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Outlying Areas Restaurants in Banff

The outlying areas of Banff are the areas that would require a car (or a really long walk) to get to from downtown. Notably, the Banff Springs Hotel and the Rimrock Hotel are quite a distance from downtown. These places attract a fair amount of tourist traffic: the Banff Springs for its history and majestic appearance, the Rimrock for its proximity to the Upper Hot Springs and the reputation it has for culinary excellence. The areas on Tunnel Mountain are also a ways away from the core of Banff.

The Rimrock made news this past decade for receiving a prestigious Five-Diamond ranking from AAA for its Eden dining room. This was the first of its kind in Western Canada. The setting is intimate with a Rocky Mountain backdrop. The Eden is for people who demand the highest level of quality and elegance. For those looking for a great restaurant without the pretense, the Primrose is another award-winning Rimrock establishment worth considering.

The Banff Springs Hotel has a number of restaurants, such as Castello Ristorante, Bow Valley Grill, Samurai Sushi House, and Waldhaus Pub. These all cater to slightly different audiences, but each of them is the top level for its kind in Banff. Castello is a picturesque Italian restaurant, the Bow Valley Grill serves local cuisine (and an incredible breakfast buffet), Samurai is the top Japanese restaurant in Banff, and Waldhaus is the one of the nicest (but probably not the rowdiest) pub in Banff.

The Juniper, which is across the highway on Mt. Norquay Road, has spectacular views of the Bow Valley from its patio. It's famous as a cross-roads between the beef, bison, and wild game of the prairies and the salmon and ocean food of the Pacific. Historically, the Bow Valley was where this trade would take place, and the Juniper has captured that.