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When we were planning a trip to Banff last summer, I did my research. Which hike should we do? What was there to see in the area? And of course, where’s the best gluten free food in Banff? I always scope out places to eat in advance so that I know not only where it is safe to eat, but also somewhere I will enjoy dining at. There’s nothing worse than getting to a restaurant and realizing there’s one menu item you can eat, and it isn’t something you will enjoy. Or ordering french fries for a meal, like I have done on more than one occasion. (Sometimes a whole plate of fries is what you need, but it’s not fun when there’s no other option!) So here are the fruits of my labour, some really amazing places to eat gluten free in Banff!
Magpie and Stump
Let’s start out with an unexpected but rave worthy find. Magpie and Stump is a Mexican restaurant in Banff, located just off the main drag. They have outdoor seating, a rooftop patio, and an indoor option. We were visiting during the summer while the Covid precautions were in place. One really fun upside to this was some of the streets were closed to traffic and the restaurants made outdoor patio seating that was all dog friendly! Callie the adventure dog came along so she wouldn’t be alone in the hotel room the first night. We sat out in front of the restaurant on a picnic table and ordered some drinks. I enjoyed a Shaft on Draft, with Vodka made at the local Park Distillery, and Christy had the house Margarita. Let me just say that the Shaft on Draft has cold brew coffee, local honey, and espresso vodka. Amazing!
On to the food, we started with the Queso and corn tortilla chips and then Christy and I shared the pork enchiladas. I almost wish we had each gotten a separate order even though I wasn’t that hungry. So good. All the menu items made with corn tortillas are safe, with a few exceptions that the waiter explained. I can’t rave enough about this food!
Good Earth Coffeehouse
Breakfast one day was very early and in a hurry! We had to get to hiking, so we stopped by Good Earth Coffeehouse. With some breakfast bowls that were packed with egg, hashbrowns and vegetables, as well as excellent coffee I was a happy camper. I inhaled the breakfast bowl and it stuck to my ribs through a full morning of hiking! They also have a large selection of breakfast sandwiches (not gluten free), one of which Christy sampled. There was also yogurt and a few other options I could eat so all in all a decent option considering nothing else was open that early! And it bears repeating, the coffee was up to Nirvana Girls standards! Good and strong, not too sweet, and with plenty of caffeine which was the key point here!
Maple Leaf Grill
Next up is the Maple Leaf Grill, where we stopped for dinner one night. After a long 20km hike, big steak dinners were called for! Again, the cocktails were fabulous and made with local spirits. I had the Alpine G&T and this was the start of my G&T obsession! We all decided to enjoy the beef tenderloin which was fabulous, and a selection of desserts. (They had Creme Brulee!!!) I loved that the menu was well marked with GF, and that there were a large number of options for me to choose from! (3-4 desserts were gluten free!) It was a lovely spot for more upscale dining while making me very comfortable with the amount of gluten free options.
Tooloulou’s
Tooloulou’s is THE best gluten free breakfast spot if you aren’t in a hurry! This was another restaurant where we sat outside in the crisp morning air so Callie could hang with us. A Cajun restaurant that serves up authentic food is a rare find! With a large selection of gluten free brunch items, I had a hard time choosing. So Christy ordered gluten free and I was able to try 2 dishes! The french toast with peaches and fresh marscapone was amazing! The Cajun eggs benedict variation was spectacular. And to top it all off they serve mimosas!!! The menu is massive, and there was so much to choose from that was gluten free that this is a must try spot for sure! I can guarantee next time I’m in the area I will be going back!
Bear Street Tavern
For lunch one day, we stopped at the Bear Street Tavern and Grill. Callie was hanging with us so we chose to sit on the patio, and they even had homemade dog treats you can order for puppers! (Callie says they were delicious!) With the option for a gluten free pizza crust, this was a great choice. They also had a wide variety of local Beer and ciders. All in all it was a delicious meal. Gluten free pizza crusts are hit and miss so I’m always excited to find a new place to enjoy a pizza!
I hope these suggestions help with your gluten free dining experience the next time you are in Banff. I live to check out new restaurants, and the hiking is not a bad bonus! The amount of restaurants offering locally brewed beer, wine, and spirits was amazing, and I loved supporting local small businesses! These restaurants all went above and beyond in many ways, from being dog friendly, to having lots of gluten free menu items, to being ecofriendly or partnering with other local businesses. It’s a joy to rave about them!
If you enjoyed this article, here are a few more trips we have done in the Rockies: