Alberta
Après-Ski For Non-Skiers
No skiing is required to enjoy the thriving après-ski culture in Banff and Lake Louise.
In the winter, most people who flock to Banff and Lake Louise come packing winter sports equipment. These are, after all, some of the most magical mountains in the world.
I am not one of these people. As a plus-one to a snowboarder, I come to the mountains to enjoy the snow-capped views, the calmer lifestyle, and the food.
“Don’t forget to bring your après-ski sweater,” my partner jokingly reminds me. I abide and carefully fold my merino wool sweater with the words “Après-Ski” written on the front into the suitcase.
Banff is the land of après-ski. What was, by definition, meant to be more of a happy hour has become a lifestyle for anyone interested in having a bevvy and a treat in the winter. This relaxed approach to linguistics can be a bit cliché, but when the Rocky Mountains are seen in every direction, embracing clichés feels like a happier choice.
For a town that barely covers four square kilometres, Banff really packs a punch when it comes to culinary offerings. From fast food breakfasts to coursed fine dining, there are over 100 dining options in this petit ski-town.
By design, the town feels cozy. Snow-capped evergreens are sprinkled throughout, low-rise cabin-style architecture lines the streets. A few firepits in the town square set the mood throughout the winter.
The regional culinary offerings lean into the seasonality and ski culture, setting up winter-friendly patios, creating cozy interiors, and generally building for the mountain culture.
Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant
The locals’ favourite casual dining spot for any time of day, Three Bears is a brewery in a forest. Firepit tables are set outside year-round, ready to welcome guests on a cold day. The interior spans multiple floors, has an on-site brewery, and a retractable stargazing roof. There is also a tree inside. That part always amazes me.
On the menu are seasonally inspired favourites, from cheesy waffles and fries to fresh-fired pizzas, warm French onion soup, and Alberta ribeye.
“Winter is when the brewery really comes into its own,” shared James Fraser, Director of Media & Marketing, Banff Hospitality Collective.
“A pint made about ten metres from your table while the snow is coming down over the glass roof above you."
Pizzeria Sophia
One of the newer additions to downtown Banff, Pizzeria Sophia is a chef-driven modern Italian restaurant with a classic diner decor vibe.
Opened in 2025, this small dining room became a fast favourite.
“Modern Italian classics, a short list of pasta and pizza done properly, and a space that feels like it was built for a long winter dinner,” Fraser shared, “Sophia is our cold-weather comfort room.”
Farm & Fire Restaurant
True to its name, Farm & Fire has a wood-fired kitchen. According to Chef Pablo Najera, the restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients and sustainable ingredient use.
“When we think of a product, we do our best to utilize it either in multiple dishes or multiple times,” Chef Najera explains, adding that nothing goes to waste in their kitchen.
Among the new dishes coming to the menu this winter are Chicken and Dumplings and the Barley Risotto.
“The Chicken and Dumplings is basically our play on chicken and vegetable stew. Super rich in flavour, and comforting,” he adds.
The winter risotto, flavoured with cranberries and mushrooms, uses Alberta-grown barley, giving the dish a truly local twist.
Hello Sunshine Sushi & Karaoke
Hello Sunshine could be the most popular happy hour in town, though it is well worth a visit for an extended romantic dinner or a bar hangout with friends.
The interior is split into multiple spaces: the chef’s sushi bar, the bar-bar, the dining room, the fire-pit tables, and yes, there are karaoke rooms.
On the menu is a robust selection of sushi and sashimi, Japanese BBQ, and hot, steamy ramen, perfect for a cold winter day.
Hello Sunshine's cocktail menu is created with equal precision to the sushi. Here you will find craft classics with a Japanese twist, like Yuzu Negroni and Watermelon Sake Slush.
Fairmont Banff Springs
No visit to Banff is complete without a visit to Fairmont Banff Springs. This magical-looking castle structure sits amid the treetops with the mountains as its backdrop.
There are multiple restaurants on-site and in the winter, the hotel embraces the holiday spirit through decor and special events.
In December, the Vermillion Room will host a weekly festive brunch and the Afternoon Tea, served in the Rundle Bar, will also get a holiday spin.
The secret room in Rundle Bar, hidden behind a floor-to-ceiling bookcase, will house a holiday pop-up. And then will come the New Year’s celebrations with special menus and eve-of festivities.
Brazen
Located inside the historic Mount Royal Hotel, Brazen looks out onto Banff Avenue.
At the heart of this menu is Alberta Certified Angus Beef and Noble Farms Bison. According to Head Chef Garett Holmes, “the menu celebrates Alberta's reputation for exceptional beef while giving the culinary team room to explore different cuts, preparations, and sauces”.
"Familiar steakhouse flavours will be reworked through Brazen's lens,” he adds, “complemented by indulgent shareable sides and strong vegetable dishes”.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Set at the top of the lake, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise offers an unprecedented view of the mountains. Nearly every dining space has a picture window, sun rays drawing picture shadows across the tables.
The dining spaces hidden away from the sun, like the Walliser Stub and Alpine Social, embrace the dimly lit atmosphere through alpine decor and wood finishes.
The Ice Bar, built in partnership with Park Distillery, returns for another season this winter, serving hot beverages on the lakefront.
Families are invited for Christmas brunch and dinner, served in the grand Victoria Ballroom, while New Year's Eve dinner celebrations will be adult-only events.
Among other winter activations are a family-friendly Santa Bar and an adults-only champagne bar in the Sun Room.
Kateryna Topol
Toronto-based travel writer, photographer, and content creator. Kateryna’s bylines appear in DreamScapes Magazine, EXPLORE, Jetsetter HK, AZURE Road, TravelWorld International, Low Season Traveler UK, and more.
She is the founder of an online travel magazine pathstotravel.com, North American music magazine, QuipMag.com, and a chapter lead for Travel Massive Toronto.