Cool pubs in Banff & Jasper

No matter where you are in Banff your going to be near hiking trails, its a small place with lots of people. I doubt your going to be blown away by any beer bars though, Banff Ave Brewing has a one stool deep balcony over Banff Ave for people watching. St James Gate has a couple dozen taps of garbage but I've always found at least one good beer. Canmore's Grizzly Paw is worth a stop, it has a nice patio on Main Street for more people watching. I haven't been to Jasper in ages.....

 

Jasper Brewing is much like Banff Brewing, pretty sure its owned by the same company, you wont really find beer bars next to a hiking trail unless your looking for the really touristy hiking trails that are short and paved. Theres a restaurant called Syrahs in Jasper that has decent beer usually, also the Jasper Liquor Store and Wine Cellar has awesome beer, they even have a pretty okay lambic selection still and only a dollar or two more expensive than Calgary. The thing with both Banff and Jasper is everything is all clumped into one area because its in a national park they cant just build whatever wherever or "off the beaten path" so to speak.

If you need any advice on hikes or anything shoot me a message! Im usually in the mountains 50+ days every summer and if you want to do an IP trade let me know also, i live in Calgary.

 

Are you going to stay in Calgary at all or straight to the mountains?

 

High Rollers the bowling lane & craft beer bar and Bear Street tavern in Banff good are good. In Jasper ask the staff at Liquor Lodge (the best store in Jasper) what the what on the town.

 

High Rollers looks awesome, when did they open up?

 

i think early in the summer, we went in August and it was really busy,went again during the film festival at start of november and it was much more tame, they seem to want to do alot of beer theme things also

 

Uhm it's kind of old school, one of the oldest in the area but it's right in the middle of town and your not going to get your classic Banff style hotel in Jasper anyway

 

Uhm like fancy, luxurious and new ahah, like if you look at the Fairmont in Jasper, there's many hotels at that level in Banff, Jasper there is very few. Crimson is the newest hotel, I'm actually doing my wedding at sawridge. Jasper is awesome you'll love it

 

Woah, we're also going to Banff and Jasper for two weeks of hiking next Summer. This past summer we hiked in the Dolomites in Italy. There they had huts that you hiked to, where you could get some great German beer on draft and decent food. Why can't any place in North America have something like that?

 

Halfway up the main hill at Panorama in BC, there's a literal 'hut' outside the lift where they sell snacks and beer. Surprised the hell out of me, in a good way!

 

Athabasca Hotel definitely has “character”. Think 1980s furnishings and menus. It used to be party central when I was in college. If you want to stay in town, check out Whistler’s for a hotel - right across from train station, easy walk to Jasper Brewing, restaurants and liquor stores, rooftop hot tubs, and the Whistle Stop Pub has its own character. The Crimson is the newest, nicest place on the main strip. If you have time, check out Folding Mountain Brewing, just east of the park gates (I have a great hiking/soaking/drinking suggestion for that part of the park).

 

Check out Sawridge, might not be optimal but if your a camper i would camp in jasper 100 times over before i stayed in a hotel

edit: Pyramid Lake Resort is AWESOME as well and only 10 minutes above town, really quiet but close enough to town for drinking and there is cabs