Dining in Lake Louise
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Lake Louise, Alberta.
Better known for its natural sights and outdoor activities than its dining, the tiny townsite and surrounding area of Lake Louise offers a surprising selection of restaurants, lounges and cafes serving exceptional fare. Lake Louise is a great location in which to savour regional dishes that showcase mountain game and fresh, local ingredients, almost always served with breathtaking views. Exquisite dishes prepared by talented chefs can be expected in the area's distinguished hotels and lodges, while quick, fresh lunches for busy sightseers can be found at eateries in the village and at Samson Mall.
MEMORABLE DINING AT THE LAKE
Indelible dining experiences in Lake Louise tend to combine gourmet mountain cuisine with elegantly rustic settings and unforgettable scenic views. One of the most famous vistas can be enjoyed from a table at one of the dining venues at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where the ice-blue lake is a refreshing complement to a variety of dishes, from the pan-roasted trout steak at the Fairview Dining Room to Swiss fondues at Walliser Stube.
Just a five-minute walk from the chateau, on Upper Lake Louise Drive, Deer Lodge also boasts an unforgettable meal. Its Mount Fairview Dining Room offers a seasonally changing menu featuring regional game and accompanied by a highly praised wine list. Set in an original 1921 timber lodge complete with natural wooden furnishings, the dining room immerses guests in an authentic mountain experience. A rustic yet upscale ambience is also a key ingredient at the Moraine Lake Lodge, in both the décor and on the gourmet menu at the Walter Wilcox Dining Room. Located on the shore of stunning Moraine Lake, the lodge is open June through October.
A simple snack is likely the best meal of the day after having hiked a steep 5-km (3-mi) trail to a pretty lake at an elevation of 2,130 m (7,000 ft). The Lake Agnes Tea House, only accessible by said trail from Lake Louise, rewards hikers with freshly baked treats and a choice of more than 50 kinds of tea in a humble early-1900’s log cabin perched atop a waterfall cascading from Lake Agnes.
CONVENIENT TOWNSITE DINING
Cradled in the valley, the tiny village of Lake Louise provides sophisticated dining experiences at the Post Hotel on Pipestone Road and the Lake Louise Railway Station on Sentinel Road. These seasoned establishments both boast charming, historic settings; guests dine in a 1940's log pine dining room at the Post Hotel, and in an original 1909 heritage Canadian Pacific Railway station (or even in a luxury vintage dining car on Friday and Saturday nights) at the Lake Louise Railway Station. Those hoping to indulge in the regional mountain fare at these restaurants should be sure to make reservations.
The village welcomes the whole clan with a spread of family-friendly and affordable spots, too. On Village Road, the Lake Louise Inn has something for everyone, from hearty selections in Legends Restaurant to all-time favourites in the Timberwolf Pizza and Pasta Café to après ski refreshments in the Explorers Lounge. A few steps along the street, Bill Peyto’s Café at the Hostelling International Alpine Centre caters to a mixed crowd with pub-style food and bevies. Particularly buzzing après ski, this cozy haven is open to all, not just hostel guests.
The Samson Mall, conveniently set on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at the Lake Louise junction, provides quick, satisfying options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This open-air shopping and service centre boasts the busy Trailhead Café, the equally popular Laggan’s Bakery and Deli, and local haunt, the Lake Louise Village Grill and Bar, which is a great all-rounder with all-day breakfast and a mix of western and Chinese dishes for lunch and dinner.
DINING IN THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS
Skiers and snowboarders will gratefully slide into the Lodge of the Ten Peaks at the Lake Louise Ski Resort base. There's a food court, coffee bar and lounge, all together offering abundant choice for fuelling those next runs. The Lodge of the Ten Peaks is also open when the snow melts, catering to gondola passengers from mid-May through September. Ride 'n Dine tickets offer good value.
On the backside of the mountain, at the Larch lift, skiers and boarders can also take a break at the Temple Lodge. Like the Lodge of the Ten Peaks, the Temple offers a laid-back mountain lodge atmosphere and sophisticated pub-type fare like flatbread pizzas, paninis and sirloin burgers.
So, whether riding the runs at the ski resort, strolling the village, reclining at the hotel or hiking to hidden alpine lakes, visitors to Lake Louise should not be surprised to discover delightful dining experiences in every mountain nook and cranny.
MEMORABLE DINING AT THE LAKE
Indelible dining experiences in Lake Louise tend to combine gourmet mountain cuisine with elegantly rustic settings and unforgettable scenic views. One of the most famous vistas can be enjoyed from a table at one of the dining venues at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where the ice-blue lake is a refreshing complement to a variety of dishes, from the pan-roasted trout steak at the Fairview Dining Room to Swiss fondues at Walliser Stube.
Just a five-minute walk from the chateau, on Upper Lake Louise Drive, Deer Lodge also boasts an unforgettable meal. Its Mount Fairview Dining Room offers a seasonally changing menu featuring regional game and accompanied by a highly praised wine list. Set in an original 1921 timber lodge complete with natural wooden furnishings, the dining room immerses guests in an authentic mountain experience. A rustic yet upscale ambience is also a key ingredient at the Moraine Lake Lodge, in both the décor and on the gourmet menu at the Walter Wilcox Dining Room. Located on the shore of stunning Moraine Lake, the lodge is open June through October.
A simple snack is likely the best meal of the day after having hiked a steep 5-km (3-mi) trail to a pretty lake at an elevation of 2,130 m (7,000 ft). The Lake Agnes Tea House, only accessible by said trail from Lake Louise, rewards hikers with freshly baked treats and a choice of more than 50 kinds of tea in a humble early-1900’s log cabin perched atop a waterfall cascading from Lake Agnes.
CONVENIENT TOWNSITE DINING
Cradled in the valley, the tiny village of Lake Louise provides sophisticated dining experiences at the Post Hotel on Pipestone Road and the Lake Louise Railway Station on Sentinel Road. These seasoned establishments both boast charming, historic settings; guests dine in a 1940's log pine dining room at the Post Hotel, and in an original 1909 heritage Canadian Pacific Railway station (or even in a luxury vintage dining car on Friday and Saturday nights) at the Lake Louise Railway Station. Those hoping to indulge in the regional mountain fare at these restaurants should be sure to make reservations.
The village welcomes the whole clan with a spread of family-friendly and affordable spots, too. On Village Road, the Lake Louise Inn has something for everyone, from hearty selections in Legends Restaurant to all-time favourites in the Timberwolf Pizza and Pasta Café to après ski refreshments in the Explorers Lounge. A few steps along the street, Bill Peyto’s Café at the Hostelling International Alpine Centre caters to a mixed crowd with pub-style food and bevies. Particularly buzzing après ski, this cozy haven is open to all, not just hostel guests.
The Samson Mall, conveniently set on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at the Lake Louise junction, provides quick, satisfying options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This open-air shopping and service centre boasts the busy Trailhead Café, the equally popular Laggan’s Bakery and Deli, and local haunt, the Lake Louise Village Grill and Bar, which is a great all-rounder with all-day breakfast and a mix of western and Chinese dishes for lunch and dinner.
DINING IN THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS
Skiers and snowboarders will gratefully slide into the Lodge of the Ten Peaks at the Lake Louise Ski Resort base. There's a food court, coffee bar and lounge, all together offering abundant choice for fuelling those next runs. The Lodge of the Ten Peaks is also open when the snow melts, catering to gondola passengers from mid-May through September. Ride 'n Dine tickets offer good value.
On the backside of the mountain, at the Larch lift, skiers and boarders can also take a break at the Temple Lodge. Like the Lodge of the Ten Peaks, the Temple offers a laid-back mountain lodge atmosphere and sophisticated pub-type fare like flatbread pizzas, paninis and sirloin burgers.
So, whether riding the runs at the ski resort, strolling the village, reclining at the hotel or hiking to hidden alpine lakes, visitors to Lake Louise should not be surprised to discover delightful dining experiences in every mountain nook and cranny.
Icefields Parkway Motel
Near Lake Louise
Full Service Hotel
Banff Area Cabins
Icefields Parkway Lodge
