Wineries are a huge part of British Columbia’s economy and culture, which is why it makes sense that there are so many winery restaurants to choose from. However, with so many choices available, the decision can be difficult. That’s where we come in! We share our top picks for the best South Okanagan Winery Restaurants.
Where is the South Okanagan Wine Region?
The South Okanagan wine region runs from Summerland down to Osoyoos and includes the Similkameen Valley. The region includes the famous Black Sage Bench, Oliver, Naramata, Okanagan Valley, Pentiction, and Peachland.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Best BC Wineries by Region
Map of Restaurants in the South Okanagan
The Best South Okanagan Winery Restaurants
The Restaurant at Phantom Creek Estates
The Restaurant at Phantom Creek Estates recently opened for lunch service offering a selection of multi-course meals and chef’s specials. You can also experience a five-course dinner and wine pairing meal by reservation with the Founder’s Cellar Experience.
The restaurant and patio offer some of the most spectacular views of the South Okanagan and Lake Osoyoos. Enjoy wine pairings with each course during lunch service to fully enjoy every ingredient selected for each dish.
The Founder’s Cellar Experience is truly a dining experience to remember. It starts with a glass of bubbly and a tour of the vineyards before guests are taken to a private room at the winery for dinner.
Phantom Creek’s Chef Sarah Fiore, who hails from NYC’s Michelin-starred Estela restaurant, curates the dinner menu to be paired with each red wine that is featured for the experience. It is important to note that the Founder’s Cellar Experience features only red wines. It makes for a truly fantastic culinary event.
The Restaurant at Phantom Creek Estates is open Thursday to Monday from 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 pm.
- Two-course menu for $55 per person: choose between starter + main or main + dessert. Add wine pairings for $20 per person.
- Three-course menu for $70 per person: starter, main, and dessert. Add wine pairings for $30 per person.
- The five-course wine pairing dinner is truly an exclusive wine tasting experience and costs $255 per person plus taxes.
Masala Bistro at Kismet Winery
The Masala Bistro at Kismet Winery offers a variety of dishes with traditional Indian flavours. The bistro is located on the grounds of Kismet Winery and has both indoor seating and a large patio that sits amongst the vineyards for a casual dining experience.
Masala Bistro is so good that it is always our first stop when we arrive in Oliver, BC for our South Okanagan winery getaways. Our ritual for the past five years has been to have a seat on the patio, order a glass of Infinity Rosé and slowly enjoy a selection of appetizers while we soak in the vineyards and scenery of British Columbia’s wine country.
Masala Bistro’s menu has a great selection of dishes from vegetarian and meat options. We love the samosas, chicken tikka masala, fish pakoras, their Tandori selections, and of course, their homemade naan bread.
On our last trip, I ordered the Prawn Chingari Malai Curry, and it was hands down the best dish I have ever had at Masala Bistro. They also have an excellent wine list, so be sure to try some wine pairings with your meals.
There is a reason why Masala Bistro at Kismet Winery is on our list of the best winery restaurants, and it just might be their great food and lovely patio that keep us coming back again and again.
Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
The Sonora Room Restaurant, located at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is a great place to take in the Okanagan scenery while eating.
You have the option of indoor or patio seating at The Sonora Room, but our favourite is the patio which overlooks 146 acres of vineyards and offers gorgeous views of the valley below.
The service at The Sonora Room is impeccable, and the wine list is to die for. You can order past vintages of Burrowing Owl’s wine that is no longer available to purchase, which is one of the biggest draws to the restaurant. The wine list is extensive, which means you’ll be able to find the perfect pairing for your meal.
The food at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery’s Sonora Room is divine. You can’t go wrong with any dish from the menu, but we always find ourselves craving seared scallops and beef tenderloin.
The Sonora Room is a welcoming space that has something for everyone – it’s perfect for an intimate dinner or a casual dinner with friends. The Sonora Room has been a long-time favourite and for good reason.
Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is the perfect place to get away, relax and enjoy some of BC’s finest wines. It offers a full menu with delicious dishes that are sure to please anyone who ventures in.
There is indoor seating as well as a wrap-around patio that sits above the vineyards and offers stunning views from the winery restaurant. Miradoro offers a selection of delicious open-fire Neopolitan pizzas that you must try if you have never been before.
If you plan on sitting on the patio, bring along a light sweater as it tends to get quite breezy. There are patio heaters but each time I have been there, it has been windy, and I have always needed an extra layer.
Mirodoro Restaurant offers a two-course offering at lunch, which is the soup special and either the pasta or pizza special of the day. I enjoyed the soup and pasta two-course pairing at our last meal there, and both selections were delicious but the soup was fantastic.
Each item on the menu has a wine pairing suggestion, and the wine list is extensive but not overwhelming. If you have not sipped on Tinhorn Creek’s wines, you must stop in for a wine tasting to experience one of BC’s premier wineries.
Miradoro has a beautiful setting in the South Okanagan and if you are feeling adventurous, we highly recommend going for a hike along the Stamp Mill Trail that begins in the parking lot of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards.
It is a lovely hike with beautiful views out over the valley, and then you can sit down and eat at one of the top winery restaurants.
Terrafina Restaurant at Hester Creek Estate Winery
Hester Creek is set on the 105-acre Mediterranean-influenced grounds, which are highlighted by the vineyards of the Golden Mile Bench. The estate boasts some of BC’s oldest vines and Terrafina is a Tuscan-style restaurant that is nestled in amongst them.
One of our favourite meals in BC’s wine country was dinner at Terrafina Restaurant. The food was mouth-watering delicious, the service was outstanding, and we simply didn’t want the meal to end.
The Tuscan feel of the restaurant and winery is no coincidence. The story of Terrafina has its roots in Italy. It’s a Tuscan-style restaurant and winery originally owned by an Italian family.
The original owner was inspired to create it because the Golden Mile Bench’s vineyards reminded him of his youth growing up on Tuscany hillsides.
There is both indoor and outdoor dining at Terrafina, but it is the outdoor patio that truly gives you that Italian feel. When the heat of summer hits, you can dine under a vine-covered pergola and enjoy the view. The menu is authentic Italian but with a few twists that make it their own.
Terrafina Restaurant also offers Sunday Brunch, which is a rare find in British Columbia’s wine country. Plan to spend a couple of hours here and feast on the delicious food and wines.
Chef’s Table at Backyard Farm
Backyard Farm is not a winery, but I would be remiss if I didn’t include this exceptional culinary experience.
The Chef’s Table at Backyard Farm is a once-in-a-lifetime culinary adventure. Guests get to enjoy lunch or dinner in an intimate setting and see firsthand how their food is sourced, grown, and prepared.
The property is home to 80+ heritage trees and other flora varieties. A farm-to-table policy also sits at the heart of their culture, with much of what you eat being harvested right off the grounds.
The Chef’s Table at Backyard Farm is by reservation only, and guests can enjoy up to a six-course tasting menu that changes weekly. You are encouraged to bring your favorite bottles of wine with you when you attend this dining experience, as there are no alcohol sales available for purchase.
Chef Chris Van Hooydonk will suggest wine pairings to go along with each course so you can decide which wines you want to bring with you. The setting of the Chef’s Table is in a restored home that has been completely renovated with an open kitchen.
As soon as you walk through the front door, you know that you are in for a dining experience like no other. I don’t want to share too many details as I don’t want to take away from your experience.
I will say that if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind culinary and wine pairing experience with an amazing chef, then this is it.
Row Fourteen Restaurant at Klippers Organic Acres
Take a lovely drive out to the Similkameen Valley and discover Row Fourteen Restaurant at Klipper’s Organic Acres. This restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere with an emphasis on local organic produce.
The menu changes seasonally to reflect the best of what’s available, but you can always count on some delicious vegetarian meals alongside a couple of meat dishes.
Row Fourteen is not one of the Okanagan winery restaurants but sits instead on a cidery and working farm. Located in Cawston, BC, the restaurant was built on the 14th row of the apple orchard. Row Fourteen is where “farm-to-table” becomes “farm-around-the table”.
What I love about Row Fourteen Restaurant is the number of vegetarian options available. They even have a “Field Harvest Menu” option where the chef will choose 6-7 entirely vegetarian dishes.
They also have a “Pasture Harvest Menu” which is similar but adds two meat dishes to the mix. The wine list features neighboring wineries located throughout the Similkameen Valley. Row Fourteen is about as close to nature as it gets!
The Best Kelowna Winery Restaurants
The scenic views of vineyards in Kelowna are matched by an impressive selection to choose from. Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gewurztraminer all flourish here, while Chardonnay grape varieties can be found among lighter styles with their subtle flavours that complement many dishes.
Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan and there are many Kelowna winery restaurants to choose from.
Old Vines Restaurant at Quails Gate Winery
I have been in love with Quails Gate Pinot Noir for well over two decades. You will find many of Quails Gate’s wines in our wine fridges at home and having lunch at Old Vines Restaurant next to their tasting room is one of my favourite places to spend an afternoon.
Three generations have built this winery into the successful business it is today and it is a must-visit on my itinerary whenever I am in the area.
The food at Old Vines Restaurant is a reflection of the passion and creativity that exist in both their dishes, as well as those who prepare them.
With an award-winning culinary team who support Ocean Wise by using local produce when possible while offering delicious cuisine for all tastes buds – from traditionalists to trendsetters alike!
In addition to being ranked one of Kelowna’s top restaurants, you can rest assured knowing your order has gone through some serious thought before arriving on your plate: not only because they use ocean wise seafood whenever possible but also because the menu at Old Vines Restaurant is created with care and passion.
The outdoor patio offers sweeping views of both the lake and the vineyards. The indoor seating has a lovely atmosphere and is just fancy enough to make you feel like it is a special occasion. There really is no better way to pair the fantastic Quails Gate wines than with the food at Old Vines Restaurant.
The Modest Butcher at Mt Boucherie Estate Winery
I visited Mt Boucherie well over a decade before they broke ground on their 15,000 square foot visitor centre. I loved their humble beginnings and am thrilled to see them grow.
There are many wineries to visit in this region but Mt Boucherie will always be on my list of best BC wineries to stop for a tasting and now I can also have lunch there at The Modest Butcher.
The Modest Butcher has a lovely modern interior and a spacious outdoor patio. It sits back from the lake but offers beautiful views out over the vineyards to the lake beyond. The food is fantastic and the menu offers great choices for even the pickiest of eaters.
The wonderful part of eating at The Modest Butcher is that you are able to sample all the wines under the Mt Boucherie umbrella. We discovered a robust wine from Rust Wine Co. which is located in Oliver but is produced by Mt Boucherie wines.
The new winery and restaurant at Mt Boucherie are beautiful and well worth spending an afternoon enjoying both the tasting room and restaurant. You will likely discover a new favourite wine while you are there!
The Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Estate Winery
The Terrace Restaurant is located on the south side of Lake Okanagan and features vineyards views. Their menu changes seasonally to ensure that they use fresh, local ingredients as much as possible.
The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a glass of wine and an appetizer or two and has an impressive wine list. Wine pairings are the way to go at The Terrace Restaurant.
The chef has developed meals that go well with or complement specific vintages. Your cuisine, pairings, and setting are all meant to transport you to the Okanagan Valley.
The Terrace Restaurant is open for dinner from early May until mid-October and the restaurant has long been rated as one of the best Kelowna winery restaurants in BC! Kelowna hotels are close by if you wish to make it a weekend trip instead of just one night.
Annie’s Beach Café at Frind Estate Winery
Annie’s Beach Café offers beautiful lakefront dining at Frind Estate Winery. Guests can choose to either dine inside with views of the lake or have a picnic lakeside. Pizza, charcuterie boards, cappuccino, and freshly baked pastries are all available to enjoy.
During winter evenings, guests can dine in their private dome located right on the waterfront patio and be treated to a four-course meal paired with Frind Estate wine. The evening will start with a glass of Mulled Wine before guests are escorted to their private domes.
Reservations are required to dine in the private domes and cost $110 per person.
Related: The Best Kamloops Wine Tours and Wineries
Summerhill Organic Bistro at Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Summerhill Organic Bistro is another restaurant that serves up a range of organic ingredients from the Okanagan to create their menu. The wine list also features wines produced at Summerhill Pyramid Winery and other local wineries in the region.
The restaurant is located in a beautiful room with views of Okanagan Lake. The patio seating alongside the bistro offers even more stunning lake views, but if you are after something more relaxed, then head to their bar area for some appetizers and wine by the glass!
The menu at Summerhill Organic Bistro changes seasonally and offers an array of local Okanagan products. They also have a cheese fondue night every Thursday from 5 to 9 pm.
The cheese fondue is made with a mix of Swiss and Quebec cheeses, sourced locally from Perseval & Young Cheese Shop, with mushrooms and a little truffle flavor. Pretzels, dry bread, grilled pears, cauliflower, and sausage are all available as sides.
Thompson/Okanagan Wine Region: Kamloops Winery Restaurants
The restaurant at Monte Creek Winery on the outskirts of Kamloops is as beautiful as the winery and vineyards it is located at. This flagship winery for the Kamloops area and Thompson Okanagan wine region is truly a magnificent place to come for lunch during seasonal hours.
The restaurant offers a view out over the river and of the vineyards on the other side of the mountain. If you are feeling like something a little different than a glass of wine, opt for their rosé slushie or non-alcoholic lemonade slushie. My son devours the mussels, and I am a big fan of their vegetarian dishes.
This is an open-air restaurant, and guests sit under a pergola with a beautiful fireplace to complement the view. It is important to note that the restaurant will not be open if it is raining.
If you’re looking for Okanagan winery restaurants that offers wine, food, and a great atmosphere all in one spot, then these are the top winery restaurants to visit. We hope this list helps make your decision on where to go next much easier! Which of our picks did you enjoy? Happy eating.
Casandra Karpiak is a travel writer and owner of Savoteur. A Toronto native with Danish roots currently residing in British Columbia, her travel writing has been seen on The Associated Press wire, MSN, FOX, CBS, NBC, Entrepreneur, 24/7 Wall St, Times Daily, and many more. When she’s not traveling, she can be found at hockey arenas all over BC cheering on her two young sons.