CANMORE - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 184

CAFÉS AND COFFEE SHOPS
The Rocky Mountain Bagel Company (830 8th St., 403/678-9978, 6:30am-10pm daily)
is a popular early-morning gathering spot. With a central location, it's always busy but
manages to maintain an inviting atmosphere. It's the perfect place to start the day with a
good strong coffee and fruit-filled muffin.
Down one block, Beamer's Coffee Bar (737 7th Ave., 403/609-0111, 6:30am-10pm
daily) is a smaller space with equally good coffee. Out on the Bow Valley Trail (between
Dairy Queen and Boston Pizza) is another Beamer's Coffee Bar (403/678-3988), this one
anchored by a long comfortable couch wrapped around a fireplace—the perfect place to
relax with one of Beamer's complimentary daily papers or take advantage of the free wire-
less Internet.
Away from downtown, near where Cougar Creek enters Canmore from the Fairholme
Range, is the Summit Café (1001 Cougar Creek Dr., 403/609-2120, 6:30am-6pm daily).
It features a health-conscious menu including lots of salads, but many people come just to
soak up the sun on the outside deck or relax with the daily paper and a cup of coffee.
CONTEMPORARY CANADIAN
Canmore has seen many top-notch restaurants open in the last few years, but one of the
originals, M Zona's (710 9th St., 403/609-2000, 11am-10pm daily, dinner only outside in
the summer, $13-19), continues to garner rave reviews. The food is great, and so is the
restaurant itself. Earthy tones, hardwood floors, rustic furniture, bamboo blinds, and kiln-
fired clay crockery create an inviting ambience unequaled in Canmore. The menu takes
its roots from around the world, with an emphasis on healthy eating and freshly prepared
Canadian produce. Choose from dishes such as lamb shepherd's pie or vegetarian korma.
Zona's also serves homemade lemonade and a wide selection of slightly overpriced wines
and beers. A large deck provides much-needed extra seating in summer.
M Crazyweed Kitchen (1600 Railway Ave., 403/609-2530, 11:30am-3pm and from
5pm daily, $18-32) dishes up creative culinary fare that gets rave reviews from even cul-
tured Calgarians. From the busy open kitchen, all manner of creative dishes are on offer:
beef short ribs in curry, truffle and mushroom gnocchi, and gourmet pizzas. Healthy por-
tions are served at tables inside or out. Also notable is the extensive wine list, with glasses
from $8 and bottles from $35.