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Food tours in Banff: what to eat and which tour to book
Banff is a small mountain town inside a national park, so its food is shaped by Alberta ranching and by tourism. Alberta beef and bison, elk and wild game, rainbow trout, Saskatoon berries and craft beer from local breweries are the things to look for; poutine, BeaverTails pastries and Nanaimo bars are the Canadian snacks. Nearly everything is within a few blocks of Banff Avenue and Bear Street, and prices are noticeably higher than in Calgary or nearby Canmore, where many locals eat out.
Use this page to decide what to eat and where. The dishes and areas below say what each place does well and when to go. The tours are real listings on GetYourGuide, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and group sizes change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Banff
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta beef steak AAA Alberta beef | Grain-finished beef from the province's ranches; ribeye and striploin are the usual cuts on steakhouse menus. | Steakhouses on Banff Avenue and in the big hotels. | roughly CAD 50–80 a steak (about €32–52) |
| Bison burger | Burger made from leaner, slightly sweeter bison meat, often with local cheese and a brioche bun. | Pubs and casual restaurants on Banff Avenue and Bear Street. | roughly CAD 22–30 (about €14–19) |
| Game dishes elk, venison, wild boar | Farmed elk, venison and boar cooked as striploin, sausage or meatballs; a Rocky Mountain menu staple. | Mid- to high-end restaurants in town and at mountain lodges. | roughly CAD 40–65 a main (about €26–42) |
| Poutine | Fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy; Quebec's dish, eaten all over Canada. Versions with pulled pork or braised beef are common. | Pubs and casual spots across town. | roughly CAD 12–20 (about €8–13) |
| Fried dough pastry BeaverTails | Hand-stretched fried dough shaped like a beaver's tail, topped with cinnamon sugar, chocolate spread or maple butter. | The BeaverTails stand on Banff Avenue. | about CAD 8–12 (about €5–8) |
| Nanaimo bar | No-bake bar with a crumb base, custard-flavoured butter icing and a chocolate top. Originally from British Columbia. | Bakeries and cafes in Banff and Canmore. | about CAD 4–7 |
| Saskatoon berry pie | Pie made with Saskatoon berries, a native prairie fruit that tastes like a cross between blueberry and almond. | Bakeries, cafes and dessert menus; more common in summer. | about CAD 7–12 a slice |
| Caesar cocktail Caesar | Canada's national cocktail: vodka with tomato-clam juice, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, in a celery-salt-rimmed glass. | Any bar or pub; local breweries and distilleries in Banff and Canmore make their own drinks too. | about CAD 12–18 |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Banff Avenue
The main street, lined with pubs, steakhouses, cafes, sweet shops and the BeaverTails stand. Convenient but busy and pricey.
Bear Street and Caribou Street
One block from Banff Avenue, with several of the town's better restaurants, a brewery and quieter cafes.
Banff Farmers' Market
Seasonal outdoor market in Central Park with local baking, preserves, prairie produce and food stalls.
Fairmont Banff Springs
The landmark railway hotel has a dozen dining outlets, from casual to fine dining and afternoon tea; expensive but a classic Banff experience.
Canmore Main Street
Twenty minutes outside the park, with lower prices, independent bakeries, cafes and breweries, and where many park workers eat.
Lake Louise
Small village and lakeside hotel with a few restaurants and a well-known afternoon tea at the Fairmont Chateau.
Food tours in Banff compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff: Wagon Ride with Cowboy Cookout BBQ | 3 hours | from €98 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Banff National Park: Guided Signature Hikes with Lunch | 7 hours | from €124 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Banff: Castle Food Experience at Banff Springs Hotel | 3 hours | from €137 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Banff: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Samples | 3 hours | from €90 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Banff Christmas Foodie Walking Tour with Samples | 3 hours | from €90 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Banff: Wagon Ride with Cowboy Cookout BBQ
On GetYourGuide · run by Discover Banff Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €98 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 214 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- BBQ lunch/dinner Free parking Gratuities
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Warner Stables, 1 Sundance Rd, Banff, AB T1L 1B9, Canada. Look for the big red stables located at the end of Sundance Road in Banff.
Banff National Park: Guided Signature Hikes with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Discover Banff Tours
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €124 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 161 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Banff: Castle Food Experience at Banff Springs Hotel
On GetYourGuide · run by Alberta Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €137 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 95 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Samples
On GetYourGuide · run by Nibble Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €90 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 14 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- 224 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L, Canada
Banff Christmas Foodie Walking Tour with Samples
On GetYourGuide · run by Nibble Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €90 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Guide Walking tour Water Sanitizer and napkins
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Banff Visitor Centre steps
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Banff has almost no street food: a few takeaway counters, ice cream and fudge shops, and the BeaverTails stand. For cheap eating, bakeries and grocery store delis are the best option.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down dining is the main way to eat: pubs, steakhouses and a handful of more ambitious restaurants using Alberta beef, game and trout. Prices are high, and in July–August and over ski holidays tables fill early, so book dinner. Some restaurants offer a mountain-view dinner reached by gondola.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are rare in Banff itself. Food experiences here are more often brewery or distillery tastings, guided walks with tastings, or chef-led dinners at lodges. Check what is actually included before booking.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | CAD 60–90 (about €40–58): bakery breakfast, deli or pub lunch, grocery picnic |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | CAD 120–180 (about €78–115): two sit-down meals with a drink |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | CAD 250+ (about €160+): steakhouse or hotel fine dining with wine |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy in town: most menus mark vegetarian and vegan dishes, and cafes offer plant-based bowls. Traditional ranch and game menus are meat-heavy, so pick the restaurant with that in mind.
Halal: Halal-certified options in Banff are very limited. Calgary, about 90 minutes away, has many halal restaurants and butchers. In Banff, fish, vegetarian dishes and asking about ingredients are the practical route.
Gluten-free: Good: Canadian restaurants are used to gluten-free requests and many mark GF on the menu. Poutine gravy and fried items often contain gluten or share a fryer, so ask.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Card terminals suggesting tips of 18%, 20% or 25%, sometimes calculated on the total including tax, which feels like a trap to visitors. 15–18% of the pre-tax amount is normal for table service. Choose 'custom' if the presets are higher than you want to pay.
- Banff Avenue restaurants charging high prices for frozen or chain-standard food because foot traffic guarantees customers. Check recent reviews, walk one block to Bear or Caribou Street, or eat in Canmore.
- 'Alberta beef' and 'wild game' on menus without saying where it comes from, at premium prices. Ask where the meat is sourced; good restaurants name their ranch or supplier.
Top tours & activities in Banff
Rent a car in Banff
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Banff?
Yes. Tipping is standard in Canada: about 15–18% of the pre-tax bill for table service, 20% for excellent service. Card machines often suggest higher amounts; you can choose a custom figure. A dollar or two at a counter is common but optional. Guides on food tours and tastings also expect a tip of around 15–20%.
Is eating in Banff expensive?
Yes, compared with most of Canada. A pub burger with a drink and tax and tip can easily reach CAD 40, and steakhouse dinners run well over CAD 100 per person. Save money with bakery breakfasts, grocery picnics for hikes, and dinners in Canmore, where the same quality is usually cheaper.
Do I need restaurant reservations?
In July and August, over Christmas and on ski-season weekends, yes for dinner, especially at the better-known places on Bear Street and in the big hotels. Many restaurants use online booking. Breakfast and lunch are easier to walk into. Outside peak season, a same-day booking is usually enough.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about CAD 60–90 (roughly €40–58) covers a bakery breakfast, a pub or deli lunch and groceries. Two sit-down meals with a drink come to about CAD 120–180 including tax and tip. Hotel fine dining with wine pushes a day well past CAD 250.
Is there a farmers' market in Banff?
Yes, a seasonal market runs in Central Park, usually on Wednesdays from late spring to early autumn, with local bakers, prairie produce, preserves and hot food. Dates and hours change from year to year, so check the town's current listing before you plan around it. Canmore has its own weekly summer market.
What local food should I try at least once?
Try Alberta beef, a bison burger, an elk or venison dish, a poutine, a BeaverTails pastry on Banff Avenue, a Nanaimo bar and a slice of Saskatoon berry pie. For drinks, order a Caesar, Canada's tomato-clam cocktail, or a beer from one of the local breweries in Banff or Canmore.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.