
The Bison Banff open kitchen prides itself on changing the menu with the seasons, so customers can try something fresh and new. (Photo courtesy of Bison Banff)
Banff continues to be Canada’s most popular national park, welcoming guests from around the world. In 2023-24, almost 4.3 million people visited to bask in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, ski, hike, and sightsee. While in Banff, out-of-towners’ adventurous spirit can also be indulged through a diverse slate of restaurants showcasing global flavours, from Thai to Swiss and Mexican. Consider these 15 local spots to savour elevated international cuisine.
If food and drink are your passions, time your visit to coincide with one of Banff’s signature festivals, like Made with Love Food and Drink Festival (April-May) and Banff Craft Beer Festival (November).
Swiss
The Grizzly House is a beloved local hangout known for its fondue-focused menu. While some fondues are quite traditional featuring Swiss cheeses or chocolate, others are pretty wild. You can order a rattlesnake fondue or one with exotic meats like ostrich, wild boar, buffalo or alligator. The décor is equally unusual with a giant buffalo head and a mannequin riding a motorcycle. And the phones on the tables? They’re leftover from the restaurant’s former life as a swinger’s bar.
Italian
Opened in July 2024, The Fat Ox is Banff’s newest dining experience. Once the former site of Ticino’s at the High Country Inn, the fresh addition features cuisine from the Italian Alps with a local twist. Think classic Bolognese sauce made with bison meat or spaghetti and meatballs crafted using elk. The mains are hearty and rustic, perfect when you’ve spent the day outdoors. Don’t skip the house-made focaccia as a starter. It comes with a generous portion of excellent Italian olive oil, ideal for dipping. Cocktails lean heavily on Italian spirits, like Campari, pistachio liqueur, limoncello, and even whiskey from Italy.
LUPO highlights the greatest hits of Italian fare. You’ll want to mangia, mangia through the menu, which has ample pasta dishes, like a luscious seafood linguini and luxurious rigatoni carbonara with a sauce so good you’ll be mopping every little morsel with chunks of bread. The osso buco is divine, served with creamy polenta and wilted cabbage. The pizzas are boast-worthy, cooked to perfection, whether you go old school with a classic pepperoni or venture into more unique options, like the Uncle Morty with white sauce, mortadella, pistachios, and truffle honey. Looking to stretch your food dollars? Come for happy hour daily from 4-5 p.m. to take advantage of $7 cocktails and $16 pizza and pasta specials.
Japanese
Sushi in a mountain town far, far away from the nearest ocean? Yep. And Sushi Mitsuba makes it work by flying in the freshest fish, some rare and not found widely in Canada, from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. The restaurant opened in August 2024 and quickly became a favourite for its Edomae sushi, a style focused on simplicity and top-notch ingredients that originated in Tokyo. To really dive into the cuisine, try an omakase meal. Omakase basically means what you eat is left up to the expert chefs. By eating your way through as many as 20 item options, you will appreciate fully the skills in the kitchen. Go full throttle on authenticity and splurge a bit more on the sake pairing with each course. If you don’t love sake, you will after you’ve enjoyed it perfectly matched with food.

Hello Sunshine features sushi, maki rolls, nigiri, and Japanese appetizers. (Michele Sponagle photo for Vacay.ca)
Hello Sunshine Sushi is the place to hang out if you love sushi and karaoke. Start your evening with a curated selection of sashimi and nigiri, add a bowl of ramen and some barbecue Japanese wagyu. On the side, get some yuzu slaw, steamed bao buns, Tokyo sweet potato fries with Kewie mayo for dipping, or the decadent lobster fried rice. If there’s any room left in your belly, order a chocolate sesame mousse to share. Drink options are plentiful with sake playing a starring role. Get a sake flight to experience the range of styles and flavours. My personal choice is the Matcha Colada, made with matcha tea from Banff’s own Jolene’s Tea House, rye from Park Distillery, coconut milk, and pineapple. It’s a signature cocktail featured in the Banff Cocktail Trail. With a bit of liquid courage, you’ll be ready to head to one of Hello Sunshine’s private rooms (book ahead) for a night of karaoke.
Right next to the Mount Royal Hotel, Shoku Izakaya is a relaxed spot not far from Banff Avenue, the busy main drag. It’s one of Banff’s new restaurants but it has already earned a loyal following for its innovative Japanese cuisine in a pub-like setting. Take your time to unwind and courses land on your table. If you’re eating with a group, try the nigiri board with 10 beautifully executed pieces. Add to that some hand rolls (top marks go to the ahi tuna poke roll) and maki rolls. The spicy shrimp is a must order. On a cold day, a big steaming poll of ramen chases away a chill. Before you get the check, order a bowl of the black sesame ice cream. It is sweet, nutty, creamy, and oh-so satisfying.
Indian
When you’re tight on time — and you likely will be given how much there is to see and do in Banff, the dinner and lunch buffet at Zyka Elevated Indian Restaurant is a handy option located right downtown. The dishes, from butter chicken to the dosas (a traditional Indian crêpe stuffed with various) ingredients are just as good as you’d find in any big city. Diners will find some lesser-known, à-la-carte menu items such as idli (steamed rice cakes) and others that steer into Chinese cuisine territory, like pan-fried Hakka noodles. The eatery aims to please, offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. You can also get food to go.

The dining room at Añejo in Banff is popular for the house salsa tasting. (Photo Courtesy Michele Sponagle)
Mexican
If you like tequila, Banff has your new happy place. Añejo Restaurant features Canada’s biggest selection with more than 200 varieties. Indecision is the side effect of having such a huge offering, but the bartenders are super helpful and will make suggestions. Tasting flights also make it easier to find a favourite. Lock in your visit during happy hour (daily 3-5 p.m., then 9 p.m. until close). And, of course, there are plenty of delicious food options to go with your sips. The table-side guacamole is a must. It just doesn’t get fresher than this. The house salsa tasting is a good way to start your meal as well. Tacos are standouts. The braised beef ones with red cabbage, cilantro, and jalapenos, are likely to be the top hit for the table. Lighter fare is available, too. Try the scallop esquites, a corn dish with chorizo sausage and cotija cheese.
Cajun/Creole
Open since 2012, Tooloulous showcases the flavours of Louisiana with a touch of Canadiana in spectacular fashion. Helmed by Calgary chef Steve Smythe, the laid-back spot mixes spice and nice with southern charm. Order a bucket of steamed crawfish, enjoy a shrimp and crab boil or sample traditional favourites, like grits, jambalaya, and gumbo. Around Mardi Gras, a special menu features king cake pancakes and pain perdu (like southern French toast), and a Cajun Alfredo with smokey andouille sausage. Adults will find New Orleans-inspired cocktails like Voodoo, Hurricane, and Sazerac. Meanwhile, kids can order off a menu designed just for them with mains like BBQ chicken, chocolate pancakes, and fried shrimp.
Bavarian
Located on-site at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, diners will find a taste of Bavaria accompanied by scenic views of the Bow and Spray rivers at the Waldhaus restaurant. It’s a charming spot away from the busyness of the town — a little mountain paradise ready to be explored. As you might expect, the menu has plenty of hearty fare that falls into the comfort food realm. Alberta beef is a standout, whether it’s in the form of short ribs or burgers. But many guests come for the traditional dishes, like schnitzel (three types) and the gooey goodness of the alpine cheese fondue with mushrooms, bratwurst, or potatoes available to order for dipping. It’s a favourite among repeat guests. You’ll want to start your meal with a chewy, soft pretzel served with a beer cheese dip on the side. To finish up, the flaky, sumptuous apple strudel is a must. In summer, book a table outside so you can take in some of that clean mountain air as you dine. The hotel has many great restaurants. A good way to explore them and other culinary highlights is with Eat the Castle outing from Alberta Food Tours. [Read More: How to ‘Eat the Castle’ in Banff]
Asian
Block Kitchen + Bar is a godsend for those who can’t decide what they want to eat. There’s a bit of everything in the Asian-fusion menu with tastes of Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Korea. It’s tough to beat the steamed bao buns as a starter. The pork belly and tempura shrimp options are must-tries. The Korean fried chicken tossed in a chili sauce with a good spicy kick is a solid choice, too. For mains, the Thai mushroom risotto is an inventive take on an Italian classic dish. For lighter bites, order the Asian lettuce wraps with smoked tofu. Dessert presents some tough choices. Repeat diners love the matcha cheesecake and the tiramisu brownie brûlée. There is also a solid lineup of “Blocktails” for imbibers as well as some satisfying zero-alcohol options.
When the weather is chilly, make your way to Chopstix for an Asian-centric array of excellent dishes. Soups are popular, from the hot and sour tom yum, a Thai staple, to Malaysia’s laksa, made with a shrimp paste and curry base, and classic Vietnamese pho. If you’re looking for something more substantial, go for the Korean beef bulgogi or satay dish. If dumplings are more your speed, the pork and cabbage ones are truly tasty. Thumbs up also to the okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese pancake. The Vietnamese ice coffee packs a good caffeine punch so you can stay up late and hit some of Banff’s best après-ski bars.
International
It’s tough to put 3 Bears Brewery & Restaurant into a single category. Its menu is eclectic by design. It’s the type of place where even finicky people in your dining party will find dishes they love. The space has an inviting vibe, like you’re visiting a friend’s rustic mountain cabin. You could easily graze through the share plates with appetizers like Alberta bison ribs, steak lettuce wraps, cheese waffle fries, and the crab and shrimp donut. But then you’d miss out on some great signature items, like pizzas (try it with house-made elk sausage) with a sourdough crust, a spicy Nashville hot chicken sandwich, the decadent mac ‘n cheese gratin or 18-ounce beef ribeye. The 3 Bears is also a brewery, so if you love beer, choices are abundant. A beer flight with six 5-ounce pours is a smart way to sample a few. The Wishing Tree Hazy IPA is a winner for its pleasant bitterness and tropical fruit flavours.

Classic Swiss and Prime Rib Fondue are available for hungry visitors at The Bluebird Fondue & Cocktail. (Photo courtesy of the Bluebird Fondue & Cocktail)
Bluebird might be classified as a steakhouse, but it has more claims to fame other than its exquisite wood-fired steaks. The French onion soup taps into the flavours of an authentic Parisian brasserie and the fondue lineup would make the Swiss jealous, especially the version with additions of truffle oil and a shot of Park alpine dry gin. Vacay.ca Tip: Time your visit for happy hour when fondues are 50% off (Saturday to Thursday, 4-5 p.m. and Fridays, 3-5 p.m.). Residents and those in the know will go for breakfast, too. It’s impossibly fluffy soufflé pancakes, croque madam, and eggs Benedict keep diners coming back. If you’re brunching, a cocktail may be in order. A Strawberry Express with Prosecco, rhubarb bitters, and Aperol is the ideal pre-noon pick-me-up beverage. There’s also zero-proof and non-alcoholic beer available. It has a cozy vibe so don’t eat and run. Chill for a while and enjoy each bite and sip. At any time, a big slice of key lime pie is always appropriate.
Canadiana
The Bison has a devoted following of diners who come for its ever-changing seasonally driven menu. The kitchen has a flair for elevating classic dishes with local ingredients and international flourishes. Set the tone for the meal with a bison tartare served with sourdough. It’s full of robust flavour and guaranteed you’ll scrape every last bit of it from the plate. Even something as basic as ricotta on toast has a fancy twist. It’s paired with roasted grapes and rosemary-infused hot honey. And, of course, the French fries arrive with a truffle aioli to turn them into ethereal nibbles. When you want to order to impress, blow the budget with an Alberta bison tomahawk steak or a 12-ounce striploin. For a more modest spend, the cheeseburger with aged cheddar and crispy onions may deliver the best bang for the buck in town. A kids’ menu ensures the little ones will eat well, too. On a summer day, snag a seat on the outdoor patio. It is the place to hang out and be part of the action.
MORE ABOUT VISITING BANFF
Banff & Lake Louise Tourism: To get more information about how to explore the area, visit the Banff & Lake Louise Tourism website. More information on the province’s highlights can be found at the Travel Alberta website.