Canmore Restaurant: Discover the Best Dining Experience at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge
By The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge | Canmore, Alberta
Table of Contents
What Makes The Bankhead Stand Out in Canmore
Breakfast & Brunch at The Bankhead
Lunch in Canmore: Something for Everyone
Dinner: The Full Canmore Dining Experience
Family-Friendly Dining in Canmore
End on a Sweet Note: Desserts & Cocktails
Where to Find The Bankhead in Canmore
A Canmore Restaurant Worth Coming Back To
If you're looking for a great Canmore restaurant that serves real, honest food in a warm setting you've found it. The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, located at 1602 2nd Avenue inside the Northwinds Hotel, has been serving locals and visitors since 2021 with a menu that brings together Canadian comfort cooking and bold international flavours.
Whether you're stopping in after a hike in the Canadian Rockies, looking for a spot for a family dinner, or planning a group celebration, The Bankhead is one of those places that feels right no matter the occasion.
What Makes The Bankhead Stand Out in Canmore
Canmore has no shortage of places to eat, but The Bankhead takes a different approach. The kitchen is built around one clear mission: locally sourced ingredients, cooked and served by trained professionals who care about what they put on the plate.
The team partners with local Canmore and Bow Valley suppliers to bring fresh, quality ingredients to your table. That commitment to local sourcing isn't a marketing line you can taste it.
The menu itself spans Canadian classics and dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world, all made in-house. It's the kind of place where you can order a perfectly cooked Alberta Beef Striploin one night and come back for Turkish Eggs or a Malaysian curry the next.
Breakfast & Brunch at The Bankhead
Starting your morning in Canmore? The Bankhead breakfast and brunch menu is worth waking up for.
From the Canadian Kitchen, you'll find hearty options like Steak and Eggs (6oz AAA sirloin, two eggs any style, smashed potatoes), a full selection of Eggs Benedict with toppings ranging from back bacon and smoked salmon to pulled pork with sriracha, and a proper Avocado Toast loaded with cream cheese, jalapeños, and poached eggs on sourdough.
For something lighter, the Kale Smoothie Bowl with banana, chia, flax, and hemp seeds hits the spot, especially after a morning on the trails.
The International Kitchen at breakfast is where things get interesting. The Turkish Eggs (Cilbir) roasted garlic yogurt and chilli oil on sourdough is a dish with roots going back to the Ottoman Empire. The Masala Omelette is made the way the chef's own mother used to cook it, with fresh coconut, ginger, green chilli, and curry leaf. The Shakshouka, Aloo Paratha, and Congee round out a breakfast menu that genuinely covers all corners of the world.
Brunch cocktails are available too a classic Pitman Caesar, a Mimosa, Tequila Sunrise, and a few other crowd favourites.
Breakfast in Canmore at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge
Lunch in Canmore: Something for Everyone
The lunch menu at The Bankhead (available from noon) keeps things flexible. You can go light with a Miner's Power Bowl mixed greens, kale, beans, avocado, berries, and balsamic vinaigrette or go for something more filling.
The Pulled Pork Sandwich on a charcoal bun with house-smoked pork and coleslaw is a lunch staple. The Crispy Fish Burger, the Blackened Chicken Burger, and the Steak Sandwich (6oz sirloin on ciabatta with mushrooms and onion rings) are all solid options, each served with a choice of house salad or fries.
International starters at lunch include Gamberetti Alla Puttanesca (tiger shrimp in a rich Italian puttanesca sauce) and the Chopped Chat Salad inspired by Indian street food chickpea, cucumber, radish, and chaat masala vinaigrette.
Dinner: The Full Canmore Dining Experience
Dinner at The Bankhead is when the kitchen really opens up. The Canadian main course section features some of the best Alberta beef you'll find at any Canmore restaurant:
Alberta Beef Striploin 10oz: served with mashed potato, vegetables, and red wine demi-glace
Alberta Beef Tenderloin 8oz: rich, tender, and beautifully plated
Alberta Beef Ribeye 12oz: aged and full of flavour
Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk 35-day aged: a showstopper for two or more, carved tableside
Beyond beef, the Bison Short Rib with sautéed mushrooms and mashed potato, the Blackened Atlantic Salmon in a citrus-infused tomato bisque with brown butter gnocchi, and the Smoked Pork Chops with demi-glace are all worth ordering.
The International Main Course section brings dishes like the Beef Bulgogi Korean soy-garlic and sesame marinated beef served with cellophane noodles and steamed rice and the Canmore Pasta Lobster Ravioli in a creamy lobster bisque with parmesan.
For anyone who doesn't eat meat, the Vegan Protein Loaf with roasted vegetables, squash purée, and red wine reduction is a well-thought-out option that doesn't feel like an afterthought.
Mountain dinner experience at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge
Family-Friendly Dining in Canmore
Travelling with kids? The Bankhead has a dedicated Mini Miners menu for the little ones mac and cheese, buttered dinosaur pasta, chicken fingers, and grilled chicken breast, all priced under $15. It's the kind of kids' menu that parents actually appreciate: simple food done properly, so the whole family can relax.
The atmosphere at The Bankhead shifts throughout the day casual and bright in the morning, lively at lunch, and warm and inviting in the evening. It works equally well for a quick family meal or a longer dinner with friends.
End on a Sweet Note: Desserts & Cocktails
The dessert menu at The Bankhead is short but well done:
Golden Fig and Honey Pudding: honey-infused warm almond pudding with roasted figs and vanilla ice cream
Signature Chocolate Gateaux(GF, Vegan): chocolate mousse with coffee cream and berry compote
Mango & Berry Cheesecake: New York style with fresh berry sauce and crushed French meringue
Pair dessert with one of the dessert cocktails the Mudslide, Chocolate Martini, or Espresso Martini or close the evening with a specialty coffee from their full espresso menu.
Decadent desserts and handcrafted cocktails at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, a must-visit Canmore restaurant
Where to Find The Bankhead in Canmore
Address: 1602 2 Ave, Canmore, AB T1W 1M8 (inside the Northwinds Hotel) Phone: (403) 679-1771 Email: info@thebankheadrestaurant.ca
The restaurant is easy to find from downtown Canmore. Head to Bow Valley Trail (1A) and you'll spot the Northwinds Hotel on the east side of the road. There's free parking in the hotel lot.
If you're coming off Highway 1 westbound, take Exit 91 to Bow Valley Trail and drive 3.3 km. Coming from Banff, take the Visitor Info Centre exit and head along Bow Valley Trail for 1.8 km the Northwinds Hotel will be on your right.
You can also order delivery through Foodie Online at foodieonline.ca/thebankhead if you'd rather eat in comfort after a long day outdoors.
Book your table online or call ahead the restaurant gets busy, especially on weekends.
A Canmore Restaurant Worth Coming Back To
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge isn't trying to be everything to everyone, but it comes pretty close. It has a thoughtful menu built on local ingredients, a team that clearly takes cooking seriously, and a space that works for solo diners, couples, families, and groups alike.
If you're looking for the best dining experience in Canmore whether that's a mountain-town breakfast before a big hike, a relaxed lunch, or a proper dinner after a day of exploring the Rockies The Bankhead should be at the top of your list.
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