Make eating out decisions easier with a few top recommendations below. If you’re planning a family trip to Jasper National Park, chances are you’ll want to eat some food at some point. There are so many choices to choose from, that sometimes making that decision can be overwhelming. To help, I’ve narrowed down a few top family restaurants for Jasper below.
Favorite family restaurants in Jasper National Park:
Top all-round family pleaser: Jasper Pizza Place
402 Connaught Drive, https://www.jasperpizza.ca, 780-852-3225
This is a family pleaser – pizza, burgers, salads, steak, wings, and more. You kids can order from a children’s menu and keep busy with an activity sheet while you wait for food. Booster seats and highchairs are available. The restaurant is big and seating isn’t usually a problem. It’s casual, but nice, and the food is always tasty! The prices here are average for Jasper. They have a roof-top patio too. My children’s favourite here is pizza. I particularly like their mushroom burger.
Top Fancy & Family-Friendly Restaurant: Olive Bistro
6 Pyramid Lake Road (between Connaught Drive and Patricia Street), https://olivebistro.ca, 780-852-5222
The Olive Bistro is a cozy and tasteful lounge-style restaurant. Their vibe is laidback jazzy and classy. The food is always fantastic, the music is always enjoyable, and the service is never lacking. From looking at this restaurant, it doesn’t initially present as a family restaurant, but they have children’s menus, high chairs, and boosters. The space is nicely divided up to keep noise levels from bothering other dinners. The prices at the Olive Bistro are in the higher end of average, but worth it. My husband’s favourite here is the lamb. My kids always order a Shirley Temple to drink.
Top Mountain Lodge Experience: The Emerald Lounge, Jasper Park Lodge
On the main floor of Jasper Park Lodge, http://www.fairmont.com/jasper/dining/theemeraldloungeandpatio/, 780-852-3301
If you’re looking to enjoy comfortable casual seating while nibbling on some yummies or kicking back with a drink while your kids run around, then this is the place. You can choose to sit at a dining table, but we tend to prefer their couches and over-sized chairs. If it’s warm, you might be lucky enough to find a spot on the patio. Our family particularly enjoys visiting in the winter when the huge fireplace is ablaze and the kids can order hot cocoa with whipped cream piled on top. We’ll often bring along a game to play or let the kids explore while we enjoy our drinks. From any seat in the lounge you’ll have a view overlooking the lake, with the mountains in the distance. They do have highchairs here and a children’s menu. The big bonus is children under five years old eat free. The only downsides are that sometimes service can be slow if you’re in the couch area, it is on the higher end of the price range, and sometimes I find I’m a little disappointed in the food relative to the price. However, those reasons haven’t stopped us from hanging out here. My children’s favourite here is the macaroni and cheese dish or hot chocolate with whipped cream.
Top Local’s Favourite, Cool hang-out Bar: The Downstream
620 Connaught Drive (basement level), http://www.downstreamjasper.ca, 780-852-9449
If you’re visiting Jasper with teenagers, they might enjoy the atmosphere here. There’s a pool table and the televisions are always showing cool moves on the waves, slopes, or trails. In the off-season months, this is where a lot of locals like to hang out, catch up, share a drink, and enjoy some great eats. Kids under 18 are allowed until 9pm. The restaurant is small and many of the seats are on higher stools. I am unsure if they have highchairs and they do not have a children’s menu. But, they have better than average food selections and an extensive drink menu! The prices are on the higher end, but reflect the care and thought put into making your dining experience more than average. My kid really like eating poutine out of martini glasses here.
Top Family Restaurant for Large Groups: L&W
Corner of Hazel Street and Patricia Street, 780-852-3617
This was my favourite restaurant before moving to Jasper. I just love that the restaurant is filled with trees and plants covered in twinkling lights. It’s charming and cozy, and kids love to eat under the indoor trees. They have a limited children’s menu, but their menu is extensive with Canadian, Greek, and Italian dishes and at reasonable prices so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding something which appeals to everyone. Check the specials board as you enter. They have highchairs and booster seats available. Also, this restaurant’s layout serves large groups well. In the summer, they have a shaded patio, also full of plants and flowers. My children’s favourite here is poutine and Greek salad.
Want the Jasper family restaurants cheat sheet? Click here.
Now that you have a few good suggestions for family restaurants in Jasper what will you and your family do while you’re visiting? Below are two articles which will be helpful in planning your family trip to Jasper National Park:
- A fun-filled 2 day family itinerary for Jasper National Park
- Ultimate Bucket List – 100 things to do in Jasper National Park
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