Hot Chocolate Trail in Banff: Winter Cafes and Cozy Places in Banff and Lake Louise

5 Ways to Explore Banff and Lake Louise on the Hot Chocolate Trail

The Hot Chocolate Trail is a seasonal self-guided, treasure-map-style adventure inviting you to indulge in a variety of hot chocolates, offered at cafes, restaurants, and bars throughout Banff and Lake Louise.

Running from November - February, Annually

This experience blends creativity and classic comfort in every cup, whether you're cozying up in a mug (dine-in), borrowing one through the local Banff Borrows program, or using your own reusable mug on the go.

Here are five unique Hot Chocolate Trails to follow:

• Trail #1 Bear Street Local Art
• Trail #2 Banff Avenue Shopping
• Trail #3 Banff's Best Viewpoints
• Trail #4 Lake Louise's Iconic Views & Boozy Hot Chocolate
• Trail #5 Warm up Slope-Side at Sunshine Village

Trail #1 Bear Street Hot Chocolates & Local Art in Banff

Gallery-hopping and hot chocolates? That’s a great way to spend a day on Banff’s pedestrian-first shopping zone, Bear Street.

Featuring six different hot chocolate stops and five art galleries, you’ll be fully immersed in the creative arts as you explore with your eyes and taste buds.

Start your day by heading to the middle of Bear Street near the historic log cabin that houses Jolene’s Tea House and grab your first hot chocolate of the day from Wild Flour Bakery.

Take your hot chocolate and a freshly baked breakfast treat to Bear Street’s outdoor fire pit to enjoy your kickoff to this loop of Banff’s Hot Chocolate Trail.

After you’ve enjoyed your first hot chocolate, walk to the North end of Bear Street and hop into your first gallery the Carter-Ryan Gallery. Home to local acclaimed Indigenous Soapstone Sculptor and Painter Jason Carter. This is the perfect place to pick up a gift for a loved one as you explore Jason’s uniquely colourful takes on the area’s landscapes and his subtle soapstone carvings.

From here, walk south down Bear Street to explore the various painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed-media artists at Banff’s well-curated Willock & Sax Gallery. Home to multiple artists, Willock & Sax can connect you with the art you love.

Hop next door into the business of local artist Dee Larosa at Paper Den. Stock up on mountain-inspired prints, greeting cards, journals, and originals. It’s the perfect place to pick up a locally inspired souvenir from your trip.

Now that your eyes have had a treat, it’s time to get your tastebuds another one. This is the perfect time to stop for lunch at one of Banff’s acclaimed taverns – and yes, kids are welcome. Head to Banff Social for the Chocolate Banana Ember, Bear Street Tavern for the Baby Bear or Spicy Bear Hot Chocolate, Magpie & Stump for the Mayan Mocha, or St. James Gate Irish Pub for the Banana Bonfire.

After a filling lunch, head back out to explore two more of Banff’s best galleries.

On the south end of Bear Street, you’ll find Canada House Gallery, serving Banff’s residents and visitors for almost 40 years. Dealing exclusively in Canadian art since 1974, this dynamic gallery features a diverse collection of paintings and sculptures by notable Canadian artists.

In the middle of the street, you’ll find one of the area’s top wildlife photographers, Brandon T. Brown. Photographing primarily in the Canadian Rockies, Brandon specializes in capturing images of wild free-roaming animals without baiting using a wildlife-first approach.

The best way to finish your day of exploring Banff’s art? Another hot chocolate at a cozy Banff restaurant. Try the Tres Hermanas at Nourish Bistro, the Cocoa 43 Hot Chocolate at Crave, the Vanilla Hot Chocolate at Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant or go to Bluebird Restaurant for their Cocoa Colada.

Trail #2 Banff Ave Hot Chocolates & Shopping

Banff’s main drive – Banff Avenue – is home to some of Banff’s best shopping and unique hot chocolates. What better way to get your Christmas shopping done than to accentuate each purchase with a delectable hot chocolate?

Get up and get going by having your first hot chocolate early in the day alongside your breakfast. Head to one of Banff’s best brunch spots, Tooloulou’s, and get a Gingerbread Cookie, Cajun Fireside or Pecan Pie hot chocolate.

After breakfast, it’s time to go shopping on Banff Ave. After leaving Tooloulous, you’ll be in the middle of Banff Ave’s main shopping area. You’ll have a variety of stores to choose from, and it is the best place to find a locally-made Christmas gift. And since you’re here for the season, you have to visit Banff’s year-round Christmas store, The Spirit of Christmas.

You’ll likely have worked up a big appetite wandering in and out of all the stores – and finding the perfect souvenirs – so when you’re ready, it’s time for lunch and your next hot chocolate.

For lighter fare and a to-go hot chocolate, head to Little Wild (Wild Flour’s sibling store) or to Mountain Folk Coffee Co for their Lavender & Rosemary Hot Cocoa.

For the perfect ice cream and hot chocolate, head to COWS for their COWS hot chocolate.

If you need something more substantial, you’ll find some of Banff’s best wild game-meat burgers and the perfect hot chocolate complement at Eddie Burger.

After lunch, keep exploring Banff’s shops. Or - if you are all shopped out – you can go bowling at High Rollers or head over to Bear Street and attempt to escape from Eureka Escape Room Adventures. If you want to be outside, mid-afternoon is the perfect time for a tranquil walk along the frozen Bow River.

When dinner rolls around, you have three more choices for the perfect hot chocolate dessert.

For a Greek-style meal, go to the Balkan Greek Restaurant for their Calabrian Fog.

The Maple Leaf and its Maple Peppermint Hot Cocoa have you covered for all Canadian fare.

Park Distillery gives you the chance to enjoy their Fireside Hot Cocoa inside the National Park’s only distillery.

Pizzeria Sophia has hand-crafted pizzas and a special Tiramisu Caramel Hot Chocolate for the perfect night.

The Rose & Crown has some of Banff's best views, and you can enjoy their Crowned Cocoa.

Brazen leans into Banff's history, decor and incredible drinks with their Smoked Cinnamon and Spice and All Things Nice Hot Chocolate.

Trail #3 Go exploring Outdoors Around Banff and Lake Louise

Looking to compliment your sightseeing endeavours with a hot chocolate? This is the perfect trail for you. Start in the morning at one of Banff’s incredible cafes, where you can get a light breakfast and the perfect hot chocolate to start the day. Start at Whitebark for their Grinch-inspired mocha hot chocolate or the Moxy Hotel Bar for their Fireside Glow.

If you are on the northern side of the Banff townsite, head to the Happy Camper Cafe for their S'more Christmas or Sudden Sally for their Cherry Ripe hot chocolate.

After your morning pick me up – or with it in hand – head to one of Banff’s cross-country ski rental shops to pick up some skis and head to Tunnel Mountain Campground’s track set course. Whether you’ve never been on skis or are highly experienced, Tunnel Mountain is the perfect place to go because you get incredible views of Cascade Mountain, Mount Rundle and a snowy, beautiful forest. If you aren’t up for skiing, try walking the short Hoodoos Trail from the campground side for incredible views of Mount Rundle.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of active-adventure, it’s time for lunch. And two places have the perfect choices for hot chocolate and cozy meals. On Tunnel Mountain, you’ll find The Prow restaurant at Buffalo Mountain Lodge.

After lunch, you’ll head to Surprise Corner for one of Banff’s most iconic views of the frozen Bow Falls looking towards the Castle in the Rockies – the Banff Springs Hotel. There’s a parking lot here, and Roam Transit will drop you right at the viewpoint, so you won’t be outside for long.

After Surprise Corner, it’s time to get your classic view of the Banff Townsite from the Cascade of Time Garden. This view looks over Banff Ave and is the reason the town was built where it is – to give visitors the best possible views of Cascade Mountain.

From there, head to the Banff Springs you just saw from a distance and get their Berry Very Chocolately from STOCK.

Finish your sightseeing trip with a visit to the Banff Gondola. The 7-minute ride takes you over the treetops to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, and you can walk the boardwalk or get cozy inside while witnessing the majesty of Banff from a wintery mountain top. Grab the Eton Mess hot chocolate while you are up there.

After coming down the gondola, you’ll have options for the perfect desert hot chocolate to go along with dinner.

Head to Evergreen Restaurant & Lounge for their upscale dining and top it off with their Rocky Mountain Maple & Smoked Sea Salt or Alpine Espresso Martini hot chocolate.

The Fat Ox, Banff's Alpine Italian, has the Ox Cocoa.

Head to the base of Mt. Norquay, to the Juniper Bistro for incredible views of Mount Rundle and their Wild Mountain hot chocolate.

Farm & Fire features incredible fresh, locally inspired dishes and their Flaming Mo(Cha) hot chocolate.

Trail #4 Iconic Views and Hot Chocolate in Lake Louise

Are you heading to see iconic Lake Louise covered in snow and ice? Then this is the perfect stop for you.

Start your day renting cross-country skis or ice skates from Wilson Mountain Sports or Chateau Ski & Snow and head up to the lake. Lake Louise is monitored throughout the winter season, meaning you know that it is safe to head out onto the frozen water.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise maintains a large skating rink at the head of the lake, and track-set cross-country ski trails loop the lake as well, making this the perfect place for your winter adventure.

After you’ve gotten your fill of the snow and views, head back into the Lake Louise village and go to the Lake Louise Inn, where you can get two hot chocolates and the perfect post-adventure meal with their Coco Loco and the Maple Hotcoco.

Make the perfect night of it, and book a room at Storm Mountain Lodge for the perfect cozy cabin and enjoy their 1922 Earl Grey hot chocolate fireside.