Whether you’re planning a long adventure or a one-day Alberta getaway, check out these five unique spots in the Badlandsthat’ll satisfy your appetite and curiosity.
Five Unique Spots to Dine in the Canadian Badlands
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Treat your taste buds to these memorable dining experiences in Alberta’s Badlands, just a short trip from Calgary.
- Snag your ticket to an immersive medieval feast.
- Discover a dining car rich in history and flavours.
- Grill a buffalo steak at an Old West saloon.
Have a knight to remember
Picture goblets of wine, the thump of dancing feet and the taste of a handheld, house-smoked turkey drum. Three Hills is home to Good Knights Medieval Feasts, where you can don a costume and laugh, cheer and stomp along to a three-hour, five-course meal. Held throughout the summer, every third Sunday of the month, they’re a fun, family-friendly event with stories and food for everyone.
Want a tip? Their Royal Feasts sell out fast, but if you stay on-site in one of their lavish tents, you can snag a seat to an exclusive Noble Feast instead. The extended trip will let you fully explore the grounds, enjoying lessons in archery, weaving, sword fighting and more.
The best barbecue in the Badlands
You can find the Last Chance Saloon in the ghost town of Wayne, a relic of the 1910s, once beloved by local miners. Known long ago as the “Bucket of Blood,” this eatery is packed to the brim with mining memorabilia from its Wild West heyday. Keep an eye out for bullet holes in the wall as you dine on juicy barbecue.
Their mouthwatering menu specializes in in-house smoked meat, with a kids’ section that’ll suit even the tiniest of travellers. Can’t choose just one dish? Try a round of shareable plates—it’ll let you sample the flatbread and its cowboy candy topping.
If you fall in love with the patio view, you can turn this meal into a multi-day adventure. The saloon is conveniently connected to the Rose Deer Hotel, offering themed rooms and many ghost stories.
Climb aboard Diefenbaker’s dining car
Located in Mossleigh, the Aspen Crossing Dining Car Restaurant has done it all. Since its construction in 1887, the car has boasted suspected mob meetings, saw a Canadian Prime Minister through his winning campaign and had a star-studded stint in Edmonton, hosting acts like Sarah McLachlan, k.d. lang and the Barenaked Ladies.
Now, the dining car is back open for business, letting you soak in its history as you sample tasty dishes. Dig into a Diefen-burger, right where John Diefenbaker himself once planned to run the country. If you time your trip right, you might catch a Friday night prime rib dinner or a Sunday buffet brunch—toasting your Mossleigh adventure with a bubbly mimosa.
Take your tea at a 1930s schoolhouse
When the East Coulee School Museum opened its doors, it turned a sleepy ghost town into a celebration of the past. Tucked into this museum is the charming Willow Cafe, a hidden-gem eatery filled with homemade treats.
Sit inside for a relaxing pot of tea, or grab your lunch and go, claiming a spot on the on-site picnic grounds. The café offers a variety of soups, sandwiches and freshly baked goods - everything you need to fuel up between exhibits.
A grill-it-yourself steak and saloon
Since it was built in 1915, only three additions have been made to the Patricia Hotel - one being its delicious steak pit. From buffalo burgers to beef steaks, choose from a selection of cuts, then step right up to the do-it-yourself grill. You can slather on the sauce, spice to your heart’s content and then cook it rare, medium or well-done - however you like it best.
If you’re thirsty, grab a beer from the Water Hole Tavern before you check out the restaurant’s cowboy-themed decor. Patricia is near Dinosaur Provincial Park, making the hotel a perfect spot to stop, sip and chow down during your dream Badlands adventure.
