Where to Eat Lunch in Canmore: Top Picks for Every Craving
Published by The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge | Canmore, Alberta
Table of Contents
If you've ever stood on Main Street in Canmore around noon, hungry and a little overwhelmed by options, you know the problem isn't a lack of restaurants it's finding one that actually fits what you're craving that day. Some days you want a quick sandwich before a hike. Other days you want to sit down, order a glass of wine, and take your time. Canmore has both kinds of places but not many that do both well.
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, located just off Bow Valley Trail beside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp, is one of the few lunch spots in town built for exactly that kind of flexibility. The kitchen blends straightforward Canadian comfort food think pulled pork sandwiches, steak sandwiches, and hearty salads with dishes pulled from around the world, like Thai red curry, butter chicken, and Korean beef bulgogi. It's the kind of menu where a table of four can order four completely different things and everyone leaves happy.
This guide walks through what makes The Bankhead worth a stop for lunch, what's actually on the menu, how to find the place if you're coming from downtown or off Highway 1, and answers to the questions people ask most often about dining in Canmore from breakfast to brunch to group bookings.
When it comes to where to eat lunch in Canmore The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is one of the top choices in town.
Why The Bankhead Restaurant Is a Solid Answer to "Where to Eat Lunch in Canmore"
Canmore draws a mix of locals, day-trippers from Calgary, and travelers passing through on their way to Banff, and that means restaurants here have to work a little harder to please everyone. The Bankhead handles that by keeping its lunch menu wide open. There's a Canadian Kitchen side with familiar plates like a pulled pork sandwich or a classic Caesar salad, and an International Kitchen side that pulls in flavors from India, Korea, the Philippines, Italy, and beyond.
That range matters more than it might sound. If you're traveling with a group and someone wants something light, someone else wants comfort food, and someone else wants to try something new, you're not stuck negotiating between three different restaurants. It's also a family-friendly spot, with a dedicated kids' menu (called the Mini Miner's menu) covering mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and pasta.
The restaurant sits inside the Northwinds Hotel property on Bow Valley Trail, which keeps it a short drive from downtown Canmore without the parking headaches you sometimes hit on Main Street. There's a hotel parking lot right off 2nd Avenue, so you're not circling the block looking for a spot before you've even sat down.
What's Actually on the Lunch Menu
The Bankhead's lunch menu runs from noon onward and splits into a few categories worth knowing about before you go.
Salads: The Miner's Power Bowl is the vegan option here mixed greens, kale, beans, nuts, avocado, berries, and vegetables with balsamic vinaigrette. The Caesar Salad is more traditional, made with romaine, kale, croutons, bacon, roasted garlic dressing, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan. Both can be topped with chicken, shrimp, or scallops if you want to turn a side salad into a full meal.
Starters: This is where the international influence really shows. There's Firecracker Calamari with sauteed peppers, soy, and sesame; Oxtail Balbacua, a Filipino oxtail broth with hazelnuts, almonds, and chili peppers; a Chopped Chat Salad built around chickpeas and a tangy chaat masala vinaigrette from India; and Gamberetti Alla Puttanesca, tiger shrimp in an Italian puttanesca sauce served with sourdough.
Sandwiches: Every sandwich comes with a choice of house salad or fries. Standouts include the Steak Sandwich (6oz sirloin on ciabatta with mushrooms and onion rings), the Pulled Pork Sandwich with BBQ sauce and coleslaw on a charcoal bun, a Blackened Chicken Burger, and a Crispy Fish Burger with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and coleslaw.
Main Courses: For a bigger lunch, there's Blackened Atlantic Salmon with a citrus-infused tomato bisque and brown butter gnocchi, a Chicken Supreme with mushroom and gnocchi ragout, and Beef Bulgogi soy-garlic marinated beef with cellophane noodles and steamed rice.
Dessert: Golden Fig and Honey Pudding, Signature Chocolate Gateaux, and a Mango & Berry Cheesecake round things out if you've got room left.
Most dishes are marked for dietary needs gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, or vegetarian so it's easy to scan the menu and know what fits before you order.
Beyond Lunch: Breakfast, Brunch, and Dinner Too
Because The Bankhead runs breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner out of the same kitchen, it's worth knowing what happens outside the noon-to-close window, especially if your schedule doesn't line up with a typical lunch.
Breakfast leans into the same Canadian-meets-global approach. There's Steak and Eggs, Egg Benedict with a half-dozen topping choices, and classic pancakes or French toast on the Canadian side, alongside dishes like Turkish Eggs (Cilbir), Masala Omelette, Shakshouka, and Congee on the international side. Brunch cocktails are also part of the mix Mimosas, Caesars, and a Blackberry Gin Hot Chocolate among them.
Dinner steps things up with steak. The Bankhead serves Alberta beef tenderloin, striploin, and ribeye, plus a 35-day-aged Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk built for sharing, along with dishes like Bison Short Rib, Braised Lamb, and a Surf & Turf pairing striploin with scallops and shrimp.
Finding The Bankhead Restaurant in Canmore
The restaurant is located at 1602 2nd Avenue, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1M8, inside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp.
From downtown Canmore: Head toward Bow Valley Trail (Highway 1A), which runs parallel to 2nd Avenue. The restaurant sits on the east side of Bow Valley Trail, with parking available in the hotel lot off 2nd Avenue.
From Highway 1 westbound: Take Exit 91 to Bow Valley Trail (1A) and continue about 3.3 km. Alternatively, take Exit 89, follow Palliser Trail toward Benchlands Trail, cross the bridge, and head west on Bow Valley Trail for about 1 km.
From Highway 1 eastbound (coming from Banff): Take the exit for the Visitor Info Centre and follow Bow Valley Trail for about 1.8 km until you see the Northwinds Hotel on the east side of the road.
Once you're at the hotel, The Bankhead is on the southeast side of the property. For reference, a Dairy Queen and Subway sit across the highway if anyone in your group needs a landmark.
Group Bookings and Events
If you're planning a lunch or dinner for a larger group a work team, a family reunion, a wedding party The Bankhead has a few set menu options built specifically for that. Choices include a Group Buffet Menu with multiple price points, a "Create Your Own" three-course menu that lets each guest pick their own courses, and a pre-set three-course menu for groups that want a simpler, cohesive experience without individual ordering. There's also a deluxe pre-set three-course option for higher-end events. Reserving ahead is recommended so the team can set up enough tables and prepare the kitchen for your party size.
If you are a group and searching for where to eat lunch in Canmore, The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge is a top choice for its diverse menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge, at 1602 2nd Avenue inside the Northwinds Hotel, is a solid choice for lunch in Canmore. The lunch menu (available from noon) covers salads, sandwiches, and mains that mix Canadian comfort food with international dishes, so there's something for a quick bite or a longer sit-down meal. Call (403) 679-1771 or book a table online to check current availability.
-
The Bankhead serves breakfast daily with a menu split between Canadian classics and global dishes. You'll find Steak and Eggs, Egg Benedict (with options like smoked salmon, back bacon, or avocado and tomato), pancakes, waffles, and a Three Egg Omelette on one side, and dishes like Turkish Eggs, Masala Omelette, Shakshouka, and Congee on the other. It's a good pick if you want breakfast that's more than just eggs and toast, with speciality coffee and brunch cocktails also on offer.
-
The Bankhead's dining room and lounge shift into a more relaxed, evening feel once the sun goes down, making it a fitting option for a date night or anniversary dinner. The dinner menu includes Alberta beef steaks (tenderloin, striploin, ribeye), a Surf & Turf plate, Bison Short Rib, and a wine and cocktail list that includes dessert cocktails like an Espresso Martini or Chocolate Martini. Reserve a table ahead of time, especially on weekends, since the space fills up.
-
The Bankhead is built around that exact combination. The menu is organized into a "Canadian Kitchen" and an "International Kitchen," so you can order a classic pulled pork sandwich or Caesar salad right alongside dishes like Beef Bulgogi (Korea), Oxtail Balbacua (Philippines), Ful Mudammas with halloumi (Egypt/Cyprus), or Chopped Chat Salad (India). It's one of the more globally minded menus in Canmore without losing the local, western Canadian comfort food it's known for.
-
Yes. The Bankhead offers several group dining options in Canmore, including a Group Buffet Menu, a "Create Your Own" three-course menu, and pre-set three-course menus at different price points, including a deluxe option for special occasions. These are designed for parties, work events, and celebrations where you want a smoother ordering process. It's best to reserve in advance so the restaurant can prepare tables and kitchen capacity for your group size.
-
Brunch is part of the regular offering, with a menu that includes Egg Benedict, pancakes and waffles, Turkish Eggs, and Shakshouka, plus a dedicated brunch cocktail list — Mimosas, Caesars, a Canadian Coffee Cocktail, and a Blackberry Gin Hot Chocolate among them. For happy hour timing or any current drink specials, it's best to call the Canmore location directly or check their social pages, since offerings can shift seasonally.
-
While The Bankhead isn't billed strictly as a steak house, steak is a major part of the dinner menu. Options include an Alberta Beef Tenderloin (8oz), Striploin (10oz), Ribeye (12oz), and a 35-day-aged Northern Gold Beef Tomahawk meant for sharing between two or more people. All steaks come with mashed potato, vegetables, and a red wine demi-glace. If you're searching for steak in Canmore, this is one of the more serious steak menus in town, alongside the international dishes.
-
The Bankhead also has a location in Sherwood Park, Alberta, at 1005 Provincial Avenue, inside the Four Points by Sheraton Sherwood Park. Like the Canmore location, it offers group booking options for parties and events. For details on menu choices and pricing for a Sherwood Park group booking, call (587) 269-5000 or email info-sherwoodpark@thebankheadrestaurant.ca.
Ready to Book Your Table?
Whether you're planning a quick lunch between hikes, a slow brunch with friends, or a group dinner that needs a proper reservation, The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge in Canmore is set up to handle it.
The Bankhead Restaurant & Lounge — Canmore 1602 2nd Avenue, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1M8 (inside the Northwinds Hotel by Basecamp) Phone: (403) 679-1771
Email: info@thebankheadrestaurant.ca
Book a table online or order delivery for your next meal, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for daily specials and seasonal menu updates.