Our guide to the coffee shops we tried in Banff and Canmore, including what we ordered, what we liked, and which ones we’d actually return to.
Coffee (and more importantly, good coffee) is a non-negotiable on a trip full of hiking, outdoors, and early mornings.
So while we were busy exploring mountains near Canmore and Banff, we were also on the lookout for a really good cup of coffee, and here are my reviews on our self-run coffee crawl.
Whitebark Cafe
Location:
Whitebark is located inside the Aspen Lodge, directly opening to their reception. The location is great because it is not in the middle of Banff Avenue so it feels quieter, but it is still insanely convenient to walk to.
What we ordered:
We got a cortado, a latte and a London Fog along with a carrot cake and chocolate chip cookie. Their pastries are made in-house and rotate based on availability, so everything feels pretty fresh.
The carrot cake was great and is my husband’s favorite dessert so we couldn’t go wrong with it, but it also wasn’t the best I’ve ever had.
Vibe:
The interior is sleek and modern with huge white countertops and a pastry display case.
The outside patio was spacious and welcoming with a central fire pit. It sits directly on Banff Avenue with a partial view of Cascade Mountain.
Even despite a sister bickering session we got into, the patio was gorgeous and a great place to relax after our big Lake Louise and Moraine Lake day.
Would I go back?
Absolutely! The patio is super cozy for a colder day with the fire pit.
Mountain Folk
Location:
Mountain Folk is located centrally on Banff Ave, in the center of the action.
What we ordered:
We got a cortado (my sister’s favorite thing to order at a new coffee shop so she can taste the true quality of the coffee) and their Golden Milk drink, which is a warm mix of turmeric, cinnamon, honey, chaga blend of mushrooms and choice of milk.
As we neared the end of this multi-day coffee “crawl”, I was intrigued by the Golden Milk and wanted to try something new. Honestly…I should have stuck with coffee.
It wasn’t bad, but the mixture of the turmeric and mushroom might have been a tad too much, resulting in a bitter drink.
In addition to a few other drinks featuring tahini, lion’s mane and more, they also have acai bowls, smoothies and toasts with vegan and vegetarian options.
Vibe:
The inside was less modern and featured a more soft aesthetic with beige and sage green color scheme along with bench and couch lounge spaces.
Would I go back?
Yes…but, I’d definitely get a different drink
I loved the vibes in here, but next time I’d get an acai bowl and a less adventurous (for me) drink.
Eclipse Roasters
Location:
This specialty coffee roaster has three locations in Canmore plus one in Dead Man’s Flats (a hamlet close to Canmore).
The Dead Man’s Flats location was perfect for us as it was located directly in our Airbnb condo building.
They do not have a Banff town location, so it may not be the most convenient if someone is staying downtown.
What we ordered:
We began each morning by popping down to this location. We tried their hot mochas, cortados and iced lattes. Their coffee was high quality and consistent each day we went, which is the mark of a good coffee shop.
Vibes:
The space is big and was often empty, as I could tell most of the patrons were those staying in the condo building grabbing coffee before starting their day.
Since Dead Man’s Flats is so small, we didn’t find a lot of people working or sitting down; it was mostly grab and go service.
Would I go back?
Yes, if I was staying in Canmore.
We had consistently great coffee here, but it would be inconvenient if I was staying in Banff.
Wild Flour
Location:
This was the first coffee shop we tried on our initial full day strolling around downtown Banff.
What we ordered:
They’ve got a chalkboard menu with drinks along with breakfast (until 11:30am), pastries and full loaves of bread.
Vibes:
The line was long and the cafe busy, with nearly no spots in the outdoor seating area.
Would I go back?
Maybe. Coffee was fine, but nothing too special.
Downtown Sally
Location
Nestled in Wolf & Bear Mall, Downtown Sally is the smaller counterpart of Sudden Sally, a sit-down restaurant serving breakfast/brunch, lunch and dinner.
What we ordered:
The famous pastry here is a cinnamon roll, but we opted for a chocolate cronut, lattes and another London Fog.
The cronut (croissant and doughnut) was delicious, but the coffee was okay! In hindsight, I may have opted for their more sit down restaurant to try an actual meal.
Vibes
White and modern behind the barista counter (you might be picking up a theme here) with views of Banff Avenue.
Would I go back?
Maybe…if someone was offering me a chance to try their famous cinnamon roll.
Evelyn’s
Location
We visited Evelyn’s later in the trip when I had unfortunately been in the throes of a cold that had been brewing since we touched down.
What we ordered:
I was so happy to see their huge selection of teas. From black and green to iced and caffeine-free, there is something for everyone.
I snagged a masala chai, which was perfectly spiced with no burnt clove flavor some chai bases have. They also had self-serve milk/cream/sugar to customize drinks.
Vibes
We stumbled in after eating dinner downtown, and the dark interior and black couches were still full of people chatting, working and sipping, even at nearly 8pm.
Evelyn’s was the most different in terms of decor from the modern, white cafes we had been seeing, which I appreciated.
Would I go back?
Yes. This is an excellent option for tea drinkers, or anyone who has maybe had too much espresso for the day.
Best Coffee:
Eclipse Roasters
Best Tea:
Evelyn’s
Best Pastry:
Downtown Sally
Best Views:
Whitebark Cafe
If I were doing this again and only had time for one spot, I’d narrow it down to…
- Eclipse Roasters
This is the place we repeatedly went back to (partially for convenience), but we got consistently good coffee.
They are also quick and efficient and have multiple locations in Canmore.
