Calling all foodies! Welcome to our list of the the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants The next time you’re in wine country, check out these top bets and indulge in their culinary delights and incredible views!
The Naramata Bench, situated on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake is known for its picturesque vineyards and rolling landscapes. Quickly becoming recognized for its high density of wineries, the Naramata Bench wine region is studded with an array of wineries ranging from boutique to sprawling estates. With endless options all in such close proximity, visitors to the Naramata Bench can enjoy a wide variety of winery experiences with great ease.
Visitors to the area will be delighted to learn that many of these wineries also offer excellent dining experiences. In this guide of the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants, we will highlight some of the very best dining spots along the Naramata Bench. After all, what better way to end a fabulous day of wine tasting than capping it off with a delicious meal! Here is our list for 2024 of the 5 best Naramata Bench Restaurants that will be sure to satisfy your every craving!
Hillside Winery Bistro:
Starting off our list of the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants, Hillside Winery and Bistro is a renowned winery and restaurant located on the Naramata Bench. Offering breathtaking views of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding vineyards, Hillside Winery is easily accessible within 10 minutes from Penticton.
While Hillside Winery is known for its picturesque setting and for producing of a range of high-quality and award-winning wines, a visit to the property wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a meal at their bistro.
At the helm and with over twenty years of industry experience is Chef Evan Robertson. Having been featured on the Food Network’s popular TV series, “You Gotta Eat Here” as well as having recently received the Gold Medal Plates recognition, Chef Robertson brings a passion and expertise that carries right through to the food he prepares. With a focus on locally-sourced ingredients, Chef Robertson credits the neighbourhood’s farmers and ranchers for the bistro’s success.
The Bistro’s menu is focused on small plates, allowing guests to indulge in a fun sharing experience. Terroir-to-table cuisine at its finest, guests are encouraged to sit back, slow down and share. Interesting flavour combinations and ingredients are thoughtfully assembled to pair beautifully with Hillside’s award wining wines.
With wine pairings offered at lunch and dinner as an optional add-on, take guess-work out of the equation and allow the team at Hillside to artfully and expertly pair their wines with each and every dish. Roasted root vegetables paired with their Muscat Ottonel or brussels sprouts and bacon paired with their Pinot Noir are just a few of the culinary delights that will be sure to impress.
Hillside bistro ticks all the boxes whether for lunch or dinner and lands the top spot on our list of the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants!
The Patio Restaurant at Lake Breeze Vineyards:
Known and loved for their collection of clean, crisp and fruit driven wines, Lake Breeze Vineyards has established itself as so much more than a winery. Taking inspiration from the cottage country atmosphere of summers past, Lake Breeze has blossomed into a vibrant, serene piece of countryside you’ll want to spend the entire day exploring.
Beyond providing informative and engaging tastings in their wineshop and gorgeous courtyard area, Lake Breeze sought to offer something greater. Following in the footsteps of settlers who arrived to the Okanagan centuries ago, Lake Breeze developed their very own farmstead and proudly opened in 2021.
The team at Lake Breeze now welcomes you to explore their farmstead, complete with orchards, vegetable and herb gardens, chickens and pigs. Now a genuine farm experience, Lake Breeze truly provides the most ultimate and authentic farmstead-to-table experience on the Naramata Bench.
While the winery and farm are lovely, Lake Breeze lands on our list of the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurantsfor their incredible culinary offerings.
If you haven’t been lucky enough to dine at their Patio Restaurant, there has never been a better time to visit. Mark Ashton, Chef de Cuisine at the Patio Restaurant believes that the addition of the farmstead and the ability to grow their own organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs on site that can be harvested moments before plating is elevating the Lake Breeze culinary experience to new levels. Each dish is thoughtfully designed to pair perfectly with their selection of handcrafted Lake Breeze wines.
Offering panoramic views over the vineyard, lake and mountains, their patio beckons you to pull up a chair and spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying good food and wine with loved ones. As you soak up the sun, take in the views, and feel the gentle kiss of the breeze off the lake, you just may think you’ve died and gone to heaven.
A solid choice for wine lover and foodies alike, The Patio Restaurant at Lake Breeze Vineyards solidly lands in second place on our list of 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants.
The Kitchen at Da Silva:
Prepare to be whisked away to Spain! Coming in third place of our 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants is The Kitchen at Da Silva. Tucked away on the backside of the winery overlooking the vineyards, the Kitchen at Da Silva Winery reminds us of the importance of slowing down and enjoying the simple pleasures.
Created in 2012 with a mission to set itself apart from pretentious fine dining, the Kitchen established itself as the first Okanagan restaurant serving tapas. Think crusty fresh bread swiped through extra virgin olive oil, patatas bravas, buttered beans, piri piri prawns, chorizo — the list goes on! At the Kitchen, you will experience a variety of Spanish style tapas and other unexpected dishes from Chef Abul Adame, all within their intimate homestyle patio overlooking the vineyards and mountains.
Chef Adame takes inspiration from his travels, with influences from Portugal, Spain and Mexico all evident throughout his dishes.
The goal of the Kitchen was to develop a more social and interactive way of eating. In keeping with this mission, guests are encouraged to live adventurously and opt for the Chef’s Choice — an assortment of interesting tapas and dishes all thoughtfully curated by the chef himself.
Meanwhile, for those who prefer to remain in control of their own culinary destiny, you can’t go wrong with their signature dish, paella. Considered the Okanagan’s finest, it is made of 100% Spanish saffron rice, mussels, clams, roasted chicken and prawns. Of course, seafood, meat and vegetarian options are all available. Good friends, great food, delicious wines — the simple life really is where it’s at.
Wesbert Winery Pizzeria:
Offering the most causal dining experience on our list of the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants, Wesbert Pizzeria is a fan favourite! Founded by the Joubert family in 2019, Wesbert Winery is situated on the famous Naramata Bench surrounded by breathtaking hills, valleys and Okanagan Lake. Originally from South Africa, the Jouberts quickly garnered a reputation for the warm hospitality South Africans are known for.
One step in the door and you’ll be graciously welcomed by a smiling face and invited to partake in a tasting. Aiming to provide well-balanced, full-flavoured wines, Wesbert has established itself as a destination for terroir driven wines. One of very few wineries in the Okanagan showcasing Pilotage in their portfolio, Wesbert also produces familiar favourites like Merlot, Gamay, and Syrah.
With a warm and welcoming wineshop, an inviting tasting room, and a vine-laced terrace, Wesbert even offers their very own on site Guest Suites for out of town guests. However, as if all this weren’t enough, it just might be the enticing scent of fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza that draws you in for a visit.
Situated just a stone’s throw from the popular Kettle Valley Rail Trail, Wesbert Winery has become just as popular amongst cyclers and hikers as wine enthusiasts. In fact, Wesbert Winery’s Pizzeria is fast becoming the place to go for incredible, authentic, wood-fired pizza. A unanimous fan favourite is their fig and blue cheese pizza, bordered perfectly by a charred and bubbly crust. Pair that with a glass of the Wesbert Gamay and you’ve got yourself a fantastic afternoon on the Naramata Bench!
The Bench Patio Bistro at Bench 1775:
Next on our list of the 5 best Naramata Bench Restaurants is Bench 1775. Named after its address on Naramata Road, Bench 1775 Winery offers breathtaking views and unparalleled wines that celebrate the land and place from which they come.
With an award-winning portfolio of ice wines and table wines enjoyed domestically and worldwide, Bench 1775 is no stranger to the wine scene. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot round out their robust portfolio of red wines. On the white wine side you’ll find Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and a lesser known White Merlot.
If you already know and love their wines, it is quite likely you’ll fall in love with their bistro as well! Bench Patio Bistro at Bench 1775 offers spectacular outdoor dining overlooking Okanagan Lake. Branching out from the usual “farm-to-table” fare, Bench Patio Bistro offers up delectable Asian tapas like dim sum, yakitori, chicken karaage, and Korean bbq tacos.
Walk ins are welcome and their patio is pet friendly! World-class wines, delicious bites, and priceless views all make for a winning combination, and the ultimate dining experience you won’t want to miss.
The variety and asian influence of their menu makes Bench 1775 a very different dining experience and a worthy stop on our list of th 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants.
Check out Bench 1775 Menu here
The Naramata Bench — a place you’ll come for the wineries and fall in love with for the food. With an endless assortment of incredible dining options right at your fingertips, we hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the 5 best Naramata Bench restaurants and wish you good eating during your stay in the region. Bon appétit!
To learn more about our Naramata Bench Wine Tours click here!
