Dining in the Kootenay Rockies is all about variety. Menus can include fresh produce from the Creston Valley, wild mushrooms from the Arrow Lakes area near Nakusp, Rocky Mountain game meats, craft beer and locally roasted coffee.
Discover Nelson’s eclectic mix of restaurants, one of which was called "British Columbia's best restaurant east of Vancouver" by Frommer's travel guide. Visit popular chain restaurants in Cranbrook and Trail, or dine at family-owned cafés in smaller communities such as Fernie and Revelstoke.
Some international flavours – traditional Doukhobor and Bavarian dishes – are also ingrained in the Kootenay Rockies, and the region's plentiful snowfall and ski hills bring distinctive winter dining options with lively après ski scenes.
Après Ski Dining
There are seven major ski resorts here, and in winter, pubs at the base of ski hills or in nearby towns are filled with friendly locals sipping locally brewed beers.
Head to Whitewater Ski Resort's award-winning Fresh Tracks Café (it's so popular that it has produced two cookbooks) or to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort's Eagle's Eye Restaurant, which is set at an elevation of 2,346m/7,700ft and was named the “Mountain Restaurant of the Year” for six consecutive years (2002-2007) by The Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide (a publication compiled by British ski experts). After a day of cross-country skiing in Rossland, savour a three-course French cheese fondue dinner with Le Petit Fromage.
Doukhobor and Bavarian Cuisine
Doukhobors, a sect of Russian pacifists, immigrated to the area around Castlegar and Grand Forks in the early 1900s, and traditional Doukhobor recipes are still available in the region. Bite into soft, hot pirahi or vereniki or enjoy a bowl of Doukhobor borscht, which is creamier in colour and in taste than bright red Russian beet borscht.
Kimberley is known for its European alpine theme and pedestrian Platzl, which lends itself perfectly to German and Bavarian fare. Pile a plate high with sausages, schnitzel and bratwurst. The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant even has an authentic setting: a 350-year old, reconstructed Bavarian farmhouse.
Local Specialty Food & Drinks
Eat Rocky Mountain meat prepared in unique ways. Try elk cassoulet in Golden, venison paired with BC wine or beer at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, bison ribeye steak in Fernie, or an organic buffalo burger in Field.
For a jolt of caffeine, look for locally-roasted coffee from Invermere (Kicking Horse Coffee), Nelson (Oso Negro Coffee and Kootenay Coffee Company) and Rossland (Rossland Coffee & Tea Company). Or try a craft beer with dinner – Fernie Brewing Company, Nelson Brewing Company and Mt. Begbie Brewing make delicious local brews.
Food Festivals
Join fellow garlic-lovers at the Hills Garlic Festival in New Denver. The pungent clove is celebrated with 160 vendors, live entertainment and even garlic poetry.
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