The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is the most impressive building in Banff — a castle-like structure built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1888, rebuilt in stone after a fire in 1926, and still operating as a luxury hotel at the base of Mount Rundle. Even if you are not staying here, coming for a drink in the Rundle Bar is worth it for the setting alone: dark wood panelling, fireplace, and views through tall windows to the Bow Valley.
The Rundle Bar is the most accessible and laid-back of the hotel's several drinking options, with a long whisky menu, local craft beers, and a bar snack menu that runs to smoked salmon and Alberta charcuterie. The hotel also has the Waldhaus Pub, a more casual spot near the golf course, and the more formal 1888 Chop House for dinner. A taxi or the Roam Transit bus links the hotel to the town centre about 2 km away. The hotel grounds are open to visitors and worth a walk-through regardless.