Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Banff

"Wild Flour Bakery is an independent bakery/cafe that offers organic, nourishing food. Stop by for breakfast or lunch and be prepared to have a hard time deciding between the pastries, hearty sandwiches, soups and salads. They’re well known for their sourdough bread so it’s worth grabbing a loaf to take home."

"Wild Flour Bakery churns out the most delicious breads, both sweet and savory, baked daily in their stone hearth oven (look for aged cheddar sourdough and a walnut & cranberry rye). If you’ve got time in the morning, the homemade granola and croissants are no-brainers."

"We are in Banff at least 3 times and year and we always make a stop into the bakery. They have awesome bread but also serve a brisk lunch/snack business. My favorite treat is their vegetarian Foccacia."

"Not so much a restaurant, but it is the best coffee shop in Banff. Whitebark has been known to deliver the best coffee in Banff for a while now. On our first trip to Banff, we stopped by for several top-ups before we made a move here."

"Hip coffee shop serving delicious coffee in Banff and freshly baked treats. It’s the perfect post-ski pick me up if you’re not into the apres-ski scene!"

"Just off the main drag, Whitebark Café, inside the Aspen Lodge on Banff Avenue, is pretty much the best spot for a cup of coffee or latte in town."

"If you want to be in the heart of the action of Banff proper Buffalo Mountain Lodge is a great choice for a hotel in Banff. Situated just minutes from downtown, Buffalo Mountain Lodge offers free shuttles for guests to go out for dinner, drinks or downtown shopping. We loved building a fire in our room as we overlooked our Rocky Mountain view."

"This Banff hotel is located on the slopes of Tunnel Mountain, within a 20 minute walk of downtown. Each rustic room offers a wood burning fireplace, balcony and private bathroom. A cable TV, a coffee maker and ironing facilities are also included in each room at the Buffalo Mountain."

"Set just a 15-minute walk from the irresistibly photogenic town of Banff within the pristine surrounds of Banff National Park, Buffalo Mountain Lodge lives up to every rustic Rocky Mountain vacation fantasy. Deer can even be spotted nibbling on..."

"If you’re staying up at the Fairmont Banff Springs, STOCK Food & Drink, a bright and modern gourmet grocery and café, is a good option in the mornings, though they’re open throughout the day. Settle into one of their communal tables with a latte and one of their homemade pastries. And even though we thought long and hard hard about ordering an avocado toast in Alberta, it was just as good as the ones back in LA."

"Across the highway from downtown Canmore hides the Summit Cafe. A very popular spot among locals, the Summit Cafe is a quaint little spot in a small commercial plaza tucked into a quiet neighbourhood. One of Canmore’s best-kept secrets, they offer all-day breakfast until 1:30pm, at which point they close for the day, so be sure to take advantage and get there before then."

"We first visited the Summit Café when we were first looking to buy a place in Canmore. We asked our Realtor for a restaurant recommendation and he recommended a local’s favorite called the Summit Café. It’s been one of our favorite Canmore restaurants ever since."

"Public swimming is available at the Sally Borden Fitness Centre, located at the Banff Centre. The Town of Banff sponsors a free public swim the last Sunday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m."

"Cascade Ponds are a hot spot for people visiting Banff with toddlers or young kids. Located at the start of the Lake Minnewanka Loop drive just north of town, the ponds and surrounding scenery are drop-dead gorgeous. Kids love to play in the water here, even though it is quite cold."

"Located near Johnson Lake and just outside the Town of Banff is Cascade Ponds. The 1 km (.62 mi) trail has zero elevation gain. Aside from a small hill to maneuver Cascade Ponds is stroller friendly, and wheelchair accessible."

"We were so glad to stumble on Cascade Pond. This was one of the most scenic spots for a picnic. We also saw a few people biking on the trail. It was a beautiful place for an afternoon stroll."

"I love natural playgrounds, and this one does a great job of blending into the stunning scenery. The playground features slides, a climbing wall, and several fallen trees and tree stumps for climbing. On the other side of the park, there’s a faux-mountain that kids can climb or run underneath (there’s a small opening in the middle)."

"Banff gets hip with a microdistillery to complement its microbrewery, plying spirits (gin, vodka and whiskey) and beer made from Alberta's foothills' grain. It all goes down perfectly with a mesquite beef hoagie,..."

"The trail follows the south shore of the Bow River from Banff Pedestrian Bridge to Bow Falls, the famous waterfall below Banff Springs Hotel. The trail has some up and down but nothing that little ones can’t handle. You can budget about an hour return for walking Bow Falls trail with kids."

"The Bow Falls trail is just a few minutes away from the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. It is a section of the Bow River that is easily accessible by car for you to quickly be able to watch this magnificent river flows through the Rockies. So quick, so clear and so cold!"

"I know that Beaver Tails is more of a take-out spot than a restaurant but I feel it’s worth mentioning because their offerings are so delicious. A beaver tail is a Canadian take on the traditional state fair elephant ear. Customize your beaver tail with all sorts of topping options or opt for it plain with just a dusting of sugar (my preference)."

"For those who do not wish to hike, you can take the famous Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for a panoramic view of Banff as well as the surrounding mountain peaks. The Banff Sighting seeing Gondola is an 8 minute ride that takes you 2281m (~7500ft) above ground to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in a 4 people cabin. There are restaurants, cafes, an interpretive center and short hiking trails at the Sulphur Mountain Board Walk. The price for adults is CAD 58 per ticket, and for children aged 6-15 is CAD 29."

"Next on our list is one of the most famous things to do in Banff and that’s taking the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. From the top, the views are absolutely stunning!. To me, the Banff Gondola is the most spectacular gondola ride in Canada."

"After exploring the Banff town, head to the Sulphur mountains. The Banff Sightseeing Gondola is located 5 minutes from the Town of Banff."

"Two spots to check out in this region are Grassi Lakes and braving the summit of Ha Ling Peak. You can also visit the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary and get up close in person with these amazing creatures."

"If you want to be in the heart of the action of Banff proper Buffalo Mountain Lodge is a great choice for a hotel in Banff. Situated just minutes from downtown, Buffalo Mountain Lodge offers free shuttles for guests to go out for dinner, drinks or downtown shopping. We loved building a fire in our room as we overlooked our Rocky Mountain view."

"This Banff hotel is located on the slopes of Tunnel Mountain, within a 20 minute walk of downtown. Each rustic room offers a wood burning fireplace, balcony and private bathroom. A cable TV, a coffee maker and ironing facilities are also included in each room at the Buffalo Mountain."

"Set just a 15-minute walk from the irresistibly photogenic town of Banff within the pristine surrounds of Banff National Park, Buffalo Mountain Lodge lives up to every rustic Rocky Mountain vacation fantasy. Deer can even be spotted nibbling on..."

"There are loads of sweet treats to tempt your kids in Banff, but for us, the ultimate temptation is always BeaverTails. A Beaver Tail is a classic Canadian treat consisting of a flat piece of fried dough smothered with your choice of sweet toppings. You can find this chain at famous attractions and national parks across Canada."

"If you’re going to Banff then getting a BeaverTail is a must!. They are a Canadian pastry and one of my favourite ways to indulge, it’s essentially a big flat doughnut. Make sure you request for it to be vegan."

"Public swimming is available at the Sally Borden Fitness Centre, located at the Banff Centre. The Town of Banff sponsors a free public swim the last Sunday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m."