Dining in Canmore: Experience Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, and Drinks at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge

Published by The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge | Canmore, Alberta

Table of Contents

Breakfast in Canmore: Start Your Mountain Morning Right

Brunch at The Bankhead: Canadian Comfort with a Cocktail on the Side

Lunch Spots in Canmore: Midday Meals at The Bankhead

Dinner in Canmore: Alberta Steaks, Bison, Seafood, and More

Drinks at The Bankhead: Cocktails, Craft Beer, Wine, and More

Group Bookings and Private Events in Canmore

About The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready for Dining in Canmore? Visit The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge

Canmore is surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery in Canada, but after a morning on the trails or an afternoon exploring the Bow Valley, you need a place that feeds you well. Dining in Canmore has a lot of options from quick counter service to formal fine dining. Somewhere in the middle of that range, The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge has found its footing as one of the most versatile spots in town.

Located at 1602 2nd Avenue inside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp, The Bankhead serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, with a drinks menu that works from the first mimosa of the morning to the last glass of wine at night. The kitchen draws on Canadian comfort food and recipes from around the world Korea, Turkey, India, the Philippines, Italy, and more and the team keeps the sourcing as local as the mountains allow.

Whether you are staying in Canmore for a weekend, passing through on your way to Banff, or looking for a reliable spot to bring a group, The Bankhead is worth knowing about.

Dining in Canmore at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge featuring delicious meals and a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors.

Dining in Canmore at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge featuring delicious meals and a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors.

Breakfast in Canmore: Start Your Mountain Morning Right

Most mornings in Canmore start early, and breakfast at The Bankhead is set up to send you out well-fed no matter what you have planned. The breakfast menu covers classic Canadian options alongside international morning dishes that you will not find at every restaurant in town.

From the Canadian kitchen, the Steak and Eggs ($27) features a 6oz AAA sirloin alongside two eggs any style and crispy smashed potato a proper mountain breakfast. Eggs Benedict comes in eight variations: Back Bacon, Smoked Beef Brisket, Smoked Salmon, Spinach, Avocado & Tomato, Mushroom, Regular Bacon, and Pulled Pork with Sriracha. The Avocado Toast ($20) uses sourdough, cream cheese, fresh jalapenos, and two poached eggs with an option to add smoked salmon.

For something lighter, Steel Cut Oats ($16, VG, GF) with chia seeds, raisins, and honey, or a Kale Smoothie Bowl ($18, GF, V) with banana, chia, flax, and hemp seeds, work well before a hike.

The international kitchen is where the breakfast menu gets particularly interesting. Turkish Eggs ($18) known as Cilbir, a dish dating to the Ottoman Empire come with roasted garlic yogurt and chilli oil on sourdough. The Masala Omelette ($18) is built from a recipe inspired by the chef's mother's cooking: onion, grated fresh coconut, ginger, green chilli, and curry leaf. Shakshouka ($16), originating in North Africa, is eggs poached in a spiced tomato and pepper stew with sourdough. Chicken and Waffles ($29), Egg Sadou ($19, a New Orleans Creole dish with poached eggs and hollandaise on artichoke and creamed spinach), and Aloo Paratha ($17, savoury potato-stuffed flatbread with yogurt) round out a morning menu that genuinely covers ground.

Breakfast at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge The Best Dining in Canmore Experience

Breakfast at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge The Best Dining in Canmore Experience

Brunch at The Bankhead: Canadian Comfort with a Cocktail on the Side

Brunch at The Bankhead is an unhurried affair. The full breakfast and lunch menus are available, and a dedicated brunch cocktail list makes it easy to settle in for a longer meal.

The Pitman Caesar ($14) is the house take on Canada's iconic brunch cocktail house vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire, and Clamato, garnished with pickled olives, dill, and a lemon wedge. A double is $16. The Mimosa ($9) keeps things simple: Prosecco and orange juice. Other options include a Tequila Sunrise ($9), The Lucky Irishman with Baileys and Jameson ($12), a Blackberry Gin Hot Chocolate ($13), and a Canadian Coffee Cocktail ($8) made with cold brew coffee, vodka, and oat milk.

Brunch is a good time to try the pancakes, waffles, or French toast ($16) with Chantilly cream, berry compote, and maple syrup customizable with chocolate chips, banana, Nutella, fresh fruit, or fresh berries. The Breakfast Poutine ($18) with crispy smashed potato, cheese curd, gravy, and scrambled eggs is a crowd-pleaser for anyone who has earned it.

Subscribe to the Bankhead newsletter for 10% off in-person dining at the Canmore location a simple way to save on a brunch for two.

Lunch Spots in Canmore: Midday Meals at The Bankhead

The lunch menu at The Bankhead, available from noon, is built for variety. Whether you want a proper sit-down meal or something you can eat before heading back out, there are good options across every category.

Salads start with the Miner's Power Bowl ($19, V) mixed greens, kale, beans, nuts, avocado, berries, vegetables, and balsamic vinaigrette and a Caesar Salad ($17) that can be enhanced with chicken, shrimp, scallops, or half an avocado. Sandwiches are all served with a choice of house salad or fries: the Steak Sandwich ($27) features a 6oz sirloin on ciabatta with mushrooms and onion rings; the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($23) uses smoked pork, BBQ sauce, and coleslaw on a charcoal bun; and the Crispy Fish Burger ($23) brings lettuce, tomato, pickle, and coleslaw together on a solid bun.

Main course options at lunch include Blackened Atlantic Salmon ($39, GF) with citrus-infused tomato bisque and brown butter gnocchi, Chicken Supreme ($37), and Korean Beef Bulgogi ($23, DF) soy garlic and sesame marinated beef over cellophane noodles and steamed rice. For starters, the Firecracker Calamari ($17) with sauteed peppers, soy, and sesame is popular, and the Gamberetti Alla Puttanesca ($19) tiger shrimp in puttanesca sauce with sourdough is worth ordering at any meal.

The Mini Miners kids menu is available at lunch too, with Mac & Cheese ($12), Buttered Dinosaur Pasta ($12), Kids Chicken Fingers ($14), and Grilled Chicken Breast ($14). The Bankhead is a family-friendly restaurant, and the kids menu reflects that without being an afterthought.

Lunch at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge: A Top Choice for Dining in Canmore

Lunch at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge: A Top Choice for Dining in Canmore

Dinner in Canmore: Alberta Steaks, Bison, Seafood, and More

Dinner is where The Bankhead's dinner menu opens up fully, and the kitchen makes the most of what Alberta's land and waters produce. The atmosphere in the evening settles into something a little more special good for a quiet dinner for two, a celebration, or a group gathering after a day in the mountains.

The steak section is a highlight. Alberta beef is sourced with care, and the lineup covers Alberta Beef Tenderloin (8oz, $68), Alberta Beef Striploin (10oz, $49), and Alberta Beef Ribeye (12oz, $63), all served with mashed potato, vegetables, and red wine demi-glace. The Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk ($225) is a 35-day aged cut designed for two or more — one of the more memorable ways to eat steak in Canmore. A Surf & Turf ($68) pairs the Alberta Striploin with scallops and shrimp, and a 6oz Atlantic lobster tail can be added to any order for $35.

Beyond beef, the Bison Short Rib ($71) with mashed potato, sauteed mushrooms, and vegetables is one of the more distinctly Canadian items on the menu. Braised Lamb ($39), Smoked Pork Chops ($37), Chicken Supreme ($37), and Blackened Atlantic Salmon ($38, GF) in a citrus-infused tomato bisque with brown butter gnocchi give the menu real range.

On the international side of dinner, the Oxtail Balbacua ($23, Filipino) is a rich oxtail broth with spices, hazelnuts, almonds, chilli peppers, fish sauce, and black beans. The Gamberetti Alla Puttanesca ($19, Italian) brings tiger shrimp in a punchy puttanesca sauce to the table with sourdough. The Canmore Pasta Lobster Ravioli ($33) in creamy lobster bisque and the Canmore Pasta Quinoa Macaroni ($23, GF) round out the pasta section, with optional protein additions across the board.

Desserts are made with the same attention as the rest of the menu. The Signature Chocolate Gateaux ($14, GF, V) is a decadent chocolate mousse with chocolate soil, coffee cream, and berry compote. The Mango & Berry Cheesecake ($14) is a New York-style cheesecake infused with mango and berry, topped with fresh berry sauce and crushed French meringue. For something warm, the Golden Fig and Honey Pudding ($14) a honey-infused almond pudding with roasted figs, vanilla ice cream, and a brandy snap is a good way to end an evening.

Dining in Canmore

Dinner at The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge: Canadian Kitchen Starters and International Favorites for Dining in Canmore

Drinks at The Bankhead: Cocktails, Craft Beer, Wine, and More

The drinks menu at The Bankhead is well thought out and suits any occasion, from a casual beer after hiking to a bottle of wine over a long dinner.

The cocktail list features the signature Miner's Mule ($14) Wildlife Vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer with a lime and mint garnish alongside a Hibiscus Margarita ($14), The Bankhead 2021 Sangria ($14), The Bankhead Gineration ($15) made with local Rundle Bar gin and elderflower liqueur, and a Classic Old Fashion ($14) with house bourbon and candied orange. The Summertime Classic Mojito ($14) and a Pitman Caesar ($14) complete the signature list.

Craft beer is served on tap from Grizzly Paw Brewing Co., with four options: Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat, Power Hound Blonde Ale, Rutting Elk Red, and Evolution IPA (all $9). Canned and bottled options include the Canmore Brewing Co. Georgetown Brown Strong Ale ($11), Rocky View Brewing Lemon Radler ($10) and Pilsner ($9), and Beaver Tail Raspberry Ale ($8). These are genuinely local and regional options you are not getting mass-produced domestic brands at the Bankhead.

The wine list is organized and considered. Red options include Meiomi Pinot Noir (California), Dona Paula Malbec (Argentina), and Amarone Tommasi Classico (Italy, $138 bottle). White options cover Wayne Gretzky Pinot Grigio (BC VQA), Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand), and GH Mumm Champagne Brut ($129 bottle) for celebrations. The BC VQA selections support Canadian producers, and the range by the glass makes it easy to try something new without committing to a bottle.

Premium spirits include Glenfiddich 12 Year Scotch, Bulleit Bourbon, Lagavulin 8 Year Scotch, Grey Goose Vodka, and Bearface Canadian Whiskey enough selection to satisfy most preferences at the bar.

Dining Canmore

Refreshing Drinks for Every Occasion

Group Bookings and Private Events in Canmore

The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is set up for groups and makes the process simple. Whether you are organizing a corporate lunch, a family reunion dinner, a birthday celebration, or a team outing, the restaurant offers flexible options for parties of any size.

Groups can choose from a buffet-style Group Buffet Menu, a Create Your Own three-course dinner, a pre-set three-course group menu, or the Pre-set Deluxe Three-Course Group Menu ($65 per person) for elevated occasions. Each format comes with a curated selection of appetizers, main courses, and desserts that reflect the full range of the kitchen's capabilities. Booking in advance ensures your group has enough space and the team has time to prepare properly.

Visit thebankheadrestaurant.ca/canmore-group-bookings or call (403) 679-1771 to arrange a group dining experience in Canmore.

About The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge

The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge was established in 2021 and has built a reputation as one of the most diverse dining options in Canmore. The mission of the kitchen is clear and consistently applied: locally sourced food cooked by trained professionals with a genuine commitment to environmental sustainability. Local and regional partnerships inform the ingredient sourcing, and the craft beer lineup leans deliberately toward Canmore and Alberta producers.

The name nods to the historic Bankhead coal mining town near Banff, a fitting reference for a restaurant rooted in the history and landscape of the Canadian Rockies. The kitchen team has assembled a menu that respects Canadian cooking traditions while drawing freely on global culinary influences a combination that makes The Bankhead a popular choice for dining in Canmore.

A second location operates in Sherwood Park at 1005 Provincial Avenue, inside the Four Points by Sheraton Sherwood Park, bringing the same menu and philosophy to the Edmonton area.

Dining in Canmore

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready for Dining in Canmore? Visit The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge

The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended especially on weekends and during the busy summer and winter seasons.

Canmore Location: 1602 2nd Avenue, Canmore, Alberta T1W 1M8 (inside Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp)

Phone: (403) 679-1771

Email: info@thebankheadrestaurant.ca

Book a Table: thebankheadrestaurant.ca

Order Delivery: Available through Foodie Online

Sherwood Park Location: 1005 Provincial Avenue, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 0Y7 (inside Four Points by Sheraton Sherwood Park)

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Where to Eat in Canmore: The Complete Dining Guide for Visitors and Locals