Kelowna is full of amazing places to eat and drink, but there are a few spots in town where you can find foodie favourites basically side-by-side to one another. If you’ve got family and friends in town, or you want to be a tourist in your own town, check out these places to maximize your time spent enjoying some of Kelowna’s food and drink gems.
Right off the intersection where Gordon meets Clement, you’ll find Canoe Coffee Roasters right next to the delectable Karat Chocolate!
At Canoe, you can grab the perfect cup of coffee, or one of their famous Espresso Tonics, and then head next door to Karat for some of the best chocolates you’ve ever had (try the Canada bar, milk chocolate with maple, brown butter, and pecan!) Both of these businesses are locally owned and operated, and their level of quality and care will blow you away.
In the Landmark Building complex, just off Dayton, you’ll find plenty of local businesses to satisfy any foodie craving! If you’re into sweets, head to the delicious QB Gelato: in their beautiful space, you’ll find authentic Italian gelato in inspired flavours, all made with local ingredients.
If you need a caffeinated pick-me-up, Third Space and Bean Scene are local favourites.
If you’re looking for healthy snacks and treats, Glow Juicery makes fresh cold-pressed juice, organic salads, and plant-based treats!
And – if you need some comfort food, Dunnenzies Pizza is the pizza of the locals: try any of their creative and classic flavours, and top with their Avocado Aioli.
At Lakeshore and Cook Street, you’ll find two of Kelowna’s favourite patios: The Eldorado Boardwalk and Smack Dab!
There are few better places in K-town to enjoy a view of the lake, practically on the lake, with delicious food and beverages to boot. At the El, sip on a “Gew Slush” (an alcoholic slush made with gewürztraminer wine) and take in the action of people loading their boats at the launch next door. At Smack Dab, enjoy one of their wood-fired pizzas with one of their many local wines or beers.
All along one of Kelowna’s oldest roads are some excellent farmstands, and Don-o-Ray Farms is one of Kelowna’s most beloved. Witha huge selection of their own home-grown produce, and plenty of other local products, they’re a one-stop shop for everything from peaches to homemade butter chicken sauce. They’ve even added in an ice cream stand, mini zoo, and hedge maze, so it’s fun for the whole family! Just down the road from Don-o-Ray is Sperling Vineyard, where you can do a wine tasting and enjoy the ambiance on their picnic tables next to the vineyard. And, if it’s a Wednesday or Saturday, just a little further down Benvoulin you’ll find the Kelowna Farmers and Crafter’s Market where you can find just about everything locally grown and made!
In Guisachan village, you’ll find Okanagan Grocery perfectly paired right with Codfather’s Seafood. At OG, you can pick up a fantastic loaf of sourdough, a picture-perfect baguette, or a fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate croissant (not to mention some amazing local cheeses, spreads, and granolas).
Next door at Codfathers, sit down at the Table for the best fish n’ chips of your life or pick up some fresh oysters or the catch of the day. Both of these amazing establishments do everything the “slow” way, never compromising quality or sustainability. They’re the best of the best!
Downtown is chock full of amazing places, but if you’re into small plates, sharing, and a quirky dive-bar meets top-quality bistro, you have to try Micro, Salt & Brick, and Jack’s Pizza – all just a stones throw from each other! At Micro, sit at the bartop and try whatever exciting beer is on tap or one of their “creative cocktails, simply served,” with any of their creative small plates (like the famous Duck Fat & Rosemary Popcorn!)
At Salt & Brick, enjoy whatever chef James Holmes happens to be crafting that evening (their menu is ever-changing and completely locally inspired), and take some epic Instagram photos.
Right next door is Jack’s Pizza & Liquor where you can find “Okanagan” style thin crust pizzas in eclectic flavours like Cauliflower and Apple or “Not Vegetarian” – and also Kelowna’s largest and most diverse liquor selection, which is the basis for their 26 in-house cocktails crafted by (fittingly) Kristina Craft. Plan ahead for your DD for sure!
Kelowna’s Cultural District, once the center of the fruit-packing industry in the Okanagan, is now the hub for many local craft breweries and cideries. You can hop from Tree Brewing to BNA Brewing, to Kettle River Brewing Co, and to BC Tree Fruits Cidery.
At Tree you can eat deep-fried beer-battered cheese curds while sipping on a flight; at BNA, you can bowl, play bocce, or play video games while you sip awesome pints and eat food crafted by the epic chef Justin Best.
At Kettle River, you can chill on their patio and maybe even indulge at Crasian Food Truck which sometimes parks right outside.
At BC Tree Fruits, you can taste ciders made from Okanagan apples, and buy plenty of Okanagan fruit and Veg to take home, too! For more details, check out the Kelowna Ale Trail. Needless to say, a walk through the Cultural District will keep your thirst quenched and your hunger satisfied, in the most Okanagan way possible.
#TreatYoSelf to amazing local food and drink, at any one of Kelowna’s fantastic foodie neighbourhoods.
Kelowna born and raised, Keddy Pavlik of TheTreatLife has been passionate about the local food scene basically since birth. If she's not in the kitchen, you can probably find her at the farmer's market or taking pictures of food. Photo Credit: Jordana Dickson.
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