The Best Restaurants And Things To Do In Banff
Downtown Banff is the cutest little town; I definitely recommend staying here if you come to visit Banff National Park! There are so many good restaurants, shops and things to do downtown during your visit. We stayed at the Moose Hotel & Suites and absolutely loved it.
One important thing to note – the nearest airport is Calgary (YCC), and it is still a 1.5 hour drive from the airport. You can also take a shuttle, which will take ~2-2.5 hours. So just remember to factor this time in when planning your visit.
Keep reading for my favorite restaurants and things to do in downtown Banff. And don’t forget to click the button below to save all these spots and more to your Google Maps!
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1. Banff Town Sign
The town sign is admittedly very touristy, and I’m a bit embarrassed to admit we waited (twice) in a line for a photo here.😂 But, it’s super unique and I think worth it! There’s a nice trail that goes through the woods you could walk through as well, although make sure you bring bear spray.
2. Cascades of Time Garden
We stumbled upon this hidden gem while walking around downtown, and WOW! Don’t miss out on these gardens; they are so peaceful and especially beautiful in the summer when everything is blooming. Entry is free, and there are a lot of benches and gazebos you can sit on to meditate, journal or hang out.
3. Banff Gondola
This is a must!! The Banff Gondola takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain, with unreal views of Banff National Park. It is one of the more expensive activities, however you can also opt to hike up and/or down the mountain!
When you get to the top, make sure to walk to the top of the building. There’s a really nice observation deck that is almost 360°. Definitely also go on the boardwalk to get to Sanson Peak. From afar it looks intimidating, but it is a lot easier than it looks! You will get stunning views of the entire Park and Bow River from up there.
4. Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
This is a natural history museum with over 5,000 taxidermy animal and plant species. There is a small entry fee to visit, but it goes to support visitor services and facilities. We got to see a Moose, Bison and Black Bear close up, which was pretty cool to see them life size!
5. Bow River
You can walk along the river, which is a very relaxing activity. You can also rent bikes and bike along the river, or the path above. A bit further away from downtown is Bow Falls, which we did not check out but I definitely would if I went back!
Restaurants
1. Wild Flour
Put Wild Flour first because it is number one in my book! This cute bakery has the best freshly-baked pastries, coffee, breakfast and lunch sandwiches. We literally bought like 10 things from here haha, I wish we had come here the first day so we had known to go every day!
2. Hello Sunshine
Hello Sunshine is a Japanese/sushi restaurant with the best overall vibe. We came here for dinner and I really have nothing but good things to say. The music was at this perfect volume where we could hear each other perfectly, but didn’t hear anyone else’s conversation…
…besides the table of 6 dudes on their bachelor party who did sake bombs halfway through our meal. Also, do NOT sleep on the bao buns – OMG! They’re incredible!
3. Block Kitchen + Bar
We came to Block Kitchen for lunch and it was delicious! This spot is Korean fusion; I got a poke bowl and the dumplings appetizer.
4. Magpie & Stump
This felt like the classic go-to spot for Mexican fare. We came to Magpie & Stump right after all our hiking in Banff National Park, and it really hit the spot.
5. Three Bears Brewery
Three Bears had an INCREDIBLE fried chicken sandwich; we saw someone at another table who had ordered it and we both got one.😂 Is there a better way to pick your meal than scoping out what other people have ordered? They also make a bunch of local beers, so if you are a beer fan, highly advise coming here! There’s a nice rooftop as well; if you make a reservation be sure to add a note you’d like to be seated on the rooftop!
If you’re looking for more information on Banff National Park, including Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, be sure to check out my recent post on why you should add Banff National Park to your bucket list! Follow along on Instagram for more Banff + travel content!
mariss
