Food Tours
THINGS TO DO · KELOWNA & WEST KELOWNA

Bite into Neapolitan pizza downtown, pick ripe cherries straight from the branch, and master scratch pasta with local chefs.

10 food tours & tastings · Updated October 2026Things To Do guide · Go Kelowna
Photo: Sean Siegers · Vivid Tours - Kelowna Wine Tours via Google

01AT A GLANCE

The details that matter.

The regional culinary scene spans three-hour walking tastings along the Waterfront Boardwalk and hands-on classes at Lakehouse Kitchens. Agricultural history comes alive at the Laurel Packinghouse, setting the stage for seasonal U-pick harvests at Kuipers Family Fruit Farm. You will find sprawling outdoor markets operating from April through October.

Best Season
July to September
Book Ahead
Tours & classes
Best Area
Downtown & West Kelowna
Good to know
U-pick dates vary by weather

01LOCAL PICKS

•LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Tasting the Okanagan Valley

Track down pesticide-free produce at Glenmore Garden Market or book a chef's table overlooking the vineyards. This breakdown covers the exact routes, seasons, and booking windows you need to eat well here.

The short answer

Begin your morning at the Farmers' and Crafters' Market in the Landmark District to sample regional cheeses and baked goods. From there, join Vivid Tours for an afternoon tasting walk that hits independent kitchens near the waterfront, finishing with dinner at Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate.

01City Flavours

Walking Tastings

Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market, Kelowna
Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market, Kelowna

Vivid Tours leads three-hour walking routes past the Waterfront Boardwalk, stopping exclusively at independent kitchens. You will sample everything from Neapolitan pizza and Mexican tacos to Japanese dishes. The guides share neighborhood history between stops in the Cultural District.

These afternoon walks require no driving, making them a practical way to map out the downtown core. The operators coordinate with local chefs to pair specific dishes with regional drinks. They can adjust the menu for dietary restrictions if you give them advance notice.

Summer spots fill up weeks ahead of time. You book directly on the operator websites, securing your place for a rain-or-shine afternoon.

Local tips

  • Wear flat shoes for the three-hour walk.
  • Dress in layers to handle changing weather near the lake.
  • Bring a camera for the waterfront sections.
  • State any allergies clearly on your booking form.
02Fresh Picks

Farms and Orchards

Paynter's Fruit Market, West Kelowna
Paynter's Fruit Market, West Kelowna

Agricultural roots run deep in the Okanagan Valley. The Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum inside the Laurel Packinghouse explains the origins of the local fruit industry. You can book a guided walkthrough here year-round before heading out to the actual fields.

Nagel Tours runs structured itineraries that include rides on the Johnny Popper Apple Train. If you prefer driving yourself, the Westside Farm Loop connects multiple agricultural stops. You can pull into Paynter's Fruit Market to gather supplies straight from the growers.

Many vineyard restaurants rely heavily on these exact farms to supply their kitchens. You will often see the same produce you passed on the road plated at your dinner table a few hours later.

Local tips

  • Check farm websites daily for changing harvest hours.
  • Group your farm stops geographically with nearby vineyard visits.
  • Watch for seasonal harvest dinners posted by vineyard kitchens.
03Local Bounty

Outdoor Markets

Westbank Market, West Kelowna
Westbank Market, West Kelowna

The Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market sets up in the Landmark District on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April to October. It operates as one of the largest vendor gatherings in the region, drawing dozens of growers and artisans. You will find early summer berries, late fall squash, and small-batch foods.

Over at the Westridge Shopping Centre, the Westbank Market runs on Saturdays from July through September. Live music plays while you pick through fresh greens and handmade crafts. Smaller seasonal markets also pop up in the eastern neighborhoods.

These outdoor spaces give you direct access to the people growing your food. Most vendors put out samples of their latest crops or baked goods.

Local tips

  • Bring small bills, though most stalls take cards now.
  • Arrive at opening time to grab the most popular items.
  • Look up holiday schedules, like the Easter egg hunt at the Landmark District location.
04Seasonal Harvest

Roadside Stands and Picking

Don-O-Ray Farmers Market, Kelowna
Don-O-Ray Farmers Market, Kelowna

Driving the valley means passing dozens of roadside fruit stands. Don-O-Ray Farmers Market stays open for a long season, while Glenmore Garden Market focuses heavily on pesticide-free crops. These permanent stands stock whatever is currently ripening in the fields behind them.

The U-pick season dictates the summer schedule. Cherries ripen first, usually from early July to early August. Peaches follow closely from late July through August. The apple harvest stretches from mid-August all the way to late October.

Kuipers Family Fruit Farm lets you walk the rows and fill your own baskets. The exact dates shift based on spring weather patterns, so you must call the farmers before driving out.

Local tips

  • Pack a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen before hitting the fields.
  • Leave the stems on your cherries so they stay firm longer.
  • Call the morning of your trip to ensure the fields are not picked clean.
05Vineyard Feasts

Vineyard Dining

Lake Country Wine Tour, Kelowna
Lake Country Wine Tour, Kelowna

Vineyard kitchens build their menus around the local harvest. Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate pulls ingredients directly from nearby growers to pair with their current vintages. This localized sourcing means the menu changes constantly based on what comes out of the ground that week.

You will find similar setups at stops along the Westside Wine Tour and the Lake Country Wine Tour. Many dining rooms face directly out over the vines and Okanagan Lake. Reserving a chef's table gets you closer to the action, allowing you to ask the kitchen staff about their pairing decisions.

These tables are highly sought after. You need to secure your reservation long before your trip, especially for weekend evenings in July and August.

Local tips

  • Book your table at the same time you book your flights.
  • Schedule your dinner at the final stop of your afternoon tasting route.
  • Ask your server about the current seasonal tasting menu.
06Hands-On

Cooking Classes

K.L.O. Farm Market, Kelowna
K.L.O. Farm Market, Kelowna

Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School operates a modern downtown kitchen where local chefs teach knife skills and international recipes. Over at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, the culinary theatre hosts demonstration dinners during the late fall and winter. You sit back and watch the techniques before eating the multi-course results.

The team behind RauDZ Creative Concepts runs Demo & Dine sessions at The Okanagan Table. If you want to focus on specific traditions, the local Canadian Italian Club hosts 'La Bella Tavola' workshops dedicated entirely to making pasta from scratch.

These sessions cater to both beginners and serious home cooks. You book your apron online, and private group sessions are available if you are traveling with a larger party.

Local tips

  • Reserve early because kitchen space limits the class sizes.
  • Read the calendar carefully to pick a theme that matches your skill level.
  • Email the school directly to organize a private evening for your group.

•ON THE MAP

Every one of them, pinned.

All 10 food tours & tastings in this guide on one live map. Filter, zoom in, tap a pin for photos and directions, then open the full profile.

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•FAQ

Good to know

July through September brings the highest volume of local ingredients. The outdoor markets operate at full capacity, and you can pick stone fruits directly from the trees.