No words can even start to describe how in LOVE with Kelowna I am! Truly a must see place in the world and it's in our own country! In Kelowna you can explore a variety of vineyards, lovely local coffee shops and fun activities on the water.
If you are starting your Okanagan Lake adventure in Osoyoos, here are some must dos on your way to Kelowna
Located in Penticton, this coffee shop is a proper thirdwave style coffee shop! It is open from 8 to 4 everyday and has the cutest terrace!
Although they are now closed for the rest of 2021 (only open during summer season), the Peach was too iconic to be dismissed. Located near the water in Penticton, it is litteraly a peach shaped ice cream shops that sell the craziest shakes which are topped with brownies, cakes... and of course a fuzzy peach.
Truly such a stunning spot and the Queen's Advantage although expensive is literally the best Chardonnay I've ever tried. Unfortunately, we were late for a reservation and so I didn't have time to take any pictures. It is open 11 to 5 daily and a must if you're ever in Oliver.
As mentioned on their website, Terrafina is a Tuscan Style restaurant nestled among the vines of the Hester Creek Estate Winery in Oliver. Reservations are highly recommended as we saw people get turned around because of the limited seating due to the current pandemic. It is the perfect comfort food for a gloomy day. We shared the meatballs, gnocchi served with roasted chicken and the Margherita pizza. They also offer a Sunday Brunch which sounded delicious.
This stunning winery is located in West Kelowna and is open daily from 11am to 7pm. They offer a multitude of experiences from tastings to a full dinning experience. We took the Legacy Tour which includes a full guided tour of the Estate as well as a wine and food 5 courses pairing menu. The Estate itself was simply breathtaking and the food was divine (the wine too haha). It is a pricey experience but it is well worth it in our opinion!
This is the perfect winery for a picnic on a sunny day. They have a beautiful view of the Okanagan Lake and have nice picnic tables overlooking the view. You can either bring your own picnic and simply buy some wine to complete your meal or you can buy some of their picnic items which includes cheese, dips, crackers... The weekends are quite fun there as they have special creampuff sold from 11am until sold out which are super yummy!
Another incredibly stunning winery in West Kelowna. If you are heading to Kelowna and haven't booked a reservation for Old Vines Restaurant, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! But before making your reservation, check the weather to see at what time the sun is suppose to set and then make a reservation 30-45 minutes before. Thank me later! If you wish to do a tasting as well, you can also make a reservation for it and I would suggest making it one hour before your dinner reservation! That way you can enjoy the view longer, see the full sunset as well as trying out all the wines. For dinner, I had the basil pesto risotto and if it would have been appropriate, I would have licked the plate clean haha! Definitely a must!
My little go to coffee shop in Kelowna. But trust me when I say I wasn't the only one who Sprout was the go to. If you want to be sure to have a place to sit down during busy days (high season and weekends) be sure to get there earlier than 10 am. It's a super delicious and popular spot in Downtown Kelowna. Their morning toast with jam is so good and their focaccia as well! (We got the focaccia and brought it on our picnic to Arrowleaf, such a delicious plan!)
Another very cute coffee shop located in Downtown Kelowna. Although it is a bit further than Sprout it is well worth it to check it out! From our experience it was mostly locals who went there so there isn't as many people! And if you have some work to do while on your trip, this is your spot! They have a lovely terrace in the back perfect for working.
Located in Downtown Kelowna, this is the sweet addicts' dream spot. It is a chocolate and pastry boutique that has incredible croissants and other pastries as well as specialty cakes like this little peach treat in the picture. As well, they have many different chocolates and chocolate bars to bring back home (if they make it there). The perfect spot for a morning treat or a dessert.
My favorite dinner spot we went to. Not only did we go and loved it but went back for more. Out of all the cocktails I've had on this trip, this bar holds the prize for the best cocktail I've ever had. Their menu changes seasonally so it's possible my cocktail won't be there anymore (yes I adopted it as my cocktail now). But for the curious ones it was the Moscow Mousse (Tito's Handmade Vodka, Licor 43, ChaiBabba chai tea syrup, lime, Fever Tree ginger beer foam). The food is also amazing and is a farm to table tapas style. Small plates perfect for sharing and trying everything.
This by the water restaurant is also a must during sunset. Located in the marina of the Delta hotel, it offers a stunning view of Okanagan Lake. And their tomato soup is to die for!
If you love the water as much as I do, you'll have to have some water fun while in Kelowna. Although it is possible to rent a boat without a permit I would suggest doing SUP instead. There's something so peaceful in being on the water in the morning that I just love! Here is a company I have found that offers SUP classes and also has such cool merch: Okanagan Lifestyle . They also offer Yoga SUP which looked so fun but wasn't available as it was boat season when we went!
Bon Appétit and Safe Travels!
By
October 28, 2021
A Foodie since forever, follow me on my journey to find the best restaurants & coffee shops around the world and in my hometown Montreal.
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