1888 CHOP HOUSE

Start to finish, this was a fantastic dinner. The staff pulled all the stops to make sure my brother had a fantastic birthday dinner and I am very grateful for their hard work in the matter. The hostess sat us and gave us some pre-dinner tips (a very nice Aussie girl whose name I neglected to grab, apologies miss!). Our server, Adam, was clearly a seasoned professional with a book-level knowledge of the entire menu and helped my parents, grandparents and brother determine exactly what to get. The bread service was immaculate, crispy rolls with a soft warm center and a nice herb butter on the side. Stellar. I ordered the Duck Parfait as I love liver, and the Bread that came with it, alongside the fruit spread made for a dynamite combination. Very appreciative for the gentleman whose name I neglected to get who assisted in situating silverware and the like. I got the Beef Cheeks, which were prepared Braised pot roast style. Delicious and fork tender, on a nice bed of grits. I used a leftover roll to scrape the Jus up and it was immaculate. For dessert, my brother was given a little piece of chocolate on his Sundae with "Happy Birthday" which was a very kind gesture. I opted for the rhubarb which came out like an upscale stuffed fruit rollup. S-tier dessert. It really is worth to just come here for a meal even if you aren't staying on property. The atmosphere is beautiful, the staff is kind, and the food is superb.

Most amazing food and atmosphere! James was the best server! Thanks for your hospitality and the private dining area, my wife and I will never forget our 255h because of it !

Spent the afternoon at the spa and decided to end our day at 1888. Nicholas was our server and he was Spectacular; very warm and engaging and helped us make our dinner selections. The atmosphere was exactly what we needed to make our trip extra memorable in a relaxing and upscale atmosphere. A romantic evening with delicious food.

An amazing restaurant with a menu loaded with tantalizing options. Will have to return in order to try everything as there are no bad options. Great service, food as good as it gets and fantastic atmosphere makes this a cannot miss

A big thank you to Nicholas for making my birthday dinner at 1888 Chophouse truly special! His service was outstanding — attentive, warm, and professional from start to finish. He made me feel celebrated and taken care of throughout the evening. The food was incredible — the ribeye was perfectly cooked, the whipped potatoes were creamy and delicious, and the asparagus was spot on. To top it all off, I was surprised with a dessert that had “Happy Birthday” beautifully written — such a thoughtful touch!

Everything was top notch! The duck was the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Scallop crudo, venison, lamb tartar, desserts … all amazing. Service was second to none. Morgan was attentive and personable without hovering or being annoying. A++ - highly recommend

Waiter was very nice, food was delicious. Wish portions were a little bigger. No complaints! Definitely need reservation

We came to enjoy a meal after a relaxing day. Our waitress Lauren was very friendly and attentive. The food was very good, the alberta tenderloin was one of the best steaks I have ever had, probably only beaten by kobe steak I had when I visited Japan - but a very different steak to be honest. I couldn't really fault any of the food and it made a very memorable meal to end our holiday. Hopefully we will come back on a special anniversary in future.

The Fairmont has exceeded our expectations at almost every turn. 1888 was no different. Tonight was our last night and we chose 1888 as our cap stone. The service...excellent! The duck...excellent! The steak...better than expected!. Heck, they even have a cart they bring to the table with by the glass champagne you want to drink. We would definitely come back. PS: my wife...THE BEST!

This was one of the best places we went to in Banff for dinner! I highly recommend going here if you are in town! The service was excellent and the food was amazing! It's a bit of a romantic setting, so for me and my mom we didn't need it but if you're on a date or with your husband or family for sure it's a nice atmosphere. I did see a group of guys that looked like they were having a business dinner as well so It's for everyone! We had the Alberta tenderloin, the mashed potatoes, which are a must because they just melt in your mouth, and they are the best mashed potatoes ever, the carrots, the halibut with peas, and the birthday dessert, which was ice cream with the various sauces. All is delicious, and if we went again, I would order the same thing plus more.!

Went on Saturday date night for my husband's bday dinner. The restaurant is very much like the hotel. Service was the best part of my experience. They were attentive but not too intrusive. The food was okay, not the best. I think all of the plates were missing something. It was a good meal overall.

Oh man, where to begin! Absolutely incredible. Although the dessert was my personal favorite, the ribeye was also one of the best I've ever had. Needed NO sauce & cooked perfectly, medium rare. My husband & I were sharing because we had a late lunch so we weren't super hungry, they even offered to slice the steak for us for easier sharing. The bread & butter was also good. We tried the mushrooms & didn't care for them but honestly we're just not a huge fan of mushrooms but we were trying to branch out. Otherwise, superb! Our waiter was James & he was truly so kind.

Pretty great steak place. Wagyu tenderloin and bison tenderloin were amazing. Ribeye was a little tough. Sauces that accompanied the dishes were great. Service was also fantastic

Amazing experience overall! Food and dessert were delicious. Loved the ambiance. Service was excellent.

excellent ambiance, excellent service, a real stunning place to dine and the food was just as good. we were there on 10-23-25 and it was by far the best overall experience at a steakhouse in Banff.

I asked the front desk what was the best place for a steak. She recommended this place, not only was it a weird set up for seating, open to the hotel public, but the ribeye was soooo tough. There was no flavor and hardly salted to taste. Hugely disappointed. I am not sure they can called them a steakhouse. I make better at home. However, the cocktail guy behind the bar was great and he did his best.

Overpriced and not our style. It seemed to be too stuffy and we enjoyed other restaurants more near by.

1888 Chop House restaurant, deserves to be based at the classic world famous - Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel! An elegant superior fine dining restaurant it is ... I was had at ... Bison! First off - it ain't cheap here so bring mad crazy amounts of cash on all 5 of your cards!!! Our waitress was fantastic. Knowledgeable & informative, Alysha made our time here smooth as butter! Our Champagne & cocktails were a delight! The tables next to us were all staring, when our drinks were wheeled over to our table for us to decide on what to try! Can you say - bottle service anyone!?! Like a Boss! LOL! Then came the main course - Wagyu Striplion, Mac N Cheese, Carrots & Bison. The Wagyu was in a class by itself - a tasty & succulent delight! The 3 that ordered it swore that it was so great - best ever - such so they would be naming their first borns - Wagyu! I was on a mission when I got to Alberta ... having enjoyed the province's tasty triple AAA beef over the years, I longed to try Bison & wow what a sensation it was to my taste buds!!! Can I say WOW, WHOA, DAYUUUUUMMM any louder!?! Very impressive meat & went straight to my heart! Loved it!!! Order the Bison - medium! To be honest my eyes thought - these servings are waaaayyyyyyy too small for my belly! Forgetting that this is fine dining & all about the experience = taking your time & enjoying the bubbly = doing it right! Sometimes I just need to remind myself of that - not to rush the meal! LOL! After dinner we pondered dessert but we were all feeling just right! However, one in our party suggested we share the ultra magnificent - Yuzu Crème Vanilla Sable (try saying that fast) & gosh did it knock our socks off or what!!! A fight broke out to move the dessert closer to each other as we slashed each others spoons prying for a piece! Truly one of the most exquisite desserts I've ever had & one I won't ever forget! Make a reservation ... limited hours & seating! Fine dining at it's finest indeed!

We were fortunate to eat here the night after our wedding (also hosted at the Fairmont) and our meal was incredible. The service was wonderful and our food was absolutely divine. I will say my ice cream did taste like it had melted some and then had been refrozen, but otherwise everything was impeccable!

Oh my gosh, the wagyu steak was incredible!! Loved the mashed potatoes too. Wonderful atmosphere and great service in a stunning location!

If you are looking for a gorgeous evening out, with views, vibe, drinks, food and the service to go with it... here it is. Impressed because I didn't expect to find this here. Shame on me. Located in the Fairmont, this place is gorgeous. Valet the car, spent the 50 and enjoy your evening. We had drinks at a few different lounges and then made our way to dinner. Halibut to steak... flawless. Great job

So very disappointed in this very expensive restaurant in the Banff Fairmont Hotel The duck was inedible , the pork was chewy and tasteless, a tenderloin had to be sent back because it was cold . I thought this would be the best restaurant on our trip and it was the definitely our least favorite ! There were six of us and we all felt the same! Manager and waiter were useless

It's extremely difficult to get a 5 star rating selling steaks for around 100 dollars without any sides on the plate, but this place absolutely does it. I had the ribeye and the sundae for dessert. 100+ worth of food right there but absolutely mind blowing. Ribeye was extremely flavorful with great marbling. Typically I am slightly picky in regards to fat but this steak was absolutely phenomenal. ++ service and ++ atmosphere. Overall great dining.

Exceptional food. An absolutely delightful wait staff. And an incredible view. Absolutely worth a visit. We are still talking about and dreaming for the Haikkido Scallops

Exceptional service from start to finish. We ordered the 32OZ 30-day dried aged porter house to share and that was more than plentiful. Cooked to perfection. Thank you Adam for your service at our table. It was a great experience.

I only ended up here because I was staying at the Fairmont for a work trip. On a normal day this place is way out of my price range and I could never imagine eating here. Prices aside, the food is great, just not sure if it's worth the money but you are paying for the location and ambiance. I ordered the scallops and the crab cake for my meal, small portions expected, my table also ordered a ton of sides. My favorite thing was the carrot side, I've never loved carrots so much in my life! Drinks were plentiful and I got to try Pappy Van Winkle which I must say didn't impress me all that much. It's definitely a high end restaurant and I would love to try the other spots in the hotel.

Not a fan of restaurants located in hotels, considered this could anyway be a good exception. Looking for a steakhouse experience without reservation few days ahead in August is not easy, but we ended here. Excellent options on the menu, but for some reason our experience was not that great. Took almost 20min to get our order done, and made our minds sharing a tomahawk for the four of us with some side dishes. Meat took more than one hour to show up, without any word from the waitress other than it is coming soon about half hour before it came. She never apologized for having us abandoned or justified the long wait... no more words about service. On the meal itself, meat was little dry, probably a too thick piece or just overcooked considering the time it took... Overall, not what we were expecting, and very disappointed with the service provided

We went to 1888 for a special occasion and our experience was mixed. The Good: Across the board the food was amazing. I have eaten at some nice steakhouses around the world and this might have been the best steak I have had. The ambiance is nice and for the most part the service was friendly and attentive. The Bad: The pacing of the meal was off. My wife got a salad and finished her salad, they cleared the plate and then it was a full 25 minutes until our steaks came. I know, I timed it. This resulted in a lot of awkward sitting around waiting, the waiter never checked in or apologized for a delay. Was the delay the end of the world? No, but it would be annoying at an Outback. At a $100pp location that charges $3 for water (both still and carbonated), this kind of delay really is unacceptable.

Such a great steakhouse experience. The bread and butter was one of the most delicious breads I've ever had. We also had some amazing steaks and lobster. Mashed potatoes were so yummy too. We loved it here. Service was a bit slow but everyone was so kind and friendly and the food was worth the wait.

Wow!! Talk about elegant! So impressed with the Fairmont!! It was a spa day and dinner in Banff, and the Fairmont was a natural choice. The Chop House was outstanding. Unique. Luke and Eric treated us so well, recommending the right wine, right meal, and right dessert for our experience. The starter was the scallop and pork belly offering, topped with a pork rind for texture contrast. Creative and delicious. Who knew?? Our big rib eye (shared) carved at tableside was both dramatic and delicious. Add the au jus (seemed like a reduction with brandy?) and herbal butter, and we ate the best steak in Banff. And the mac/cheese side was great too, made with a hard cheese (local parmisian?) that certainly grabbed attention. Dessert was the chocolate offering, paired with a sherry that enabled the cocoa flavor to shine. A "must go" meal and restaurant, add it to your itinerary. Bon appetite.

Tomahawk chop: This is 2 steaks for 1 order. They ask you if you want to keep the bone. The chop is composed of half ribeye and half shoulder blade steak. Split amongst 3 people. The shoulder blade steak was too fatty. Threw at least half of it away. They cut the chop in front of you. $300 for dinner including asparagus/poutine/bottle of wine. Reasonable for 3 people. oddly this was probably our best value meal in a fairmont restaurant.

My husband and I had the privilege of staying at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel in Banff Springs. We decided to splurge on a meal here and so happy we did! The meal was incredible from start to finish. And the service was spectacular! We started off with the bread and butter. I know, I know, sounds so boring. But it was the most delicious bread and butter ever! The bread is freshly baked and so so soft! It comes with the most deliciously churned butter, foie gras, and a berry marmalade. That bread stood no chance! For dinner my husband and I both opted for the Brant Lake Wagyu. Worth every penny. The meat was so soft, hardly had any fat, and cooked to perfection. It is served with a delicious Jus. For sides we had the mashed potatoes(so creamy and delicious) and mushrooms (also delicious). We ended the meal with a decadent slice of blueberry cheesecake. Order it. Even if you are stuffed. Thank me later.

Absolutely prefect experience. Everything was top notch from the start to finish. The restaurant sits inside the world famous 'Castle in the Rockies' with beautiful decor and atmosphere . Our server Adam was amazing! His knowledge of the menu and meat in general was impressive. He helped guide us in our ordering. He checked in at the prefect time every time and was so attentive. He even kindly guided us on how to eat one of the appetizers to ensure we mixed it properly as it was set that way for presentation only. We had the beef tartare and crab cakes. Out of athis world delicious! Then went on to the bison and tuna which is the best bison I've ever had by a mile. The side of whipped potatoes where an absolute delight and an experience in themselves. I can clearly say this was the best meal of our lives. We eat out regularly and aren't afraid of fine dining, so we know good food when we have it. Now keeping in mind this place is very expensive, with many items near or over $100. But you get what you pay for here, a 1 of a kind dining experience in a 1 of a kind hotel looking out at the best views mother nature can muster.

Despite being in business since 1888 - Fairmont 1888 Chop House has not not yet perfected the steak. Disappointing! We had made reservations to celebrate our birthday at this restaurant while staying at Fairmont Banff Springs. Entrance to the restaurant is somewhat underwhelming but interior is nice and cozy. The waitress was nice but food and timing very poor. We ordered drinks and appetizer. After finishing our starter we waited a good 45 minutes and no food arrived. The party next to us who had arrived 30 minutes after us had already received their starter and huge Tomahawk steak but no sight of our medium rare NY strip steak which has significantly shorter cook time. After we asked the manager where our food was, we waited about 15 minutes more for our food to finally arrive. Our steaks arrived overly charred (not sure if that's intentional or not?) It was done medium well (overcooked to our order) pretty dry and tasted like nothing but charcoal due to the burns. The manager was very apologetic and competed our meal - however we had preferred paying full price and haven received a good meal like we expected. I would not recommend this restaurant and would not try again.

Such a wonderful experience here. Upscale but casual ambience, great service and solid steaks. Really can't say much more other than make sure you make reservations because this place is popular!

We eat at a lot of steak places and this was the most memorable we have been at in a long time. Their bone marrow app was the largest portion we have ever seen and it was absolutely perfect. Loved the twist on beef tartare served with thin potato skins. And the steak with fois gras on top was done exactly as we asked and was so delicious as prime beef always is. I am so glad that we came here. The service was also exceptional. It's hard these days to differentiate yourself from other steak houses but they have managed it here. Do you make a reservation though because it looks like it's booked most of the time.

Gosh, this is a tough one to write. My steak was perfect, best steak I've ever had. We loved the champagne cart and they have a fantastic wine selection. We did call ahead to see if we could make a reso for the evening and they said they were booked. We walked down and there was a couple that walked up to the hostess before us and asked if they could make a reso - she happily got them set up. Which was strange... I mean ok... you were fully booked 3 min ago but can take them at their preferred time? Not a big deal. We didn't care about this but I wanted to note it now My husband ordered a medium rare and it was def well done and even black/charred on the outside AND THEN there was a hair in our market veggies. This sucks but it happens, we get it. Everyone is human. What bothered us was how they made us feel for bringing it up and how it affected our overall experience. We felt bad for bringing it up. They made us feel cheap. We don't care to get those items copped, we were just wanting to let you know. There was a lack of empathy as well as tact in their communication style. One would expect better from a place like this.

1888 is located in Fairmont Banff Springs. It's a formal but comfortable room with a great menu and impressive wine list. Our steaks were perfectly cooked and service was great. Reservations are a must because it is very popular.

This is definitely my favorite restaurant in Banff, the reservation always full til 9pm. That is when we came. It's a little bit late, I'm hungry and little bit cranky. Never judge the book by its cover, I did and I was wrong. The exterior is just so well tuck away, you could miss it if you don't walk slower. The waiter is so informative, friendly and funny at the same time. He's a really attentive person. We had the chance to have the tomahawk, and it is a huge plate and enough for 4 ppl to share. We had an appetizer including steak tartar, couple sides. The steak is beautiful, lamb is just okay, it was cook several ways in the same plate. Will come back for the steak again!

Worst $450 we ever spent on dinner. Service was slooooow -- we waited just under an hour for our dinner. We ordered the tomahawk with some sides and two sauces. They suggested medium rare and 70% of it was medium. It was so chewy and dry, most of it wasn't edible. The only win was that they offered a great wine selection. We decided to try something new because The Bison Restaurant was closed... next time, we'll save our appetite and our dollars.

The Wagyu tenderloin was seasoned perfectly and was melt in your mouth tender. Great wine list. The braised carrots with honey and pistachios is the only way to EVER eat a carrot. The bake their own Gluten free bread on premise AND had a gluten free berry crumble made with almond flour for dessert. Great steak and GF -I'll be back.

For my husband's 35th birthday and New Year's we visited beautiful Banff. When plotting what to do for his big supper, we decided to go for broke and do the best possible thing: drink wine and eat steak... in a castle. We stormed the castle with another couple, and the four of us went to town on everything. Oysters, beef tartar served with crispy potatoes, macaroni and cheese (superb!), french fries, an obligatory green and perfectly prepared steak. We paired this with all of the martinis, red wine and an incredible ginger liqueur. Thank you 1888 for one of the best meals I've had in recent memory. Your nouveau twist on a traditional steak house is divine.

Reserved the table for 3 last minute on Friday night with no problem. It's located within Fairmont Banff Spring so it was just an elevator ride down for us. We were promptly seated and taken care off by the server. We were already tired from Columbia Icefield trip from the morning so we decided not to have a bottle of wine with our dinner. Crab cake for appetizer was probably the best crab cake I have had the. For the entree, 35oz Porterhouse for 2 to share. This is the best steak we have had. It's AAA local steak that's seared very crispy on the outside and still retain the natural juice. The steak was served with steak juice on the side, no steak sauce needed. As a side we ordered chef special vegetable (green bean in butter & lemon zest). Very crispy & juicy. This place is probably the most expensive steakhouse around here but you get what you pay for. Service was immaculate.

After spending countless minutes walking through the Banff Springs Hotel from the parkade we found Chophouse 1888!! I had made reservations several days before and ready to eat! The service is second to none in a fine dining/smart casual atmosphere. We were eyeing the 52 oz Waygu Tomahawk steak for $155, but seriously how do 2 tiny people finish a dish like that??? We ended up getting steak, Caesar salad, oysters, mushroom soup, and creme brûlée. Everything was presented perfectly and cooked to almost perfection. I'd want to return with a group of friends to try the 52 oz Wagyu Tomahawk. I loved watching them carve it for another table of 4. It's definitely an experience to see such a large cut of beef being carved for you at your table. I highly recommend this place for a fancy dinner while visiting Banff!

It was our 20th anniversary so we went to 1888 chophouse for a special dinner. We had a great time! The atmosphere, the champagne to start, our table with a view, everything was top notch. Our meal was so tasty and the service attentive. We had lucky lime oysters, porterhouse steak for two, brown butter mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, sautéed mushrooms & lobster tail. We would highly recommend for a special occasion (as it is pricey - hence my 4 star rating) and will definitely be going back.

Really good service and amazing steaks. Our server was attentive and made really good recommendations. Very classic feel and warm ambiance. Bison and rib eye were perfectly cooked and devoured after a full day of hiking. The mushroom side was our favorite. Champagne and red wine were perfection as well. Our concierge made same day reservations for dinner at 8:15pm. I love this hotel and can't wait to come back to try the other restaurants.

We were very excited to try this restaurant and left very disappointed. In addition to slow service the food was just not up to par. I was disappointed in everything we ordered. The meal was mediocre at best. The decor was not what I expected. I was expecting it to be similar to the rest of the Banff Springs but it looked more like an average run of the mill hotel restaurant.

The food here was absolutely to DIE for! The prices were on par with the amazing food! The steak was mouth watering and the sides were delicious. The staff was great and so helpful! The scenery was gorgeous! I would definitely recommend!

Bland Caesar salad and was not impressed by the steak which also lacked flavor. Overall very uninspiring meal.

Fantastic. By far the best food we got in Banff and one of the best steaks I've had period. I got the filet mignon which was perfectly cooked. The broccolini was excellent as well. And the chocolate old fashion was superb.

As pescatarians we still really liked this restaurant. It was our second favorite at the Banff Springs Hotel (we went to 4 places) I cant comment on the meat but the overall food was super great and fresh. Make sure if you are pesc or veg you ask for plain butter the butter has meat in it. Great wine and great service.

Hands down the best meal you will ever have. Service is top notch, cocktails are delicious, the food quality is beyond measure. Nick, our waiter was knowledgeable and very attentive. He made our honeymoon celebration even more special.

Ate there about 8 months ago and it was great. This time not so good. They sat 3 of us at a tiny table for two while moments later sat two people near us at a table for four. Messed up our appetizer order, took forever to cleanup our appetizer dishes, took a long time to deliver our main course and then the 18 oz bone in ribeye steak was thin, chewy, not cooked the way we ordered it and had a tiny bone. It was terrible and we sent it back. Our other entree was an expensive Wagu tenderloin and it was pretty much tasteless and no better than a grocery store regular tenderloin. Dessert wasn't great either. Not going back here anytime soon. A shame because we love the hotel and were excited when they renovated the stuffy old restaurant that used to be there.

Ambience is great. Service is great. We ordered the porterhouse steak for 2 and it was cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend this place.

My wife and I arrived for an 8pm reservation. No one was at the hostess desk to seat us for about ten minutes. Once seated, our waiter seemed impatient about getting in an order and did not help us with picking a wine. We ordered salad and entrees and the salads came out after 9pm. We asked what was going on with the entrees and the waiter asked if we wanted to delay them. Was he joking? They came out 25 minutes after the salads. My wife's duck entree was bland with a tiny portion of duck. The manager did take the duck entree off of the bill, which was gracious. For the price range of this restaurant, I'd expect much better food and service.

Seated in the bar area which was fantastic and enjoyed the casual seating. Server was knowledgeable on wine and food and extremely attentive. Had the wagyu steak which was excellent and well done. Perfect amount, cooked perfectly and perfectly seasoned. The sides were also well done. Great experience. Would recommend.

Went to 1888 while in Banff on a ski holiday with family and friends. We chose several of the restaurants in the area and visited each of them while we were in Banff. We were very excited to visit 1888 based on the great reviews and our perusing of the menu prior to our trip. When we arrived we were in awe of the beauty of both the Fairmont as well as the breathtaking natural beauty surrounding the hotel. After spending some time meandering through the hotel and taking pictures outside from the terrace it was time for dinner. We were warmly greeted by the maître d' and escorted to our table for a party of eight. While walking through the restaurant one could only be impressed by its elegance.The waiter greeted us and gave excellent guidance regarding both appetizers and drinks all of which were fabulous! My wife and I had the bone marrow which was rich and tasty, while the kids had crab cakes which they seemed to love. Each person in our group loved the appetizers. Next we moved on to the entrée and excellent guidance was given by the waiter yet again. The service and our server really were impeccable! This is where the evening took a turn. Both my wife and I, along with our son, ordered the bison while my daughter had the lobster tail. The rest of the group ordered steak and we all had a number of different side dishes. Once the entrées were served it was time to "dig in" and we did so with great expectation, seeing that everything else up to that point had been delicious! Unfortunately the steaks, while cooked to the perfect temperature, were more reminiscent of salt lick. In addition, the sides turned out to be rather bland. So perhaps the blandness of the sides and the saltiness of the steaks were supposed to balance each other out. The only side which I give exception to is the wild mushrooms which were yummy! In the end, it almost felt like they thought the beautiful setting would be enough of a distraction to allow them to get by serving mediocre food. Go for the beauty but find somewhere else to eat.