Fresh Air and Now… Fresh Beer in Banff National Park

Banff’s first brew pub opened this summer in the heart of downtown to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Located on the second floor of Clock Tower Mall, the Banff Ave Brewing Co. may be new to Banff, but owners Dan Rodrigues, Socrates Korogonas and Brett Ireland are well seasoned, having owned and operated a popular microbrewery in Jasper, the Jasper Brewing Co. since 2005. The brewed on-site beers are created using pure local glacial water (with the added chlorine removed – thanks guys, much appreciated!) and the classic ingredients of hops, malted barley and their own cultured yeast! There’s nothing overly done or fancy here just good honest well-crafted beer and a manageable variety of 7 or so styles to work your way through. The Brewers Oar Cream Ale is superb, an accurate take on the classic English bitter, the Head Smashed IPA (India Pale Ale) is also outstanding as is the Reverend Rundle Stout, dark and delicious. The food is fun casual classics like fish and chips (highly recommended), burgers, steak sandwiches, salads, pastas and loads of tasty appetizers. Great for families, large groups or intimate pairs. Choose from high top or low top tables, booth seating, comfy lounge area, or head out onto the second story balcony overlooking Banff Avenue and the mountains beyond.

Check out the beer and food menus on their website: www.banffavebrewingco.ca

Ticino Swiss Italian Restaurant

Located at the High Country Inn, Ticino is one of Banff’s longest standing restaurants and has been in operation since 1974. Popular among Banff locals for high quality European cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, the Swiss Italian menu offers mouth watering dishes such as Pork Tenderloin Baked in a Potato Crust, Panfried Veal Scaloppini in Cheese Batter, and Fondue with Gruyère and Emmenthal. With Black Forest Gateau and Tirami Su on the dessert menu, what more could a European food fan wish for?!
See the Ticino food and wine menus here.

Five Diamond Finesse

The multiple award winning Eden restaurant at the Rimrock Resort Hotel combines one of the finest dining experiences in Western Canada with some of the best views anywhere in the Canadian Rockies. Choose from a 3, 4, or 5 course Table D’Hote menu, a 6 course Chef’s Tasting Menu or a 10 course Grand Degustation menu. French cuisine such as Spring Creek Beef Tartare, and Foie Gras Croque Madame, is expertly combined with locally inspired creations such as Alberta White Tail Deer and British Columbia Squab, and with the help of the sommelier each course can be paired with an ideal wine from the cellar of over 17,000 bottles.
View the full menu here.

Thanksgiving Special Menus

If you are coming to Banff for Thanksgiving weekend, you will no doubt be searching for a special meal to mark the occasion. While all Banff restaurants will be open for business as usual, you may find that the following special Thanksgiving menus will make your holiday weekend that bit more festive:

The Bison Restaurant & Lounge is offering a special menu on Sunday October 11th and Monday October 12th for $36pp. The starter is a spiced pear & candied pecan salad along with a roasted chestnut & apple soup. Their main course is a sage roasted turkey with dried cranberry dressing, turkey confit, parsnip & carrot mash, glazed beets, and bourbon gravy. Dessert includes a maple pumpkin raspberry pie and spiced chai ice cream.

One of Banff’s newest restaurants, The Meatball in the Ptarmigan Inn has a Thanksgiving special which includes pumpkin soup to start, followed by a main course of turkey or honey glazed ham, apple sage stuffing, parmesan mash, yams and spaghetti squash plus seasonal vegetables, with a choice of apple crisp or vanilla ice cream for dessert. All for a very reasonable $23pp ($13 for children). The restaurant is open 5pm to 9pm and the special menu runs from Friday to Monday.

At the Banff Park Lodge you can enjoy a Thanksgiving Sunday Brunch on October 11 from 10am to 2pm for $31pp ($21 for children 6-12yrs) or a Thanksgiving dinner from 5pm to 9pm in the Chinook restaurant for $20pp. Also coinciding with Thanksgiving is the Oktoberfest special in the Terrace Dining Room (5.30pm to 11pm), where German specialties such as schnitzel, goulash soup and apple strudel can be ordered from their a la carte menu.

At the Rimrock Resort Hotel, a Thanksgiving dinner is being served in the Primrose Dining Room. The delicious menu, costing $39pp can be seen here. A special children’s menu is also available for $18.

The Fairmont Banff Springs are offering a Thanksgiving dinner buffet from Friday to Monday in the Bow Valley Grill for $50pp ($25 for children 6-12yrs), and the Waldhaus restaurant is presenting a Thanksgiving table d’hote from Friday to Sunday for $54pp ($27 for children 6-12yrs). The excellent regular Sunday brunch also takes place on Thanksgiving Sunday in the Bow Valley Grill and costs $39.50pp ($14.95 for children 6-12yrs). It’s not a “Thanksgiving Brunch” as such, but we wouldn’t be surprised if you find some turkey on the menu!

Please contact the above restaurants directly to book your table.
To avoid disappointment, early reservations are recommended for Thanksgiving events at all Banff restaurants.