What’s the food and service like on the Rocky Mountaineer?

And while the scenery definitely steals the spotlight on these trips (when there are snow-tipped mountains, glistening lakes and wildlife-rich forests outside, it’s hard to compete), the onboard experience is still pretty special. 

One factor that really sets journey apart from the others is the food on Rocky Mountaineer. There’s no bland buffet selection or dry sandwiches here – instead, you can expect restaurant-worthy meals plated and served at your seat or in a special dining car.  

Service on board

When you arrive at the station in anticipation of your journey, you’ll be met by the smiling faces of your Rocky Mountaineer hosts as well as staff (sometimes even a bagpiper) waving you off. 

Their warm Canadian welcome sets the tone for the rest of your journey. Nothing is too much trouble. Fancy a mid-morning snack? No problem. Another cup of coffee? Coming right up. Want to hear stories of adventure and intrigue in the towns you’re passing through? Just ask.  

With hosts keeping an eagle eye out for wildlife (including eagles), sharing background about the sights you’re seeing and bringing out a never-ending array of drinks and snacks, it’s one of the most indulgent travel experiences there is – all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. 

And while onboard hosts keep everything running smoothly on the train, luggage hosts take care of your suitcase for you, whisking it from hotel to hotel, so it’s waiting in your room when you arrive. Destination hosts are also on hand to ensure your hotel stay is as hassle-free as possible for a seamless transition throughout the two-day journey. 

GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf  Service: what’s the difference? 

You’ll be travelling in memorable style whether you choose SilverLeaf Service or the more luxurious GoldLeaf class on board Rocky Mountaineer, but with a few key differences. 

One of the biggest points of difference is with the Rocky Mountaineer food menu: those enjoying GoldLeaf Service can choose from a menu for both breakfast and a three-course lunch, with food cooked to order and eaten in the sophisticated dining car in the lower half of the double-decker carriage. 

You’ll eat at proper tables, laid with tablecloths and silverware, with great views through the lower windows as you travel. There are also premium alcohol options as well as signature cocktails to enjoy. 

In SilverLeaf Service, there are fewer options to choose between and meals are brought onto the train pre-prepared and served at your seat. If you’re thinking of airline-style ‘chicken or pasta’ trays, nothing could be further from the truth though – this is still restaurant-quality cuisine, using local ingredients and accompanied by a great choice of wines and other drinks. 

GoldLeaf Service also has a larger observation deck at the end of the carriage, if you want to head outside to feel the wind in your face and get views straight on to the wonderful landscapes. SilverLeaf Service does still have its own smaller observation deck with room for one or two people. 

The other key difference is the carriages themselves. Both have panoramic windows which mean you won’t miss a moment of the spectacular scenery in the Canadian Rockies, but GoldLeaf service seats are at a higher level than SilverLeaf Service, on the upper deck of the carriage with the dining car below. 

The GoldLeaf Service seats themselves are a fantastic extra indulgence – if you’re feeling chilly in the early Canadian mornings, there’s an option for different levels of heat, plus you can adjust them for lumbar support or to extend a footrest, ensuring you’re as comfortable as possible. 

And while both options include the same in-depth commentary and professional, friendly service, GoldLeaf has four hosts for the carriage compared to SilverLeaf’s two.  

Rocky Mountaineer cuisine 

If you’re wondering what the Rocky Mountaineer food is really like, both quality and quantity get the seal of approval from travellers.  

You certainly won’t go hungry during your two days on board. Climb into your seat each morning and you’ll be greeted with the scent of fresh coffee and just-baked pastries, from croissants and muffins to cinnamon scones.  

And that’s just for starters: fluffy omelettes soon follow, or a menu of tempting treats (cranberry apple French toast, anyone?) if you’re travelling in GoldLeaf. You’ll be lunching on the likes of Alberta beef short ribs braised in local red, washed down with British Columbia wines, or perfectly seared local fish.  

In between, nibble on complimentary gourmet snacks, or toast the journey with a signature cocktail (made with fresh ingredients picked up along the route). The drinks flow from a well-stocked bar of local and international choices if you’re looking to celebrate this bucket list experience, as well as plenty of non-alcoholic choices - warming up with a hot chocolate after a stint on the observation platform is hard to beat. 

All the menus focus on local ingredients where possible, transforming seasonal produce into some mouth-wateringly creative dishes. As you’re spending the day sitting at your seat, the Rocky Mountaineer train food is also cleverly designed to team lighter choices and portion sizes to keep everyone indulged and satisfied without feeling uncomfortable. 

For those who’ve upgraded to GoldLeaf Service, there’s always a choice too, with breakfast options ranging from blueberry pancakes smothered in maple syrup, that most Canadian of condiments, to egg soufflé with local sausages and bacon.  

Lunch is a full three-course meal with several mouth-watering choices, including vegetarian dishes, perfectly cooked fish and heartier meat or pasta options, along with breads, starters and dessert. 

The Rocky Mountaineer menu

The Rocky Mountaineer food menu changes regularly, depending on the season, with different ingredients available throughout the year. 

However, you can always expect a multiple options at each meal, with the widest choice available for those enjoying GoldLeaf Service, and focused on local produce where possible. 

Breakfast can include classic egg dishes, such as Eggs Benedict, as well as pancakes and brunch favourites like smoked salmon and avocado toast. You’ll also find some lighter options including coconut and banana chia seed pudding with Okanagan stone fruit compote on the GoldLeaf Rocky Mountaineer menu. 

Lunch has a similar range and local focus: look out for Fraser Valley chicken, Alberta Striploin Steak and Lois Lake Steelhead, fish from one of British Columbia’s many beautiful lakes. You’ll also find vegetarian dishes, such as a chickpea and spiced cauliflower nourish bowl, as well as options to suit different dietary requirements (although do give notice of any restrictions in advance). 

And it wouldn’t be a holiday without an indulgent dessert to finish: a rich sliver of chocolate torte with flaked salt and mint, or a temptingly unusual lemon lavender posset with Earl Grey macaroon. 

Although dinner isn’t included, you can expect extra treats and snacks, and even something more substantial if travel time runs over the expected schedule (which can happen if there’s a large number of freight trains on the line). Rest assured, you won’t leave the train feeling hungry. 

Dietary requirements on board Rocky Mountaineer 

Food on Rocky Mountaineer can be tailored for different dietary requirements: the train’s onboard team can adapt dishes to cater for allergies, as well as those who are vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free. 

However, they do need advance notice to ensure that they can prepare in advance and check that everything required is brought aboard the train. If you’re travelling in GoldLeaf Service, meals are made from scratch so it’s easy to tailor existing dishes, but chefs will also create bespoke versions of the menu so that no-one misses out –gluten-free focaccia, for example, to mimic the baskets of bread brought out at the start of the meal for other passengers. 

Don’t just take our word for it. The gluten-free blogger behind Coeliac Man found “the chef on our carriage went above and beyond to make sure I was catered for, coming over to speak to me about my needs and even baking me some cookies to go with my afternoon cuppa!” 

And vegan travel blog Justin Plus Lauren had a similar bespoke experience. “The culinary team exceeded all of my expectations in preparing delightful vegan meals. There weren’t any boring or typical vegan eats in sight, only thoughtful, chef-prepared dishes. In some cases, the chefs were able to mimic and veganize the meals that usually had animal products to create similar dishes for us vegans on board!”