6 Must-Try Restaurants in Kelowna

Local chef Jason Leizert shares his go-to spots in his adopted city.

It was just two years ago that Vancouver-based chef Jason Leizert (Boneta, Save On Meats) packed his knives up and headed east, where he quietly opened Salted Brick. And his idea for a casual charcuterie-centric restaurant with a daily changing menu arrived at the perfect time for Kelowna: his modest spot quickly became a go-to for other chefs on their days off and just about everyone else in town who hankered for true farm-to-table with no pretense.

With a couple of years under his belt, he’s now officially a local—so we asked him to choose six spots that sum up his newly adopted city.

Alchemy Juice Co. and exPress Juice Co.

The cold-pressed juices from both these spots keep me moving. I love seeing the bright-red exPress Juice Co. truck sitting on Ellis Street downtown, and love the fun they have with the juice names like John Lemon and Will-I-Yam.

Gratitude Café

The only 100-percent vegan and gluten-free restaurant in town. A great place for a mid-afternoon snack or after a long ride.

Fernando’s Pub

If you don’t find our staff at our place, you can probably find them hanging out at Fernando’s. The mix of classic Mexican food and traditional pub fare along with live music nights is a winning combination for our team.

The Table at Codfathers Market

If you’re not at Salted Brick, you should be here. Located inside Codfathers Seafood Market, they serve up the freshest seafood fish tacos, oysters and tempura-battered fish and chips around. They’ll soon have both patio seating and a liquor licence, which will make it even more appealing.

Bean Scene Coffee Works

This café is just down the street on Bernard Avenue  Not only do they roast their own beans—and the smell of fresh-roasted coffee draws you in—but server Charlotte is the gem of downtown.

Waterfront Wines

Simply the best place for dinner in the Okanagan. Chef Mark Filatow and his kitchen team knock it out of the park every night. There is no mystery why for seven straight years they’ve won Vancouver Magazine’s Best Okanagan Restaurant award.

Want more from Kelowna? We’ve got 5 of the best hiking spots right here.