Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Located in a stunning situation above the town of Banff, for those who are lucky enough, you will wake up each morning to an undisturbed view of Tunnel Mountain.
Formerly known as ‘Sleepy Buffalo’, the lodge has undergone extensive renovations in recent years, offering beautiful, traditional accommodation that makes you feel as though you are sleeping in your very own log cabin. We arrived on a sunny day, with guests and locals enjoying refreshing drinks both on the restaurant terrace and the Buffalo Mountain Cafe. Check in was simple and lucky for us, our allocated room looked straight onto the mountains!
Our room was very much in keeping with the surrounding environment, it offered modern amenities alongside a traditional, mountain design. The room was extremely spacious with a large king bed, cosy fire, roll top bath and a stunning balcony that made the most of the views. All the rooms on the resort are similar in design but differ in size, from smaller intimate bedrooms, up to larger duplexes complete with a kitchenette, making it a perfect stop for single travellers, couples and families alike.
Once we had made ourselves familiar with our room, we enjoyed a delicious charcuterie board out on our balcony with a glass of Cava each. Alex and I were extremely lucky that the weather was warm and sunny, meaning we could soak in the fresh air without even needing a jacket. This was our favourite spot in the resort, disturbed only by the sound of birds and a few cyclists!
We dined at the Sleepy Buffalo Restaurant that evening, we were served by an extremely friendly English girl who had been living in the Rockies for a number of years. It is such a shame I cannot remember her name as she gave us some brilliant recommendations on places to visit in Banff, if it wasn’t for her we would never have discovered Johnston Canyon!
Food, like in most of Banff, was fairly expensive, however, the dishes were worth every penny. The food was tasty, filling, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. Alex thorough enjoyed the Grilled Bison Striploin & Braised Short Rib, Sweet Potato Mash, Mushroom Ragout, Game Glaze, and I tucked into the Grilled Tenderloin Beef, Confit Baby Potatoes, Shitake Mushroom Glaze, Sweet Onion Puree. If you want to book into dinner here I would highly recommend booking in advance as the restaurant will get full, especially over the peak summer months.
Buffalo Mountain Lodge has also recently opened the Buffalo Mountain Cafe, perfect for an afternoon snack or a light bite for lunch. Alex and I headed down one afternoon after a long morning of exploring and were able to sit back and relax with a drink in hand!
When exploring the Rockies you can get tired very easily, a combination of jetlag and climbing mountains means a comfy bed and a good night sleep was high up on the list of importance on my holiday. We found the resort very quiet at night, we never heard our neighbours and Alex and I were both able to enjoy a good night sleep with no interruptions. The natural setting relaxes you as soon as you enter the property, I didn’t know much about hotels in Banff before visiting, but by the time I left I realised we were lucky to have chosen one of the premier resorts in the park.
Prices per night start at $259 CAD (£150), you can book your own stay here.
