Exploring Banff on Foot & Dinner Above the Clouds at Sky Bistro
Day 2 of Our Five-Night Banff Adventure | October 2, 2026
Our first full day in Banff was everything I love about exploring a new destination: a leisurely breakfast, beautiful scenery, plenty of walking, and an unforgettable dinner with mountain views.
We started the morning with yoga at the hotel before taking the shuttle from Rimrock into downtown Banff.
Within about 15 minutes, we were in the heart of town and ready for breakfast.
A Classic Breakfast at TooLouLous
Our first stop was TooLouLous, a charming breakfast spot serving the kind of hearty, classic breakfast that is perfect before a day of exploring. After breakfast, we set off on foot to see more of Banff. One of the things I appreciated most about this town was how easily we could combine sightseeing with walking. Rather than constantly getting in and out of the car, we could explore at our own pace.
Bow Falls & the Fairmont Banff Springs
We made our way toward Bow Falls, enjoying the scenery along the way. The falls were beautiful, but the walk itself was just as memorable. Mountains framed the landscape everywhere we looked.
From Bow Falls, we continued walking toward the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs. The hotel was impressive, and we enjoyed stopping at its charming coffee shop for tea.
It was a sunny day with temperatures around 55 degrees, so rather than catching a ride back downtown, we decided to walk, and I'm so glad we did. The walk was easy, the scenery was stunning, and it gave us an opportunity to enjoy Banff without rushing from one attraction to another.
An Evening on Sulphur Mountain
After returning to Rimrock to freshen up, we headed out for what would become one of our favorite evenings of the trip. One of the advantages of staying at Rimrock is its proximity to the Banff Gondola. We simply walked from the hotel to the gondola entrance.
Our ride up was scheduled for 4:30 p.m., and after roughly ten minutes, we were standing high above Banff, looking out over the surrounding mountain ranges. The views were extraordinary. We spent time exploring the observation areas and taking photographs before heading to our 6:30 dinner reservation at Sky Bistro.
Dinner at Sky Bistro: A Banff Must-Do
I had high expectations for Sky Bistro, but I wasn't entirely sure what dining at the top of a mountain gondola would be like. Would it feel like a tourist attraction with an average restaurant attached? Not at all. Sky Bistro was one of our favorite dining experiences in Banff.
The restaurant was beautiful, the service was excellent, and the food was genuinely delicious. This is a wonderful restaurant with spectacular views, not just a place to eat while visiting an observation deck.
We had hoped for a beautiful mountain sunset, but this was our one cloudy day in Banff. It didn't matter. We enjoyed a relaxed dinner, watched the changing light over the mountains, and took the gondola back down at 8:30 p.m.
A short walk brought us back to Rimrock.
Our Takeaway from Day Two
This was one of my favorite days because the itinerary flowed so naturally. We spent the morning exploring downtown and the Bow River area, enjoyed an afternoon walking through beautiful scenery, and ended the day high above the mountains with an exceptional dinner.
My recommendations:
Explore Bow Falls and the Fairmont Banff Springs on foot if you're comfortable walking.
Book Sky Bistro in advance, especially if you're hoping for a sunset reservation.
Allow time to enjoy the summit views before dinner.
Consider staying near the gondola if Sulphur Mountain is a priority.
And don't let a cloudy forecast discourage you from visiting Sky Bistro. The experience is worth it regardless.
