Penticton provides the wide range of dining options typical of a city that welcomes tourists year round. Cafés and bistros, ethnic eateries and upscale restaurants are concentrated in the downtown area. Family restaurants, pizza and fast food outlets string along South Main Street. Several hotels offer their own dining rooms and lounges, while pub food is also a favourite.
The growing wine industry is having a marked influence on Penticton menus. Chefs are catering to the tastes of visitors with discerning palates and showing an increased preference for local ingredients. This extends to beverages as well. Look for extensive selections of Okanagan wines, often including labels not available in stores, and beers produced by Penticton's micro-breweries.
But developing sophistication hasn't diminished local charm. Many Penticton restaurants are owned by the chef or chef and spouse. The business is personal – both menu and service. Expect to hear regulars greeted by name and expect to feel like a regular.
Downtown Dining
The Globe and Mail says the "food rocks all around" at Amante Bistro. Take in the chic décor and must-have squid (483 Main St). Classic Greek is a family affair at Theo's Restaurant, with a great indoor atrium (687 Main St). Funky décor, a global menu and eclectic live entertainment mark the Dream Café (67 Front St), while Bogner's serves Euopean cuisine in a heritage home (302 Eckhardt Ave). Insiders recommend Isshin Japanese Deli (449 Main St) for Japanese specialties. When they're up for beef, they hit the Black Iron Grill & Steak House (152 Riverside Dr). Street eats include hot dog stands and Jeffer's Fries – legendary throughout the Okanagan.
View Spots
Restaurant patios fronting Okanagan Lake are maxed out on hot summer days. Try for a seat at Vallarta Grill, where the Mexican food is authentic (988 Lakeshore Dr); Salty's Beachhouse and The Black Pearl Lounge, serving Thai and Caribbean food (1000 Lakeshore Dr), or the Hooded Merganser, for burgers to steaks right on the beach (21 Lakeshore Dr). Take in the whole Penticton panorama from the Lost Moose Lodge Resort high on a ridge east of town. The burgers, steaks and chicken are barbecued on an outdoor grill year round (2301 Beaverdell Rd).
Winery Dining
Sample menus designed to pair with the winery's own vintages. Standouts include the Barrel Room Bistro at Hillside Estate Winery (1350 Naramata Rd) and The Patio at Lake Breeze Vineyards, (930 Sammet Rd, Naramata), both open seasonally.
Java and the Arts
The Cannery (an actual converted cannery building at 1475 Fairview Rd) hosts two local culture spots. Check out works by local artists over a morning cup of Joe or drop in for lunch, homemade soup or salad and Panini at Valentini's. There's more art at The Can Coffee Co, which also fronts the Cannery Stage, home of the Many Hats Theatre Company.
Do-it-Yourself Gourmet
Shop for fresh local produce, preserves, meats and specialty foods at the Penticton Farmers' Market, Saturday mornings May to October (100 block Main St). Year round, find many of the same products, like Poplar Grove Cheese, Okanagan Wineland Dressings and Naramustard, at The Bench Artisan Market (368 Vancouver Ave), also open for deli lunches and take-out.
For more information on where to eat out in Penticton, contact the Visitor Centre.
Show Less