5 Best Restaurants in Yoho National Park, British Columbia

In a forest on the edge of the Kicking Horse River, Cathedral Mountain Lodge is a romantic setting for dinner. The small dining room has lots of windows and wood accents, and guests can order gourmet dishes made with fresh local ingredients from a menu that's updated a few times a week and includes items like Alberta grass-fed tenderloin, Arctic char, or a daily vegetarian feature. There is an extensive carefully curated wine menu with several Canadian and international options. Dinner reservations are required. A Continental market-fresh breakfast is served.

Part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts collection, the dining room at Emerald Lake Lodge is famed for its Rocky Mountain cuisine, with roots that go back to the hearty meals prepared by the mountain guides and the fine dining served in the early CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) rail cars. The seasonal menu features selections like free-range elk strip loin served with a bean, bacon, and vegetable cassoulet or Pacific halibut for dinner, as well as delicious vegetarian options. The resort sources sustainable seafood, and its game meat comes from its own ranch near Calgary. The hearty breakfast buffet runs from 6:30 to 10:30 am. There's an excellent selection of British Columbia and international wines, a good cocktail selection, popular beers and spirits from around the world, and the Scotch lover won't be disappointed with the single-malts. Seating options included window-side with impressive views of the lake, on the porch, or next to the massive stone fireplace.

With an eclectic assortment of knickknacks, most with a "pig" theme, this cute, bright bistro grabs your attention as soon as you walk through the door. Fiercely local, the wine/beer menu is totally B.C.-centric and dishes use fresh, local ingredients with menu selections ranging from burgers or crispy duck confit to ethnic fusion dishes like Korean galbi ribs. There are several tasty vegetarian dishes available, as well as lunch kits for hikers. Seating is first-come-first-serve, and note that people will drive from as far away as Calgary just to eat here, so there can be lineups during the busy dinner hours.

On a sunny day, there's no better place to grab a coffee and house-baked cookie or a light lunch than at the newish log cabin next to the bridge at the Emerald Lake Lodge entry houses. The patio with its bright yellow umbrella tables has stunning views of the lake, and the interior is equally stunning with sweeping cathedral ceilings, wood accents, and a grand river-stone fireplace. The seasonal menu has options like classic poutine, pizza, and bison bratwurst. Ingredients are local and the wild game is sourced from their own ranch in the foothills close to Calgary. The cafe is open from 12--7 pm daily and the window is open from 9 am--4 pm for hot and cold drinks, grab-and-go menu items and ice cream.

Originally constructed in 1915 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, this building has been home to a variety of businesses, including a ham radio spot and a grocery store, and has been operated as a café by the current family since 1991. The café's small menu, which can be dine-in or ordered to go for a park picnic, includes rice bowls, paninis, soup, salad and sandwiches, and a variety of cold drinks and grab-and-go items. The Siding is also the local general store, gift shop, and liquor agency.