A Local's Guide to PARK Distillery in Banff: Top-Rated Cocktails, Food & Tours in the Canadian Rockies

A Must-Try Experience in Banff

Are you travelling to Banff and looking to book a unique experience that blends local flavour, craft spirits, and mountain vibes?

As a local in the Bow Valley for over seven years, I am still amazed. There are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

But I think I may have just stumbled upon my new favourite place.

Discreetly tucked away right on Banff Avenue, PARK Distillery Restaurant + Bar is more than meets the eye.

It’s a one-stop shop.

You can tour a distillery, blend your own gin, and sip craft cocktails. You can also shop for goodies, take a lunch break, and enjoy an entire afternoon.

Keep reading for a peek into my visit to PARK Distillery — one of the top things to do in Banff National Park.

Skip ahead:

About PARK Distillery
Campfire Menu
Distillery Tour
Spirit Tasting
Blend Your Own Gin
Happy Hour Specials
Retail Store
Book a Tour

Visit an Award-Winning Distillery

PARK Distillery is an award-winning distillery. It's the only one of its kind in Banff and Lake Louise, and the first distillery ever in a Canadian National Park.

It’s also every bit as cool as it sounds.

You can get a behind-the-scenes look at how their spirits are made using glacier-fed water and handpicked mountain botanicals.

One of the best things to do in Banff is the daily distillery tours. They happen daily and can hold up to 25 people.

And, to make it even better, they offer an add-on for a Guided Spirit Tasting and the chance to Blend Your Own Gin. It’s an elevated, hands-on way to explore what makes PARK Distillery so special. Plus, you leave with a bottle of your own custom spirits.

PARK Distillery welcomes walk-ins, but I recommend booking ahead for each experiences. This helps secure your spot. Peak hours, especially weekends, fill up quickly.

If you can't find a spot, always check back on the website as additional tours may be added. Minors are welcome to tag along but must be of legal drinking age to sample the goods.

Bonus fun fact?

Engineers design their custom-built distilling containers to withstand earthquakes.

Fuel Up First with Lunch

Before you start the tour, do yourself a favor. Arrive early for lunch at one of the best places to eat in Banff. Because it isn’t just a distillery; it’s a culinary destination.

The space strikes a perfect balance between cozy, rustic-chic and modern vibes that capture the spirit of mountain living.

With warm lights, natural wood details, glowing fireplaces, and friendly staff, it creates a perfect vibe. You will want to relax and stay for a while.

The PARK Distillery menu is inspired by campfire cooking and features locally sourced ingredients.

I was so close to ordering the signature mac and cheese (it sounded amazing) but ended up going with the Backpacker Bowl - and I’m glad I did.

It was bright in color and flavor. It was full of grains, vegetables, and protein. This made it the perfect pregame fuel for the spirit tasting ahead. Safe to say, it’s going to be my go-to post-hiking adventure meal in Banff from now on.

Need a pairing recommendation?

I asked the team for suggestions. They recommended the Cedar Plank BC Salmon with the Sawback cocktail. They also suggested the Rotisserie Chicken n’ Ribs with an Observation Peak.

Take the Guided Distillery Tour

Once lunch wraps, the real fun begins - the free distillery tour.

Our guide, Jacob, was an absolute highlight. He was knowledgeable and incredibly fun to listen to.

You could see he loves his work. His enthusiasm for the craft was contagious. He had us all laughing and interacting during the whole tour.

He explained the distilling process in a way that was both interesting and easy to understand. This made the whole experience more memorable.

I was surprised to find out that everything is done in-house. This way, PARK Distillery can control the quality and flavor of their spirits.

Plus, their small-batch method ensures the purity of ingredients.

Sample the Spirits

During the tasting, we tried some of PARK Distillery's most loved gin and vodka types.

One highlight was their popular Alpine Dry Gin. This gin is made with spruce tips, triticale grains, and glacier water.

We sipped on other flavours, including their Flora & Fauna floral gin, Espresso Vodka and Maple Rye!

There were a lot of options, and a little something for everyone.

Fun Fact: They use glacier water from the Banff aquifer, a pristine underground water source fed by glaciers and snowmelt from the Canadian Rockies.

Blend Your Own Gin

Then came my favourite part, blending my own bottle of gin.

With the PARK Distillery team’s guidance, we explored trays of beautiful botanicals like citrus peels, lavender, and juniper.

The aromas alone were enough to get the creativity flowing!

With many fun and fragrant choices to mix, making our own flavour combinations felt like a fun science project.

I decided on a blend of Juniper, Lavender, Berry Blend, and Angelica, which I mixed into a tea bag. I then bottled it myself, complete with a custom label, making the experience even more personal.

I wanted to taste it right away. However, I was told to wait 3-5 days. This would help the flavor develop as it infuses.

And for those travelling home by plane, they recommended waiting until after the flight to pop in the custom mixture.

In all honesty, I’m quite proud of my creation. It’s a keepsake that is a great memory from the day. I will proudly display it on my home bar. I might even gift it to a friend, but I may have a hard time letting it go!

But wait, there’s more.

Soak in Views at Happy Hour

We rounded out the day in the upstairs lounge for Cocktail Hour, where guests can enjoy PARK Distillery cocktail specials and select plates.

To toast to a spectacular day, we ordered the Floral Gin & Tonic and Observation Peak.

We couldn’t resist putting our new knowledge to the test by guessing which ingredients were in the mix!

Of course, we had to finish on a sweet note, and the Smoked S’more was the perfect finale. A dreamy mix of rich dark chocolate ganache, gooey toasted marshmallow, a graham blondie base with a hint of smoked cedar.

Yum!

It was every bit as indulgent and delicious as it sounds. We’ve already bookmarked the Skoki Maple Old Fashioned for a return visit.

Relaxing with a drink was a great way to unwind. The view of Mount Rundle from the upper patio was beautiful. It was the perfect end to a day at one of Banff's top restaurants.

Shop the Retail Store

Before we left, we made sure to pop by the retail store located at the front of the restaurant.

After spending the afternoon learning how to make spirits, it was fun to try other flavors available in-house and to take home.

You get a 10% discount just for touring. This makes it easier to buy some goodies and keep the PARK Distillery magic alive after the tour.

Why You Need to Try PARK Distillery

So, my final thoughts on PARK Distillery?

I just can’t believe I hadn’t been before.

PARK Distillery is a place where locals gather, visitors connect, and community support is always on the menu.

They focus on sustainability. They use responsible sourcing and eco-friendly packaging. They serve great food and drinks. They also share stories that show the heart of Banff.

But that's not all!

$1 per bottle of gin sold is donated to support the Nature Conservancy of Canada in their mission of protecting land, ecosystems and biodiversity in Canada.

Last year alone, PARK Distillery donated $20,000 and anticipate exceeding that donation in 2025.

So, while you’re planning your trip to Banff or Lake Louise, treat yourself to this must-try experience.

Every tour is a chance to learn, and celebrate the craft, the community, and the incredible place that inspires it all.

Go for the lunch, stay for the spirits, and leave with memories (and maybe your own bottle) in hand.

Gin is in! Cheers!