Some weekends are about seeing as much as possible.
Others are about slowing down.
Our two-night stay at The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta last November managed to be a little bit of both.
We arrived in Canmore after spending the weekend in Calgary for our son Noah’s hockey tournament. After busy days at the rink, Faron, Noah, and I were more than ready to trade hockey arenas and city traffic for mountain views, hot tubs, good food, and a couple of days with nowhere we needed to be.
And Canmore delivered.
We hiked to the unbelievably blue-green Grassi Lakes, wandered around town, spent plenty of time enjoying the hotel’s outdoor pool and hot tubs, and had a surprisingly great Sunday buffet at Stirling Grill & Lounge.
Nestled in the Spring Creek neighbourhood just a short walk from downtown Canmore, The Malcolm Hotel feels polished and luxurious without losing that relaxed Rocky Mountain atmosphere we love so much.
We came looking for a little family getaway.
We left wishing we had another night.
If you’re wondering whether The Malcolm Hotel is worth staying at, what the rooms are like, whether it’s good for families, or if it’s worth the higher price compared to other hotels in Canmore, here’s everything you need to know from our stay.
If you’re planning a bigger trip to the Canadian Rockies, our Canmore Travel Guide, Best Things to Do in Canmore, Best Restaurants in Canmore, and Grassi Lakes Hiking Guide can help you plan the rest of your trip.
🏔️ The Malcolm Hotel At A Glance
📍 Location: Spring Creek, Canmore, Alberta
🏨 Hotel: The Malcolm Hotel
⭐ Hotel Category: Four-star luxury hotel
🛏️ Rooms: 124 rooms and suites
📅 Length Of Our Stay: 2 nights
👨👩👦 Who We Travelled With: Our son Noah
🏊 Highlight: Heated outdoor pool + two hot tubs overlooking the mountains
🍽️ Dining: Stirling Grill & Lounge + Pulse General Store & Coffee Bar
🥩 Don’t Miss: Sunday Prime Rib Buffet at Stirling—we loved it
🎱 Family Bonus: Games Lounge with pool, foosball, board games, books, and a giant Scrabble wall
🚗 Parking: Underground self-parking, valet parking, and nearby public street parking
🚶 Walkability: Easy walk into downtown Canmore
⭐ Would We Stay Again? Absolutely.
Overall Rating: 9/10
👉 Live to See Tip: Don’t make the mistake of treating The Malcolm as simply somewhere to sleep between days exploring Banff and Canmore. Leave yourself some actual hotel time. The outdoor pool and hot tubs surrounded by the Rockies are one of the best parts of staying here—especially on a chilly November day.
Our Quick Take
If you’re looking for one of the best luxury hotels in Canmore but still want somewhere that works well for a family getaway, The Malcolm Hotel is an easy recommendation.
The location is fantastic, the hotel feels upscale without being overly formal, and those mountain views remind you constantly that you’re in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
But what we enjoyed most was how easy the entire stay felt.
After a busy hockey weekend in Calgary, we weren’t looking for a packed itinerary.
We wanted to slow down.
Swim.
Soak in a hot tub.
Wander around Canmore.
Eat somewhere good.
And simply enjoy being together.
The Malcolm gave us exactly that.
Thinking about staying at The Malcolm?
We’d happily stay here again. If you’re planning a Canmore getaway, you can check current rates and availability for The Malcolm Hotel below.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We paid for our stay at The Malcolm Hotel ourselves, and all opinions are our own.
Is The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore Worth It?
For us, yes.
Absolutely.
There are less expensive places to stay in Canmore, so if your only priority is finding a room to sleep in before heading out hiking or skiing all day, The Malcolm probably isn’t necessary.
But that’s not really what you’re paying for here.
The Malcolm feels like part of the Canmore experience itself.
You can wake up surrounded by mountain views, walk into town, come back for a swim, sit in a hot tub beneath the Rockies, grab a coffee downstairs, play a game with the kids, and head out again for dinner without ever needing to get back into the car.
That combination of location, amenities, scenery, and comfort is what made the hotel worth it for us.
And after a weekend spent running between hockey games?
It felt particularly wonderful.
Arriving at The Malcolm Hotel
Driving from Calgary toward Canmore is one of those drives that seems to get better with every kilometre.
The city slowly disappears behind you.
The foothills begin to rise.
And then suddenly the Rockies are there.
No matter how many times we see them, that first glimpse never gets old.
The Malcolm Hotel sits in Canmore’s beautiful Spring Creek neighbourhood, slightly removed from the busiest part of downtown while still being close enough that you can easily walk over.
That balance immediately appealed to us.
It felt peaceful.
But not isolated.
The hotel itself has a contemporary mountain style that suits Canmore perfectly—warm, welcoming and upscale without feeling stuffy.
After hauling hockey bags around all weekend, checking into a beautiful mountain hotel felt like a very good life decision.
Our Room at The Malcolm Hotel
One of the things I appreciate about a mountain hotel is when the design remembers where it is.
You don’t come to Canmore looking for a generic city hotel.
You want warmth.
Comfort.
And preferably a mountain outside your window.
The Malcolm’s rooms have a clean, contemporary Rocky Mountain feel, and the hotel offers a range of rooms and suites with either mountain or creek views.
More importantly for us, our room gave the three of us a comfortable place to properly settle in after our busy weekend.
There’s something about returning to a cozy hotel room after spending time outside in November that makes everything feel even better.
Cold mountain air outside.
A warm room inside.
And no hockey schedule telling us where we had to be next.
Perfect.
👉 Compare room options and current rates at The Malcolm Hotel
The easiest way to explore Banff, Canmore, and the surrounding Canadian Rockies is still by car.
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The Rooftop Pool & Hot Tubs
This is probably the amenity that makes The Malcolm Hotel stand out most.
The hotel has a heated outdoor pool and two hot tubs overlooking the Three Sisters and Mount Lawrence Grassi.
And yes, you can use them in November.
Actually, I’d argue November makes the experience even better.
There is something particularly Canadian about stepping through cold mountain air in a swimsuit and sinking into steaming water while enormous Rocky Mountain peaks rise around you.
The contrast is half the fun.
Noah could enjoy the pool while Faron and I had the hot tubs nearby, which makes this one of those rare hotel amenities that works equally well for kids and adults.
And the setting is beautiful.
This isn’t an indoor hotel pool you visit simply because the kids need something to do.
It’s somewhere you genuinely want to spend time.
The pool area also has a rooftop fire pit overlooking the mountains, adding another little reason not to rush back inside.
If you stay at The Malcolm, make time for this.
Preferably more than once.
Is The Malcolm Hotel Good for Families?
Yes—and this was one of the things that pleasantly surprised us.
The Malcolm certainly looks and feels like a luxury mountain hotel, but it doesn’t feel designed exclusively for couples.
We were travelling with Noah and felt completely comfortable staying here as a family.
Obviously, the outdoor pool is a huge advantage if you’re travelling with kids.
But there’s another hidden gem.
The Games Lounge
The Games Lounge & Library sits on the mezzanine level and has a pool table, foosball, poker table, giant Scrabble wall, board games, and books.
It’s such a simple hotel amenity.
And such a good one.
Especially when you’re travelling with kids.
Not every moment of a mountain getaway needs to involve hiking, skiing, sightseeing, or driving somewhere.
Sometimes everyone just wants to hang around the hotel for an hour.
Play a game.
Warm up.
And decide what to do next.
For a two-night family getaway like ours, having spaces like this made The Malcolm feel much more like a resort than simply a hotel.
The Malcolm Hotel Location
The location is one of the hotel’s biggest advantages.
The Malcolm sits in Spring Creek, a beautiful neighbourhood threaded with pathways and surrounded by mountain views.
From the hotel, you can easily walk into downtown Canmore for restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, and wandering around.
And we did plenty of wandering.
Canmore has become one of those places we genuinely enjoy simply being in.
You don’t necessarily need an itinerary.
Walk along the pathways.
Grab a coffee.
Browse the shops.
Find somewhere for lunch.
Look up at the mountains every five minutes.
Repeat.
There’s a relaxed energy here that feels different from Banff.
Banff is spectacular, of course, but Canmore has increasingly become a destination in its own right rather than somewhere you simply stay because it’s close to Banff National Park.
And The Malcolm puts you right in the middle of it.
For other accommodation ideas, restaurants, hikes, and things to do, see our complete Canmore Travel Guide.
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Exploring Canmore From The Malcolm
One of our favourite parts of this getaway was simply having time to enjoy Canmore itself.
We weren’t trying to squeeze in every famous lake or mountain viewpoint, but we did make time for one adventure I’d absolutely recommend: Grassi Lakes.
We hiked Grassi Lakes during this trip and loved it.
It’s one of those hikes where the effort-to-reward ratio is almost ridiculous. The trail is relatively short, but you end up at two incredibly clear blue-green lakes tucked beneath the mountains.
It was also the perfect hike for this particular getaway—enough of an adventure to feel like we had properly gotten outside in the Rockies, without taking over the entire day.
I’ve put together a complete Grassi Lakes Hiking Guide with the different trail options, parking information, what to expect, and tips for planning your hike.
The rest of our time in Canmore was much less structured.
We wandered into town from The Malcolm, browsed the shops, found good food, and eventually made our way back to the hotel for the pool and hot tubs.
After a weekend dictated by hockey schedules, having that freedom felt pretty wonderful.
That’s one of the things we’ve really come to love about Canmore.
You can have a genuine Rocky Mountain adventure in the morning and still spend the afternoon wandering downtown or sitting in a hot tub looking at the mountains.
If it’s your first visit, our Canmore Travel Guide covers where to stay, eat and explore, while our Best Things to Do in Canmore guide has more ideas if you want to build out a longer itinerary.
Dining at The Malcolm Hotel
One of the unexpected highlights of our stay was actually eating at the hotel.
The Malcolm’s main restaurant is Stirling Grill & Lounge, a comfortable mountain restaurant overlooking Policeman’s Creek with the kind of atmosphere that works equally well for a family meal or a nicer dinner.
But the meal that stood out for us was the Sunday Prime Rib Buffet.
We really enjoyed this.
The food was good, the atmosphere was relaxed, and it felt like surprisingly good value—especially for Canmore, where eating out can get expensive quickly.
When we visited, there was also a fantastic promotion where kids under 12 ate free, which made it an especially good deal for us travelling with Noah. Promotions and children’s pricing can change, though, so I’d check the current pricing with the hotel before planning around it.
What I found particularly interesting was how many Canmore locals seemed to be eating there.
That always catches my attention.
Hotel restaurants can sometimes feel like somewhere people eat simply because they’re staying upstairs. Stirling didn’t have that feeling at all. There seemed to be plenty of people there who had specifically chosen to come for Sunday dinner.
To me, that’s usually a very good sign.
The Malcolm also has Pulse General Store + Coffee Bar in the lobby for coffee, café-style drinks, baked goods, and a few grab-and-go options.
I always appreciate having a proper coffee option inside a hotel.
Especially in the mountains.
Especially in November.
And especially after a hockey weekend.
Of course, you’re also within easy walking distance of downtown Canmore, so you definitely aren’t limited to eating at the hotel.
If food is a big part of your trips like it is for us, have a look at our Best Restaurants in Canmore guide for more places we’d recommend around town.
Parking at The Malcolm Hotel
The hotel offers several parking options, including underground self-parking, valet parking, and public street parking nearby.
In November, underground parking is a particularly nice luxury.
Anyone who has scraped ice off a windshield on a freezing Alberta morning knows exactly what I mean.
The underground parkade has a maximum vehicle height of 7 feet, which is worth keeping in mind if you’re travelling with a larger vehicle or roof box.
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What We Loved About The Malcolm Hotel
There wasn’t one enormous thing that made us enjoy The Malcolm.
It was the combination.
The mountain views. Being able to walk into Canmore. The outdoor pool and hot tubs. The games lounge. Our Sunday dinner at Stirling. And having a hotel that felt special without ever feeling overly formal.
That balance really worked for us.
We could spend part of the day hiking Grassi Lakes, wander around Canmore afterward, and then come back to a warm pool and hot tub surrounded by mountains.
The Malcolm wasn’t just where we slept on this trip.
It became part of what we remember about it.
What Could Be Better?
The biggest consideration is price.
The Malcolm is one of Canmore’s more upscale hotels, and you are paying a premium for the location, mountain setting, amenities, and overall experience.
If your plan is to leave first thing every morning and return late at night, I’m not sure you’d get enough value from everything the hotel offers.
But for a two-night getaway like ours—where the pool, hot tubs, restaurant, walkable location, and downtime at the hotel were genuinely part of the trip—the extra cost felt much easier to justify.
In other words, I’d splurge on The Malcolm when you have time to actually enjoy The Malcolm.
Prices can vary quite a bit by date, so I’d compare the current rate for your stay before deciding whether the splurge makes sense.
Who Should Stay at The Malcolm Hotel?
The Malcolm is a particularly good choice for couples looking for a romantic Canmore getaway, families wanting a hotel with kid-friendly amenities, first-time visitors who want to be able to walk downtown, and anyone looking for a more luxurious base for exploring the Canadian Rockies.
It’s also a great option if you want the mountain experience without necessarily staying inside Banff National Park.
If your idea of a great hotel is somewhere that functions purely as a place to sleep, there are cheaper choices in Canmore.
But if the hotel itself is part of the vacation?
The Malcolm is one I’d put high on the list.
Staying in Canmore vs Banff
This is a question we get asked often.
Should you stay in Canmore or Banff?
And the answer really depends on what kind of trip you want.
Banff puts you directly inside Banff National Park and has that unmistakable bucket-list Canadian Rockies atmosphere.
Canmore feels a little more relaxed.
It has fantastic restaurants, beautiful mountain scenery, walking paths, shops, easy access to Kananaskis, and Banff National Park is still close enough for day trips.
We genuinely enjoy both.
For this particular trip, however, Canmore was exactly what we needed.
It gave us the mountains without making us feel like we had to spend every minute sightseeing.
And staying at The Malcolm meant we could enjoy a little bit of luxury at the same time.
Visiting The Malcolm Hotel in November
Would I recommend Canmore in November?
Yes—with the understanding that you’re visiting during shoulder season.
November sits somewhere between fall and full Canadian Rockies winter. Days are shorter, temperatures can be cold, snow is entirely possible, and some summer activities have wrapped up while ski season is only getting started.
But there’s also a quietness to Canmore at this time of year that we really enjoyed.
And The Malcolm is particularly well suited to a November getaway because you don’t need perfect weather to have a great stay.
We could get outside and hike Grassi Lakes, wander around Canmore in the cold, and then come back to the heated outdoor pool and hot tubs.
The colder air made the hot tub even better.
Add a good Sunday dinner at Stirling, coffee downstairs, and nowhere you urgently need to be, and November starts to feel like a pretty great time for a Canmore getaway.
👉 Live to See Tips for Staying at The Malcolm Hotel
Stay at least two nights. One night would feel rushed, especially if you want time to enjoy Canmore and the hotel.
Use the pool during colder weather. Don’t assume outdoor pool season ends with summer. Floating in warm water surrounded by cold mountain air is part of the fun.
Walk into downtown Canmore. One of the reasons to stay here is the location, so leave the car parked whenever you can.
Leave room in your itinerary. You’re paying for a beautiful hotel with great amenities. Enjoy them.
Check the room categories. Mountain and creek views are available, so compare your options when booking.
Bring a swimsuit. Even in November.
Hike Grassi Lakes while you’re here. It’s a short drive from The Malcolm and was one of the highlights of our trip. The hike is manageable for most families and the lakes are absolutely beautiful.
If you’re staying on a Sunday, check the Stirling buffet. We thought it was excellent value and loved the relaxed, local atmosphere. Offers and pricing can change, so check the current details before you go.
More Adventures Around Canmore & The Canadian Rockies
If you’re turning your stay at The Malcolm into a longer Canadian Rockies trip, there’s plenty to explore nearby.
We hiked Grassi Lakes during this exact trip and absolutely loved it. It’s close to Canmore, relatively short, family-friendly, and the blue-green lakes are beautiful. Our Grassi Lakes Hiking Guide covers the route options, parking, timing, and everything we wish we knew before going.
If you want another relatively easy hiking day with a huge scenery payoff, Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park is one of our favourites. The gondola takes you high into the alpine, where you can hike between mountain lakes and incredible viewpoints without having to tackle a massive climb.
For a slower sightseeing day in Banff, the Lake Minnewanka Loop combines mountain scenery, lakes, short walks, and plenty of places to stop along the way.
And if you’re looking for a bigger hiking day, our Lake Louise hike to Plain of Six Glaciers, Big Beehive and Lake Agnes is one of our favourite full-day routes in the Canadian Rockies.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About The Malcolm Hotel
Is The Malcolm Hotel worth staying at?
Yes.
If you value location, mountain views, excellent hotel amenities, and being able to walk into downtown Canmore, we think The Malcolm Hotel is worth the splurge.
It’s particularly worthwhile if you plan to spend some time actually enjoying the hotel rather than using it only as somewhere to sleep.
Is The Malcolm Hotel good for families?
Yes.
We stayed with our son Noah and found The Malcolm very family-friendly.
The heated outdoor pool is a major highlight, and the Games Lounge—with pool, foosball, giant Scrabble, board games, and books—gives families another place to relax between adventures.
Does The Malcolm Hotel have a pool?
Yes.
The Malcolm has a heated outdoor pool that is open year-round, subject to weather conditions.
There are also two outdoor hot tubs with panoramic views toward the Three Sisters and Mount Lawrence Grassi.
Can you use The Malcolm Hotel pool in winter?
Yes, weather permitting.
The pool is heated and open throughout the year, although the hotel may close the pool and hot tubs during extreme cold.
We visited in November, and the combination of cool mountain air and warm water was one of our favourite parts of the stay.
Is The Malcolm Hotel within walking distance of downtown Canmore?
Yes.
The hotel is located in Spring Creek and downtown Canmore is an easy walk away.
That was one of our favourite things about staying here because we could leave the car behind and wander into town for restaurants, shops, and coffee.
Does The Malcolm Hotel have parking?
Yes.
Parking options include underground self-parking, valet parking, and nearby public street parking.
Does The Malcolm Hotel have a restaurant?
Yes. Stirling Grill & Lounge is located inside The Malcolm Hotel and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We particularly enjoyed the Sunday Prime Rib Buffet during our stay. The food was good, the atmosphere was relaxed, and we thought it offered excellent value. We also noticed quite a few Canmore locals dining there, which is always a good sign.
The hotel also has Pulse General Store + Coffee Bar in the lobby for coffee, baked goods, and lighter options.
If you want to eat elsewhere, downtown Canmore is an easy walk from the hotel and has plenty of excellent restaurants.
How many nights should you stay at The Malcolm Hotel?
I’d recommend at least two nights.
That gives you enough time to enjoy Canmore while still leaving room to actually use the hotel amenities.
If you’re using Canmore as a base for exploring Banff National Park and Kananaskis as well, three or four nights would be even better.
Is Canmore worth visiting in November?
Absolutely.
November is quieter than peak summer and offers a completely different Rocky Mountain experience.
The weather can be cold and unpredictable, but that’s also what makes staying somewhere with a heated outdoor pool and hot tubs particularly appealing.
Is it better to stay in Canmore or Banff?
Both are fantastic, but they offer slightly different experiences.
Banff is ideal if being inside Banff National Park is your priority.
Canmore has a more relaxed atmosphere, excellent restaurants, beautiful mountain scenery, and easy access to both Banff and Kananaskis.
For a relaxed weekend getaway like ours, we loved staying in Canmore.
What are the best things to do near The Malcolm Hotel?
One of the biggest advantages of staying at The Malcolm is how easy it is to combine time in Canmore with outdoor adventures nearby.
During our stay, we hiked Grassi Lakes, which is only a short drive from the hotel and was one of the highlights of our trip.
You can also walk into downtown Canmore, explore the Bow River pathways, drive into Kananaskis, or reach Banff National Park in roughly 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts: Would We Stay at The Malcolm Hotel Again?
Absolutely.
Our weekend at The Malcolm came at exactly the right time.
We arrived after Noah’s hockey tournament in Calgary with two nights ahead of us and, for once, no real schedule to follow.
We hiked to Grassi Lakes.
We wandered around Canmore.
We ate a great Sunday dinner at Stirling.
We swam outside in November and sat in a hot tub surrounded by the Rockies.
And somewhere in between all of that, we actually slowed down.
That’s ultimately what I liked most about staying here.
The Malcolm is certainly more expensive than some of the other hotels in Canmore, but it also gave us more than simply a room for two nights. The location, pool, hot tubs, restaurant, mountain views, and ability to walk into town all became part of the getaway itself.
For a family weekend, couples getaway, or a few slower days in the Canadian Rockies, I’d happily stay here again.
Actually, we left wishing we had booked one more night.
And I think that probably says everything.
If The Malcolm sounds like your kind of Canmore stay, you can check current rates and availability below.
👉 Check Rates & Availability at The Malcolm Hotel
Still planning the rest of your trip? Our complete Canmore Travel Guide has more of our favourite places to stay, eat, hike and explore around Canmore and the Canadian Rockies.
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