Dining | Vernon, BC | Tourism BC

Vernon provides truly diverse dining experiences. A wide range of restaurants, including cafés, bistros, ethnic eateries and steakhouses, is concentrated in the downtown shopping district. Family restaurants, pizza and fast food outlets cluster on Highway 97 and on 27th Street, the city's second commercial strip.

Several larger hotels offer their own restaurants and lounges, while pub food is another local favourite. A similar variety is repeated in the village at Silver Star Mountain Resort.

Look for extensive wine lists at many restaurants, featuring the best of the Okanagan Valley's vineyards.

Coffee Houses

Vernonites love to gather for a java, so this city is full to the brim with coffee houses. Among the many options, sip a morning latte at Bean to Cup, an authentically restored historic house (3903 27th St), or jump start your heart with an espresso in the Tuscan garden at Bean Scene (2923 30th Ave).

The regular suspects are also represented with Tim Horton's and Starbucks, but a different variation on the theme is the Talkin Donkey (3923 32nd St), a non-profit establishment that serves only fair trade products and supports local and international causes.

Steakhouses

Vernon's deep cattle ranching roots are reflected in three very good choices for steak: the Phoenix Steakhouse, located in a historic bank building downtown (3117 30th Ave); the Clubhouse overlooking the rolling greens at Predator Ridge Golf Resort; and the Eclectic Med (3915 30th Ave), which also serves specialty meats like bison and venison.

Ethnic

Taste the world in Vernon with a cornucopia of ethnic flavours including Greek, Thai, Indian and even Mongolian. Italian restaurants include the Italian Kitchen (2916 30th Ave), Intermezzo (3206 34th Ave), and Tita's Italian Bistro (3002 41st Ave). Spicy Mexican fare is available downtown at Los Huesos (2918 30th Ave) and Little Tex (3302 29th St), a cozy hole in the wall loved by locals.

Markets

For do-it-yourself gourmet dining, Vernon Farmer's Market presents products from more than 100 vendors in peak season on Mondays and Thursdays, April to October, in the multi-plex parking lot (3445 43rd Ave). For farm gate produce, preserves and home baked goods, Davison Orchards (3111 Davison Rd) is a five-minute drive west of downtown, and Swan Lake Fruit Market and Garden Centre is easy to access at 7920 Highway 97, north of the city centre. Check with the Visitor Centre about potential seasonal opening times if you plan on visiting.

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