Culinary tours in Whistler take advantage of the city's fantastic dining options. More than 100 restaurants create a thriving après-ski scene (named the "best après-ski in North America" by SKI Magazine in 2010), as well as plenty of choices for year-round dining tours.
Join Whistler Tasting Tours and discover as many as four restaurants in a single evening, or enjoy a self-guided culinary crawl through Whistler Village after a day of skiing, mountain biking or hiking.
Stop by a farmers market in Whistler or Pemberton – famous for its organically grown potatoes – to pick up ingredients for a home-cooked meal. Want to see professional chefs create special dishes? Then attend culinary festivals in Whistler that celebrate local food, wine and beer: Cornucopia and Feast in the Mountains are two not to be missed.
Cooking classes in Whistler are geared towards groups of friends looking to create memorable meals and dishes in intimate, chef-led settings.
Guided Culinary Tours
Having trouble deciding where to dine? With acclaimed Whistler Tasting Tours, visit multiple restaurants on a three-hour walking tour. Savour a four-course dinner where each course is provided by a different restaurant and paired with a BC wine. Pick from the “Finer Things” tour to visit award-winning restaurants (and learn to saber champagne), or discover local favourites with the “Hidden Gems” option.
Self-Guided Culinary Tours
Whistler’s pedestrian-only village is crammed with more than 100 restaurants, cafés, bistros and bars, plus a brewery and brewpub – and many are located within close walking distance of one another. Take a culinary crawl and try multiple eateries in one night.
Stock up on brightly coloured vegetables, pungent garlic, potatoes, artists' creations and more at summer farmers markets in Whistler and Pemberton. The Whistler farmers market takes place in the village on Sundays, and the Pemberton farmers market is held on Wednesday evenings at the Legion. Take advantage of Whistler's parks and beaches and enjoy a market-inspired picnic outdoors.
Whistler Cooking Schools
Whistler culinary schools are geared towards groups of friends looking to create memorable meals and dishes in intimate, chef-led cooking classes. Some Whistler cooking schools also offer culinary classes in students' own kitchens.
In The Bearfoot Bistro's cooking classes, create a three-course gourmet meal with a group of friends (typically eight or more). Classes are taught by renowned Executive Chef Melissa Craig – winner of the 2008 Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships. Learn how Melissa combines local ingredients with internationally-sourced foods to create dishes ranging from pumpkinseed crusted halibut to chai tea crème brûlée. Classes end with delicious wine-paired meals.
Culinary Festivals and Events
Cornucopia, Whistler’s revered festival of food and wine in November, is a four-day event centered around BC’s spectacular food and wine. Enjoy tasting events, winemaker dinners, chef and sommelier seminars, and after-parties.
In August, dine outdoors with Feast in the Mountains, a wandering picnic set in Rebagliati Park that features top BC chefs, winemakers, brewers, and farmers.
Cyclists can take a 26-km/16-mi pedal-powered buffet through Pemberton farmland with Slow Food Cycle Sunday (August). Stop at farms along the way and dig into beef burgers and Pemberton french fries, or pick up ingredients for a post-ride lunch.
Practical Points
- The peak season in Whistler for culinary touring is between March and October, although some tours are offered year-round.
- Tours may require advance booking.
- Check with local Visitor Centres for maps, information on transportation or trip ideas.
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