Dining open air is one of the most delightful ways to enjoy a meal. Here in the Okanagan, sitting on an outdoor vineyard patio with a glass of wine in hand and surrounded by epic views is status quo and an essential experience to add to your travel agenda.
In Kelowna, we have some of the most beautiful, world-class dining experiences to choose from. Tables that are perfectly positioned with vineyard views, lake vistas and even orchard settings come complete with delicious wine paired menus set to thrill.
For the ultimate food tour, do plan to dine at all four of these top local winery restaurants:
1. Mission Hill Family Estate: Terrace Restaurant
Photo: Brian Sprout
Mission Hill Family Estate’s Terrace Restaurant brings all the wow factor and more. This dreamy venue offers soaring table views from the estate’s majestic, hilltop perch that overlooks vineyards on to Okanagan Lake below. The elegant dining experience at The Terrace Restaurant features a locally focused, wine paired menu. Following your meal, stroll around the manicured grounds and gardens dotted with exquisite art pieces and visit the beautifully appointed tasting room/wine store. Do check their website to book a special tasting experience or tour of the cellar to enjoy before or after your meal.
2. Quails' Gate Estate Winery: Old Vines Restaurant
Charming Quails' Gate Estate Winery offers one of our most beloved local dining experiences at their Old Vines Restaurant. This award-winning restaurant features uber local cuisine and extends into an exquisite patio with front row seats to their working vineyard with a backdrop of sparkling Okanagan Lake. Dining alfresco here provides the quintessential wine country experience. This estate is a heritage property dating back to the pioneer days and the owners, the Stewart family, were one of the first to plant vineyards in the Okanagan and are one of the original wineries in BC. On site, the heritage Allison House has also been transformed to a market with picnic tables in the garden. Here they are serving delicious wood-fired pizza and wine as a second option to dine outdoors at the winery.
3. 50th Parallel Estate Winery's BLOCK ONE Restaurant
Lake Country has become a destination for wine-loving visitors over the past few years. With storied wineries on the tour like 50th Parallel Estate Winery, this scene is buzzing. 50th Parallel Estate Winery is known for their award-winning wines and fabulous modern architecture. Here they also have a year-round restaurant on site called Block One, that features a wood fire oven with a menu designed around the great flavours and aromas of wood fire cooking—all of course paired with their wines. 50th Parallel’s flagship wine is Pinot Noir and it represents the vision and wine dream that passionate owners Sheri-Lee and Curtis Krouzel manifested here on this beautiful estate.
4. The View Winery: Orchard Private Picnics
Private Picnic at The View Winery. Photo: Ken Hagen
The View Winery offers visitors the ultimate Okanagan experience – and, as they are aptly named for, an amazing view of the city. Visitors to this bustling estate located in orchard and vine laden Southeast Kelowna, will have the unique opportunity to experience an authentic wine and tree fruit production facility. On site, the Turton family produces a range of delicious wines as well as fruit cider. This historic heritage venue was once a busy packinghouse operation run by the family’s great-grandfather. This beautiful land holds a special place in Kelowna’s agricultural history as one of the first fruit packing houses in the Okanagan. Visitors can enjoy tours, taste wine, sample cider and then take a seat in the orchard picnic area to truly absorb magical ambiance of being surrounded by beautiful apple trees.
Header image from CedarCreek Estate Winery. Photo: Nic Collar FIlm
