Best Bars in Canmore, Alberta: Where to Enjoy Drinks, Cocktails, and Great Food
Published by The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge | Canmore, Alberta
Table of Contents
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge: Cocktails, Craft Beer and More
Why Choose a Canmore Restaurant and Bar Instead of a Drinks-Only Venue?
Enjoy Drinks and Great Food at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge
Finding the right place for a drink in Canmore is about more than choosing a bar. Depending on your plans, you may want a carefully made cocktail, a local craft beer, a glass of wine with dinner, or a relaxed lounge where you can sit with friends after a day in the Bow Valley. The bars in Canmore offer different types of experiences, so knowing what you want from your evening can make your choice easier.
For visitors and locals, Canmore has options that combine drinks with food, including restaurants and lounges where you can enjoy a full meal alongside cocktails, beer, or wine. One option is The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, located at 1602 2 Ave in Canmore. Its drinks menu includes signature cocktails, craft beer on tap, cider, wine, and premium liquor.
What Makes a Great Bar Experience in Canmore?
The right bar can mean different things to different people. Someone looking for a quick drink after exploring Canmore may want a relaxed atmosphere and a good beer selection. Someone planning dinner may be more interested in cocktails, wine, and a full food menu.
When comparing Canmore bars, consider a few important factors.
Quality and Variety of Drinks
A good drinks menu should offer more than one type of beverage. Depending on your preference, you may want signature cocktails, classic cocktails, craft beer, cider, wine, or spirits.
Food Options
For many people, drinks are only part of the evening. A restaurant and lounge can be convenient when you want to have dinner without changing locations later.
Atmosphere
Think about the type of evening you want. A casual drink with friends calls for a different setting than a date night, birthday dinner, or longer evening with a group.
Location and Convenience
Location can also matter, especially after spending the day hiking, sightseeing, skiing, or exploring Canmore. A convenient restaurant or lounge can make it easier to settle in for dinner and drinks.
The Occasion
Before choosing among the bars and lounges in Canmore, consider whether you are looking for a casual drink, dinner and cocktails, a celebration, or simply somewhere to relax.
Best Bars in Canmore for Cocktails, Drinks and Food
The phrase “best bars in Canmore” can mean different things depending on what you want. A cocktail enthusiast may prefer a place with several signature and classic drinks, while someone else may want craft beer and a casual meal.
For visitors who want both food and drinks, a restaurant and bar can be particularly convenient. You can start with a cocktail or beer, order dinner, and continue your evening without having to find another venue.
This is one reason a Canmore restaurant and bar can work well for couples, families, groups, and visitors who want a more complete dining experience.
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge: Cocktails, Craft Beer and More
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is located at 1602 2 Ave, Canmore, Alberta, and offers a drinks menu alongside its breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. The restaurant's official drinks menu includes cocktails, craft beer on tap, cider and cooler selections, wine, and premium liquor.
The cocktail list includes several signature options, from the Pitman Caesar and Miner's Mule to the Hibiscus Margarita and Classic Old Fashion. There are also wine selections available by the glass and bottle, along with craft beer from Grizzly Paw Brewing Co. on tap.
This makes The Bankhead an option for people who want to combine drinks with a full meal rather than visiting a drinks-only venue.
Signature Cocktails to Try
The Bankhead's current cocktail menu includes several options with different flavour profiles.
Pitman Caesar is made with house premium vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and Clamato juice, with pickled olives, dill, and lemon as garnishes.
Miner's Mule combines Wild Life Vodka with lime juice and ginger beer and is served with lime and mint.
Hibiscus Margarita uses reposado tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and hibiscus syrup.
The Bankhead 2021 Sangria combines red wine and brandy with fruit, lemon, and lime.
For a gin-based option, The Bankhead Gineration uses Rundle Bar gin, St-Germain, lemon juice, and simple syrup, topped with soda and garnished with cucumber.
Classic cocktail fans can choose the Classic Old Fashion, made with premium house bourbon, brown sugar, and Angostura bitters. The Summertime Classic Mojito uses white rum, fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, and soda.
Craft Beer and Other Drink Choices
Cocktails are only one part of the drinks selection. The Bankhead's current menu lists craft beer on tap from Grizzly Paw Brewing Co., including Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat, Power Hound Blonde Ale, Rutting Elk Red, and Evolution IPA.
The menu also includes cider and cooler choices, such as Okanagan Apple Crisp Cider and Wildlife Distillery's Problem Bear Rhubarb Spritz. For those who prefer spirits, the menu lists premium liquor including Glenfiddich 12 Years, Bulleit Bourbon, Lagavulin 8 Years, Bearface Whiskey, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Grey Goose Vodka, and Jose Cuervo Tequila.
Wine drinkers can choose from red and white wines, with selections available by the glass or bottle depending on the wine.
Pairing Drinks with Great Food
One advantage of choosing a restaurant and lounge is being able to enjoy drinks alongside a proper meal.
The Bankhead's dinner menu includes starters, salads, steak bites, Firecracker Calamari, mains, and other dishes, giving diners the option to make drinks part of a complete dinner experience. The restaurant describes its food approach around locally sourced ingredients and trained professionals.
There is no need to make a drink pairing complicated. You might choose a cocktail before dinner, wine with your meal, or a craft beer if that is your preference. The important part is choosing the drinks and food experience that suits your evening.
Best Cocktail Bars in Canmore: What to Look For!
If you are searching specifically for the best cocktail bars in Canmore, look beyond the number of drinks listed on a menu.
Consider:
Cocktail selection: Does the menu include both classic and signature cocktails?
Ingredients: Look at the spirits, juices, syrups, bitters, and other ingredients used.
Variety: A broader selection gives different members of your group more choices.
Food: A full kitchen can be useful if you want dinner with your drinks.
Atmosphere: Decide whether you want a quiet dinner, relaxed lounge experience, or livelier evening.
Occasion: The right setting for a casual drink may not be the same as the right setting for a birthday or date night.
The Bankhead is worth considering if your preference is for cocktails alongside a full restaurant experience rather than cocktails alone.
Bars and Lounges in Canmore for Different Occasions
A Casual Drink After Exploring Canmore
After spending several hours hiking, sightseeing, or exploring the Bow Valley, you may simply want somewhere comfortable to sit down and have a drink.
A cocktail, beer, cider, or glass of wine can be an easy way to slow down before dinner or head back to your accommodation.
Dinner and Drinks
If dinner is part of your plan, choosing a restaurant with a lounge and drinks menu can simplify the evening.
Instead of finding one location for dinner and another for drinks, you can enjoy both in the same place. The Bankhead's current menus provide separate food and drinks options, making this type of evening possible.
Date Night
For a date night, consider a place where you can comfortably combine dinner and drinks.
A signature cocktail before or during dinner can add something different from a standard meal, while wine or a classic cocktail can suit those who prefer familiar choices.
Birthdays and Special Occasions
For birthdays and other celebrations, the drinks menu is only one consideration. You may also want enough food choices for the group and a reservation option.
The Bankhead offers group booking options for larger dining occasions, so groups planning a celebration should contact the restaurant in advance to discuss their needs.
A Relaxed Evening with Friends
When meeting friends, variety can be important. One person may want a cocktail, another may prefer craft beer, and someone else may choose wine.
A restaurant and lounge with several drink categories can make group decisions easier because everyone can order something suited to their taste.
Why Choose a Canmore Restaurant and Bar Instead of a Drinks-Only Venue?
A drinks-only venue can be the right choice when your main goal is cocktails or nightlife. But a Canmore restaurant and bar offers another advantage: flexibility.
You can arrive for dinner, order drinks with your meal, and stay for another drink afterward. It also works well when different people in a group have different plans.
For example, one person might want a cocktail while another wants a craft beer. Someone else may prefer wine. Having food available means the group does not have to separate into different venues.
The Bankhead's menu covers cocktails, craft beer, cider, wine, and premium liquor, while its kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Tips for Choosing Between Bars in Canmore Alberta
If you are comparing bars in Canmore Alberta, a few simple steps can help you find the right option.
Decide Whether Food Matters
If you only want a drink, a dedicated bar may suit your plans. If you want dinner as well, look for a restaurant with a complete drinks menu.
Check the Current Drinks Menu
Menus change. Check the venue's current drinks menu before visiting, especially if you have a particular cocktail, beer, wine, or spirit in mind.
Consider Your Drink Preference
Think about whether you prefer cocktails, craft beer, cider, wine, or spirits. A varied drinks menu can be useful for groups with different preferences.
Match the Venue to the Occasion
A casual evening, date night, birthday, group dinner, and post-hike drink can all call for different settings.
Check Reservations
If you are visiting with a group or planning dinner during a busy period, check reservation availability ahead of time.
Confirm Current Information
Opening hours, menus, prices, and availability can change. For the most accurate information, check the venue's official website or contact the restaurant directly.
Enjoy Drinks and Great Food at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge
When comparing bars in Canmore, consider what you actually want from your evening. If you are looking for cocktails, craft beer, wine, spirits, and food in one location, The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is one option to consider.
Its current drinks menu includes signature cocktails such as the Pitman Caesar, Miner's Mule, Hibiscus Margarita, Bankhead 2021 Sangria, Bankhead Gineration, Classic Old Fashion, and Summertime Classic Mojito. It also offers craft beer on tap, cider and cooler options, wine, and premium liquor.
The Bankhead is located at 1602 2 Ave, Canmore, Alberta T1W 1M8, and can be reached at (403) 679-1771.
Before your visit, check the current menu and restaurant information for the latest options and availability.
View The Bankhead Canmore Drinks Menu
Frequently Asked Questions
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The right choice depends on your preferred atmosphere, drinks, food, and occasion. The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is one option for people who want cocktails and a full dining experience in the same location.
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Canmore has restaurants, lounges, and cocktail-focused venues serving different styles of drinks. The Bankhead's current cocktail menu includes options such as the Pitman Caesar, Miner's Mule, Hibiscus Margarita, Sangria, Classic Old Fashion, and Summertime Classic Mojito.
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Yes. Some Canmore venues combine drinks with full food menus. The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, for example, offers cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits alongside breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.
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Craft beer is available at several Canmore venues. The Bankhead's current drinks menu lists four craft beers on tap from Grizzly Paw Brewing Co.: Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat, Power Hound Blonde Ale, Rutting Elk Red, and Evolution IPA.
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The Bankhead serves signature cocktails, craft beer, cider and cooler options, wine, and premium liquor. The cocktail menu includes drinks such as the Pitman Caesar, Miner's Mule, Hibiscus Margarita, Bankhead 2021 Sangria, Bankhead Gineration, Classic Old Fashion, and Summertime Classic Mojito.
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Yes. The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge combines a restaurant with a lounge and offers a dedicated drinks menu alongside its food menus. It is located at 1602 2 Ave in Canmore.
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Yes. Drinks, food options, prices, hours, and availability can change. Checking the current official menu before visiting is a good way to confirm what is available.
Canmore Location:
1602 2nd Avenue, Canmore, AB T1W 1M8 (inside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp)
Phone: (403) 679-1771
Email: info@thebankheadrestaurant.ca
Sherwood Park Location:
1005 Provincial Avenue, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0Y7 (inside the Four Points by Sheraton Sherwood Park)
Phone: (587) 269-5000
Email: info-sherwoodpark@thebankheadrestaurant.ca
Book a table online, order delivery, or call ahead for group and event bookings at either location.