The Waldhaus Restaurant is part of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, it's located in the the south of Banff, across the Bow River from the main town. Even if you can't afford $1000 a night to stay at the Fairmont on a Summer Weekend, you should definitely check out the hotel and it's grounds if you're in town. We have been to this restaurant half a dozen times, it's situated below the hotel by the golf course.
They serve German inspired cuisine and have an excellent selection of beer. The atmosphere inside is welcoming in the winter but in the summer it's all about the Patio. The patio overlooks the golf course, a creek and the Bow River. There are epic mountain views and it feels like you're somewhere in the alps.
It's best to park near the Bow falls in Banff. It's a few hundred meters walk to the restaurant from here and unlike the hotel, you don't have to pay for parking (yet). This is also a great place to launch your river adventure, as you wouldn't want to go over those rapids and the river is fairly easy to navigate all the way down to Canmore.
From the restaurant patio you often see deer, elk and caribou in the fields and on the golf greens. The view is into the Spray Valley, with Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain being prominent.
We try not to look like tourists in Banff but I also need blogging material and the deer are cute.
The is the the Spray Creek and golf course in mid May. As mentioned in previous blogs on Wildlife. The best time to see animals is in the Spring, so we go to Banff often. There were some people bathing in the frigid river water, cabins and tents without running water is the affordable way to live in Banff. In Spring this would all be snowmelt, brrrr.
The pretzel is a go to item, especially with the cheese dip. You could also just go for the schnitzel, sausages, or fondue. They have a full menu and dozens of excellent beers.
Watching the deer cross the stream was the highlight of our lunch. I say lunch but it was around 3pm, so one could call it a seniors dinner :P
One time I'd like to come here when someone else has to drive the 75 minutes back to Calgary. It would be nice to spend the entire afternoon indulging on the patio.
This is a photo from last October when we at dinner at the Fairmont above the the Waldhaus restaurant. We still stopped by the patio for a beer and the view. I wrote this post because we are headed back to Banff tomorrow for some dinner. We try to go at least once a season, the town is filled with dozens of amazing restaurants.
Thanks for reading