Best Restaurants in Kelowna

The best restaurants in Kelowna include Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate Winery and Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery. This guide sorts them by occasion, from fine dining and lakefront patios to international kitchens and neighbourhood cafes, with prices where they're known.

Fine Dining & Special Occasions

Kelowna's best fine dining is at the winery restaurants, Old Vines at Quails' Gate and Home Block at CedarCreek, plus Waterfront Wines. Book these for an anniversary, a big birthday or when your parents are in town.

Lake Views and BC Wine

For waterfront fine dining, Old Vines has the lake views, and both Old Vines and Waterfront Wines have a deep BC wine list.

Old Vines, the restaurant at Quails' Gate Winery in West Kelowna, is known for its view over Okanagan Lake. The seasonal menu is built on fresh, local ingredients and matched to Quails' Gate's award-winning wines, and the room is dressy without being stiff. Budget $60–$100 per person. Lunch is the more affordable way in, with the same view.

Waterfront Wines is a popular special-occasion spot at 1180 Sunset Drive in downtown's waterfront district. It's a restaurant and wine bar with a long BC wine list and a seasonal Pacific Northwest menu, and dinner runs $80–$120 per person with wine.

Among the Vines

Home Block, at CedarCreek Estate Winery, is best for sharing plates in a rustic room set among the vines. A wood-fired grill gives many of the dishes a smoky flavour. Order a bottle of CedarCreek with the meal.

Casual Dining & Lakefront Views

Casual dining here means lake views and brewery patios, like Cactus Club at the Kelowna Yacht Club and BNA Brewing downtown. Patios fill whenever the weather allows.

On the Lake

This Cactus Club Cafe is a chain location known for some of the best lake views in town, and it's usually busy. The menu is broad and the cocktails are reliable, which makes it an easy choice for a casual lunch or dinner.

Pub Fare & Local Brews

BNA Brewing is the group pick: loud and lively, in a historic downtown building, with solid pub fare, craft beer brewed on-site and a bowling alley.

Red Bird Brewing (known for its food pairings) and Barn Owl Brewing (community-focused, with an outdoor patio) round out the brewery picks. Breweries are the standard cheap, casual dinner option in town.

International Flavors

The best international restaurants include Momo Sushi in Pandosy Village, Bai Tong Thai Food, and Olympia Greek Taverna in Rutland. These are the established alternatives to Okanagan small plates.

Japanese and Thai

The Asian picks are Momo Sushi for Japanese food and Bai Tong for Thai.

Momo Sushi is known for fresh, high-quality sushi, and the menu is long, with plenty of rolls, nigiri and sashimi. It works for a quick lunch or a casual dinner.

Bai Tong is known for straightforward, traditional Thai food. The curries are flavourful, the Pad Thai is the dish to order and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

Greek

Olympia is a family-run taverna known for Greek classics: souvlaki, moussaka and spanakopita made from traditional recipes and fresh ingredients. The room is lively. Its Bernard Ave location closed in 2006; the Rutland location is the one to visit.

Local Favourites

The local favourites are the cafes and neighbourhood spots people go to on a regular weeknight, from Sprout Bread to Naked Café.

Cafes

The go-to cafes for a quick bite or a laptop session are Sprout Bread, Bean Scene, Pulp Fiction, Bright Jenny and Naked Café.

Sprout Bread is a bakery cafe with fresh bread, pastries and light meals, made with organic and locally sourced ingredients where possible. It's a good stop for a quick breakfast or lunch.

Bean Scene roasts its own beans and is a local staple for coffee and baked goods. With several locations around the city, there's usually one nearby.

Pulp Fiction Coffee House is a spacious downtown coffee shop, well suited to remote work.

Bright Jenny is known for creative pastries and an artsy feel.

Naked Café is a local favourite for a healthy brunch.

Eat Well for Less: Go at Lunch

Lunch is the cheapest way into the city's top restaurants. Waterfront Wines, Old Vines and the other winery restaurants serve the same quality food in smaller portions at 30–40% lower prices, so lunch with a lake view runs $30–$40 per person.

New places open often, so treat this list as a starting point. Local events and festivals also bring pop-up restaurants and food trucks.