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Why did you come to Whistler, British Columbia? To join skiers from the rest of Canada in speeding down Blackcomb Mountain? To ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for the best views of alpine wildflowers blooming across the landscape? To experience the cultures of the First Nations at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre?
Whatever the reason, you’ll be excited to know that after your activities, you can dine in superb establishments located at Whistler Village and beyond. Here are 15 of the best Whistler restaurants to satisfy any appetite.
High-End Restaurants in Whistler ($$$$)
Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar
110-4222 Village Square, Whistler, BC
Culinary Director, James Walt, exalts the farm-to-table experience by creating dishes based on local ingredients that are sustainable. He personally selects the freshest ingredients by consulting with local farmers and food producers. Join the crowd of admirers in the sumptuous dining room. Or sit with up to 16 lucky patrons at the oyster bar and lounge.
You also sign up for the Longtable Dinner Series, which puts you on a local farm to enjoy a cocktail reception and then a four-course family-style dining experience paired with wines from British Columbia.
Oysters are the specialty. Try the small and sweet Kisu from Baynes Sound, the plump and salty Cascumpec Bay, or the meaty and sweet Sun Seeker from Desolation sound.
You can also go for chilled seafood like Maritime Lobster, Sockeye Salmon, and Matane Shrimp. More conventional large-plate options include Red Deer Venison Loin, Alberta Beef Tenderloin Steak, or Parisian Style Gnocchi. Finish off with desserts like Okanagan Cherry Praline Cake or Valrhona Chocolate Fondant.
Bearfoot Bistro
4121 Village Green, Whistler, BC
A sighting of one of our ursine residents might inspire you to try Bearfoot Bistro, where Executive Chef Melissa Crag takes you on a culinary journey. She likes to add a new twist to wild game and seafood from the Pacific Northwest by complimenting them with international ingredients, such as Perigord truffles or Wagyu beef.
As with many of the bars on this list, Happy Hour brings special prices and unique selections, such as Grilled Mediterranean Octopus, Duck Poutine, or Chili-Glazed Pork Belly.
For dinner, you can start off your meal with sub-zero vodka in the Ketel One Ice Room. Or join up to 16 guests at the Chef’s Table for personal attention from the chef as she cooks up a five-course tasting menu. Other options include a private event in the Wine Cellar, after hours at the Champagne Lounge, or basking in the sunlight at the Patio.
Your meal can start with the Quebec Foie Gras Torchon, or Smoke Kuterra Salmon. Then, feast on the Haida Gwaii Halibut and Grille Octopus, Quebec Veal Striploin, or Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast. Conclude with an International Cheese Selection or Rocky Road, a brownie made from dark chocolate and topped by sunflower pralines and an Amarena cherry.
Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar
4308 Main Street, Whistler, BC
For celebrations that demand a fine-dining restaurant with stellar service, Hy’s Steakhouse provides the right ambiance. It blends comfortably with the Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites, where it is located, and is proud to have been a premiere area restaurant for over 60 years. Hy’s often receives the Best Steakhouse plaudit for Whistler Blackcomb every year.
Start off your repast with French Onion Soup, Fresh Oysters, or Caesar Salad, which is traditionally prepared in the dining room. You can then move on to their steak specialties, which are aged a minimum of 28 days before being grilled to order. For non-carnivores, they also have Prosciutto-Wrapped Sablefish, Slow-Roasted Half Free-Range Chicken, or an Organic Vegan Bowl. You have to end your meal with Hy’s Famous Cheesecake, topped by a berry compote.
The wine list is extensive, so ask your server for a recommendation. Cocktails and other spirits are also available.
Mid-Range Restaurants in Whistler ($$$)
Alta Bistro
104 – 4319 Main Street, Whistler, BC
What restaurant is distinctive enough to have a nightly fine dining and art experience with the Audain Art Museum? Alta Bistro collaborates with the highly regarded institution to create culinary events related to the museum’s latest exhibits.
When not involved with pleasing Whistler’s creative palette, the dining room welcomes foodies to its French-inspired environment. For the best meal possible, I recommend to:
- Start off with such delicacies as Rangeland Elk Tartare or Dungeness Crab & Seared Tuna Eclair.
- For the main course, feast on Seared Beef Flatiron or Pan Fried Rockfish with confit octopus and smoked cauliflower couscous.
- End your dinner with a Rye Rum Baba or an Affogato consisting of tonka bean parfait, apricot liqueur, and a double espresso.
If you’re not sure what to order, go for the 3-course special, which encourages you to choose from dishes that have been curated to combine beautifully.
Bar Oso
150 – 4222 Village Square, Whistler, BC
When you’ve enjoyed an afternoon of skiing among many friends and are searching for après-ski conviviality, head to Bar Oso. They’ll put together two of their white-draped long tables for a big group unless you all want to gather around the bar so that you can chat with the friendly staff as well. If you’re lucky, you may meet chef Jorge Muñoz Santos who hails from Madrid.
Spanish-influenced small plates, or tapas, are on the menu. Everyone can order a favorite and share. Try the Rolled Porque Belly, Lamb Albondigas, Lobster + Matane Shrimp Roll, or Serrano + Manchego on artisan bread. If you’re a small group and don’t know what to get, the house-made Fresh Charcuterie Board features Duck Liver Parfait, Rabbit Rillette, Pheasant Pate, and Smoked Ham Hock Terrine.
The best accompaniments to these delights are the many creative cocktails, such as the lively Firecracker Margarita, which infuses the tequila with jalapeno and hibiscus. Or how about a Café con Crema, which drips monkey shoulder scotch, Spanish cream, averna, and crème de cacao into a chilled espresso?
Affordable Restaurants in Whistler ($$)
21 Steps Kitchen + Bar
St. Andrew’s House, Main Village (10 – 4433 Sundial Place, Whistler, BC)
Often praised as one of the best restaurants in the area, 21 Steps offers a casual atmosphere where you can enjoy large portions of comfort food at modest prices. Everyone from the servers to the bartenders makes sure that you feel like part of the family. Expect delicious favorites served in clean white dishes on solid wooden tables. Gluten-free and vegan options are available.
Start off with appetizers like the Garlic Chili Prawns or the Cajun Corn and Mixed Vegetable Fritters excited by chipotle aioli. Among the many standout main dishes are the Bison Flat Iron Steak with peppercorn sauce and the Thai Vegetable Curry, which can be made vegetarian upon request. Finish off with a warm Belgian Chocolate Brownie that’s contrasted with vanilla ice cream, peanut brittle, and caramel sauce.
Caramba!
12-4314 Main Street, Whistler, BC
Italian favorites get the casual West Coast feel in Caramba, which shows off its culinary expertise in an open kitchen, complete with a wood-burning pizza oven. Dark woods emphasize a cozy European feel as friendly servers maintain a loud but fun atmosphere.
You can narrow down the menu to these signature dishes:
- Calamari a la Plancha, which drenches squid in garlic-lemon olive oil.
- Chorizo Scotch Egg, which uses rocket and garlic aioli.
- Caramba Burger, which has two AAA beef patties, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and American cheese in a pickle burger sauce.
A unique choice among the Margherita, Prosciutto, Mortadella, and Funghi Bianco pizzas is the Crispy Lamb variety made with pesto, goat cheese, and jalapeno. You can also order premium steak cuts, pasta, and salads. The wine list is more extensive than the food choices.
Creekbread
2021 Karen Crescent, Whistler, BC
Think gourmet organic pizza baked in a wood-fired oven and you’ll know what the flatbreads of Creekbread are all about. Fresh dough comes from 100 percent organic Canadian wheat. This eatery opened in 2010, across the street from the finish of the 2010 Olympic downhill races. You’ll need to reserve a spot in the dining room. Takeout is only limited to certain days.
Order the 12-inch size if you’re solo or 16 inches if you’re a couple. Options include:
- Lumberjack topped with house-made maple fennel sausage, smoked all-natural bacon, all-natural whole milk mozzarella, BC-smoked cheddar, Asiago, garlic oil, and organic herbs.
- Mopsy’s Kalua Pie with hardwood-smoked free-range pork shoulder, house-made organic mango BBQ sauce, organic red onions, Happy Days Farm goat cheese, fresh pineapple, premium whole milk mozzarella, and pecorino cheese.
- Pemberton Potato Pie with thinly sliced oven-roasted Pemberton potatoes, organic whole garlic cloves and baby spinach, organic rosemary cream sauce, and whole-milk cheeses like pecorino, edam, and mozzarella.
You can also whip up your own delight with the Free Form Creekbread. Organic salads are also available.
Crêpe Montagne
116-4368 Main Street, Whistler, BC
A crepe traditionally sates your hunger during the daylight hours, so Crepe Montagne is open from 9 AM to 3 PM. Sweet versions are made from white flour while savory delights come from white and buckwheat flour. No reservations are accepted, so be prepared to wait in line during meal times.
- Until 1 PM, your breakfast crepe options include Biathlon with bratwurst, egg, and diced tomatoes; Rockies with Canadian back bacon or ham, eggs, cheese, and tomatoes, or Nordique with an egg, cheese, and tomatoes.
- At lunch, you can stuff your crepes with ham and cheese in bechamel sauce, chicken breast and fresh goat cheese with creamy tomato sauce, or asparagus, and cheese. If you prefer, you can also choose fondues created from comte cheese and dry BC white wine.
- For dessert, your crepes can contain bananas with your choice of chocolate, caramel, or Nutella; sweet strawberry, or pralines with homemade hazelnut butter and vanilla ice cream.
You can accompany your order with juices and smoothies, hot or cold drinks, aperitifs, wine, cocktails, wine, and coffee.
Fergie’s Cafe
70002 Squamish Valley Road, Brackendale, BC
You’ll be surrounded by a lush evergreen forest next to the Cheakamus River when you make the trip to Fergie’s Cafe. If you overindulge, feel free to spend the night at a cozy cabin of the Sunwolf Riverside Resort, which surrounds the restaurant. Otherwise, you can sit indoors within walls and ceilings made of rustic planks or take a seat outdoors on rough-hewn tables under a black walnut tree.
Brunch is served every day from 9 AM to 3 PM with locally sourced ingredients.
- The Coastal Eggs Benedict has Lois Lake cold smoked steelhead trout, avocado, capers, and kale chips.
- The Brisket Biscuit serves up a BBQ brisket on a buttermilk biscuit with aged cheddar, Fergie’s hot sauce, hollandaise, and one sunny side-up egg.
- The Alpha Bowl is gluten-free and vegetarian but can be modified to vegan. It contains a soft poached egg, lemon tahini dressing, kale, avocado, feta, homemade lentil and chickpea fritters, tamari seed mix, and roasted seasonal vegetables.
La Cantina Tacos
129-4340 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC
209-7015 Nesters Road, Whistler, BC
This urban taco bar specializes in serving fast, fresh, and fun Mexican fare in two locations.
- At the Marketplace Plaza on Lorimer Road, the industrial vibe comes from brick walls, concrete floors, and wooden tables mounted on metal struts.
- The Nesters Plaza location on Nesters Road livens its tile floors and white walls with colorful posters of Mexican pro wrestlers.
Stick with the specialty of 4 soft corn tortillas and your choice of fillings, such as Baja Fish, Pork Cochinita, Chicken Tinga, Poblanas, or Vegan Chorizo. You can also put your choice of meat or veggies in a burrito, burrito bowl, or quesadilla. Wash everything down with local or imported beer, local or Mexican sodas, or a Lime Margarita.
Ohyama Ramen
204-4000 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC
If you have a hankering for Japanese dishes made with Chinese-style wheat noodles in broth, try Ohyama Ramen. But come off-peak or you’ll have to wait in line at this popular eatery. The interior transports you to a traditional village because the tables are topped by a simulated second floor of shops that display signs.
If you’re new to ramen, try the tasty Basic, which features the signature broth, BBQ pork belly, green onion, and sesame seeds. You can pick such seasonings as Shio (salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), or Miso (fermented bean paste) to flavor the soup. Old hands can indulge in the Meat Lover with extra BBQ pork belly, Creamy Vegan with no meat, or Hiyashi Chuka, which uses chilled ramen noodles. Local-craft and bottled beer, cider, or sake can accompany your selection.
Grab-&-Go Restaurants in Whistler ($)
Hundo-P
4211 Sunshine Place, Whistler, BC
Smoothies are a healthy and substantial way to begin or end a hike or other activity, and you’ll find plenty of creative concoctions at Hundo-P, the Smoothie Bar. They’re open from 9 AM to 6 PM. Check out some of your delicious choices.
- Make-it-Mango with mango, pineapple, orange juice, organic chia and hemp, protein, and almond milk.
- Bohemian Rhapsody with cold-brew coffee, banana, organic coconut and walnuts, cinnamon, organic cacao nibs, almond milk, and protein.
- Nutz & Boltz with peanut butter, organic walnuts and dates, banana, organic cacao nibs and cinnamon, chocolate almond milk, and protein.
You can order online for takeout or delivery. If you want to take your liquid nutrition on the biking trail, you can even bring your own container.
Peaked Pies
105-4369 Main St, Whistler, BC
Kerri and Alex bring Australian taste to the Canadian Resort with Peaked Pies Bakery Cafe. Come from 8 AM to 11 AM for brekky (breakfast) with artisan coffee and breakfast pies. Otherwise, they close at 9 PM. The feeling is friendly, cozy, and inexpensive.
Handmade pie options include Traditional Aussie with ground beef, onions, and gravy; Beef Curry, which adds carrots and celery to the Madras curry sauce; Steak, Bacon, & Cheese; Butter Chicken; and Vegetable Medley (vegan) with carrots, corn, leeks, cauliflower, celery, and yams in a coconut-milk based sauce. If you order your pie to Get Peaked, you also receive mashed potatoes, mushy green peas, and gravy.
You can finish off with such sweet pies as Lemon Meringue Tart, Apple Crumble, or Mixed Berry. Coffee, tea, or chocolate can accompany your selection.
Purebread Whistler
Whistler Village, 122-4338 Main Street, Whistler, BC
Function Junction, 1-1040 Millar Creek Road, Whistler, BC
Garibaldi Village, 105-40147 Glenalder Place, Squamish, BC
Start your day with something simple and delicious at Purebread Whistler, which opens at 8 AM and closes at 5 PM. Before you order online for a pickup, allow for at least 48 hours and verify which of the three local locations you want. (They also have restaurants in Vancouver.) You can choose from a selection of breads, cakes, and mini cakes.
- Accompany your picnic with Sourdough or spice up your sandwich platter with the Cheddar Jalapeno Loaf.
- For a birthday, go with a classic Lemon Meringue Cake or try the more exotic Coconut Passionfruit Cake. You can specify a greeter for the top when you order.
- More like a cupcake, the mini cakes come in Coconut, Vegan Chocolate, or Fun, which uses a chocolate or vanilla buttermilk topped with vanilla buttercream and colorful sprinkles.
Enjoy the Best Restaurants in Whistler
Whatever is on your travel itinerary, from skiing and snowboarding to hiking or relaxing at a spa, these restaurants in Whistler are sure to appease your appetite. From high-end restaurants where you’ll want to be sure to make a reservation to grab-&-go places and everything in between, you’re sure to find the perfect restaurant in Whistler, BC for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
