Buffaloberry Bed and Breakfast

Buffaloberry is a purpose-built bed-and-breakfast designed to provide a more intimate option than a hotel for folks traveling to Banff. The owners are longtime Bow Valley locals and have managed to create a space that stylishly fuses rustic late-Victorian elements with modern decor. Expect a lot of natural-finished wood, dark stone, iron, and neutral tile flooring. There are only four rooms here, leaving guests to mingle or retreat to their own private nook. The small size also allows the owners to give guests more individualized attention, as well as provide quality treats and breakfast items. 

All the action tends to happen in the Great Room, a large tiled sitting room with high wood-paneled ceilings, cheery powder-yellow walls, bookshelves with reading material and playing cards, and white-leather couches. During the winter, guests primarily hang out by the wood-burning fireplace here, but in summer, the outdoor patio is open for fresh air and Mount Norquay views. For obvious reasons, this property sees mostly couples, many of who stay for around a week. The shared intimate vibe is loved by many, but is not everyone's bag, so if you're looking for a romantic, but less cozy environment, it's worth checking out the Caribou Lodge & Spa or Fox Hotel & Suites. 

Buffaloberry is located on a residential corner one block away from Banff Avenue's hotel strip, but that doesn't mean it's too far from the action. The edge of downtown is just two blocks south, and Caribou Street is a 10-minute walk away. The public bus toward Sulphur Mountain departs a four-minute walk down the street in front of the Banff Ptarmigan Inn (same-route buses heading toward Tunnel Mountain are across the street). You can also hop on the free shuttle to the Banff Gondola and Upper Hot Springs right outside the Elk + Avenue hotel, a five-minute walk away. Free shuttles to Lake Minnewanka and the popular ski hills of Norquay, Sunshine, and Lake Louise are all within walking distance. Most trailheads are within about a five-minute drive. 

• Seven-minute drive to the Banff Pedestrian Bridge
• Eight-minute drive to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
• Eight-minute drive to Cave and Basin 
• 11-minute drive or 18-minute bus ride to the Banff Upper Hot Springs
• 12-minute drive or 18-minute bus ride to the Banff Gondola
• 13-minute drive or 41 minutes via public transportation to Lake Minnewanka 
• 25-minute drive to Canmore
• 43-minute drive to Lake Louise
• 90-minute drive to Calgary Airport

Buffaloberry only has four rooms, all of which are individually decorated and hit the mark for cleanliness, comfort, and features. All rooms have soft carpeting, upscale, classic decor, and big, comfortable beds with ruffle bedskirts. The rooms here feel less like hotel rooms and more like the extra bedroom in someone's house. Modern amenities include large wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, sound systems, and both wired internet and Wi-Fi. Bathrobes, slippers, and AC help keep things cozy. Contemporary bathrooms have hairdryers, quality toiletries, and either shower stalls or deep shower/tub combos. 

The Olds Room has shabby-chic decor with distressed wood furniture, muted-red plaid wallpaper, and flowing neutral drapes. The Mens Room has a more binary color scheme with black-and-white plaid wallpaper, gray striped bedding, and mismatched wood furniture. The Rabbit Street Room and Oatmeal and Chaff rooms have more of a countryside vibe with matching smooth-finished wood furniture, patterned and stylized wallpaper, and ruffled drapes. 

If the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, then Buffaloberry is on the right track. This small bed-and-breakfast often wins over its guests through its surprising amount of food and drink freebies. For starters, in the Great Room, guests are served a free breakfast each morning and a small refrigerator here is loaded with free water and soft drinks for the taking (guests can also store hiking snacks in this refrigerator). This can't-be-missed breakfast features a rotating two-course menu with dishes like minted grapefruit with cardamom lime and honey zest or Camembert French egg custard with cherry tomatoes. Free tea and coffee are available all day long, and every afternoon they're paired with a special afternoon tea treat. Guests are also offered a small nightcap in the evenings. 

During summer, the patio opens and guests can sit outside to soak up views of Mount Norquay. Other features include free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a small lending library in the Great Room. Unfortunately, there are no full restaurant or wellness facilities.