'll definitely return and give the grub a try. read more

We had a really great experience here. They handled our large group well on a rainy day. No issues with bill splitting. Food was great, server was friendly. This probably could have been a 5 star rating if not for 2 things- 1. The women's bathroom was in quite the state... one door didn't shut, another didn't lock, and the 3rd and final stall appeared to close and lock, but then slowly opened as you were employing the use of the facilities. Annnddd 2. We ordered another drink with our meals and they never came. She never offered again to refill our emptied drinks either. It was still a great place to come to get out of the rain. read more

St James Gate is definitely a mainstay in Banff. A great pub atmosphere with fun servers and bartenders. When I was a local in Banff, it was definitely a great place to hang out every weekend with friends. It has that old world charm without being pretentious or fake. Whenever I make a trip out to the mountains, I try to have a meal there for old times sake. I am never disappointed! Our last trip out, I tried something totally out of my normal food comfort zone and was happily surprised with an incredible new favourite: Smoked Salmon Boxty! Another favourite standby is the Irish Potato Nachos. Perfect for a night of drinking with your friends! Yummy criss-cross fries with all of your favourite nacho toppings. They also have the best White Russians ever. read more

Bartender had virtually no scotch knowledge and was often nowhere to be found. I had a terrible Okanagan Pomegranate Cider. Go somewhere else. Anywhere. read more

St James's Gate - Scotch menu 9-15-13 - Irish Pub Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Went here on a whim with some friends we bumped into randomly while visiting Banff National Park from Portland, OR. We ended up going here twice and it was the only place we are out at while camping near Banff. The food was amazing. The prices were a little high for my taste, but I got over that when I realized the Canadian dollar is lower than the U.S. right now. The first night I had the shepherd's pie. So flavorful and yummy. The portion size was perfect and they gave you plenty of fries too. My wife got the chicken pot pie, which was larger and just as amazing. I swear there was a whole chicken inside it. The second time we went I got adventurous and decided to try the mango curry which is a house specialty (at an Irish pub?). It was actually really good, and comparable to what you'd get at a Thai place, but the price wasn't so good. $19 and then another $5 for a small amount of grilled chicken strips seemed steep. Tasted great though. My friends and wife stuck to the chicken pot pie and burgers the second night, which are reliably good. Overall, service was excellent. Waitress checked in a lot even though they were busy. This will definitely be a stop if I'm ever here again. read more

Went for tuesday's specials! $10 (canadian) for fish and chips and other irish foods. Fish and chips was great (just like they make in england, not the americanized tiny fish strips). I also ordered the shepards pie to go. It looked like a small meal but its hearty and was one of the better tasting meals i had at Banff and didn't cost me the usual $25+ dollars other restaurants there charge. If they had the $10 deals every day i would have probably eaten there for every meal lol. read more

My family (with young kids!) stopped in for lunch one day and were surprised by the kind waiter and great food. Fish and chips were probably the best of our meals, but the Shepard's pie and the corned beef were good choices as well. Like blonde beer and the waiter's selection was perfect. read more

The food was delicious, the service was slow. I had the apple chipotle chicken burger and it was amazing. Lots of perfectly cooked bacon & coleslaw gave it so much flavour, and it was a little different which i appreciated!! The fish and chips were great too, perfectly cooked. Would definitely try this place again. read more

Not crowded at all. Went there on Friday evening to listen to live musician. Special on Fuller beers. Waitress was attentive. Food was good. The family enjoyed the guitar player who took requests. Family included two young adults. read more

Exactly what we wanted on a slower November afternoon. Specials start at 5pm. We arrived on a thrifty and it was irish special day. I would definitely recommend this for a laid back atmosphere and authentic pub food. Will be back! read more

One of the better choices we found in Banff Solid food great service friendly hearty lamb stew under seasoned chicken and leek were good. burgers very good busy place but handled it well read more

Very displeased wasn't busy at all and took 40 min for our appetizers to show up and came with dirty plates

BEST Irish pub that I have EVER been to! The bartender knows how to pour a Guinness like no one I've ever seen before! The food is traditional Irish fare ... and soooo yummy!! I would not only visit again....but this place is reason enough just to come back to Banff! read more

There's far better options in Banff over this place. Poor service for average pub food. Only thing it has going for it is the large whiskey selection they have. read more

Stopped in here our first night in Banff for dinner. Only a 5min wait. Authentic Irish pub look & feel. Good is a blend of trad Irish & classic N America bar food. The little ribs from the small plates were tasty! Had the Cobb salad-both of these dishes fed 2 comfortably. Service was a bit slow from my perspective, but everyone was friendly. Beer selections include all the great Irish choices. Great location in town. Prices are moderate. Would maybe come again if I'd gone through all the other tempting choices in town. read more

Great atmosphere and service! I really enjoyed my Caesar and my husband enjoyed his beer. Some of the food was only okay, but we enjoyed the salad. It's typical pub food so we can't expect fine dining of course. It's a busy place but it's so big that they're able to accommodate patrons no problem. Definitely check out this pub if you're staying in Banff! I really enjoyed my experience here! read more

Great Atmosphere! This is one of my favorite restaurant / pubs in Banff. The atmosphere is really enjoyable, and I really like when they have live music its very entertaining. The staff was always pleasant, and the food was 100%. When I travel back in Banff I will definitely be returning to St.Jame's Gate read more

Great food off the beaten path a bit in Banff but worth finding ! I had the best beef dip I have ever had in my life, my husband had the club and wished he had ordered mine. The salad was a side , it was OK, but overlooked by how great the sandwich was. Service was ok. I will return again on my next trip ! read more

This is one of the best English style pubs I have ever been to. I was with a loud dude from Yorkshire and even he likes it here. The English are tricky fellows to please when it comes to watering holes, Grab a Guiness and rest easy that the food is just as good. It is crowded in the winters so be sure to get there early or be prepared to wait. It is a great place to warm back up if that below zero wind chill makes you so cold you can't even feel your boobs. read more

Woahhh. Great food, amazing service, and the music is killing it. Ryan, was amazing, kept the drinks full and had great recommendations. I had fish and chips with soup instead of fries. That food made love to me. Good luck. read more

First time here and the menu selection was great! I am gluten and dairy free and I loved how easily it was to navigate the menu to find something to eat! I went with the Lamb Stew Bowl and was blown away by how flavourful it was! Very cozy atmosphere and pleasant staff as well! read more

Great pub atmosphere. Our party of 8 arrived Friday evening while the place was very busy. Despite that they rapidly seated us, in less than 5 minutes. Excellent beer selection. My liver and onions were done just right. All at the table had great food and a great time. Wait staff eager to help. Excellent. read more

Banff wouldn't be the first place I expect to find a superb Irish pub, but life has its little surprises. St. James's Gate is awesome. Just off of Banff's main avenue, this hideaway pub is bigger than it looks from the outside. When I arrived with my friends after a day of snowboarding at Sunshine, I wanted to hug our waitress for leading us to a table of cozy armchairs next to a roaring fire. Nothing like a stone fireplace to really authenticate your Canadian Rocky Mountains experience! The beer list was good and the food was even better. I had a delicious turkey, strawberry and brie sandwich, which was entirely too delicious to be bar food, but that's why St. J's became an instant favorite. I'll definitely be stopping by on my next weekend away! read more

New found fave in Banff during my last visit! They have a great selection of drinks local and international. Crowd is chill and bartenders are awesome in suggesting drinks if you're a first timer at this Irish pub. Came in late around midnight but they had a band that played until closing! Heard 'em play songs by Phoenix, RHCP, etc.. needless to say I was a happy kid. Wish I could've tried some of their food but at least I have a good reason to come back here! read more

Okay so, I've been to a few pubs that deem themselves "Irish", but this one really is! I mean, the building itself was originally deconstructed in Ireland, brought to Banff and put back together decades ago, and is still standin'! (The menus there have more info about that). Anyways, the place is HUGE when you walk in. We got seated way in the back corner near the fire, and I found that very pleasant. Suprisingly, the waitress wasn't extremely friendly, but she was effficient so that's good. The fare on the menu was authentic (I'm a third generation Canadian so I don't eat much Celtic food), so I decided on the poutine since it seemed most familiar. My husband ordered the Shepard's Pie. We had to laugh our butts off when the food came, because my meal was like, 4 times bigger than his and for roughly the same price (he's the bigger eater in our relationship, and I just pick at food). Oh and the poutine I ordered was not like I expected: it had wine cooked right into the gravy, giving it a strong flavor. It also had bits of lamb in with the cheese, so I felt guilty since I don't even like to eat meat, but when I do I prefer it full-grown. I ate as much as I could, but then the next day I got a horrible gastro-intestional illness that lasted a few days after that. It wasn't pretty and I wouldn't want to go through it again. If I thought I could trust their food, I would consider going there again because the atmosphere is charming! Maybe next time I'll just stick to a drink hehe. read more

Just an awesome atmosphere in here. Really busy and lively. Perfect for a beer with friends and to hang out. We ordered the Shepards Pie and Chicken Bacon Pie and both came out delicious. Lots of flavor, good portion sizes. The service was top notch. She was totally on top of us even though the entire place was jam packed. Great job. read more

Was recommended by family to try this place out and the food was phenomenal !! The service on the other hand made it un-enjoyable. Our waitress did not check on our table and refilled our drinks when we asked her to - i ran out of my drink long before she would even look at our table. She walked by numerous times and would not even take a second to ask how our meal was. We ran out of condiments but she never re-filled ! I give the food a 4.5 star but because of the service, i had an Un pleasant experience. read more

Steak and Guinness pie was to die for! My husband had shepherds pie and thought it could've been better, a little dry in the mean or maybe over baked when put together. Otherwise cool place and good! read more

When I saw the Irish Pub, then you must try their fish & chip, right? They give only 1 piece of cod & fries; the tartar sauce to too sour for my taste. Their beers on tap are pricey, it's better buy from bottle. The poutine is not as good as we expected, the gravy is not hot enough for the cold cheese, Costco poutine is much better. The only good thing at this restaurant is live music. read more

Stopped in for lunch. Miss had a Caesar salad and I had sweet potato fries with Chipotle sauce. Great salad! Fries aren't bad either! Drinks are cold! Craft coffee afterward hits the spot. read more

This was a great pub! The atmosphere was nice, and they serve Kilkenny on tap -- a rare find in the Calgary/Banff region. We didn't stay long enough to try any food, but it was fairly busy so they must be doing something right. read more

My friends and I just did a 7 hour long hike, I was attack by ticks, we had cold microwaved veg-burger for lunch... we are HUNGRY! Thank goodness we came here. St. James's Gate Irish Pub seems kinda whatever from the outside, not much of a place to eat. But the inside is big, low ceiling, old wood, stain glass, plenty of costumers all chatting (locals and tourists). The waitresses are all really friendly. Again, I'm starving... so I ordered a pint of Honey Brown beer that's on tap. YUM! One of the best microbrew I've had outside of Portland. I love it. What's next??? I got a Seafood Boxty: a platter of grilled potato cakes covered with seafood gravy. The gravy consists of fish, scallop and shrimp chunks. Very good! I was really satisfied, all for $12CND. My friend got the potato nacho, $9CND and she only ate half of it while her bf and I picked the rest. He got the halibut fish and chip, which is good too. Though not as good as my seafood boxty...which totally hits the spot. I would definitely come back here on my next Banff visit... whenever that will be. read more

St James's Gate - Irish Pub Near Me - Banff, Alberta

This is a place of comfort that I have frequented when in Banff. It is as cozy and as authentic a pub as can be. The woodwork is imported from Ireland. The ambience, the service and the food are all wonderful. The Asparagus and Guinness soup is a favourite that I always look forward to! The other menu items have all been great and each time there are different temptations... The Sticky Toffee Pudding was phenomenal! I look forward to the next opportunity to visit. :-) read more