Nelson is big on eating out. Ethnic options include Indian, Italian, Thai, Mexican and Chinese, and then there is seafood, raw food, vegetarian food, pub food and some fast-food.
Not including the bakeries and coffee shops, there are at least a dozen establishments in the downtown core that offer outdoor patio seating in the summer months. It seems that new restaurants pop up in Nelson all the time.
For visitors, then, the challenge is having to decide on one or two eateries from the 40 plus restaurants listed in the phone book, and that does not include the coffee shops. The one thing you can't get in Nelson is a Big Mac. And the locals are happy about that.
Perhaps the best in town is the All Seasons Cafe. This back-alley bistro has been hailed as "British Columbia's best restaurant east of Vancouver" by Frommers.
Hidden away in a lane behind Baker Street, the restaurant features a seasonal menu that is described as "left coast inland cuisine" – fresh, local, organic ingredients – and an award-winning wine list. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Around the corner from the All Seasons is BiBO, a trendy, tiny and posh wine bar with a small and upscale menu of Asian-influenced nibbles and salads.
Romance on a Budget
Full of mature trees and refreshed with cool air from the lake, Rotary Lakeside Park is a beautiful place to enjoy a summer evening. Add an informal dinner at the open air Rose Garden Café, followed by a stroll along the waterfront, and who knows what will happen?
Casual Fare
For lunches, locals recommend the kooky Max & Irma's Kitchen on Kootenay Street. Max & Irma's has been around for about 10 years and serves hearty wraps, sandwiches (on bread baked in their Italian wood-fired oven) salads and pizza. It gets busy here so be prepared to be patient during the rush.
Ski and Eat
Nearby, Whitewater Ski Resort's Fresh Tracks Café has also earned itself some attention. Ski Canada Magazine heaped praise on its gourmet café food in 2008 and its former chef, Shelley Adams, has her own cookbook called Whitewater Cooks, which includes recipes from her tenure there.
Coffee Shop Culture
There are numerous coffee shops in town, but none compares with Oso Negro, located at 604 Ward Street. For an authentic taste of Nelson and its unique coffee shop culture, try their locally roasted coffee and while there, check out the decor. All of the iron work is local, the landscape design is terrific, local art hangs on the walls, and the roof is made of hemp tiles.
For more information on eating out in Nelson, check with the Visitor Centre.
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