Après-Ski in Banff

Banff has an awesome après scene, mostly centred around Banff Avenue and Bear Street right in the middle of the town. Expect everything from crazy Canuck style pubs to breweries and distilleries to elegant wine bars. Banff has it all in abundance. Ski to the base of Sunshine or Norquay and you’ll certainly find a place to have a quick beer, but the vast majority will jump on the free ski bus back to downtown Banff. Here’s a few suggestions to help start your après engines:

St James’ Gate Irish Pub

This is a traditional ski town Irish après bar offering great beer and food. The St James’ Gate was built and manufactured in Dublin and then imported and re-constructed in Banff. It has a genuine warm, friendly atmosphere and is a popular spot for locals as well as visitors.

Rose & Crown Pub

If you like live music, good beer and pub-grub, the Rose & Crown is one of Banff’s premier après hot spots. Expect daily drinks specials, great Canadian comfort food and a rowdy but friendly atmosphere.

Park Distillery

The spirit of Banff. This is a restaurant and working distillery in downtown Banff, offering campfire-inspired food and a range of spirits distilled on site. The gins and vodkas are exceptional – try the Park spirits tasting flight 6 x 3oz shots. As you’d expect, the cocktail choices are amazing, and they serve beer too. Book yourself a distillery tour to learn more.

Three Bears Brewery

Popular brew-house in downtown Banff with a great restaurant where food for every mood is created to pair with a beer made here. Grab a beer, listen to some live music, kick back and relax.

Bear Street Tavern

Signature pizzas, sandwiches and cast iron specialities are the thing here. Enjoy a beer or a bear-sized cocktail and finish with a legendary pizza.

The Canadian Brewhouse

Banff’s top sports bar with an unfeasibly large amount of huge TVs showing an unfeasibly large amount of ice hockey. Expect great beer, daily specials, a Canadian classic food menu and a vibrant atmosphere.

Banff Avenue Brewing Co.

This is a multi-venue après spot with a vibrant pub serving great craft brews and pub-food favourites, a street-level tap-room serving flights of Banff’s best craft brews complemented by a solid appie menu, and a fabulous pizza & pasta restaurant. All your après, right in one location.

Rundle Bar (Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel)

If you like your après a little more upscale, then the Rundle Bar in the Banff Springs is the perfect spot. Great views of the Bow Valley, nice comfortable seating with table service and a huge drinks menu offering pretty much everything alcoholic and more. Nice après food menu too.

Sudden Sally (Hotel Canoe & Suites)

Fast becoming the place to be at the end of Banff Avenue, Sudden Sally offers a curated list of great hand-made cocktails, good beer and wine choices and a stellar happy hour. 

Bar Moxy (Moxy Banff Hotel)

The lobby bar in the new Moxy Banff Hotel has a cool retro vibe with its racetrack-style bar, VW camper van food truck and great lounge space. This is a fabuolus apres spot!