The Ultimate Plant-Based Guide to Banff & Canmore
We just returned from an amazing eight-day holiday in Alberta, exploring the stunning mountain towns of Canmore and Banff. While Alberta is widely famous as beef country, Banff and Canmore (and Calgary) have incredible plant-based options.
After landing in Calgary and picking up our rental car, our very first stop was a fully plant-based cafe just a short drive from the airport: Hearts Choices Cafe & Market. They have a huge menu including everything from sandwiches to Thai and Asian dishes. They even have a freezer section stocked with homemade items to take on the go. I ordered the Chick'un Shawarma, and it was delicious!
With full bellies, we hit the highway for the scenic 1 hour and 20-minute drive to our VRBO in Canmore. The mountain views along the way were breathtaking!
HEARTS CHOICES CAFE & MARKET
📍 Where: Calgary, AB (Near YYC Airport)
🌱 Menu: 100% Plant-Based (Thai, Asian, Sandwiches)
🌯 Ordered: Chick'un Shawarma
💡 Takeaway: Perfect first stop off the plane to eat & grab market goods for your road trip.
Our Canmore Home Base
We checked into our VRBO, which was located right on Montane Road. The unit was in a building that seemed to be part of a collection of different lodges. It had a 24/7 front desk, making check-in easy, and we were set up with key cards for our condo and the underground parking garage. The unit itself was spacious, spotlessly clean, and had more than enough room for four adults.
When traveling, we usually prefer VRBOs for the convenience of having a full kitchen and in-suite laundry facilities—especially for a week in the mountains! I honestly didn’t realize how dusty and dirty we would get out on the trails, so having that washer and dryer was fantastic.
Once we were unpacked, we made our first grocery run to Safeway to stock up on breakfast items and trail snacks. Whether it was the specific day or time we went, it was extremely busy—it felt like every traveler in town had just arrived and had the exact same idea! A couple of days later, we stopped at Save-On-Foods, which ended up being our preferred grocery spot in Canmore. It was much quieter, well-stocked, and they even honoured membership pricing for out-of-town visitors.
Canmore Grocery Tip: Safeway is convenient, but it gets packed fast during peak tourist hours. Head to Save-On-Foods instead for a calmer shopping experience, great plant-based stock (plant milks, fresh produce, and trail snacks), and visitor discount pricing at checkout!
Dinner at BLAKE Brewhouse & Distillery
For our first dinner in town, we walked down to BLAKE Brewhouse & Distillery. Set in a converted auto shop, BLAKE is an award-winning spot offering creative international fusion food, house-brewed beers on tap, and handcrafted spirits.
BLAKE easily accommodates allergies and dietary restrictions, with everything clearly marked right on their menu:
V: Vegetarian
VO: Vegan Optional
DFO: Dairy-Free Optional
GFO: Gluten-Free Optional
It was a beautiful evening, so we chose to sit out on the patio. We shared the vegetable dumplings to start, and for my main, I had the Crispy Cauliflower—a dish with pickled and fried cauliflower, momo sauce, tahini sauce, cherry tomato, pickled onions, crispy chickpeas, cilantro, and green onion. Everything was absolutely delicious and filling.
I was fully planning on ordering dessert because they offer four different plant-based ice cream flavours, but I was just too full to fit it in!
BLAKE BREWHOUSE & DISTILLERY
📍 Where: Canmore, AB (810 Bow Valley Trail)
🌱 Menu: Creative International Fusion & Craft Brewery
🌯 Ordered: Vegetable Dumplings & Crispy Cauliflower
💡 Takeaway: Beautiful patio dining with clearly labeled menu options and 4 plant-based ice cream flavours for dessert!
Day 1: Emerald Lake, BC
On our first full day, we took a trip across the border into British Columbia to visit the famous Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. The water colour here is surreal!
While the scenery was a 10 out of 10, dining options for plant-based travellers are fairly limited. They didn't have any dedicated vegan meal options on the menu at the restaurant. If you eat cheese, they had pizza and poutine, but options were otherwise very sparse. Thankfully, the walk-up café counter did offer plant-based milk so we could grab a quick coffee to enjoy while walking along the shoreline.
EMERALD LAKE (YOHO NATIONAL PARK, BC)
📍 Where: Yoho National Park, BC (~1 hr drive from Canmore)
🌱 Menu: Walk-up café with plant-based milks for coffee (no dedicated vegan meal options)
☕ Ordered: Coffee with Plant Milk
💡 Takeaway: World-class views, but be sure to pack your own trail lunch and snacks!
Dinner at Wild Orchid Bistro
For dinner after our day trip to Emerald Lake, we ate at Wild Orchid Bistro. Located inside the Silver Creek Lodge, this spot is unique because their entire menu is 100% gluten-free! They specialize in Asian fusion dishes, Thai curries, and creative sushi rolls, offering plenty of clearly labeled vegan options.
We decided to order family-style so everyone could sample a bit of everything. We got the Vegan California Roll, the Rundle Roll, the Chili Sesame Tofu, and the Vegan Karaage (Japanese-style fried "chicken").
Everything was so flavourful!
WILD ORCHID BISTRO
📍 Where: Canmore, AB (1818 Mountain Ave, inside Silver Creek Lodge)
🌱 Menu: 100% Gluten-Free Asian Fusion, Curries & Sushi (Dedicated Vegan section)
🍱 Ordered: Vegan California Roll, Rundle Roll, Chili Sesame Tofu & Vegan Karaage
💡 Takeaway: The ultimate spot for family-style sharing—especially if anyone in your group needs gluten-free and plant-based choices!
Day 2: Tunnel Mountain Hike & Exploring Downtown Banff
For our second day, we headed into Banff early to hike the Tunnel Mountain trail. It’s a fantastic, hike right near town.
After our hike, we spent the afternoon exploring downtown Banff. We brought a packed picnic lunch to enjoy at the picnic tables in the park, followed by some souvenir shopping along Banff Avenue. We finished our afternoon with a stop at Wild Flour Bakery for drinks—their Iced Strawberry Matcha was delicious! I noticed several vegan options for lunch and snacks as well, so it’s a good place for a pitstop when exploring the downtown area.
WILD FLOUR BAKERY
📍 Where: Banff, AB (211 Bear St)
🌱 Menu: Artisan bakery with vegan-friendly options & specialty drinks
🍵 Ordered: Iced Strawberry Matcha
💡 Takeaway: Perfect spot for plant-based drinks and grab-and-go snacks while exploring Bear Street and Banff Ave.
Pro Tip on Banff Parking: Banff parking rates can vary. Do not park in the lot near the downtown public bathrooms (like we did) unless you want to pay $50 for a short stay! Instead, park for free at the Banff Train Station lot (an easy 10-minute walk to Banff Ave).
Dinner at Communitea Cafe
For dinner back in Canmore, we went to Communitea Cafe. It was a fantastic cafe with tons of healthy, plant-forward options, such a bowls and wraps.
I ordered the Buddha Bowl and a Pomegranate Green Tea, and everything was fresh and delicious. One thing to keep in mind if you plan to eat here for dinner is that they do close early compared to standard restaurants. We were actually still finishing up past their official closing time, but luckily a tour group was still inside so we didn't feel too rushed to leave.
COMMUNITEA CAFE
📍 Where: Canmore, AB (1001 6 Ave #117)
🌱 Menu: Fresh, plant-focused cafe serving grain bowls, wraps, salads & specialty teas
🥗 Ordered: Buddha Bowl & Pomegranate Green Tea
💡 Takeaway: Delicious food, but keep an eye on their operating hours as they close earlier in the evening than typical dinner spots!
Day 3: Lake Louise & Lake Agnes Tea House
On day three, we spent the day exploring Lake Louise and hiking the trail up to Lake Agnes Tea House. The tea house was worth the long climb and this was probably our most favourite day!
The Lake Agnes Tea House was built in 1901 as a refuge for hikers and started serving tea in 1905. The original log building was replaced in 1981, but many original features remain—including the windows, tables, and chairs.
For lunch at the tea house, I had a fresh, homemade hummus and cucumber sandwich. We had brought cash assuming they were strictly cash-only, but they actually take credit cards with a small $1–2 surcharge.
LAKE AGNES TEA HOUSE
📍 Where: Lake Louise, AB (Hike-in via Lake Agnes Trail)
🌱 Menu: Fresh sandwiches on oatmeal brown bread, homemade soups, energy bars & loose-leaf teas
🥪 Ordered: Homemade Hummus & Cucumber Sandwich
💡 Takeaway: Payment via credit card is accepted with a $1–2 surcharge. Cash is still great to have on hand just in case cell service drops on the terminal!
Afternoon Drinks at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Once we hiked back down to the shoreline, we grabbed a table on the patio at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. While they had vegetarian options available, there weren't any dedicated vegan food options on the patio menu.
Day 4: Johnston Canyon, The Ink Pots & Bow Valley Parkway
The next day, we set out to explore Johnston Canyon. The primary parking lot was already full by the time we arrived, but we managed to grab a spot in the second overflow lot. The crowds were about what we expected when planning our trip, so we patiently stood in all the lines to go inside the cave and view the various lower and upper waterfalls.
From the upper falls, we continued hiking up to the Ink Pots —a series of colourful, cold-water spring pools. It turned out to be a long walk (6 km), and by the time we reached the top, we were starving. In hindsight, we definitely should have carried our packed lunch up with us instead of leaving it back in the car! There were lots of bugs at the Ink Pots , so it wasn't the most enjoyable place to sit and relax. We ended up hiking back down and eating our lunch in the car.
Feeling tired after the long hike, we decided to take a scenic drive along the Bow Valley Parkway. We made a stop at Morant's Curve, hoping to catch a train passing through the valley, but no trains came by.
Before heading back to Canmore, we drove into Lake Louise Village and stopped at Trailhead Cafe for coffee. They had plant-based milk available, making it a great spot to recharge!
TRAILHEAD CAFE
📍 Where: Lake Louise Village, AB (101 Lake Louise Dr)
🌱 Menu: Grab-and-go cafe with breakfast items, wraps & specialty coffees
☕ Ordered: Coffee with Plant-Based Milk
💡 Takeaway: Convenient pitstop in the village to grab a hot drink or snack after a long hike or drive along the Bow Valley Parkway.
Trail Tip: If you plan on hiking beyond the Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon, to the Ink Pots, pack your lunch and snacks directly in your backpack! The extra distance will definitely build up an appetite, and bug spray is a must for sitting by the spring pools.
Dinner at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.
Back in Canmore, we went to Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. for dinner. The patio was completely full, but we had no trouble getting a table inside the dining room. They are known for using local, organic ingredients and have fantastic plant-based options on their menu.
I ordered their vegan pizza, the Harvest, which came loaded with incredible toppings:
Roasted beet pesto base
Vegan mozzarella & vegan crumbled feta
Kale, roasted broccolini, & caramelized onions
Marinated cherry tomatoes & corn
Fresh arugula & a balsamic glaze drizzle
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD CO.
📍 Where: Canmore, AB (838 10 St)
🌱 Menu: Wood-fired artisan pizzas, fresh salads & pasta with vegan options
🍕 Ordered: The Harvest Vegan Pizza
💡 Takeaway: Great casual atmosphere with delicious vegan cheese and unique topping combinations.
Sunset at Vermilion Lakes
After dinner, we drove over to Vermilion Lakes just outside downtown Banff to watch the sunset. The reflection of Mount Rundle on the calm water is stunning in the evening light.
Sunset Tip: If you plan on watching the sunset at Vermilion Lakes, definitely bring bug spray!
Day 5: E-Biking the Banff Legacy Trail & Evening Spa
The next day, we rented e-bikes and rode to Banff along the scenic Banff Legacy Trail. The trail is a wide, paved, multi-use pathway that runs parallel to the Trans-Canada Highway.
We packed a picnic lunch to bring along with us, and once we arrived in town, we sat down in the park to eat and relax before making the ride back.
To cap off our active day on the bikes, we spent the evening relaxing at Everwild Spa. They offer a discounted twilight special for evening entry, which is great if you want to relax after a full day on the trails.
We spent hours moving through their thermal circuit—alternating between the hot outdoor pools, steam cabin, cold plunge, and saunas. We also took part in two guided sauna rituals, and I can honestly say I have never sweat so much in my entire life! We also grabbed delicious mocktails and sat by the outdoor fire pits to relax.
Day 6: Mt. Norquay Scenic Drive & Lunch at Nourish Bistro
The next day, we did the Mount Norquay Scenic Drive. We stopped at the first lookout point to stretch our legs and take in the panoramic views of the Banff valley below. Unfortunately we didn’t find the famous red chairs or see any wildlife. We were hoping to see bighorn sheep!
Afterwards, we headed back into town for lunch at Nourish Bistro on Bear Street. Nourish is Banff's premier plant-based restaurant, and I was so excited to try their famous 27-Ingredient World-Famous Nachos!
Loaded with everything from beans and seeds to dill pickles, mandarin oranges, and house-made vegan cheese, they were delicious! The portion size is massive and it’s definitely a dish meant for sharing. I could not finish it. I also had a refreshing local Kombucha on tap.
NOURISH BISTRO
📍 Where: Banff, AB (211 Bear St #110)
🌱 Menu: 100% Vegetarian & Vegan comfort food, global tapas, smoothies & craft eco-bar
🌮 Ordered: Kombucha on Tap & The 27-Ingredient World-Famous Nachos
💡 Takeaway: The ultimate plant-based dining spot in Banff! The nachos are huge, so bring an appetite or share them with a friend.
Afternoon Drinks at Rundle Bar
Later in the day, we walked over to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to visit the Rundle Bar. We saw, on Instagram, that they had a secret speakeasy hidden behind a bookshelf, so we were excited to check it out!
We had amazing (and expensive) crafted drinks there. However, the "secret speakeasy" behind the bookshelf turned out to just be an additional dining and lounge area. It had a TV and plenty of cozy seating, but there was no dedicated bartender working back there.
Day 7: Cave and Basin National Historic Site
The next day, we drove out to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, right outside the Banff townsite. Unlike many of the central spots downtown, they have plenty of free parking available, which was great!
Learning about the history of the natural thermal mineral springs and how this site led to the creation of Canada’s national park system was interesting. There also used to be a large outdoor public swimming pool on site and the old photos from the swimmers that used to go there were cool!
The staff were friendly and happy to answer questions and share deeper insights about the site's history and conservation efforts. The cave interior is definitely very smelly due to the natural sulfur in the mineral water, but we were expecting that before going in!
Late Lunch: El Patio Rooftop Taco Bar
After visiting Cave and Basin, we headed back into downtown Banff for a late lunch at El Patio Rooftop Taco Bar. It’s a great patio and the staff were super friendly and welcoming.
I ordered a Dragon Fruit Colada and a Veggie Burrito. The burritos are huge and very filling. I ended up taking half of mine to go, and ate the rest later.
EL PATIO ROOFTOP TACO BAR
📍 Where: Banff, AB (203 Caribou St)
🌮 Menu: Mexican street food, burritos, tacos & tropical cocktails
🍹 Ordered: Dragon Fruit Colada & Veggie Burrito
💡 Takeaway: Generous portion sizes and friendly service with fun rooftop vibes right in the center of town.
Afternoon Walk: Cascade of Time Garden
After eating, we took a walk through the Cascade of Time Garden. Located just across the bridge at the end of Banff Avenue (right near the historic Parks Canada Administration Building). You can walk through the gardens and take in all the beautiful scenery like the colourful flowerbeds, rustic wooden bridges, and quiet streams. It’s a great spot to wander and escape the hustle and bustle of the main shopping street. Make sure to bring bug spray though! There were tons of mosquitos!!
Evening: Packing & Walk on Policeman's Creek Trail
After our afternoon in Banff, we headed back to our place in Canmore to get packed up for our trip home.
We took a final evening walk along the Policeman's Creek Boardwalk. This flat boardwalk trail winds through the trees, over marshlands, and alongside the creek right near downtown.
Looking back on our week in the Rockies, this trip was everything we hoped for and more. We were worried about the weather (rain and smoke from wildfires) and crowds, but everything worked out perfectly. The Canadian Rockies have a way of reminding you to slow down, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and take in the beauty of the natural world. We left Canmore with full hearts, tired legs, and memories that will last a lifetime, and I already can't wait until our next trip back!
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