Trailhead Cafe

The salmon bagel was delicious. The bagel had a nice balance of softness and crispness, and the salmon filling was fresh. Paired with onions and cream sauce, it was incredibly tasty. The shop is quite small, and many takeout customers wait inside or stand by the counter looking at the menu on the board, which makes the space feel even busier and more crowded. I would love to visit again next time I’m in Banff.

I guess the lack of nearby coffee shops makes this café a superstar. Cons: The latte was barely warm. It took 30 minutes from getting in line to receiving the order. They refused to serve pancakes at 9:59 😂 (even though the menu says they stop serving them at 10) Pros: The breakfast burrito was a good size and very filling.

Nice setup and move through customers quickly. Very busy Cafe Good food and coffee and loads of options. Nice seated area out the back and some indoor tables a drink wifi available. If sitting out near river do not feed the wildlife. I saw some people feed them and they came from everywhere and were all over the people who quickly packed up and left.

Very busy cafe for a reason. Food was good. Wrap doesn't break apart when you bite into it. Had the canadian club and cajun chicken. Both was flavorful. The Houston was pull pork with macaroni. Wait time are bit longer due to volume of customer. Good food requires some patience.

Busy busy today/ Tuesday, but only 20 minute wait. Excellent Sandwiches bagels and such 🥯 🥪 Reuben, fries 🍟 and turkey 🦃 Not much seating 💺but friendly service. Thank you from your Arizona friends 😎😇🙏

Delicious chicken wrap!! I had low expectations but this was really good and filling! I thought one will not be enough as I was starving but I got very full. There are also other options like sandwiches or special soups, and other variety of baked goods. Honestly everything looked delicious! Highly recommend if you’re in need of a place to eat in this area.

Stopped in to grab a sandwich, coffee, and cake . Although line was out the door the staff were polite, cheerful, and had amazing efficiency. Was I. And out in a little over 5 min Got the gobbler and it was excellent and amazingly flavourful, maple cake was so good too. Coffee was perfect

Grabbed a breakfast wrap and coffee before a hike — both were delicious and hit the spot. Super quick service and friendly staff. Perfect stop before exploring Lake Louise!

Excellent little cafe with very friendly service and timely. Came three separate occasions for breakfast and it did not disappoint! Prices were reasonable. 1. Bison soup - Very hearty and loads of filling. Could use more meat but was very flavorful. 2. Pancakes - Fluffy, large and has a compote on top which makes syrup not even required! 3. Bagel and egg - A necessity prior to a long hike. Delicious! I would continue to come over and over again if I lived in the area but definitely worth at least one stop.

This place was so good we came back a second time. The Cesar wrap is so delicious. High quality sandwiches and wraps. Lots of bakery items and the BEST iced coffee of my life. The maple candiano is so good I sipped it so slow to make it last. Keep in mind that this place gets very busy for the bus drop offs but the staff works very hard and fast it is worth the wait. Wish we could have tried more things. The chocolate chip banana bread was delicious.

Solid option for food before Lake Louise! They serve both breakfast and lunch items. I came around lunch time and ordered the Cajun chicken Caesar wrap and the bliss burger. Both were pretty hearty options and quite tasty. It did take a little time to order and get our food since this seems like to be a pretty popular spot for people to come order. There isn't really much seating inside but there are some tables around the shopping center area. If you're looking for a meal that will leave you satisfied before exploring more of the Banff area, be sure to stop by!

We just got back from a wonderful stay at Lake Louis and ate at the Trailhead Cafe 3x! 1st time we stopped in for breakfast before our bike ride to Lake Moraine. Loved it so much we decided to grab some sandwiches for lunch to take back to our hotel. Loved it even more, decided to stop in for coffee, breakfast and also to take a couple sausage rolls for our flight. What we got: Cappuccino Trailhead Bacon breakfast wrap Ultimate BLT (added an egg) Sausage roll - the beau ate 6 total haha Ruben Sandwich Blueberry Muffin Apple crumble Everything was fresh and delicious! Service was great - even remembered our name. 10/10 would recommend!!

A delicious Ruben sandwich, great winters night coffee/hot chocolate, and the chocolate truffle bar was rich and delicious as expected, too. The line was out the door, but moved pretty quickly once we got inside and the staff was blowing and going behind the counter. My friend had a VERY messy BLT that she said was good, and she wasn't a fond of the winters night coffee, she thought it had too much whip or something she just didn't like. We walked out the door to the left and ate our lunch along the very rushing river - it was nice :) pretty cool candy store next door, too, with some of my childhood hard to find favs and rock candy!

Great quick place for coffee and sandwiches! We got the winters night latte, which was delicious and a Reuben sandwich at 8am, but so worth it based on other reviews I've read!

Get the Maple Chocolate Mania Cake. There. Thats what you need to know. Okay but seriously we're about to drive an hour back just to get some more because it was that good! Def on the sweeter side but so perfect. We also had the Cajun Chicken Caesar Wrap and Chickle N Cheese. Great for a quick afternoon lunch. Wrap was basically a caesar burrito with how big it was. Stop by if you're passing through or visiting the area!

The cafe itself is tiny, but there are picnic tables down by the river. The food is delicious and made to order. Despite being extremely busy in the middle of a national park, they are quick and friendly. While it is not the cheapest food, the prices were not outrageous.

We spent two days in lake louise and we had breakfast here both days. Doesnt mean that we didn't check out other places, but this place had everything we were looking for - vegan options, nice view of the mountain and decent coffee. For my desis out there, this place has samosas!! Pretty decent tasting ones, don't expect authentic ones though but tasty nevertheless. The staff is friendly and courteous. I liked the avocado toast here, it has that tangy blasamic vinegar taste, which I like but if you don't, then it might not be for you. Definitely, a must try if you're in the area. They also had vegan pastries like, brownie and banana bread etc.

There's not a lot of budget friendly places to eat in lake Louise but trailhead cafe is a great choice. The line may seem long but it moves decently quickly. There's often a lot of people here. Food: Belly buster sandwich - turkey with stuffing and bacon. Great delicious sandwich with a nice cranberry touch to it. 5/5. Donair sandwich - you get a decent amount of Donair slices though I suspect they're pre made with lettuce, tomato and onions in a pita. Nothing special but hits the spot. 3.5/5. Pulled pork and Mac and cheese sandwich - the pulled pork has a great sweet flavor and meatiness. The max and cheese is subtle but delicious. Placed between two toasted slices of bread, this is a nice treat. 4/5. Chicken wrap - the wrap is filled with lots of fresh veggies, chickens and sauce. A great bang for your buck. 5/5. Price: around 15$ a sandwich which seems expensive but relatively in lake Louise, it's pretty good price for good quality.

Incredible little cafe near Lake Louise - we ordered the Tropic Chicken wrap special (filled with warm chicken, bright mango and vegetables), the Donair sandwich (filled with meat, warm pita), and the Elk stew (reminiscent of Campbell chunky soup). All absolutely delicious and reasonably priced, a fantastic lunch spot, especially if you're looking for a quick bite. My only disappointment is that I didn't discover this spot until our last day in the area!

The Trailhead Cafe is so unassuming but so good, I'm disappointed it's so far from where we are staying because I would absolutely come back every day of our trip. By far the best coffee I've had so far; I got the Maple Canadiano latte which has maple syrup and white chocolate in it - absolutely incredible. Pair that with a bagel sandwich like I got or a pulled pork, mac n cheese sandwich like my husband did, and you've got a great meal. Wish I could pick this place up and take it home. 10/10, prices were reasonable too.

Trailhead cafe is located in a plaza with lots of parking available. Pretty long line for a cafe for a weekday. Very small indoor seating area felt crowded and busy. Good sized menu with a variety of hot drinks and bakery items. Initially, I was excited to try the banana nut bread and poppy seed but that died when I found out the cold items I ordered could not be warmed up. Pro tip for cashier: if you know that it can't be warmed after being given to your customer, best to tell your paying customer their options before refusing them a basic service. Hot chocolate was very creamy, I was not a fan.

Tiny spot but grabbed sandwiches before our day of exploring the area. Fresh & high quality ingredients.

Yum! Great place to stop by for a relatively affordable and quick lunch. We grabbed sandwiches to go before our drive along the Canada Icefields. There was a line when we arrived during the lunch rush but the staff were super efficient and friendly. We ended up getting the Canadian club wrap and rueben to-go and ate them in front of bow lake for a great lunch. I loved the wrap which had a good amount of protein and well balanced with the veggies. The rueben was super flavorful as well but a bit salty and oily so definitely good if you're up for something heavier and more filling. Definitely stop here for lunch in Lake Louise!

Not my favorite coffee I'll admit, but it's a bustling place with fast service and interesting drink options. We had the maple canadiano and winter's night, which were ok but the coffee itself wasn't great. We couldn't eat the "twix" bar because the shortbread wasn't very good however the carrot cake was great! Super close to bow River so I'd recommend grabbing your food and eating it next to this gorgeous view!

So this is the "best breakfast place in Lake Louise", which isn't saying much given the minimal and very mediocre options. This place is TINY and had just 3 people working. It's basically a to-go, order at the counter and take your stuff hiking with you place with a few small tables. Line was out the door and well into the parking lot when we got there at 8:30am. Service was friendly enough and food was fine, nothing special or exciting. But the whole process was a huge cluster. Clearly tour groups have agreements with the cafe because 1. Our Moraine Lakes bus driver gave us vouchers for free breakfast and 2. While we were waiting in line a half hour, two large tour groups came and were given coffee cups and told to go inside and help themselves to the self-serve coffee. This involved cutting through a large line, a narrow doorway and a crowded interior. There simply isn't room inside to accommodate something like that. Food is made to order, which is great, but it takes awhile. Also, they were out of several things when we were finally at the front of the line and able to order. I get the impression that they really want to be a coffee shop, but need to serve food to make it financially. It would work much better in this physical space if it was just a coffee shop. It would function much better if the coffee was set up for tour groups outside. So yes, it probably IS the best breakfast place in Lake Louise, but no, that doesn't mean it's worth waiting in line for. Plan ahead, get your breakfast in Banff or bring it with you.

Located in the plaza Free parking Very small inside only 3 high tables inside Great coffee menu and big selection of sweet- friendly staff Lunch menu all is made fresh and to order so may be some wait time Was on a tour and needs grab and go Got veggie samosa- warmed up and caramel twisel and caramel coffee Perfect pick me up

Really good coffee and really good breakfast wraps. My boyfriend and I came here every morning to grab our morning coffee and wraps before we went out for an adventure of hiking while we were staying at lake Louise. Staff was very kind and efficient.

Great place to get affordable and tasty food for lunch and breakfast! This morning got a snowy latte, omelette, Ruben sandwich, samosa and a brownie all for $40. Was super short wait and great service too! It's inside the Samson mall, so you there's tons for parking, and honestly a better option than the expensive hotel breakfast if you're staying nearby!

It was 3pm and there' was still a line. There was a reason for it! The food is delicious. The staff in hustling behind the counter to get everything quickly to you. It's a small place, but has big character. The pastry display cabinet was too hard to pass by. I got the triple berry crumble- it was perfect. The berries tasted so fresh! Everyone in my group had a bite and had the "oh my" reaction I had the cobbler sandwich, but after seeing the Houston. I really wish I would've gotten that. My bf was raving about it.

The vegetable samosa was decent. It's a tiny shop so a little cramped with limited seating. I ordered the red rose tea, thinking that it was going to be a rose flavored tea. I was wrong. It's just a red rose brand teabag in hot water which was not what I was expecting. So a little disappointing.

Solid basic breakfast food. Eggs, toast, ham or bacon. Good portions at a decent price. Really good coffee as well. Be prepared to stand in line. This place is popular. Get their early if possible.

Unfortunately, the staff really ruined the whole experience. The girl taking our order must have been having a bad day because she was condescending, rude, and unprofessional. The menu is quite large so we asked if there was a breakfast burrito, and instead of answering our question, she pointed to the sign and said, "can you read". I was just trying to save time by asking, so I was shocked by that comment. Then, she then said I can choose between a spinach and whole wheat tortilla and I chose whole wheat but she made it with spinach anyway!! When given my spinach wrap, I told her that I requested whole wheat and she looked at the receipt, saw that she made a mistake, and instead of fixing it she said "they taste the same". Besides the fact that she was rude and condescending, she made a mistake in the order and told us off saying it tastes the same. Absolutely shocked and won't be coming back.

After a couple of hours hiking near Lake Louise, we decided to stop by here for a quick snack before heading back to our airbnb. It's a small cafe located near the visitor's center, so parking is readily available and free. There will most likely be a line for both ordering and waiting on your order since this seems to be a popular spot! I can def see why though cause the staff were so nice and friendly, and the items we got were delicious and hit the spot after a day of adventure! My cousin and I both got the salmon lox bagel, and omg the salmon was so fresh; it was literally melt in your mouth good! Paired with the cream cheese and capers, absolute chef's kiss. I had also gotten a maple latte, and it was just the thing to help me warm right on up. Make sure to snag a spot when you see one though cause space is limited!

Stopped by here for lunch to see what they had and was pleasantly surprised tried a couple different items and all were very good. They have a great selection and the staff was very friendly , I ended up getting the bliss burger which was very good the bacon was spectacular and also had a great sauce, also tried the Houston sandwich which was pulled pork with Mac and cheese and was also a good size. If your at the Fairmont lake Louise and are looking for a cheaper food option this is definitely a place to stop by and try . They do also have lots of desserts and coffee drinks as well as other drink and snack options.

Trailhead Cafe is a great spot to stop by if you're planning to visit Lake Louise or want a quick bite to eat. I got the Salmon Lox Bagel (without capers). They gave me an option of a white or wheat bagel. Overall, the bagel was standard and tasty without making a hole in my wallet. I tried a bite of my friends' sandwiches and they all tasted solid. The interior is on the smaller side with only a few tables. There were two tables and a couple of chairs right outside. I would recommend coming here if you're stopping by the visitor center!

Had a BLT sandwich and the wrap is good for the area. Could get busy but didn't take too long to get the food. Lemon cake was moist and delicious.

Awesome breakfast, great coffee, awesome service. Great stop while on a road trip or before a hike!

Small little business with great breakfast food and drink options! Everything is made very fresh in front of you and is very hearty, warm and will fill you up for your adventure ahead. The pancakes are very filling but do require a few extra minutes to be made. The seating arrangement is small accommodating the location but empties fast due to the fast service provided. Great place to grab a few to go goodies for the rest of the day!

Service with a smile and delicious home style food. The smoked salmon bagel was fresh and moderately sized. Big breakfast had old school fried hash browns with fresh scrambled eggs and generous bakery toast.

- In Lake Louise, it's the sole player in the niche of budget breakfasts and lunches. They dish out nice, hearty fresh sandwiches. - We'd endorse the Greek, the Reuben (which we took on the trails behind Lake Louise as trail lunches), and especially the Cure (breakfast sandwich). It was a gigantic, messy, and meaty breakfast, and just what I needed the next morning after a long day of hiking. - Service is very pleasant, and it's very busy. I wish we didn't get in line right after someone placed a takeout order for 16 breakfasts and lunches.

I had the Gobbler sandwich as well as the butter chicken Samosa. Both were amazing!! I would definitely eat here again. Just a heads up, only four small tables inside and very busy. But worth it!

Great place! There was a long line when we arrived but it went by pretty quick! We ordered coffee, pastries, and a veggie wrap. Everything tasted good and the prices were very reasonable! There is very limited seating inside and outside, and all were tables of 2. Most customers got their order to go. Staff was very nice.

Great place to grab to go. There's seating inside but come on, you know you've got places to go! I tried their salmon bagel and it was delicious and filling. I'm more of a vanilla latte kind of person so I asked which of their specialty drinks were good. I was lucky enough to get a chance to try both their winter's night and caramel brûlée. Hmm I think I would say I would choose the winter's night if I had to choose between the two, but honestly they're both pretty good.

find it weird that this place has such good reviews! waited in a long line to get avocado toast, a wrap, two coffees and two baked goods and none of them were good. the coffee in particular was terrible. serviceable in a pinch but def not great.

Swung by to grab a bite to eat before hitting Banff. I got the avocado toast and hubby got the bagel and lox with some coffees. They were pretty good for grab and go items. Food came out quickly and employees were very nice. It's a small restaurant but there are a couple tables outside and about 5 tables inside for dining.

Only café open early morning time with good food and coffee! We had a long day ahead on the Icefields parkway & we decided to pick up food here before our road trip. The wraps are really good, we tried the chicken & the falafel one. The carrot cake is soft & tasty, we didn't like the banana one though. The vegan samosa is good as well, not spicy, and okay taste.

As of June 22 it's open 9 am to 4 pm everyday, with takeout service only. You can't go inside the cafe, but someone will take your order outside and bring it to you when it's ready. They have a good selection of wrap and sandwiches, including some breakfast options that are available all day. I went with The Cure Bagel ($9.25), which is essentially a meat lovers bagel. They offer white, whole wheat, and everything bagels. Both bagels were ready within minutes and we were on our way to Lake Louise! The bagels were wrapped well and were still piping hot when we opened them at the lake. I really enjoyed my bagel; there was a very generous amount of egg and meat, and they didn't include any cheese or peppers as I asked. My friend really enjoyed his Veggie Lovers bagel as well and said it was one of the best bagels he's ever had. We'll be back tomorrow for another delicious and filling breakfast!

Everything we had here was excellent! Burgers, sandwiches and all the deserts. Definitely a recommendation.

no frills Cafe that is filling, serves quality food + drinks, and is affordable, especially for being I'm a small town outside a huge tourist attraction! We got two breakfast wraps that were hot, filling, and less than $10 each. I also got a dirty chai which was perfect and not too sweet. Due to COVID, there is limited entrance so be prepared to wait outside.. but there is a huge menu for you to look at so you are ready when you get in. The staff were very helpful and made sure they got your order right.

Great place to stop and grab lunch during your day of hiking. They have a nice menu of wraps, sandwiches and bagels. I ordered the Canadian Club and really enjoyed it. It had chicken, ham, lettuce, onions and mayo wrapped into a wheat wrap. All the ingredients were fresh and flavorful, blending together for a refreshing bite. They get very busy around lunch time, so expect your food to take around 25mins. But the prices are reasonable, the food is filling and ingredients high quality. Check this place out if you're in the area for Lake Louise or Moraine.

They have the best reuben sandwich that I've ever had. The bread was perfect, the meat was tender and tasty (with the right amount of salt), and the sauerkraut and mustard complemented everything and completed the sandwich. The cheesy pepperoni stick and salmon bagel were also delightful. They were all so good that I came back a second morning. Tried the sausage roll the next morning; it was decent but definitely doesn't compare to the first few items I mentioned

Generous portions, perfect breakfast, fast service. Great pricing and variety, even within actual menu items!

This place is busy but for good reason. We came back on three separate occasions for the chicken Caesar salad - super good! The salmon lox bagel was also really good and pressed panini style. They also have a good selection of pre made sandwiches that you can grab and take away.

This is a bustling place to grab a bite while exploring Louise and Moraine lakes in Banff. It has a great variety of all-day breakfast and lunch foods, vegetarian and vegan offerings, and a great selection of classic and specialty coffee drinks to help warm up chilly hands. It's super small and very popular, so expect to grab your order to eat elsewhere. I got the salmon bagel and my husband got the chicken Caesar wrap. The flavors were great on each, but I wished there was more cream cheese on the bagel. We also got a berry crumble bar and a cinnamon roll - the berry bar was great, tart and sweet with a flaky soft crumble top. The cinnamon roll was huge, but stale as if it had been sitting out for two days, so we didn't actually eat it. I also got a matcha latte; it was wonderful. 4/5 from me for selection, convenience, flavor and energy; the cinnamon roll seeming out of date and the smear-deprived bagel is what keeps this from being a solid 5.

Situated in the Samson mall. Came after sunrise Lake Moraine trip - really hit the spot! Coffee is strong, food was delicious (I had home made chicken salad sandwich and hubby had Reuben), service friendly and fast. There are two small tables outside, we parked ourselves there and ate in front of the Canadian Rockies.

Love this little cafe! My bf & I came here almost every morning and every afternoon during our short trip in Banff. It is a very small place with not much seating, but service is fast which was perfect for us because we were always in a rush to get somewhere. I wish I was able to try some of the food on the menu but we only had time for the food in the display case which I'm not even disappointed about! We tried the sausage rolls and the chocolate banana bread and I still cannot stop thinking about that banana bread... yum.... We also tried some of their specialty coffees; I recommend them if you love flavored coffee. Anyway, this is a great spot for something quick if you're on the go!

Stopped for a coffee but I'm more fan of their pastries. For price wise, it's more tourist place adjusted price. Employees are nice and friendly. I really enjoyed their maple cake which went perfect with their coffee in a cold day.