What makes for the perfect romantic dining experience? In Kelowna, it all begins with a bit of Okanagan magic: special dishes created with local product, views air-brushed by the cool tones of a quiet lakeside evening and prices that will leave enough in your wallet to add even more sparkle through the remainder of the night (perhaps even with a glass of local sparkling wine).
Here are four Kelowna restaurants that have that Okanagan magic—location, ambience and affordable cuisine—where you can build your perfect romantic dining getaway.
Image courtesy Bouchon’s Bistro
What could be more romantic than delicious French cuisine paired with exquisite French or Okanagan Valley wines? This sophisticated bistro with decor reminiscent of a Parisian Left Bank café is located in downtown Kelowna, au milieu du son quartier culturel. Impress your date by skipping the menu and ask to share a serving of La Bouillabaisse. You’ll both love this classic dish from Marseilles that features fresh market seafood stewed in a spicy saffron broth. Or splurge and enjoy the Duck Leg Confit or the Veal Tenderloin on Lobster Sauce. Might we suggest a walk along the downtown Kelowna waterfront for dessert?
Image courtesy Minstrel Cafe & Bar
If a lively dining experience is more your thing, book yourself into this casual gourmet dining destination in Kelowna’s Mission area. Live music—including roots, jazz, blues and folk—is a nightly dinner companion to the innovative and original dinner menu. To add a little spice to the evening, try the Hara Masala Curry—seasonal vegetables simmered in a cilantro and spinach-flavoured curry sauce over lemongrass basmati rice.
Image courtesy Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Watching the gentle glow of pastel reds and oranges of sunset sparkle across Lake Okanagan is enough to get this bistro located on our list. But the Sunset’s location at Summerhill Pyramid Winery is just one of the features that makes it special. Local ingredients (many grown from their on-site gardens) form a foundation for plate selections that are seasonally specific and, as the culinary team puts it “radiate goodness,” both in the way they taste as well as in the way they make you feel. Wrap up the evening with a visit to the wine shop, where you can acquire a bottle of Jazz Blush. Trust us, you’ll love the bottle.
The Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill
Image courtesy Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
Just arriving at this West Kelowna landmark will be enough to have her reaching for your hand. The immaculate Mission Hill winery overlooks vineyards, Okanagan Lake and includes as its focal point a 12-storey bell tower. The outdoor restaurant opens in May, when it will offer stylish, seasonal fare. You’ll want to think about booking in April as this culinary destination was recognized by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the top five winery restaurants in the world.