British Columbia has all the ingredients for great dining: seafood from the Pacific Ocean, creative, top-notch chefs (including Iron Chef Rob Feenie) and fresh produce, meat and dairy from lush farming valleys.
Add in a dash of cultural diversity, and discover cuisine at BC restaurants that ranges from down-home guest ranch cooking in the South Cariboo to wild salmon sushi in Tofino and delicate dim sum in Richmond.
It's often easy to combine unique dining experiences with outdoor activities: munch on waffles before first tracks on the ski hill in Whistler, order fish and chips at Granville Island after whale watching, or hike to a mountaintop restaurant near Vancouver.
Dining and restaurants in BC cities and regions:
Vancouver: BC's culinary hotspot with award-winning chefs, trendy restaurants and cuisine from all over the world.
Victoria: Dining with Inner Harbour views, fresh seafood and local ingredients.
Whistler: Fine and casual cuisine year-round with a bustling après-ski scene in winter.
Vancouver Coast & Mountains: Local ingredients from the lush Fraser Valley and Pemberton Valley.
Thompson Okanagan: Vineyard views with a variety of dining at winery restaurants.
Vancouver Island: Fresh seafood, often served the same day it’s caught from the Pacific Ocean.
Kootenay Rockies: Rocky Mountain inspired meals, locally roasted coffees, microbreweries and traditional Doukhobor recipes.
Northern British Columbia: Plentiful seafood and game meats are menu favourites.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: Pasture-to-plate beef, buffalo burgers and guest ranch cooking.
100-Mile Diet
BC is a leader in local and sustainable eating. The 100-Mile Diet was initiated by two Vancouverites, and the Vancouver Aquarium helped develop the Ocean Wise program to encourage restaurants across Canada to make environmentally friendly seafood choices.
It’s easy to have a 100-mile meal in British Columbia: in addition to plentiful seafood from the Pacific Ocean and BC’s lakes and rivers, many chefs update their menus seasonally to incorporate the freshest (and often organic) fruits and vegetables from the Fraser, Pemberton, Cowichan, Okanagan or Creston valleys. Artisanal cheeses and dairy, wild mushrooms (chanterelles, morels and lobster), Cariboo bison and beef and Kootenay Rockies game help round out a meal. There was even a 24-mile beer brewed in Victoria!
Dining with a View in BC
Looking to dine on the mountaintops? In Whistler, dig into fluffy waffles at 1,800m/6,000ft. Hike the Grouse Grind near Vancouver for nachos and the view. For the ultimate panorama, order a meal at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden – at 2,347m/7,700ft elevation, its restaurant is the highest in Canada.
Oceanfront resorts on Vancouver Island or the west coast of BC offer stunning views with dinner. In Tofino, watch winter storms while enjoying fine dining, or tuck into a salad grown on-site in Sooke. For intimate meals with sweeping water views, cycle to a bed and breakfast on the Sunshine Coast or the Gulf Islands.
In the Okanagan, winery restaurants often overlook lakes and vineyards and offer a wide selection of local wines to pair with lunch or dinner. Mission Hill’s winery restaurant was named a top winery restaurant in the world by Travel + Leisure (2008).
Aboriginal Dining
Taste Aboriginal-inspired cuisine made with local ingredients at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler or the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate.
Fresh BC Seafood
The Pacific Ocean lines the entire west coast of BC, so aquatic delicacies are local, varied and sometimes served the very same day they’re caught.
Favorites include BC spot prawns, oysters, mussels, BC black cod, clams, halibut, dungeness crab and, of course, wild sockeye salmon – enjoy it grilled on a cedar plank, smoked or candied.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea in British Columbia is a tradition that has flourished ever since the British introduced it to the province more than a century ago and is especially popular in Victoria.
Typical menus feature seasonal berries, dainty finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones slathered with preserves and thick cream, and pots of uniquely blended teas.
Food Events in BC
Connect with farmers and fields on a “slow food cycle” through Agassiz, Chilliwack or Pemberton. Celebrate local food in a mountain town at the Taste of Fernie, or join fellow-minded garlic lovers at the South Cariboo Garlic Festival.
Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler each have special “dine out” events, where high-end restaurants offer set menus at reduced rates. To learn about what wine to pair with dinner, don’t miss the Okanagan’s famous seasonal wine festivals.
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