NORTH VaNcOuVeR
The Observatory is perched at the top of
grouse Mountain, an alpine playground with a
grizzly bear habitat, ziplines and a lumberjack
show—perfect for working up an appetite. This
is no ordinary dinner reservation: it all begins
with a vertiginous gondola ride, 1,127 m
(3,700 ft) up the mountainside, complete with
panoramic views. arrive early to take part
in alpine adventures, or head directly to the
cantilevered dining room, which is encased
in angled glass. On the menu, find the best of
the West Coast in fresh, seasonal ingredients
sourced from BC. But even the pretty-as-a-
picture plates can’t compete with the views of
Vancouver and beyond, mapped out in twin-
kling lights far below. advance reservations
include a free gondola ticket, so book ahead.
Peak Chalet, 6400 Nancy Greene Way.
604-998-5045. www.observatoryrestaurant.ca
WHisTleR
at Christine’s, fine dining is elevated—1,860 m
(6,102 ft) up Blackcomb Mountain, to be exact.
Reaching this lofty perch requires travel by
two open-air chairlifts, which deposit diners
at Rendezvous Lodge, also the jumping-off
point for the record-breaking Peak 2 Peak
gondola. inside, warm woods and leather give
this sleek space a cozy feel. But it’s the view
out the floor-to-ceiling windows that really
steals the show. The menu also reaches great
heights, with bright, sophisticated flavours like
Keralan fish curry, which (rumour has it) actor
Woody Harrelson ordered four days in a row.
These are the dishes we’d scale mountains for.
Luckily, there’s a chairlift.
Rendezvous Lodge, 4545 Blackcomb Way.
604-938-7437. www.whistlerblackcomb.com
seaTTle
The lap of luxury, complete with sweeping city
views. at Canlis, a famed third-generation
family-owned restaurant, not a single detail is
overlooked—not even the vista. The 1950s-
era dining room is located partway up Queen
anne Hill, and features cantilevered glass
walls that look out over Lake Union and the
glittering city below. Pacific northwest cuisine
features heavily on the plate, but selections
such as perfectly cooked steak and grand
Marnier soufflé salute the restaurant’s 65-year
history. Parched? The 88-page wine list is an
award-winner, and is certain to quicken the
pulse of any oenophile. and at this special-
occasion spot, forget notions of laid-back West
Coast style—there’s a dress code here, so be
sure to put on the ritz.
2576 N. Aurora Ave. 206-283-3313.
www.canlis.com
At Banff’s fine-dining
fixture Eden, the
views of the Bow
Valley are nothing
short of postcard
worthy, and the
five diamond–rated
menu is worth writing
home about
BaNff
eden is a diamond in the rough mountain ter-
rain. Outside this fine-dining gem nestled on
Sulphur Mountain is the beautiful Bow Valley,
while inside are several multi-course tasting
menus. The cuisine is French-inspired, but the
pantry is stocked with north american ingre-
dients such as bison and venison. The resulting
artfully arranged plates deserve a frame. Little
surprise, then, that this is one of Canada’s
very few five diamond–rated restaurants, and
the only one west of Ontario. The vast cellar
has also received its share of accolades, and
is stocked with 17,000 bottles—thankfully
there’s a team of sommeliers on staff to help
you choose. if all that doesn’t take your breath
away, the stunning Rocky Mountains just out-
side the windows most certainly will.
Rimrock Resort Hotel, 300 Mountain Ave.
403-762-3356. www.banffeden.com
calgaRy
Fifty years ago, the Calgary Tower first opened
to the public, forever transforming the city
skyline. Since then, giant skyscrapers have
eclipsed the iconic tower, but there are still a
few tricks up its sleeve: the Olympic torch—
which still burns bright from time to time—
and Sky 360, the tower’s revolving restaurant.
From this vantage point, the city’s full radius
of views are laid out below, stretching from
the downtown core to the Rocky Mountains
beyond. an elevator whisks diners 155 m
(508 ft) up to the dining room, where globally
inspired farm-to-table fare is prepared using
French techniques. and, of course, several
variations of alberta beef can be found. So go
ahead, take a spin.
Calgary Tower, 101 9 Ave., SW. 403-532-7966.
www.sky360.ca
Rocky Mountaineer Magazine 2018
35