I was recently invited to attend the grand opening of the newest hotel in Banff to stay the night and so, without any hesitation, my boyfriend and I packed our bags and drove a mere four hours to the Mountains to check it out! Moxy Banff is the newest hotel to hit the town’s main strip and I was so excited to see such a fun concept and design open to liven up Banff’s hotel offerings. Developed in partnership with Canalta Hotels, this is actually Western Canada’s first ever Moxy hotel – a brand owned by Marriott with 60 boutique style hotels open across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Moxy Banff’s space, because of Banff’s build limitations, is actually the result of a 30 million dollar renovation of one of Banff’s first hotels- the Voyager Inn, which was originally constructed in 1964.
As soon as you step into Moxy Banff, you will noticed the bold and funky mid-century design with a fun bar in the middle of the lobby where you can go to check in to your room (with a complimentary cocktail offered at check-in of course!). In addition to the mid-century design, the lobby also offers a retro ski vibe with chairlift-inspired liquor baskets and even colourful lockers to store your gear. But it’s not just the lobby that hosts a cool space to hang out after hitting the slopes (or walking the town), there’s also a beautiful courtyard that is perfect for relaxing and socializing in the evening that features two pools as well as fire pits and lounge chairs.
And although Moxy Banff doesn’t have a sit-down restaurant per se, they do serve appetizers and bites from an all-day menu right out of a fully restored ‘66 VW food truck that opens on to the kitchen (the brisket poutine and the smoked salmon flatbread were our faves!). They also serve a couple of breakfast offerings to get your morning started off right and of course the bar where you checked in for any fun beverages! And, if you’re having some late-night cravings, there’s also a little 24/7 Grab-n-Go section where you can grab pre-packaged snacks and beverages! Because this hotel is at the far end of the Banff Ave. strip, it’s super handy to have a couple of food options readily available just in case you don’t want to walk all the way into town.
But, my favorite part of the hotel would have to be the guest rooms. Our room, at 269 square feet, wasn’t huge by any means but it’s space and design was extremely functional, which I’m always a fan of. There were wall hooks all around the perimeter to hang your belongings as well as multiple benches and shelves to store your bags. There was even a little portable lantern to carry around in case you needed some extra lighting! But, the coolest part of the room layout was probably the two Queen beds facing each other. Now, at first glance, you might question this choice design, but I personally loved it.
This room would be the perfect choice for a girl’s trip (or guys trip! or couples trip! or anyone trip!) where you want to be able to stay up late chatting and gossiping but also want your own bed and space when it’s time to sleep! I personally find it so fun! The bathroom (although quite small) was also a neat design with the sink and vanity actually being in the hallway outside of the bathroom with the shower and the toilet, so if one person is showering and one person is brushing their teeth, you still have your privacy! Once again, perfect for a trip with friends! I told you, this room is functional.
The room also features a nice sized hanging desk with a comfy leather chair and nightstands that you can move around the room to suit you. The room truly utilizes every inch of space to ensure you have everything you could need for your stay! The room also opens up to a spacious balcony with two chairs and a tree trunk table to breathe in all that nice mountain air! All in all, it was such a nice, comfortable stay! Oh, and did I mention all of the room accents were a gorgeous sagey mint green? It’s like they knew I was coming. I was vibing with the aesthetic for sure.
A huge thank you and congratulations to Moxy Banff and the Marriott team for such a wonderful stay! I must admit it’s been years since I last stayed in Banff, but it sure is nice now having a gorgeous, updated hotel to stay in whenever I make the drive down. The Rocky Mountains have always been once of my favourite things about living in Alberta and this hotel is a good reminder that I need to initiate more road trips to the mountains this year. I already know this is going to be the perfect hotel to stay in for our next ski and snowboarding trip!
Complimentary stay courtesy of Moxy Banff. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!