Where to Stay: Elk + Avenue Hotel, Banff, Canada

The Elk + Avenue Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada is a wonderful place to stay for a weekend in the mountains. The property is newly renovated and features modern guest rooms and common spaces.

Great Common Spaces

Few hotels in the area offer common spaces as nice as the Elk + Avenue, making this a great place to stay with groups. Banff is a great destination for group travel, think: bachelor/bachelorette party, ski trip with friends or birthday weekend and this hotel can accommodate groups in a great way.

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The lobby is open and spacious making check-in a breeze (especially during times of social distancing) and a few separate common spaces for groups to congregate. This is also where you’ll find Banff’s newest dining spot, Farm + Fire, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Lovely Guest Rooms

Each guest room features what I call a “counter kitchen”. This means a countertop space with a coffee maker and a small cupboard beneath with a mini fridge for you to use during your stay. This was great for keeping things like bottled water (or bubbly!) cold as well as for preparing formula and other things for baby.

The guest rooms also feature a great desk space. This is idea for me as I often have to work a little bit when we travel and sometimes it’s nice to sit at a desk rather than having to work from the bed. I also love how modern the bathrooms are – tons of space beneath the sink to unpack, even for the weekend!

I can’t say enough about the hotel staff. They were friendly and helpful and offered us extra assistance as we were staying with a little one.

Farm + Fire: A Must-Try Restaurant

A must-try, even if you aren’t staying on the property is a visit to Farm + Fire, the new restaurant at the Elk + Avenue. This family-style tapas restaurant features wood fired dishes that are delicious. I have a set of recommended dishes that I absolutely love but you’re going to want to go with a group to be able to try them all because the only bad thing about this restaurant is that you won’t have an appetite large enough to try all of the amazing dishes in one sitting!

My favourites include the Fungi Wood-Fired Flatbread (I don’t even like mushrooms and I couldn’t get enough of this!), the Pig Wings, Poutine Croquette (to die for), Whole Rotisserie Chicken, Flank Steak and whatever the delicious catch of the day is (if it is trout, don’t hesitate!). My favourite sides are the carrots, the corn and the potatoes. They are all seasoned and topped so well you could eat them as a main!

A Few Extra Notes

There is available underground parking that fits most large SUVs, however it does not fit some large/tall pickup trucks. If this is your vehicle, the hotel staff are incredibly accommodating with helping you find street parking. Also worth noting is that this hotel is not pet friendly so you will have to find other accommodations for your furry friends.