What top restaurants do you
recommend outside of the hotel?
The town of Banff has many exceptional dining
choices. To help narrow it down, I would look at
one of the last two winners of the Les Clefs d’Or
Concierge Silver Service Award. The Bison —
2015’s award recipient — offers tasty dishes laced
with seasonal regional influences, like braised
bison short ribs surrounded by Alberta root
vegetables and served in a cast iron pan; and
Pacific Ling Cod flown in fresh from the West
Coast. The restaurant’s rustic elegance is
highlighted by an open kitchen and beautiful
views of Banff and the surrounding mountains.
In 2016 the Balkan was chosen as the newest
winner and were recognized not only for their
great food, but also their impeccable service. The
Balkan has been offering authentic Greek food
inspired by the Canadian Rockies in Banff for over
30 years and is now on its 2nd generation of the
Karlos family. The great Greek dishes are worth
the visit alone, however if you like having a little
entertainment with a dinner and a show, join
them on a Tuesday or Thursday night for Greek
night. I recommend making a reservation around
7:30 p.m., so you will have already started your
main courses close to when all of the action starts.
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helicopter ride into the backcountry being
surrounded by numberless peaks, and after
landing in a meadow be mesmerized by wild
flowers growing at 8,000 feet.
Outside of the property, where do
you recommend your guests go for
an afternoon of sight-seeing and an
evening out?
There is so much to offer being in Banff National
Park, though if you only had an afternoon I
would look at going to the newly renovated Banff
Gondola. This past year the Banff Gondola spent
$27 million dollars on recreating the whole
experience. From the top of Sulphur Mountain
you will have the ultimate in sightseeing views as
you enjoy the full 360-degree panoramic vista
from 7,500 feet. You can also go for a short hike
along the ridge boardwalk towards historic
Sanson’s Peak where an old weather station is
located. This renovated facility is outstanding as
it has a new interpretive center with many
interactive displays for all ages to enjoy. Don’t
miss the multi-sensory Above Banff Theatre, a
short movie which shows you the Canadian
Rockies from the perspective of a bald eagle.
Photo courtesy of The Bison Restaurant & Terrace
Photo by YinYang/istock.com
Enjoy a delicious regionally inspired meal
and Banff’s best mountain views at The Bison
Restuarant and Terrace.
