Eating Vegan in Banff, Canada - Where to Get Your Plant Fix While You Get Your Ski Fix
Banff has got to be one of the most beautiful, mesmerizing, "did I just step into Frozen” thought-inducing places I’ve visited in the past year. I know, I know, I love the ocean desperately, but ever since deciding to spend a season just chilling at home with my family in Idaho, I’ve been getting my mountain and snow fix in a way that hasn’t been possible since winter 2013.
A Quick Rehash of Why I’m Getting My Snow Fix
WHAT?? A full 6 years since I’ve been home for winter, let alone the holidays? I guess that’s what happens with seasonal life! I definitely got caught up in the whales, and the sunshine, and the boats, and I don’t regret a moment of it, but when you’re on that seasonal train, it can be hard to get off, particularly for financial reasons but also because it just seems the natural progression of everything. When one job ends, you better hope you’ve got another lined up.
That’s why things were a little nerve-wracking for me this season, having decided to go home for the holidays instead of returning to my dolphin swim guide position in New Zealand. I was just ready for some family time, and some “slow down” time, ya know? After the sheen of the holidays wore off, I knew it would be time to start looking for some income. Yikes. NO WORK FOR YOU, Lauren. I spent last week making some (mostly pitiful) attempts at lining up a serving or barista job before realizing that (DUH) nobody wants to hire someone in the slow season here, especially someone that won’t be around until summer.
SO, I’ve decided to dive headfirst into my blog and a new digital marketing agency I’m starting up (spread the word!) and go back to the online world. I’ve got endless free time on my hands, endless amounts of coffee, and I’m excited to dive back into it.
Eating Vegan in Banff
But anyway, that’s not what this post is about. This post is about the magic of Banff, Canada and the vegan food I experienced while I was there! A few weeks back, my parents were headed up to this haven in the Canadian Rockies and invited me along. Naturally, I said, YEAHS! I remember visiting Banff National Park once before when I was much younger and gazing across the most beautiful glacial lake I’ve ever seen (Lake Louise), and this time around, I was excited to see it all winterized. WHEW, I was not disappointed! We maximized our snow time by cross-country skiing over a few days, hitting the slopes at Lake Louise Ski Resort, and simple jolling around the downtown Banff area.
But all those adventures certainly made me hungry, and a vegan girl gotta eat! I was pleasantly surprised with the plant-based options Banff provided. And to make things simple for my fellow vegan travelers, I wanted to let you know where I imbibed:
My Favorite Vegan Restaurants in Banff
No trip to Banff would be complete without a visit to Nourish, the area’s only vegetarian restaurant. Most of their menu items can be made vegan, and they had so many choices that Mom and I say there for a good fifteen minutes before we finally made up our minds. We ended up going for a delicious wild mushroom ravioli (the vegan version!) and the kimchi burger (insanely good). I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a bit of drool involved in the receiving-our-food process.
We happened to be there on Wine Wednesday and enjoyed a delightful bottle of a vegan Evolve red blend for half off, and after checking out their specials list, it looks they have a different special every night of the week. Fun! The vibe is chilled, hip, and relaxed, and our waiter was super happy to chat and answer our questions about what makes a wine vegan…I think I need to write a post on that, actually, because the chemistry nerd in me finds it fascinating!
This amazing little craft distillery in the thick of downtown ended up being our favorite place to eat. They serve their own, 100% handmade spirits and craft some of the most creative cocktails I’ve ever been delighted enough to sip on. That’s saying something, because I usually don’t even like cocktails. They even have a separate, entirely plant-based menu to make things easy for us vego’s! I ended up choosing the Park Veggie Bowl, and we all split the vegan stuffed mushrooms. To say I was satisfied is an understatement.
The vibe is delightful, with warm crackling fires and friendly servers from all over the world (Banff tends to attract quite a few folks from overseas on their OE’s or working holidays, which is a delight for an accent-enthusiast like me!).
Whitebark is a cute little coffee shop located on the drive into town, and when a quick Google search of “Banff’s best coffee” brought this charming establishment up, I knew it was on my must-visit list. We squeezed in a quick stop on our way out of town, scooping up an oat milk latte (brought my take-away cup) and what ended up being the best vegan mushroom and quinoa roll I’ve ever head. The pastry dough was stuffed with warm, goopy, flavorful filling and came with a bit of chutney on the side. They had plenty of other hearty pastry and cabinet food offerings, so it’s a perfect morning stop before you hit the slopes or if you’re enjoying the day in town.
Also, I like to think of myself as somewhat of an oat milk connoisseur, and that bevvie was delicious. Perfectly frothed, not burnt, and unsweetened oat milk to boot. Well done, Whitebark!
4. STOCK Food & Drink at the Fairmont Banff Springs
Most visitors to Banff won’t forego the opportunity to visit this amazing “Castle in the Rockies”. The Fairmont Banff Springs has been around for over 125 years and is a well-known landmark in this cute alpine town. It’s well worth a visit for a wander around the hotel, the shops, and the grounds (it was bitterly cold, but we still braved a little stroll outside to check out the nearby river). When it came to dining choices, you’re spoilt for choice, but I was, of course, craving an oat milk latte and was happy that we stumbled upon STOCK. A reasonably priced coffee house with plenty of breakfast and lunch fare, this is as gourmet a cafe as you’ll find. It’s very stylish, but the part that stood out to me the most was their emphasis on partnering with local farmers and producers. Win! There are some vegan options for food, although I was just caffeinating.
I will say, the oat milk latte wasn’t as good as Whitebark’s, BUT the whole experience was charming and I enjoyed relaxing over the java with my parentals in a Canadian castle.
5. Kuma Yama Sushi + Ramen at Lake Louise Ski Resort
For whatever reason, this place doesn’t have great reviews, but when I saw a ramen option for lunch when I was searching for a place to break up the slope time my dad and I were getting at Lake Louise, I was delighted to find Kuma Yama. They have a whole ramen menu and sushi menu (with a vegan option), and the atmosphere is fun and loud, full of skiers taking a break or finishing up their day. A hot bowl of ramen is just what I needed to fight back the chill of the chairlift rides, and my dad certainly looked like he was enjoying his sushi. If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly restaurant at Lake Louise Ski Resort, look no further!
Making it easy-squeezy to eat vegan in banff
Vegan friends, I’m here for you. No need to scrounge around on Google searching for the best options next time you’re in the Canadian Rockies. Go to Park, go to Nourish, get your oat milk latte at Whitebark, and you’ll be winning the game.
And go to Banff in the winter if you can! Holy moly, I can’t recall feeling more bedazzled with a winter wonderland. Even though it was freezing cold when we were there, I couldn’t get enough of the snow and the craggy mountains. A dream!
Curious how all of this ties into marine conservation? Check out my blog post on how vegan-eating can make big impacts in sustainability. Also, I’ll hopefully be blogging a bit more in the coming months, as I’ve all that free time…so stay tuned! I want to write about vegan wine. Because, WINE.
xx,
Lozza