Perched right on the shores of Okanagan Lake, Kelowna sits in the heart of the fertile Okanagan Valley, a region where orchards, vineyards and farms thrive thanks to a mild, Mediterranean-esque climate and rich soil. The same conditions that make the area one of Canada’s premier wine regions also fuel a thriving foodie scene.
There are a number of outstanding farm-to-table restaurants in Kelowna. Here, ingredient quality takes centre stage over flashiness, with chefs sourcing directly from nearby farms (in some cases, their own!), foragers and markets.
From your base at The Royal Kelowna, you can easily explore this local food culture just steps, or a short drive, away.
Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Kelowna
1. Waterfront Wines
1180 Sunset Dr #104, Kelowna, V1Y 9W6
Awarded “Okanagan’s Best Restaurant” by Vancouver Magazine for an impressive 12 consecutive years, Waterfront Wines is a clear standout among local restaurants. Chef and Sommelier Mark Filatow works closely with local producers to create inventive, seasonal dishes: mushrooms from What the Fungus, honey and produce from Arlo’s Honey Farm, organic stone-ground flour from Greencroft Gardens, Kootenay Meats and many others.
The menu evolves with what’s freshest, resulting in plates that are both refined and approachable. Pair your meal with a local wine list that’s as carefully curated as the food.
Note: due to the specific type of liquor license Waterfront holds, all guests must be 19 or older.
Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com
2. Salt & Brick
243 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, V1Y 6N2
If you like surprises, Salt & Brick will quickly become one of your favourite local restaurants. This downtown eatery operates on a daily fresh sheet menu, with meals that often appear for just one night before a new variation takes their place. The focus is firmly on local food and, well, everything else, too—every single wine is sourced from the Okanagan, and seasonal ingredients drive the ever-changing share plates.
A recent menu included a 15-ounce BC Ribeye with tater tots made from local potatoes and a chimichurri made with locally-grown herbs, and Cheesy Linguine, made with local truffle Gouda Mornay and Parmesan.
The restaurant's legendary warm, knowledgeable service ensures you’ll feel more like a guest at a friend’s house than a customer and, as a bonus, it also regularly hosts winemaker dinners, local tap takeovers, and live music nights.
3. Hillcrest Farm Market Cafe
700 Hwy 33 E, Kelowna, V1X 7W4
Attached to a working farm and market, Hillcrest Farm Market Café is as true to farm-to-table as it gets. The menu features breakfast staples like omelettes and pancakes, hearty soups, fresh sandwiches, and (the real star) Indian specialties.
Hillcrest's samosas and pakoras have a well-earned local following, and the marriage of butter chicken and Canadian signatures—Butter Chicken Poutine and Butter Chicken Pizza, for example—are unexpectedly elevated.
Many, if not most, dishes use produce grown just steps away, complemented by fair-trade Cherryhill coffee, best enjoyed on the pleasant, covered patio. After your meal, browse the market for fresh fruits, baked goods, preserves and ready-made soups to take home.
Courtesy of tourismkelowna.com - CedarCreek Winery
4. Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery
5445 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna, V1W 4S5
Home Block describes its approach as “terroir to table” rather than farm-to-table, crafting menus inspired and directed by the winery’s own gardens and surrounding producers.
Renowned Chef Neil Taylor takes a wine-first approach, building rustic, seasonal dishes that highlight the best of the Okanagan Valley, based on the wine. Expect wood-fired cooking and thoughtful wine pairings, from casual lunches to prix fixe dinners. The idea is that locals can come in as often as once per week and never order the same thing twice. Special experiences like the five-course Platinum Library Experience or “Trust the Chef” private dinners, held in the Aspect House, elevate the hyper-local, hyper-seasonal concept even further, offering adventurous diners multi-course meals that change with the day’s harvest.
5. Roma Nord
421 Cawston Ave, Kelowna, V1Y 6Z1
A slice of Rome in the Okanagan, Roma Nord blends authentic, traditional Italian recipes with the freshest local Okanagan Valley produce. The owners both lived, studied, and worked in Rome before meeting in Kelowna, and their menus, which change almost daily, reflect a deep commitment to that culinary heritage.
Expect classic Roman pasta dishes (made from scratch in-house, of course), seasonal antipasti, and one of British Columbia’s largest selections of Italian wine. The intimate, bistro-style setting and genuine hospitality make it an ideal choice for lingering over a long, leisurely meal.
6. The Hatching Post
2850 Boucherie Rd, West Kelowna, V1Z 2G8
Texas-style BBQ may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of farm-to-table restaurants in Kelowna, but The Hatching Post proves it belongs in the conversation.
All proteins, from brisket to pulled pork and chicken, are sourced from within British Columbia, and side dishes feature local produce like corn, arugula, yams, and potatoes. Even the hardwoods used in the smokers come from nearby, creating cleaner smoke and a smoother, more nuanced flavour.
Pair your plate with a flight or one of their craft beers, brewed in-house. You can even catch happy hour from 3:00 to 6:00 pm daily Monday through Friday, with both food and drink specials.
Savour the Okanagan Valley from The Royal Kelowna
Kelowna’s farm-to-table local food culture is one of its greatest draws (which is really saying something, since Okanagan Lake, the surrounding scenery, and the wine culture are all stars in their own right), and with so many exceptional restaurants nearby, you’ll never run out of new flavours to explore.
The Royal Kelowna is the perfect place to return to after a day of culinary adventures and Kelowna activities. This all-suite resort offers full kitchens, private balconies, and a rooftop pool and terrace overlooking Okanagan Lake, all in a prime downtown, walk-to-almost-everything location. From here, you can easily wander to local markets, enjoy lakeside strolls, and sample the very best of the Okanagan’s ingredient-driven dining scene. Book your stay today!
