116 Best Restaurants in Alberta, Canada

Opened in 2021 by Chef Stephane Provost, this is Banff’s first Japanese izakaya, a type of informal Japanese bar that serves drinks and food. This friendly and fun restaurant serves small plates and snacks with an extensive selection of saki, Japanese-inspired cocktails, and beers. The space is decorated in dark colors with a wood beam ceiling, a long bar, well-spaced tables, and minimalistic Japanese art and adornments. The creative menu is made for sharing and includes a variety of skewers, sushi and maki rolls, sashimi, and other yummy snacks like sweet-and-spicy Korean fried chicken, steamed bao buns, pork-kimchee gyozas, and Tokyo fries with smoked bonito shavings. Maple miso crème brûlée and black sesame ice cream make uniquely delicious dessert choices.

An izakaya is the Japanese version of a British pub or a Spanish tapas bar, and this one is extraordinary. The vibe is Tokyo underground and though it’s authentic Japanese fare, the specialty here is grilled meats and vegetables, particularly yakitori (skewered chicken). Creative cocktails and a nice selection of sake and Japanese whiskey round out the experience.

Always bustling, this popular bakery has delicious pastries, excellent sourdough bread, and good sandwiches. You can even order a Phil and Sebastian coffee to go with your breakfast or lunch, bypassing the even longer lines there.

You can't beat the panoramic mountain views from this restaurant on the third floor of the Banff Gondola at 2,281 meters (7,486 feet) above sea level. There are floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides and the cuisine is just as elevated as the scenery with a regularly changing menu that features local ingredients like Alberta beef, British Columbia salmon, and prairie-grown vegetables complimented by local craft beers, craft spirits, and Canadian wines. There are vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian menu choices as well as a children's menu. You can also purchase packages that include the Banff Gondola ride and dinner. Reservations are recommended; request a window seat if you can!

This restaurant serves Japanese classics like sushi, sashimi, noodles, and tempura along with Korean favorites like beef bulgogi and bibimbap. They also have some stir-fry options on the menu. Everything is made fresh to order.

Dine on the patio or inside at this restaurant serving classic Canadian food in a unique setting: the original Lake Louise Railway Station. Daily lunch specials round out the menu of salads, burgers, steaks, and salmon. Save room for the rhubarb-strawberry pie, just like grandma used to make—if your grandma made really good pie from scratch.

This Scottish-inspired restaurant is decorated in dark wood and has a long granite bar and cozy private booths with a wall of TVs playing various sports games. There are a wide array of nibbles on the lounge menu and a great bar menu---burgers, fish-and-chips, stuffed Yorkshire pudding---with 10 beers on tap, local canned craft beers, and ciders, cocktails, spirits, and wine by the glass or bottle. Happy hour is from 3--6 pm daily. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Stirling Grill, adjacent to the lounge, is open for fine dining with a full gourmet menu including a three-course "Trust the Chef" menu that can also include sommelier chosen wine pairings.

Just outside the Jasper National Park gates, this gourmet farm-to-table restaurant is a hidden gem with wonderful mountain views. The menu changes often, but the food is always made from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients (try the bison burger) and everything, including the desserts, is prepared fresh on-site; there are also about two dozen beer choices including an extensive locally made craft beer list and a fun cocktail and martini menu. The restaurant received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence several years running and the carefully curated wine list features over 300 well-priced wines—some served by the glass and some by the bottle. There are two seatings for dinner—one between 5 and 6 pm and a second after 7:30 pm.

Near the top of Whistlers Mountain, spectacular views and casual dining are the big draws at this restaurant that is operated by the Jasper SkyTram. It's a good spot for breakfast, lunch, or possibly an early dinner—depending on the season—as casual Canadian-style sandwiches, burgers, wraps, soups, and salads are served with beer, wine, coolers and soft drinks.

If you want a taste of Australian café culture, this is the place, with six types of coffee, a variety of organic teas, kombucha, and healthy smoothies. The food menu includes breakfast sandwiches and bowls, sausage rolls, apple-cider loaf, and other nibbles. The view is lovely from the sunny second-floor terrace.

At this intimate, 15-table, downtown dining room, chef Jason Munn's menus change regularly but always feature entrées made with fresh Alberta bison, Angus beef, and British Columbian seafood and creative sides like handmade potato gnocchi or white-cheddar poutine. The restaurant's name is inspired by the Syrah (Shiraz) grape varietal, so you'll find a nice selection of wines (as well as craft beers) to pair with your meal. The menu also has many gluten-free options—and at least one vegetarian entree nightly—and everything is made in house, from the biscuits and infused butter that start the meal to the desserts that finish it. On that note, save room for the wonderful white-chocolate goat-cheese cake. Reservations are essential, but there is bar seating if you just want just a glass of wine or a light meal.

Located on the third floor of Grizzly Paw Brewery, this restaurant embraces craft beer culture with a seasonally inspired menu that pairs well with the beers made at the brewery. Each dish has a suggested pairing and the menu includes salads, a wide array of pub-style starters, oven-fired flatbreads, burgers, steaks, pasta, and other dishes. If beer's not your thing, wine, spirits, cider, and craft cocktails are also on the menu. The brewery is also known for its non-alcoholic craft soda and can prepare a flight of sodas instead of a flight of beer. If you sit near the window, you'll enjoy views of the Three Sisters, Ha Ling Peak, and Mount Rundle from the restaurant and the outdoor patio.

A local favorite for high dining, the elegant Teatro is in an old bank building on Olympic Plaza, where classical features blend with contemporary decor to create an exquisite setting for fine Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Specialties include numerous antipasti, pizzas from a wood-burning oven, pastas, and risottos---try the lobster and scallop lasagna. Teatro’s wine cellar is in the former bank vault, which houses 10,000 bottles of the very best Bordeaux and Italian red wines.

Named after a 10-foot replica of the 1930s comic character, which you’ll meet on the way to the washroom, this fresh veggie-centric eatery offers family-style dining in an airy space enhanced by lush green plants. This is not your average salad shop as Chef Steve Smee’s talents in the kitchen have earned Ten Foot Henry’s a spot as one of the top 50 restaurants in Canada. Sit in front of the open kitchen and try the warmed tomatoes and herbs on sourdough toast and the vegetarian cacio e pepe pasta. Meat eaters can rest easy, as the menu includes numerous seafood options and, yes, a steak.

This brewery restaurant is designed to feel like you're in the middle of a forest—complete with a 25-foot pine tree, wood features, plants, leaves, and a retractable rooftop patio. The menu is casual and includes a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, and mains that all pair nicely with a flight of craft beer made on-site. Pizza, stone-baked in a wood-fired oven to provide the perfect amount of crispiness, is one of the specialties; the sourdough pizza crust takes 72 hours to make using a reverse ice water fermentation process. The smash burger, made with Benchmark ground chuck, is one of the better burgers in town. For a more substantial meal, try the slow-roasted beef rib. The "million-dollar onion"—a roasted onion section baked in herb cream sauce and then broiled with cheesy bread crumbs—goes well with almost anything and only costs C$5.

West Edmonton Mall may be a Canadian institution, but Tim Hortons is genuinely loved by a whole lot of Canadians. Affordable coffee and delicious donuts are the foundation of this legendary chain, but you can also order an assortment of other baked goods, as well as breakfast sandwiches, cheesy flatbreads, and submarine sandwiches.

Local work crews, mountain guides, and park wardens love this small café for a hot breakfast, lunch, or early dinner (until 6). Baked goods, made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, and salads are the specialties, and the coffee is excellent. This is a good place to pick up a meal to go if you're driving north on the Icefields Parkway. There are only a few seats along the window and a few chairs outside.

First established in 1978, this company produces gourmet cured meats and artisan sausages. In the on-site deli, you can buy locally grown and made foods and enjoy a variety of freshly made sandwiches, chicken potpies, sausage rolls, paninis, snacks, and treats served alongside coffee or tea.

Fine artwork adorns the brick walls of this bright and charming French-style café perfectly blending old and new; there's a great Euro-vibed patio for summer dining. The daily brunch menu includes a blue crab bennie and a truffle mushroom omelet, but there are also plenty of delicious vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free items. Late afternoon Happy Hour features half-priced bottles of wine.

This aptly named restaurant has an enormous glass-enclosed patio overlooking Maligne Lake, the largest lake in Jasper National Park. Locally sourced gourmet cuisine like the Alberta beef burger or the soy-marinated bison short ribs complement the breathtaking views; save room for the Banoffee tart. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu items are clearly marked and there's a reasonably priced kids menu.  Meals are complimented with a good selection of local craft beers, craft cocktails, and Canadian wines. You can also purchase packages that include the Maligne Lake cruise.

This is the place to start your day with a sweet or savory treat or to reward yourself after a day of hiking or paddling near Maligne Lake. You'll find everything from classic cinnamon sugar waffles to smoked salmon waffles, and there's a good coffee and tea menu.

For something fun and a little different, try this restaurant's three-course Château Experience, consisting of a mushroom-and-shallot cheese fondue to start, an 8-ounce beef tenderloin with farm vegetables and whipped potatoes for the main course, and chocolate fondue with banana bread and fresh fruit for dessert. If fondue isn't for you, other classic Swiss, German, and alpine dishes are served à la carte. The comprehensive wine list roams the globe but favors vintages from Canada and California.

This local hangout sells specialty fizzy drinks; guests choose their favorite soda and add flavored syrups. Hot dogs, cookies, ice cream, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, ice cream floats, and seasoned popcorn are also on the menu.

At breakfast, enjoy a regular coffee or espresso, hot chocolate, or tea from the local Banff Tea Company with your breakfast panini, toast, or house-made granola. Lunchtime soups, sandwiches, and salads are often innovative; consider trying the buddha bowls with fresh veggies, falafel, quinoa, and tangy tahini lemon dressing. Kale salad with fresh apples and toasted nuts is a typical vegan offering.

This little coffee shop is attached to the Waterton Lakes Opera House and is a great spot to grab a nibble and re-caffeinate. Excellent breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and hearty lunch sandwiches can be picked up before heading out on a hike. A wide variety of coffees---from your basic cup of joe to fancy options like caramel macchiato and Vietnamese---are on offer. There are also a variety of teas, cold drinks, baked goods, and snacks on the menu.

This award-winning restaurant offers creative riffs on bistro favorites in a bright, airy space. Breakfast is served every day, with an excellent brunch buffet on the weekend, and you won’t regret the chef’s five-course dinner special.