Downtown Restaurants in Banff
Downtown Banff is a small area of just a few blocks. You could walk down every street in the whole area in under an hour. Most of the traffic stays on Banff Avenue, though, but many great restaurants require their customers to venture off the main street a few strides. It's worth it, if only to get away from the crowds.
Bear Street is sort of the #2 street in Banff. It is pretty busy, too, but nothing compared to Banff Avenue. Many of Banff's best restaurants are on Bear Street. The Saltlik is Banff's premiere steakhouse. It's famous throughout Alberta (also has a location in Calgary). Although they are known for steak, the calamari is the best I've ever had. The Bison specializes in local, Western Canadian food, such as bison and wild game. But, my favorite along Bear Street is the Wild Flour Bakery, which is a gluten-free, organic bakery. You can't go to Banff and not go to Wild Flour. It's not allowed.
Caribou Street has two Spanish tapas restaurants, Cafe Soleil and Magpie & Stump. Together with Caramba!, these make up the Spanish offerings in Banff. I'm not sure why they are right beside each other. Caribou also has a local favorite, Aardvark Pizza & Sub. Aardvark is one of the most popular pizza places in Banff, and it's been around for a long, long time.
On the outer edge of "downtown" is the Banff Centre. This is the home of the arts in the Rocky Mountains. The commitment to excellence extends to the two restaurants on the premises, the Vistas and the Three Ravens. These are great places to eat before going to a live show.
Bear Street is sort of the #2 street in Banff. It is pretty busy, too, but nothing compared to Banff Avenue. Many of Banff's best restaurants are on Bear Street. The Saltlik is Banff's premiere steakhouse. It's famous throughout Alberta (also has a location in Calgary). Although they are known for steak, the calamari is the best I've ever had. The Bison specializes in local, Western Canadian food, such as bison and wild game. But, my favorite along Bear Street is the Wild Flour Bakery, which is a gluten-free, organic bakery. You can't go to Banff and not go to Wild Flour. It's not allowed.
Caribou Street has two Spanish tapas restaurants, Cafe Soleil and Magpie & Stump. Together with Caramba!, these make up the Spanish offerings in Banff. I'm not sure why they are right beside each other. Caribou also has a local favorite, Aardvark Pizza & Sub. Aardvark is one of the most popular pizza places in Banff, and it's been around for a long, long time.
On the outer edge of "downtown" is the Banff Centre. This is the home of the arts in the Rocky Mountains. The commitment to excellence extends to the two restaurants on the premises, the Vistas and the Three Ravens. These are great places to eat before going to a live show.
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