The Juniper Bistro

Can't say enough great things about the bistro. Views are serene, service was attentive and excellent, and food was great. I had the root veggie cast iron roast (forgetting name), and it was outstanding. Underlying white bean hummus was delicious, the vegetables were perfectly cooked and seasoned well with paprika, and the crunchy poached egg was a fun, tasty topping. My wife's quesadilla was solid but not amazing. Would come again. Came at lunch mid week in February and was empty

A local recommended this restaurant as a must-try in Banff, so we decided to give it a go. Even without a reservation, we were lucky to get a great window seat during the middle of the week in October, with a perfect view of the surroundings. The food was fantastic—we ordered the 16 oz steak with honey-glazed carrots and potatoes. The portions were so generous that we ended up having to take some of it to go. We’d definitely come back here again!

The restaurant offers a delightful experience with its rich heritage and antique displays, providing a unique glimpse into history. The mountain view adds a picturesque touch to the ambiance. However, my butcher cut was disappointing, with too much tendon making it difficult to enjoy. The glazed carrots were interesting, and the ravioli was good, but overall, the food quality was only average. I hope the chef was on holiday, which could explain the less-than-stellar meal. Despite this, the setting and atmosphere are worth a visit.

Went here for dinner. Ordered bison platter, it came fire roasted, but the stake I think it was over cooked, so the surface went black, and tastes terrible. Went over to my server, called out chef, he was able to cook a new stake for me again. The second one tastes way better! Thanks to my server. Overall, the view of the restaurant and other food tastes great!

Came here for brunch. Menu offered a good variety of options. Food was creative and delish. Service was prompt. Views were unbeatable!

Stopped here on a Tuesday afternoon. It wasn’t busy and we were able to get a table without any wait. The view from the patio is beautiful and truly is the highlight of this place. The food was slightly above average. The service was average.

My husband and I are staying at the hotel for the weekend and we decided to have dinner at the bistro and it was the best decision ever. The food was amazing. Everything was well seasoned. I had the half chicken and potatoes and my husband has the steak and sautéed carrots. I had to ask where the chef was from and I was informed his name was Sergio and he is Mexican….(Explains the flavors) Staff was also wonderful. Our server Mitch was great and kept coming to see if we were doing ok. All in all the night was a hit for me. The view from the patio is also something!!!

Made reservations a few weeks in advance of visiting Banff. After going, I clearly understand the demand. Arrived 15 minutes prior to my reservation, but they already had a window table waiting for me. It's a small, intimate, and cozy restaurant providing great views of Banff and the surrounding mountains. We were lucky to have an amazing server, Amy, who did an amazing job throughout the night. She was able to recite and explain the entire menu in detail, making some great recommendations related to portions and dishes. Took her recommendation and ordered many dishes that are made to be shared. Ordered in a tapas manner so constantly were ordering dishes that were brought out as they were ready. Every dish from the vegetables, proteins, appetizers, desserts, and drinks were amazing. Although they are common dishes, they were uniquely made with complex tastes and beautifully plated. If you're coming to Banff, make reservations as soon as you decide. It was my best meal in Banff.

Had an amazing experience for an anniversary dinner. Our server, Love, had excellent recommendations of the mushrooms and chicken. We enjoyed both! It's also a beautiful spot overlooking a hill and the mountains. Definitely recommend for a nice dinner with great ambiance.

The price was exorbitant for the flavors presented. The freshness of the food itself was good, but the bland taste was difficult to elude. Sauces were abundant, almost as if the dish relied on the sauce to cover from the lack of seasonings. The old fashioned was not an old fashioned. This seems to be a common theme in the area though. I had asked for a different whiskey and it wasn't until the end while paying that I was informed that I get charged double for using a different whiskey, turning a $16 old fashioned into a $39 random charge for a glass of whiskey and some syrup. Had also ordered the 20 day dry aged Ribeye mid rare, but what I received was eerily close to a New York strip that was medium to medium well, chewy, no marbling, no different from a cut of steak you could procure from a local chain and cook the same day. Hope others have a better experience than I, but if you're looking for a recommendation, stick to BlueBird Steakhouse.

I ate here with three others and we decided to share a bunch of plates, as well as having the soup of the day (squash butternut soup - really really good and the bread went well with it)). - beet salad: great flavour, arugula but not really bitter, just a touch of dressing which is perfect. - maple roasted Brussel sprouts - really good flavour, I couldn't have enough. - fingerling potatoes - the flavour was out of this world good and there was a hint of mint or something too. We also shared two desserts - the crumble with added ice cream and the tiramisu. Both were spectacular and really good. Great service. The chef came out to talk to us at the end. We really enjoyed sharing the dishes. I must say the only problem was that the main dishes seem expensive when you considered the salmon for $42 comes with NO sides.

Disappointing experience as service to my table was forced and insincere. I came during late lunch with plenty of open tables. Once settled in our table, the waiter quickly gave us the menus then provided still water without saying anything. Same with taking our orders, the waiter seemed to be rushing us and kept trying to leave without us finishing saying our orders. When he brought our food to the table, he literally dropped my plate in front of me which made me jump because it was placed so loudly. As other groups came in, I noticed his personality change when talking to them. He introduced himself, asked for still or sparking water, and had great enthusiasm throughout their meal. Food was ok but not worth coming back with the weird service.

Maybe the best view in a town full of beautiful views. And the wood fireplace is amazing, thought it's so sealed off you don't get the nice wood burning aroma. Food was alright. Salad and truffle mash were delish. Duck was a strong performer tho the cabbage it came with was disappointing. Squash was incredibly average. Soup needed more cream or cheese or something to round out the flavor, and more salt. Baked Brie was nice, helped fix the soup. Desserts were pretty meh, cobbler w crème anglaise was the best but wasn't quite sweet enough for us. Panna cotta had a weird texture, stiffer and more jello-ey than soft and smooth like I'd expect. Ambiance really earns most of the stars.

We used the OpenTable app to make reservations for four weeks in advance. We read wonderful reviews about this Michelin chef and understand that the views here can't be beat. Claes our waiter from Denmark was on point. We started with wine & appetizers. We shared crab croquettes & butternut squash pesto. For an entree we shared roast duck & a berry compote meringue dessert. Everything was delicious. The carrots were like candy, they were delicious, but my brussels sprouts are better.

Breath taking views and peaceful brunch. We came for a birthday brunch and enjoyed the make your own mimosas and eggs. Highly recommend the mimosas for the value and fun of making your mix! The short ribs eggs Benedict was very good. Tender short rib topped with a poached egg. The egg portion is not that large, mostly potatoes but overall would recommend. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They are more than happy to snap some group photos of your table to take advantage of the amazing view from the patio. I would definitely recommend this spot to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Banff and enjoy a quality meal with an amazing view!

The main reason we came here was because of the amazing dishes that were posted on Yelp. But be warned, the menu changes daily and we must have been unfortunate to come on a day with some boring options on the menu. My children are well-versed in fine dining, but they really didn't care for anything on the menu. I think the best feature of this place was the view of the mountains which was gorgeous. It is located a bit north of the main town so you probably need a car to get there. It is located inside the hotel which was very rustic and dated. The servers clearly tried to be helpful, but they were somehow lacking in fine dining skills that accompany the prices of this establishment. Also, be forewarned: I order a dish called King scallops on the menu, but didn't see that was supposed to be a vegan option. I wish the server had pointed that out when I ordered it. So you can imagine my surprise when the dish came out and it was mushrooms. Also, if they were trying to imitated King scallops, those suckers were not even close...more like bay scallops. I suppose it is great they offer the vegan options, but those would have been some $40 mushrooms and way overpriced in my opinion. I was really hoping to enjoy this place, but it was ultimately disappointing. I won't say that we got food poisoning there, but all of us had stomach pains for a couple days after eating here. Too bad. I had such high hopes from previous reviews.

Shakshukah 4 two runny eggs, tomatoes, zucchini, flavorful Juniper Benny 4 braised rabbit benedict, no special rabbit flavor, crunchy bread, potato cubes on the side

Amazing views! Make sure you ask for a table on their outdoor patio. The mountain views are so worth it! We came here for brunch, and it was perfect. My smoked salmon benedict and fresh squeeze OJ with beautiful views was the perfect way to start my day.

Seriously incredible meal! All the flavors were on point and everything tasted great. In addition, the service was excellent and made sure that we had coffee and water all the time. Everything came out super quick as well. Also, you can't beat the view. Unfortunately we came on a day that it was a bit foggy so it was hard to see. But if you could come when the patio is open and not as foggy, it is incredible. Outside of the view though I'd still give it a 5 out of five because all the food was delicious.

We were on vacation during Thanksgiving this year, and decided to visit because of their turkey feature and fixed prix menu. We were also pleased with our server. We first started with a salad, mashed potatoes, root vegetables to share, the turkey and brisket entrees were also great. Cocktail and mocktail were tasteless, and we did not enjoy the dessert- apple pie and pumpkin Panna cotta.

Great service and location. Beautiful views from the restaurant with available outdoor seating areas. We thoroughly enjoyed glazed carrots (awesomely sweet with perfect texture of carrots) and the mussels for small plates. The butcher's cut was nicely flavored and it was cooked medium as ordered.

This Bistro located at the Juniper Hotel was great. Service was amazing each time my family and I visited. We attend twice for breakfast and once for dinner. The convenience of it was great and we were seated quickly each time. For breakfast we ordered the huevos rancheros and eggs your way. The beans and eggs were cooked perfectly. We also ordered the French toast from the kids menu. For brunch we also ordered the Mimosa your way option which you get a bottle of champagne and 3 juices. The views are also amazing and there is outdoor seating available. The young lady who served us was attentive and polite. I will say the kids menu is quite pricey in my opinion but food is good overall.

Best view of banff! Perfect views of vermillion lakes and fairmont castle in distance. Best enjoyed at sunrise or sunset! I usually go for breakfast because they have a rabbit Benny which is a very unique dish. Breakfast is amazing and the view is a great place to start the day. Just off the highway overlooking the lakes it's a hidden gem that as a local I've kept secret for many years. Worth the drive here!!!! My must visit for breakfast whenever I'm in banff! They also have to go specials for hikers to take hiking. Like granola and yogurt packs.

Probably the best breakfast we've had on our month-long trip to Alaska and Western Canada. Liam was our server and was so accommodating and chill! Ask for Liam! Benedict was especially good. Nice Hollandaise and properly poached eggs - cooked but runny. Juniper berry jam brought a sweetness. I really enjoyed the Huevos Ranchero s. Will definitely be back if we're in the area again!

Exceptional views of Mount Norquay! Even if the food wasn't great, I would have given it 5 stars. Fortunately, the food here is equally good! Our server Clarence was really friendly and chatty - he even offered to take a few pictures of us without us having to ask him. I would come back here in a heartbeat just for the views.

View is wonderful,food is great, more than these the service is excellent Love to comeback here again We had Huevos Rancheros, Salmon Benny, Alphine Melt. All of them were amazing more than expected!!

We were staying at the Juniper Hotel, in room 110 & the bistro is literally right outside our outdoor patio. It's open for breakfast/brunch then closes and reopens for dinner. It is definitely a must go for food and ambiance! First of all, the view is unmatched. Especially for dinner when the sun is setting. So beautiful. Amy, our server, could have hands down been the best server we've ever encountered. She checked on us in the right times and had a funny story to tell us every time she came by. She was hilarious and full of local knowledge. The food was exceptional. Everything is organic and grown nearby. And it really does come out in the food. The chef even came out and asked if everything was ok. The food was so good! If you're in banff and aren't staying at the Juniper, still come and eat here. You won't regret it!

There are both positive and negative aspects of the Juniper. We stayed in the third floor suite and the views are simply spectacular. The suite is very roomy, much like staying in a condo with a fully stocked kitchen. However, there is only one full bath with no tub so it limits options for families with young children. The sitting room, with the view, is nice, but the seating is not that comfortable and there is a step up into the room that is not that noticeable and hard to see in the dark. Pretty major tripping hazard that should be addressed. There were also a couple of maintenance issues that should have been fixed. Beds and pillows are very comfortable. They could use some larger coffee cups and lap blankets. Staff is a mix. Sofia (sp?) who checked us in had a curt attitude that was close to rude. Emre, on the other had, was great. I'm not sure if the hotel is interested in addressing staff issues as we supplied information on the survey they sent and never heard anything back. The bistro was a disappointment. Jason was great, and servers were nice, but I'm guessing they are struggling with staffing as we ended up leaving without ordering dinner since there was such a long wait, even with only two other tables present. Happy hour was unimpressive, but the brunch menu has some nice options and the Alpine Melt was good.

We came in for dinner while in Banff, the restaurant interior is quite plain, nothing fancy, just a lot of wood. The service is friendly, the food is amazing! We got many dishes to share: the carrots, Brussels, mushrooms, whipped potatoes, melted Bree, chicken, scallops and duck. I don't eat meat so I can't comment on the chicken or duck but my table enjoyed them, they were also quite large plates. The veggies sides were also quite large servings, we definitely over ordered but enjoyed being able to try everything!

This in hotel restaurant is amazing. Although the location is a mile or so from the city center, it's hillside setting provides stunning views of the mountains. The decor is casually elegant, and the staff are very friendly and attentive. The menu is not extensive, but the cuisine is very good. The prices are a good value for the quality. I'm happy I dined here. Five stars.

Everything about this brunch was 10/10! The sunning views, the friendly service, and the delicious food. We came for lunch around 12:30 on a Tuesday in the middle of August. It was relatively quiet, but didn't feel empty. The host sat us at the exact booth outside we wanted, and kindly gave us an overview of the menu. Our server was very sweet and attentive, and when she forgot an ingredient in one of our mimosas (I didn't notice), she let us know and made me another on the house! The quinoa power bowl was a great fresh option to fuel a hard day of hiking, but was on the plainer side. The avocado toast with potatoes was excellent (especially with their homemade hot sauce!) - I got the gluten free bread which wasn't bad. I didn't have the huevos rancheros, but was told they were excellent. Definitely recommend for a fresh and scenic brunch while you're in the area, potentially before or after a visit to Mt. Norquay!

The view, the food, and the staff are all amazing. It was the best food we had in Banff, where there is a lot of good food, but they took number one by some distance. Our favorites were the short ribs (special) and the butternut squash steaks. I know that is an unusual combo, but they were both delicious and I'm not one who normally oohs and ahs over a vegetable, sometimes a salad, but rarely a vegetable on its own. But when we came back the second night, I got the butternut squash steak. That's how good it is. Vegetables without pain. Or maybe more aptly, vegetables that you crave. The place is a little weird to come to initially. It's just outside of town and part of the Juniper Hotel. When initially walking in, we weren't sure we had the right spot. The signage was also a little messed up, where initially we thought the restaurant was to our right when we first entered the parking lot. The restaurant is inside the hotel but has a separate door.

The ambiance is stunning. Decor is subtle and blends so well with natural surroundings. Service and food were great.

Great spot to enjoy a nice meal. I came by for dinner on a Sunday with reservations, though the restaurant wasn't very busy since it was still offseason (early May). The hotel/bistro has a parking lot, so it's easy to access. We were seated right away, and got a table by the window with gorgeous views of the landscape outside. The food here is all locally sourced, including the liquors for the cocktails. The menu changes regularly, but the fries and papardelle I had during my visit were delicious. The fries were more of a steak fry and came with a salsa verde-like sauce. The portions were also larger than I expected, and my group was stuffed after our meal. The service here is great, the hostess Amy took our picture outside and told us some fun stories, and our server Josh gave us great recommendations on what to order. Overall it was a great meal and I'd love to come back.

Not our favorite. Just got into town yesterday and have had a few really good food experiences so far. With the beautiful views and good reviews we hoped to keep our streak alive. Crab croquettes tasted a bit off. Artichoke ravioli was severely undercooked and had a overly doughy texture. Butchers cut was a 16oz ribeye. Demiglaise was good but the fat expected on a ribeye had not been fully rendered. Server was good but covering to many tables and the bar.

Great service, good food, and the best espresso martini I've ever had -- Highly recommend trying if in the area!!!

I ordered the waffles with mushrooms. The mushrooms were paper thin and were batter fried. There was so much batter that you could barely taste the mushrooms. Waffles were doughy. Bacon was undercooked. Service was good. Too bad, nice view. Maybe we just hit it on a bad day.

Very friendly staff and great food in a beautiful setting. We sat outside on their deck. There was a hum from the highway below but it dodged not distract from the spectacular Mountain views. I would definitely go back.

The food, service and ambience was amazing. The view was jaw-droppingly beautiful. I got the avocado toast with 2 perfectly poached eggs on top and it was incredible. The potatoes were delicious and perfectly cooked also. The coffee with baileys was delicious. Thank you for a great experience.

The scenery is very beautiful.The waiters are very friendly and I would especially recommend the beef that has been cooked for 12 hours at a low temperature. You must try it.

We stopped in The Juniper Bistro for a late brunch. Wow what a great view, excellent, friendly and professional service. We hit the jack pot! I would definitely recommend!

Food was so so! Views were great. Nice atmosphere and good service. The Mountain Chilaquiles were nothing but sauce and taco chips with a bunch of onion.

We found this place after reading a list of great outdoor dining options in Banff. We were impressed with their brunch menu and booked a reservation. Although we sat indoors, we had a nice view out toward the patio and trees and mountains. Brunch was delicious and the staff were friendly and efficient. We enjoyed the Juniper Benny with rabbit and the salmons benny with, well, you know. After dining, we did wander out to the patio to enjoy the view some more. Would definitely recommend this eatery.

Great place for brunch at Banff-Salmon Benny was excellent, as was the huevos rancheros! Loved the cascade shooting star tea too! And excellent service by Clarence!

Wow what a restaurant! The Juniper bistro is a must try restaurant in Banff. Located in the beautiful juniper Hotel, the restaurant offers delicious fresh food with an incredible view. The restaurant looks over the mountains. The service was prompt and courteous. We went on a Sunday morning for brunch. Coffee was a bit too much for me with a feeling of burnt coffee. I am not a coffee expert so it didn't impact my review. In addition, the coffee was not bad enough to deserve anything more than 5 stars. I ordered the Avocado toast that comes with delicious Hasbrowns. The toast had loads of avocado and fresh veggies. The non vegan option has a poached egg on top. Because of the great prices, the portions, the view, the flavors and the service I think the Juniper bistro is the best place to go in Banff.

This place is amazing with beautiful views of the Banff mountains. We wanted to sit outside but it rained the night before so all the tables were wet, but they sat us next to a window and it was just as amazing. Our server, Clarence, was friendly and knowledgeable with recommendations for us. I started with a strawberry rhubarb mimosa, my friend has a regular mimosa and my husband had the grapefruit juice. We decided to order the stuffed French toast, steak and eggs, juniper Benny and huevos rancheros. We were all saying it was all so good. I recommend making a reservation because there's a reason why this restaurant is on all the trip advisors best restaurant guide. It's a must try when you're in Banff!

The view the food, the staff. All impeccable. It was our best meal in Lake Louise, even better than any of the food served at the Fairmont. I started off with a salad and shared the softened Brie with sweet cranberries on top. I liked it but wished the cheese was more softened and melted. Our server, Orion, was so nice. He took pictures for the customers when a rainbow suddenly popped up after a brief rain. When we complimented the food, he brought Chef Catherine Bohn, the only female executive chef in Banff, over to meet us. She was divine and personable. I saw him being over the chef de cuisine to another table when they also raved about the food. Hubby liked his pork chop a lot. It was moist and flavorful. I settled on a hamburger. I'm not a burger fan and prefer Impossible burgers at home or the rare Habit Burger when out. I took one bite of this burger and I was speechless. Truly one of the best burgers I've eaten and would have made me a burger convert at that moment if all burgers tasted like that. The chocolate tart was delicious and Chef Catherine pointed to the bakery in town where it came from, owned by the same person as the restaurant. We went there for pastries the next AM and they were really good. There's First Nation history to the site of the boutique hotel and restaurant which makes the place even more special. If we return again to Banff in the future, this restaurant is a must for us.

Enjoyed everything I ordered! The tomatoe salad was light and refreshing. The Alberta beef was a filet with truffle fries and veggies (asparagus mainly), their red sauce was such a nice compliment to the filet. Pro tio ask for aioli for the fries. The lemon creme brûlée with blueberry ice cream was the perfect ending. My cocktail was the wild mint with vodka (choice of liquor). The views were so nice for sunset. They have parking out front for customers. If you visit in summer, wear bug spray to avoid the mosquitos (true of everywhere outdoors here).

We were trying to cram as much of Banff before going to Lake Louise and every restaurant was booked for 2-4 hrs. There was no where to go. We made a Hail Mary reservation on Opentable and found this place. We pull up an unpaved road off the highway, through a forest to an old spooky motel and got chainsaw movie vibes and said ok, so where else? And realized we didn't have the time for anywhere else if we wanted to make it to Lake Louise and return our car rental on time. We begrudgingly went in and thought, "this will be interesting". Let's just say that the old adage of "don't judge a book by it's cover" couldn't be more applicable than at this place because wow what a great experience. Great service, everyone was attentive and pleasant. The menu offerings were interesting with unique blends. Like the Juniper sage Tea. My friends chose to go with the safer Earl Grey. I chose this Juniper Sage tea and decided this was the worst part of the meal. It initially smells like your grandmother's potpourri and tastes like a Christmas tree if that makes sense. But everything and everyone else was so nice, I didn't want to make a fuss to ask them to change it. So the other girls shared their tea pot with me. Lol The other girls had the Salmon Benny and 2 eggs your way and really all of our plates looked beautiful. I really appreciated the stunning view. We were lucky to have an unobstructed view of the valley by the window. I could see how this place could be a really great date spot. Don't let the initial "Bates Motel" exterior scare you away. The hotel on the inside is updated with modern style and the food and service was excellent. A great spot to get away from crowds of Banff.

Stellar location with incredible scenic view. The ambiance is the restaurant is modern and elegant, and the food is divine. Highly recommended

Our server was from Brazil and he was excellent. Highly recommend everything on the menu as we tried it all with our large group of nine. The service was quick in serving us too even though we order so much food. The food felt naturally healthy and was delicious. The Mountain View's were excellent as well. We would recommend sitting outside too if weather permits but bring a jacket in case it gets cold.

Beautiful view and ambiance. Food was good, the carrots were absolutely amazing. The chef was kind enough to come out and tell us how they were prepared. Steaks were good and overall it was a nice experience. Service was excellent.

One of the top meals we had in Banff at one of the top locations. This casual bistro is not visible from the road and we would have only ever discovered it through Yelp research and a friend pointing us in the direction. We came here for brunch on the last day in Banff because we didn't want to spend any seconds not soaking in the views. Located in a small hotel by camping grounds, this restaurant opens up to a huge back patio that overlooks the mountains. The patio is elevated, making the view even more dramatic. You MUST have a meal here! I ordered the avocado toast, which was more than your average toast. It was topped with half of an avocado, charred corn, a poached egg, local goat cheese, and oven dried tomatoes on sourdough bread. While it was $15, it was more than worth it considering it was a full meal, the view was jaw-dropping and the ingredients were local. I'd highly recommend booking a table on their website or calling ahead to book a spot before going on your trip so you can ensure a seat, specifically one outside. We were lucky that we were there on a weekday and were able to score the last table outside for brunch. Such a chill and wonderful spot!

Thank God for Yelp because I found this hidden gem because of Yelp! The view will make your jaw drop. We had the most stunning view while eating breakfast that was out of the hustle and bustle of Banff and more in nature. We got the Juniper Benny which was braised rabbit and eggs benedict on bannock with potatoes on the side. Their hollandaise sauce was great. We also got the Steak and Eggs which was hanger eggs, and hash browns again. It was delicious but the steak was just a touch too overcooked for our liking but still great! Anyways, the menu was so unique, and the surroundings just so beautiful.

We visited this place again on our second trip to Banff 5 years later and food is still amazing! Service very polite and the views are amazing. On open table though it said it was fully booked between 6-8 but it wasn't. So I suppose if you want to book a table you are better off calling instead. Parking is plenty and available for free. If you are visiting Banff you won't go wrong having an awesome meal here

Wonderful stop for brunch. The stuffed French toast was delicious. Beautiful view. Our waiter (not sure his name, British fellow) was awesome as well.

The food was great and the views are the best in Banff! We had the Juniper Benny and it was really really good, so many different flavors all in one dish and it worked out very well.