Looking for the Best Restaurant in Canmore Alberta? Here's What The Bankhead Serves
Published by The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge | Canmore, Alberta
Table of Contents
Where to Find The Bankhead in Canmore
A Menu That Covers the Whole Day
Family-Friendly, But Built for a Night Out Too
Group Bookings, Private Dining, and Events
Two Locations: Canmore and Sherwood Park
Why It Keeps Coming Up as a Canmore Restaurant Recommendation
Frequently Asked Questions
Reserve Your Table at The Bankhead
If you've typed “restaurant in Canmore Alberta” into Google, chances are you're either standing in town right now trying to figure out where to eat, or you're planning a trip and want a solid option locked in before you arrive. Either way, here's a straightforward answer: The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, tucked inside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp at 1602 2nd Avenue, is a full-day restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner just a few minutes from downtown Canmore.
What sets it apart from a lot of the other places on Canmore's restaurant list is the menu itself. It's built around Alberta beef, Rocky Mountain comfort food, and a rotating cast of international dishes pulled from India, Italy, Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, and beyond. You can order a 35-day aged Alberta beef tomahawk and a plate of butter chicken at the same table, and both will feel like they belong there.
Below is a practical look at what to expect: the food, the setting, group dining options, and the answers to the questions people ask most often before booking a table.
Where to Find The Bankhead in Canmore
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge sits at 1602 2nd Avenue, Canmore, Alberta, inside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp, just off Bow Valley Trail (Highway 1A). Coming from downtown Canmore, it's a short drive toward Bow Valley Trail, which runs parallel to 2nd Avenue. If you're driving in on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) from the west, take Exit 91 onto Bow Valley Trail and continue about 3.3 km. From the east, Exit 89 onto Palliser Trail toward Benchlands Trail also gets you there. Parking is free and available right in the hotel lot off 2nd Avenue, so you don't need to hunt for street parking downtown.
The restaurant also runs a second location in Sherwood Park, inside the Four Points by Sheraton at 1005 Provincial Avenue, for anyone splitting time between the Edmonton area and the Rockies. More on that location further down.
If you're searching for one of the best restaurant in Canmore Alberta, The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is a top choice for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, offering Canadian cuisine with international flavours in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
A Menu That Covers the Whole Day
A lot of restaurant in Canmore Alberta pick a lane, dinner only, breakfast only, and stay in it. The Bankhead runs breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner every day, which matters if you're trying to build a full day around one reliable spot.
Breakfast and lunch lean into both comfort and variety. Steak and eggs made with a 6oz AAA sirloin is one of the most ordered dishes, alongside classic eggs benedict with a choice of back bacon, smoked beef brisket, smoked salmon, or spinach. From there the menu opens up internationally: Turkish eggs (known as cilbir), Moroccan-style shakshouka, a masala omelette made the way the chef's mother cooks it in India, and aloo paratha, a stuffed potato flatbread served with yogurt and salad. Lighter options include steel-cut oats and a kale smoothie bowl.
Lunch adds sandwiches and burgers, a pulled pork sandwich with charcoal bun and coleslaw, a crispy fish burger, and a blackened chicken burger, plus salads like the Miner's Power Bowl and a Caesar with kale, bacon, and roasted garlic dressing.
Dinner is where the menu really splits into two directions: a Canadian kitchen and an international kitchen, served side by side on the same page. On the Canadian side, expect Alberta Beef Striploin, Ribeye, and Tenderloin steaks with mashed potato, vegetables, and red wine demi-glace, Atlantic Salmon, and a Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk, aged 35 days and built for sharing. On the international side, you'll find Beef Bulgogi from Korea, Gamberetti alla Puttanesca from Italy, Oxtail Balbacua from the Philippines, and a Chopped Chat Salad from India. There's also a gluten-free quinoa macaroni and a vegan protein loaf with roasted vegetables and squash puree for guests with dietary needs.
The drinks list rounds things out with cocktails like an espresso martini and chocolate martini, a house wine list, local craft beer, and coffee drinks from ristretto to flavoured lattes.
Family-Friendly, But Built for a Night Out Too
The Bankhead markets itself as a family restaurant, and the kids' menu backs that up: chicken fingers, mac and cheese, dinosaur pasta, and grilled chicken with rice, all under $15. At the same time, the lounge setting, the wine and cocktail list, and dishes like the tomahawk steak or bison short rib give it enough range for a date night or a special occasion. It's the kind of place where one table can order a kids' meal and the next table over can order a shared steak and a bottle of Malbec, and both experiences work.
Group Bookings, Private Dining, and Events
For larger tables, the Canmore location offers a small set of pre-planned group dinner menus rather than making everyone order off the full à la carte list. Options include a create-your-own three-course menu, a buffet-style menu, and tiered pre-set three-course menus, so a group can pick something that fits the occasion and the budget without the kitchen juggling dozens of individual orders. This works well for ski trips, work retreats, and wedding parties staying in Canmore.
For something more private, The Bankhead also offers an in-home private chef service for a flat $160 fee, covering menu planning, on-site cooking, and cleanup, ideal for an intimate family dinner, a celebration, or a romantic night in rather than out.
Two Locations: Canmore and Sherwood Park
While the Canmore location is the flagship, The Bankhead also operates inside the Four Points by Sheraton in Sherwood Park, at 1005 Provincial Avenue. It runs its own breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, with dishes like calamari bites, chicken and cauliflower wings, tacos, and a nacho platter alongside its own drink list of local beer, wine, and cocktails. For anyone travelling between Edmonton and the mountains, or living east of the city, it's a sister location under the same kitchen philosophy: Canadian comfort food with a global accent.
Why It Keeps Coming Up as a Canmore Restaurant Recommendation
● Open for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner every day, not just one meal period
● A dinner menu split evenly between Alberta classics and international dishes from five or more countries
● Free hotel parking right off 2nd Avenue, a few minutes from downtown Canmore
● A kids' menu and a lounge atmosphere that also works for a romantic dinner or a group night out
● Group menus, a buffet option, and a private chef service for events of almost any size
● A second location in Sherwood Park for anyone travelling between Edmonton and the Rockies
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the best breakfast restaurant in Canmore Alberta?
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is a strong pick for breakfast in Canmore because it serves a full breakfast and lunch menu daily, not just on weekends. Steak and eggs made with 6oz AAA sirloin and classic eggs benedict are guest favourites, and the menu also includes international dishes you won't find at most breakfast spots in town, like Turkish eggs (cilbir), Moroccan shakshouka, and a masala omelette made India-style with fresh coconut, ginger, and curry leaf.
Q2. What are some dining options in Canmore that provide a cozy atmosphere for a romantic dinner?
The Bankhead's dinner service is built for exactly this. The lounge setting shifts from a casual daytime spot into a relaxed evening atmosphere with a full wine and cocktail list, including an espresso martini and chocolate martini. For a romantic dinner, dishes like the Alberta Beef Striploin with red wine demi-glace, pan-seared Atlantic Salmon, or a shared Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk (aged 35 days) give the evening a bit of occasion, and the private chef service is also available for an intimate dinner at home.
Q3. Where can I find a restaurant in Canmore that serves a mix of Canadian and international cuisine?
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is built around exactly that mix. Its dinner menu runs a Canadian kitchen and an international kitchen side by side: Alberta beef steaks and Atlantic Salmon on one side, and dishes like Korean-style Beef Bulgogi, Italian Gamberetti alla Puttanesca, Filipino Oxtail Balbacua, and an Indian Chopped Chat Salad on the other. Breakfast and lunch carry the same theme, with butter chicken and Thai red curry sitting next to a classic pulled pork sandwich.
Q4. Does The Bankhead handle group bookings and events?
Yes. The Canmore location offers pre-set group dinner menus, including a create-your-own three-course option and a buffet-style menu, so larger tables can order as a group instead of individually. This suits ski trips, work retreats, and wedding parties. The Sherwood Park location, inside the Four Points by Sheraton, also caters larger events through the hotel, with snack packages for smaller gatherings of 10 or more guests and full meal packages for groups of 15 to 70, plus two floor plan options and A/V equipment rental for meetings or conferences.
Q5. What about brunch and happy hour?
Brunch is covered under the daily breakfast and lunch menu, with options ranging from steak and eggs and eggs benedict to lighter choices like steel-cut oats and a kale smoothie bowl, plus the international dishes mentioned above. The Canmore lounge also runs a happy hour with food and drink specials; since specials and hours can shift seasonally, it's worth calling the restaurant directly at (403) 679-1771 to confirm what's currently running before you go.
Q6. Is The Bankhead a steak house? Where can I find the best steak near me in Canmore?
The Bankhead isn't a dedicated steak house, but steak is one of its strongest categories. The dinner menu includes Alberta Beef Striploin, Ribeye, and Tenderloin, all served with mashed potato, vegetables, and red wine demi-glace, along with a Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk aged 35 days for sharing. Steak also shows up at breakfast (steak and eggs) and lunch (a steak sandwich and steak bites appetizer), so if you're searching for steak near you in Canmore, it's on the menu at almost every meal.
Q7. Can you recommend a restaurant in Sherwood Park that accommodates group bookings?
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge inside the Four Points by Sheraton at 1005 Provincial Avenue, Sherwood Park, handles group bookings and event catering through the hotel. It offers snack packages for groups starting at 10 guests and full meal packages for 15 to 70 guests, with two floor plan layouts suited to boardroom meetings or full-day events, plus rented A/V equipment for conferences and corporate gatherings.
Reserve Your Table at The Bankhead
Whether you're after breakfast before a hike, a family dinner, or a private group booking, the easiest way to lock in a table is to reserve ahead, especially on weekends and during peak travel season.
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge — Canmore
1602 2nd Avenue, Canmore, AB T1W 1M8 (inside Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp)
Phone: (403) 679-1771
Email: info@thebankheadrestaurant.ca
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge — Sherwood Park
1005 Provincial Avenue, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0Y7 (inside Four Points by Sheraton)
Phone: (780) 705-3552
Email: info-sherwoodpark@thebankheadrestaurant.ca
Book a table online, order delivery for a night in, or call either location directly to ask about group menus and private chef bookings.