Banff is known for a great nightlife where people from all over the world gather in the evening to have fun, share stories over a pint, enjoy live entertainment, and/or dance the night away...

For a Big Night out many will start at  one of the local pubs... 

  • Mel's Bar above Melissa`s Misteak house on Lynx Street, Tommy's Neighbourhood Pub on downtown Banff Avenue, The Pump & Tamp in the basement of the Sundance Mall on Banff Avenue offer great drink specials
  •  OR relax with a couple delicious Martini's and appertizers at the Saltlik Lounge on Bear Street, downtown.

If  one`s in the mood for dancing, they'll head to one of  the two night clubs ...

  • Hoodoo Lounge ( Open Thursday through to Tuesday) is the smaller one with two bars, booths to chill in, and open area that merges into a dance floor.  Located  just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street, in the basement.
  • Aurora Nighclub & Lounge (Open Tuesday through to Sunday)  is the larger city-style dance club in Banff. It gets international dj acts to dance to on their bi-level dance floor. There`s an island bar in the middle of the club. Onyx Bar is on a raised portion of the club with two pool tables. Then, the lounge area in the back with a fireplace, and trance-house dj offers an escape  from the dance crowd.

If you want to "hang-out": play a game of pool, cheer on your favorite sports team, dj on a juke box, or listen to a touring band your options are ....

  • Wild Bills (check out their website for a listing of the great concerts coming to their stage) or go on one of their "theme" nights (Wild West Wednesdays, in the winter, rope a fake calf, line-dance, and don't forget your cowboy hat & boots) and/or (Red Hot Karoke on Tuesday nights starting at 9pm)
  • The Rose and Crown (a band plays nearly every night of the week), they've got one side where the band plays, then the other side has two pool tables, a foosball table, and juke box.  Located on Banff Avenue on the corner near Caribou Street, upstairs
  • Brunos (for open mic night on wednesdays), and a local crowd. Located just off Banff Avenue on Caribou Street
  • Elk and Oarsman (most weeks local bands play on Saturday and Sunday starting around 9pm), it's also a great place to cheer on your team especially Hockey Night in Banff on Thursday Nights. Located on the second block of  downtown Banff Avenue, on the second floor.
  • The Saltlik Lounge (offering Jazz/R&B/Singersongerwriter artists-bands starting around 9pm every Thursday) , sip on martinis, ask the bartender for your favorite cocktail, and nibble on their after-hours menu from 11-12pm Located on Bear Street <
  • The Buffalo Paddock  has got video games, pool tables and darts, or you can catch the latest game on 16 inch TVs! There is a DJ and dancing on Saturdays, and even a karaoke room.

On the ski-hill you'll be able to warm up with a Hot Toddie or Cool down with an ice-cold pitcher of beer...

  • At Sunshine Village Ski Resort stop into the Java Lift to escape the cold and warm up with a "speciality coffee or hot chocolate"  located in the Sunshine Inn, or the centrally located Trapper's for a cold pitcher of beer and some food in a ``true mountain pub.`` At the bottom of Sunshine while your waiting for others at the end of the ski-out or your bus, The Creekside Bar & Grill  is at the base. 
  • At Lake Louise Mountain Resort you`ve got Temple Lodge with rustic charm at the back of the mountain, the Kokanee Cabin  on the front of the mountain offering starbucks coffee or a pitcher of cold beer on the huge patio while music or bands provide entertainment .
  • At Mountain Norquay ski-hill the second floor in the lodge boasts the lone pine pub and restaurant for your apres ski drinks or warm up drinks.  

For the arts lover, and music ethusiasts, The Banff Centre of the Performing Arts is great for a cultured night out....

Most in-town hotels also have plenty to do after hours as well...

  • Banff Ptarmigan Inn’s Caramba! Lounge  has a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, tasty Mediterranean snacks and a whole menu of martinis to warm you up after a day in the cold. Located on Banff Avenue between Elk and Moose Street intersections.
  •  Mount Royal Hotels, Tony Roma`s Fireside Lounge is great for a more relaxed night-out Located on Banff Avenue downtown at the corner of Caribou street.
  • THe Banff Springs Hotel's, The Rundle Lounge with it's spectacular vistas of the Spray River and Bow River Valley, and of course Rundle Mountain is the perfect place for evening cocktails.
  • The Juniper Hotel's, Juniper Lounge and Restaurant at the base of Mount Norquay offers a superb vista of the vermillion lakes area, cozy lounge, and a great stop after skiing at Mt. Norquay. *If you don't have a car, ask about their free taxi vouchers!

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