There is not shortage of dining options in Nelson. 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.
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 Max & Irma's Kitchen on Kootenay Street. Max & Irma's is a Nelson institution, serving 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 Cafe has also earned itself some attention. Both the New York Times and Ski Canada Magazine have heaped praise on its gourmet café food, 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 one of the most popular Oso Negro. For an authentic taste of Nelson and its 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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