Foodies, welcome to the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants in 2024! We all know how incredible the culinary options are in the Okanagan Valley, and Kelowna is bursting to the rim with great food possibilities! Whether you’re looking for an evening of fine dining, a casual afternoon of light bites, or something in between, Kelowna has an option for every occasion under the Okanagan sun!
Locals and visitors alike will be spoiled for dining options, which can be a blessing and a curse. In order to make life a little easier for you, we’ve compiled this list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants In 2024.
Central Kitchen + Bar
First on our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants is a local favourite! No other local watering hole epitomizes Kelowna the way Central Kitchen + Bar does. Considered the heart and soul of the city, Central Kitchen + Bar just feels like home. From the warm and welcoming staff to the cool and casual interior, everyone is made to feel like a regular here!
Boasting the best burgers in Kelowna, and a fantastic happy hour menu, this is the spot to enjoy delicious casual fare with friends. Their diverse menu offers something for every palate. Pizzas, pastas, salads, handhelds, bowls, not to mention an over-the-top weekend brunch offering.
What makes this spot truly unique, however, is the fact that it is connected to the local recreation centre (translation: Sunday best not required)! A buzzy atmosphere great for people watching, taking in the game, unwinding after a long day at work, you name it. Whatever the occasion, Central Kitchen + Bar is a guaranteed good time!
Bouchons Bistro
Bienvenue à Bouchons Bistro, une petite slice of France right in the heart of downtown Kelowna! No self respecting list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants would be complete without some French fare! When husband and wife, Stephane & Beatrice, boldly moved from Paris to Canada in 2001, never did they think they would end up acquiring a quaint Parisian-style bistro in the Okanagan Valley. Fast forward to present day and Bouchons Bistro has a loyal following of customers who have fallen in love with their Parisian-style upscale dining experience.
Staff are expertly outfitted in shirts, ties and aprons, and tables are adorned with crisp white table cloths. The menu reflects dishes that the husband and wife duo enjoyed dining on in Paris. Escargots, foie gras, boeuf bourguignon, and duck leg are just a few of the French staples you can expect, complimented by a thoughtfully curated wine list showcasing wines from both the Okanagan and France.
Salt & Brick
Absolutely the “quirkiest” member on our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants is the famed Salt & Brick. Sitting just shy of 1000 square feet and tucked ever so preciously into its brick & mortar storefront on Bernard Avenue is local favourite. With limited seating, scoring a table here is a small victory in itself. But once you’re in, you’re in.
Recognized for its original brick wall, funky floral wallpaper, beautiful wood beams and iconic neon sign, the space is as warm and inviting as its incredible staff. On the beverage side, Salt & Brick is known for its outstanding wine list, often showcasing smaller Okanagan wineries and unique varietals. Diners to Salt & Brick will be taken on a culinary adventure through the daily fresh sheet menu (which can usually be found daily on their Instagram account @saltandbrick_). Expect creative share plates focused on fresh, local, and seasonal items.
Humo Izakaya
The newest culinary experience on our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants, welcome to Kelowna’s first contemporary Asian Latin fusion dining experience! Offering a wide range of globally inspired tapas and larger sharing plates plus a fantastic daily happy hour, Humo’s menu beautifully marries all of the delectable flavours of Latin America with the Asian favourites. Kimchi fried rice, birria gyoza, uni udon carbonara, braised beef ribs are a few of the standout dishes, and share plates are the perfect way to sample as many items as possible.
Be sure to order an expertly hand-crafted cocktail, most of which incorporate interesting combinations of Latin and Asian ingredients.
Gather Kelowna
Who would’ve known that the cuisines of Korea and Italy are a match made in heaven? Well we absolutely love it and we’re happy to see Gather Kelowna make our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants in 2024. Located in downtown Kelowna, Gather is a neighbourhood Korean Italian restaurant that draws from both owners Chef Sung Ji Park and Luigi Coccaro’s heritage. The menu is inspired from Sung Ji Park’s childhood, but also pays tribute to his decade of culinary experience in fine Italian dining.
Designed to be a place where guests can gather around a table and share in a true culinary experience, diners will be delighted by unique offerings like Korean pork shoulder, bibimbap, and gnocchi Alfredo. Set in a sleek and modern space with floor to ceiling windows, this is a cutting edge culinary experience you won’t want to miss!
Waterfront Wines
Offering perhaps the most dynamic wine offerings on our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants, Waterfront Wines is focused on delivering fine dining flavours in an approachable atmosphere. Chef Mark Filatow has made it his mission to source only the freshest, most local ingredients possible. This extra effort and attention to detail can be seen in each of his phenomenal creations. Few restaurants can claim that they have been named ‘Best Okanagan Restaurant’ at the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards for twelve years running, which only further serves as a testament to Filatow’s commitment to quality.
Entrees range from grilled peppercorn angus flat iron steak to sablefish with brown butter and roasted duck with crispy potato. Okanagan wines, local ciders and beers, and hand crafted cocktails round out their exceptional beverage menu. You’ll want to plan ahead and make a reservation here well in advance!
King Taps Kelowna
New kid on the block, King Taps Kelowna has quickly become known as the place to see and be seen. A welcome addition to our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants, King Taps offers a consistent approach to an extensive and approachable menu. On any given day of the week, the place is buzzing with an unmatched energy. During the summer months, there is perhaps no better place to be than their rooftop patio overlooking the lake, mountains, and marina.
Meanwhile, guests will feel cozy and warm in their dimly lit dining rooms during the winter months. Their menu offers a little something for everyone, with greens and bowls, pastas and steaks, plus their self-titled “damn good pizzas!” Local beer, cider, and hand crafted cocktails are all up for grabs, along with an extensive wine list showcasing local Okanagan favourites plus a few international wines of interest. When in doubt, King Taps is sure to deliver on great food, upbeat service, fun tunes, and an unmatched ambience!
El Taquero
Our only Mexican offering on this years list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants, El Taquero continues to be a shining star on the Kelowna food scene! Kelowna’s top taco, this is a Kelowna staple! If you haven’t already had the pleasure of meeting Izzy, their dedicated “taquero” (aka taco maker), he truly is the man behind the magic.
You’ll often find him bringing out his authentic Mexican fare directly to guests so that he can engage them with a short history and inspiration behind the dish. His passion is infectious, and his authentic Mexican dishes are outstanding. While street tacos are the undoubted staple and fan favourite, other offerings include burritos, plates and bowls, tortas (Mexican sandwiches) and nachos. Each and every item pairs perfectly with their house made margaritas. For a real taste of Mexico, be sure to give El Taquero a visit!
Antico Pizzeria
Topping the pizza category on our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants, Antico Pizza delivers some of the best tasting pizza in Canada….and that’s saying something! Antico Pizzeria is officially recognized by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napolitana (AVPN) in Naples as making truly authentic Neapolitan pizza. At Antico Pizzeria, every pizza is made fresh to order with their naturally leavened dough.
A wood fired oven, custom built in Naples, cooks pizzas to perfection in only 90 seconds — that’s how long it takes to bake a true Neapolitan pizza. The outcome is a unique, charred, yet soft and light crust that truly sets Antico Pizzeria apart. Traditionalists may opt for a classic Margherita pizza, while adventure seekers may opt for the Casatiello, a Pizza Bianca (white pizza) with toppings of Mozzarella Di Bufala, Genoa Salami, Garlic, and a fresh egg. No matter which pie you try, your tastebuds will thank you!
Tutt Street Tapas + Wine
Rounding out our list of the top 10 Kelowna Restaurants is Tutt Street Tapas + Wine. Husband and wife, Rita and Jason, are owners of this quaint little spot, located in Pandosy Village. One of Kelowna’s only dedicated tapas establishments, share plates and small bites are the name of the game. Absolutely everything is made in house, including their seafood cakes, baked meatballs, house made gnocchi, and pastas.
Wine lovers will be pleased to discover that an equal importance is placed on wine here. An expansive international wine list is sure to impress even the greatest of wine connoisseurs. Real life photographs adorn the walls and take guests on a journey through the couples’ international travels, which no doubt inspire and influence their menu. Perfect for date night or a small gathering with friends, you’ll definitely want to book a table at Tutt Street Tapas!
Foodies rejoice. Your next delicious meal is just around the corner! Whether you’re looking for a casual spot to catch up with friends, an evening of fine dining to celebrate a momentous occasion, or your next great spot for happy hour, the dining scene in Kelowna has never been better! We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the top 10 best Kelowna Restaurants in 2024. Bon appetite, friends!
To learn more about authentic Kelowna food experiences in a group setting, please check out our Kelowna Food Tours. For travellers and locals alike interested in stepping up your wine game, we have several Kelowna Wine Tours that will have your taste buds tingling!
