Juicy peaches, crisp apples and home-grown squash varieties are only a few of the Okanagan Valley’s stand-out, local ingredients. Thanks to a strong agricultural industry, fresh flavours abound in the Valley, making it evident why Kelowna is the first city in Canada designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
While the Okanagan Valley offers enough selection of farm-fresh food to savour the culinary scene all year, it also makes for a great foodie destination for a quick trip from Calgary.
After a seven-hour drive, you’ve likely worked up an appetite. Here are some of the must-try foodie spots to taste the best of the region in only a couple of days.
Day one
Looking for a hearty breakfast to start the day? Located in downtown Kelowna, Sunny’s Modern Diner reimagines the classics — think breakfast hash complete with bison pepperoni, brisket and bacon, a Mediterranean-style omelette and even a crispy pork schnitzel. Or, if you’re eager to start exploring the region, you can stop for a bite at your first stop in Peachland, 25 minutes from Kelowna, at Bliss Bakery. Enter the beachfront bakery, and you’ll be met with fresh artisan bread and a selection of buttery croissants so tempting, you probably need to try more than one.
Bliss Bakery also has a West Kelowna location, an area that’s also home to 19 Okanagan Grill & Bar, a superb lunch spot. Not only does it overlook Okanagan Lake, it’s right on the Two Eagles Golf Course. Before hitting the course for the afternoon, fill up on your choice of burgers, pasta, steak or a poke or curry bowl.
Keep the wine tasting going at the popular Quails’ Gate Winery. Enjoy a glass of vino and a bite at its Old Vines Restaurant. Swing by during the daily happy hour and indulge in the $40 food and wine flight, featuring four small dishes paired with the perfect pour. Nearby, also in West Kelowna, is the renowned Mission Hill Winery. Its restaurant, The Terrace, offers a variety of dining options, including a chef tasting or a guided tour of the barrel cellar paired with a five-course dinner.
Finish the day with a nightcap at Vice and Virtue Brewing Company in Kelowna. Vice and Virtue serves a solid selection of wine by the glass and bottle, but its beer on taps are hard to deny with a variety from fruity sours, hazy pale ales, stouts and sometimes even a limited-time experimental beer. On the menu, expect delicious lighter bites like honey sesame buns and pork belly burnt ends as well as options for the hungrier guests, including the Asian barbecue platter for two and even a full four-course dinner. In West Kelowna, The Hatching Post is another great spot for an evening drink and a bite. The saloon-style establishment serves craft beer and Texas barbecue with tasty fare like hearty meats and classic, yet delicious, barbecue sides — think mac and cheese, potato salad and baked beans — all perfectly paired with a selection of house-made sauces.
Day two
After a food-forward day yesterday, start the day off in Kelowna with a lighter brekkie. Swing by Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate for a freshly baked pastry, made with ingredients from local Okanagan producers. Choose from croissants, fruit tarts, beignets, cruffins (half muffin, half croissant) and more. You can also stay for a while and enjoy High Tea.
Take the rest of the morning to explore the city before ramping up for lunch with fresh seafood at West Coast Raw Bar. Choose from the raw bar, sushi bar and fish options for a Pacific Coast lunch. If you’d prefer to spice things up instead, grab tacos at El Taquero. Mix and match from an authentic selection of tacos, made from recipes passed down for generations. Finish off with a sweet treat at Parlour Ice Cream, located right in downtown Kelowna on Abbott Street, across from City Park and close to Hot Sands Beach. If you’re looking for a unique wine tasting afternoon activity, head to Meadow Vista for a light bite at its farm-to-table bistro before sampling its selection of honey wines.
For golden hour, make your way to 50th Parallel Estate in Lake Country. Wind down with a glass of wine at the winery’s restaurant BLOCK ONE for a one-of-a-kind five-course chef’s tasting experience in the Granite Room. Or stay in Kelowna for the evening, and dine at CedarCreek Estate Winery’s Home Block Restaurant. It offers Okanagan’s best flavours, using ingredients right from its garden and local partners. Indulge in wine-paired meals with delicious dishes, such as a local asparagus salad and dry-aged bone-in pork chops.
Later on, if you’re still feeling peckish for a light late-night bite, on Fridays and Saturdays, Erica Jane has a late-night menu with delicious snacks, such as oysters, Wagyu croquettes and caviar, along with a live DJ spinning tunes until midnight. For a quieter atmosphere, Bouchon’s Bistro offers the elegance of a European bistro, where you can enjoy the flavours of Paris late into the evening.
To learn more about the Okanagan’s must-visit foodie spots, visit tourismkelowna.com/explore/spots/foodie/
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