British Columbia is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Canada and Kelowna is one of the top places to visit. Nestled next to Okanagan Lake’s beautiful eastern shore and framed by desert-looking mountains, Kelowna is most famous for its wineries and lake activities. However, thanks in part to its popularity, it’s also home to some great restaurants.
Whether you’re looking for charming cafes and bistros, fine dining, or mouth-watering ethnic food, we’ve got you covered in this guide to the best 18 restaurants in Kelowna.
Table of Contents
- 19 Okanagan Grill + Bar
- Kaiso Japanese and Thai Cuisine
- Bouchons Bistro
- Central Kitchen Kelowna
- Home Block
- The Modest Butcher + Market
- Salt & Brick
- Waterfront Wines Restaurant
- KRAFTY Kitchen + Bar
- Raudz Regional Table
- Okanagan Street Food
- The Jammery
- Bai Tong Thai Food Restaurant
- Antico Pizza Napoletana
- The Fixx Pasta Bar and Cafe
- Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop
- Social 242 Lounge and Grill
- Terrace Restaurant (Seasonal)
19 Okanagan Grill + Bar
Food always seems to taste better when it’s enjoyed with great views, and that’s just the case with 19 Okanagan Grill + Bar, which is located right next to the Two Eagles Golf Course. Surrounded by mountain and lake views, this restaurant serves tasty food made with fresh local produce, such as Vietnamese Steam Buns, Tuna Tataki, Blackened Chicken, and Dry-Aged Ribeye. You can dine in or enjoy a summer afternoon on their beautiful patio. However, good food and stunning views make this a local favourite, so be sure to book a table in advance.
Address: 3509 Carrington Rd, West Kelowna, BC.
Kaiso Japanese and Thai Cuisine
When it comes to world cuisine, it’s hard to beat Asian food and Kaiso Japanese and Thai Cuisine offers all of this plus Chinese food, making it a great place to satisfy your tastebuds. Located in West Kelowna, tucked away in a small mall, this place is very popular, serving dishes such as Pad Kee Mao, Tom Yum Soup, Spicy Scallop Rolls, Yellow Curry, and Ramen. Prices are reasonable as well, making it a great place for family and friends.
Address: 3604 Carrington Rd #307, West Kelowna, BC.
Bouchons Bistro
If you’re looking for delicious French food, look no further than Bouchons Bistro. Situated in Kelowna’s Cultural District, not too far from the Delta Grand Hotel, this place delivers fine French dining with dishes such as Gravlax de Saumon (Salmon gravlax of Tsar Nicolas II served with blinis and a dill and chive cream), Le Cassoulet (Duck leg confit, in-house pork belly and Toulouse sausage served over a navy bean ragoût with a hint of garlic), and Le Carré d’Agneau (Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb served with butternut puree, ratatouille and rosemary jus).
Address: 3604 Carrington Rd #307, West Kelowna, BC.
Central Kitchen Kelowna
This award-winning restaurant is one of Kelowna’s most popular restaurants, serving up an extensive wine list, cocktails, tasty food, and a fun vibe. Central Kitchen Kelowna is especially known for its delicious burgers, such as the Tuna Tataki Burger, but also delivers many other culinary delights such as Korean Crispy Chicken, Thai Green Curry, and Bacon Chorizo Mushroom Pizza.
Address: 1155 Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC.
Home Block
Kelowna is famous for its wineries, so why not enjoy one of the best restaurants in Kelowna at a winery? Home Block is part of Cedar Creek Estate Winery, offering breathtaking vineyard-side seating and delicious food made with locally sourced produce and seasonal-inspired ingredients. They also have a wine-first philosophy, with their chef drawing inspiration for his menu from the wine, creating rustic, memorable dishes. Combining all of that with their wood-fired grill provides a true terroir-to-table experience.
Address: 5445 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna, BC.
The Modest Butcher + Market
Looking for another one of the best restaurants in Kelowna that’s also located at a winery? Surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Kelowna, The Modest Butcher + Market can be found at Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery, serving up views of their vineyard and Okanagan Lake alongside delicious steaks, seafood, poutine, and local produce. As you’ve probably guessed, they also have an extensive wine list, including bottles from their sister-wintery Rust Wine Co., which means there’s a price point for everyone.
Address: Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery, 829 Douglas Rd, West Kelowna, BC.
Salt & Brick
Located in the heart of downtown Kelowna, Salt & Brick is a unique concept-driven wine-bar restaurant. In fact, this is one of the most unique restaurants in Kelowna, thanks to the fact that they have a menu that changes daily, creating new sharing-style plates that can be paired with the longest wine list in the city. The open kitchen is a great place to see the action and the long bar can be a great place to meet new people. Some popular dishes that have been featured include their famous Brussel Sprouts, pickled carrots, and Lobster Mac & Cheese with Cheetos sprinkles.
Address: 243 Bernard Avenue Kelowna, BC.
Waterfront Wines Restaurant
More wine? Well yeah, you’re in Kelowna!
Waterfront Wines is one of the most popular restaurants in Kelowna, if not the entire Okanagan Valley, and is a great place for any occasion, including a romantic date, a night out with friends, or a celebration with family. The menu offers lots of variety, with lots of options to soothe any tastebuds, such as Brant Lake Wagyu Tartare, Grilled Peppercorn Crusted Heritage Angus Flat Iron Steak, and Seared Steelhead Filet, which comes with Dill Gnocci, Prawns, Spring Greens, and Prawn Hollandaise. They also feature an open kitchen for those who like to watch the chefs perform.
Address: 1180 Sunset Dr #104, Kelowna, BC.
KRAFTY Kitchen + Bar
If you’re looking for a popular farm-to-table restaurant in Kelowna’s downtown core, look no further than KRAFTY Kitchen + Bar. This restaurant features locally-sourced seasonal cuisine with a lively atmosphere combined with modern rustic decor. Our mouths water just looking at the menu, which features dishes such as General Tso Tofu, Elk Carpaccio, Smoked Duck Gnocchi, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Pan-Roasted Haida Gwaii Halibut. They also offer a creative bar menu, including “Dealer’s Choice”, which basically features a custom cocktail just for you.
Address: 281 Lawrence Ave, Kelowna, BC.
Raudz Regional Table
If you’re looking for an upscale and beautiful atmosphere, a locally-focused dinner menu, and 100% local wines, Raudz Regional Table might just be the place for you. This restaurant in Kelowna is a reincarnation of the four-diamond, multi-award-winning fine dining restaurant Fresco, which tells you all you need to know about the quality here. It was also voted as the best place to take a date and the most romantic restaurant, making it a great choice for a special date.
Offering a unique farm-to-table dining experience that highlights the best of the region, diners can expect a memorable meal, with some delights including Crab Cappuccino, Parmesan Gnocchi, their loaded Charcuterie Boards, and an extensive wine list. In addition, they also offer cooking classes with Chef Kelsey Oudendag.
As you’ve probably guessed, Raudz Regional Table is very popular, so be sure to book well in advance or get there before they open to snag a spot.
Address: 1560 Water St, Kelowna, BC.
Okanagan Street Food
All travellers know that street food is often the best food, so it makes sense that Okanagan Street Food has risen to be one of the best restaurants in Kelowna, serving up home-cooked meals at their off-the-beaten-track location, as well as from their mobile food truck.
They offer breakfast and lunch, including lots of mouth-watering specialties, such as their award-winning Seared Fish Taco, Candied Salmon Risotto Fritters, Huevos Rancheros, and Pulled Park Sandwich. In addition to the scrumptious food, the prices are also quite low, making this one of the best values in Kelowna and a restaurant that truly lives up to its name.
Address: 812 Crowley Ave. Kelowna, BC V1Y7G7
The Jammery
The world’s first and only Jammery, this Kelowna restaurant is known for more than just its delicious jams. Serving breakfast and lunch, The Jammery has been featured on food TV shows and is a very popular place thanks to its Belgian Waffles, Breakfast Bowls, Three-Egg Omelettes, and a wide variety of Eggs Benedicts.
Waiting for a table can take a while, but thanks to their lovely gift shop, waiting for a table can actually be fun. Now with two locations, serving both Kelowna and Lake Country, eating at the Jammary has never been more convenient.
Address: 8038 Hwy 97 North, Kelowna or 8038 BC-97, Lake Country, BC.
Bai Tong Thai Food Restaurant
After a year of travelling around Southeast Asia, Thai food has become one of our favourites, and Bai Tong Thai Food Restaurant is one of the best Thai restaurants in Kelowna. With authentic and tasty dishes, such as Gang Pak Ruammit curry, Pad Thai, Thai Satays, and Mango with Sticky Rice, as well as many vegetarian options, this has truly become a local favourite for Thai cuisine.
Address: 275 Bernard Avenue Kelowna, BC.
Antico Pizza Napoletana
Known as one of the best pizza restaurants in Kelowna, Antico Pizza Napoletana serves up mouth-watering pizza pies along with a local beer & wine list as well as a beautiful setting. Baked in a wood-fired oven that was custom-built in Naples, every pizza is made fresh to order from naturally leavened dough, which is why their award-winning pizza has become so famous. In fact, they have been ranked one of the top 3 pizza restaurants in all of Canada, as well as the top 50 in North America.
Their 90-second Neapolitan Pizza is a popular crowd-pleaser, but there are many other favourites too, including their Primavera Pizza (topped with Prosciutto, Arugula, Cherry Tomato & Shaved Parmesan Reggiano), and their Casatiello (Fresh Egg, Mozzarella Di Bufala, Genoa Salami, Garlic). However, they also make mouth-watering pasta and salads, as well as House Made Tiramisu.
Address: 347 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC.
The Fixx Pasta Bar and Cafe
With their pasta being traditionally handcrafted and made in-house, The Fizz Pasta Bar and Cafe has become one of the best Italian restaurants in Kelowna. They offer outstanding food in a comfortable atmosphere, which is why you’ll need to book ahead to make sure you have a table. Some of their popular dishes include Escargot, Pasta Alfredo, West Coast Scallop Linguini, Spinach and Gold Beet Salad, and their Famous Fixx Key Lime Pie.
Address: 3275 Lakeshore Road Kelowna, BC.
Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop
If you’re looking for comfort food at an extra comfortable price, look no further than the Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop, which almost has a perfect 5-star rating from more than 1,100 guests. In addition t their super friendly service, they offer more than 20 varieties of hot and cold sandwiches as well as burgers and soup. All the Daily Features are popular, but some that stand out to us include the Rueben Sandwich, the Classic Holiday Turkey Sandwich, Shepherds Pie, and Perogies with Mennonite Sausage. You can even buy containers of soup to bring home with you. Tell them Must Do Canada sent you!
Address: 596 Leon Avenue Kelowna, BC.
Social 242 Lounge and Grill
If you’re looking for a Kelowna restaurant with a modern, upbeat club-style vibe, make your way to Social 242 Lounge and Grill, a place to eat, drink and socialize. Very popular among locals, both the food and drinks are great. Some of their popular food items include the Signature Salmon, Seafood Fettucini, the AAA 10oz Ribeye, and the Stuffed Prime Rib Yorkies. However, the drink menu is also fun and exciting, with drinks such as Sour Patch Kid (Blue Ciroc, Cointreau, hibiscus rose syrup, lemon, soda), Mango Moscow Mule (Ciroc Mango, triple sec, mint, lime juice, ginger beer), and their Stingray (Vodka, house-made blend of raspberry & lime juice, soda).
Address: 242 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna, BC.
Terrace Restaurant (Seasonal)
The only reason we left the Terrace Restaurant for last is that it’s open seasonally. However, if you happen to be in Kelowna during the warmer months, it’s hard to beat this Kelowna restaurant, which is part of the Mission Hill Family Estate, one of Canada’s most renowned wineries.
The restaurant offers al fresco-style dining with incredible views of the Okanagan Valley while sourcing many of its ingredients from the estate’s on-site gardens. The menu is seasonal and ever-changing, so there’s always something new to try, but some of the things on our bucket list include Scallop & Kohlrabi Vichyssoise (slow-cooked pork, granny smith apple and Terrace garden tarragon), Smoked & Seared Pole Caught A hi Tuna (pink peppercorn & butter potato salad, spring lettuce crème fraîche), and their Dueck Farms Chicken & Pine Mushroom (Terrace garden lovage, black garlic jus, Unearthed Farms cornbread). Perhaps the best part, however, is pairing the delicious cuisine with their own award-winning wines.
Address: Mission Hill Family Estate, 1730 Mission Hill Rd, West Kelowna, BC.
Looking For More Things to Do in BC?
Once you’ve had your fill of delicious food, perhaps it’s time to hit the road and explore the province. For more things to do in British Columbia, check out our travel guides below:
dennis cowan says
great reporting on local businesses love it
hotdog says
I’d take this list with a grain of salt. It appears to just be paid marketing as the first couple places are not in Kelowna at all but a completely different city on the other side of the lake. The first Kelowna resto is listed as having an address in West Kelowna, haha. Clearly Matthew knows very little about the restaurants in Kelowna.
Matthew G. Bailey says
I wish we were paid for these listings. We’ve been many times and have made videos on the area, so we’ve tried many restaurants. People visiting Kelowna don’t care if a restaurant is in West Kelowna… It’s still Kelowna to them and if it’s worth visiting, I’m sure they’d like to know. Feel free to list your favs