Banff Food Tour: Five Tastings at Fairmont Banff Springs

Taste five rooms of the Castle in the Rockies without leaving the hotel

A three-hour food and beverage tasting tour in Banff at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, where you move through five venues inside the hotel sampling craft pairings while a guide shares the history and architecture of the building. Small groups stay under twelve, and the tour includes all tastings, lunch, and a local professional guide. Dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free) are accommodated with advance notice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Banff food and beverage tasting tour

• Meet at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel lobby
• Enjoy food and beverage pairing at Rundle Bar
• Sample flatbread and wine at Grapes
• Try signature dish at 1888 Chop House
• Learn from chef and taste pairing at Vermillion Room
• Have dessert and coffee at Stock Food & Drink
• Engage with culinary team and hear stories

The experience

You meet inside the Main Lobby of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and start at Rundle Bar, where an Art Deco room holds your first pairing. From there the route moves through Grapes for flatbread, then 1888 Chop House for a signature dish, the Vermillion Room where a chef talks you through another pairing, and finally Stock Food & Drink for dessert and locally roasted coffee. Five stops, five tastings, one building, and the guide weaves the hotel's history, art and architecture through each one, so you're tasting both the food and the story of the place.

The small group size (no more than twelve) means you get access that larger tours don't: time with the culinary team at each stop, a pace that lets you linger, and the feeling of moving through the hotel like someone who belongs there rather than someone passing through. The Fairmont Banff Springs is a National Historic Site in a UNESCO setting, and this tour is the way to see it from the inside: the royal treatment at what the guide calls the Castle in the Rockies. Tourism Canada designated this a Canadian Signature Experience, which means it's built to show you something you can't get anywhere else in the region.

The whole thing takes three hours, which fits between an afternoon hike and dinner, or fills a morning if you've just arrived and want to settle into Banff without rushing. Dress code is smart casual. If you have dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or allergies), let them know at booking and they'll adjust the tastings. The hotel is in Banff proper, not Lake Louise, so plan your arrival and parking time accordingly.

What’s included

• Five craft culinary beverage pairings across five venues.
• lunch.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.
• a local professional guide who shares the history and architecture of the hotel.
• small group access (no more than twelve people).

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and FridayDeparts at 14:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Under 14: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Alberta Food Tours Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying near your hotel and want a guided food tour with five tastings and chef access in one afternoon, rather than spending hours traveling to distant attractions.

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Top questions

What exactly do I taste across the five stops?

Each stop pairs food with a craft beverage: Rundle Bar opens with a pairing in the Art Deco room; Grapes serves flatbread with a drink; 1888 Chop House offers a signature dish paired; the Vermillion Room includes another pairing while a chef explains it; Stock Food & Drink closes with dessert and locally roasted coffee. All five tastings and the lunch are included in the price.

Can I do this tour if I'm not interested in hiking or skiing?

Yes, the tour is described as perfect for non-active visitors to Banff, and it's designed as a standalone activity. You don't need to have done anything else in the region to enjoy it. It works as a first-day arrival activity, an afternoon break, or a reason to visit Banff on its own.

How many people will be in my group?

Groups stay under twelve people maximum, which keeps the experience intimate and gives everyone time to talk with the chefs and guides at each stop without feeling rushed or crowded.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and some allergy accommodations are available. Tell the operator your needs at booking and they'll adjust the tastings at each venue to match what you can eat.

Is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Service animals are allowed, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you'll need to get yourself to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff for the start time. Plan extra time for parking and arrival.