How to Have an Amazing Long Weekend in Kelowna

We recently went to Kelowna for a long weekend and I can’t wait to visit again! It’s an easy 4-hour drive from Vancouver, either taking the Coquihalla or the more scenic Hwy 3. The Okanagan is BC’s version of Napa Valley with hundreds of wineries, desert weather, and local artisans from food to art. 

A long weekend in the summer in Kelowna is a perfect little getaway. You can relax at the lake, take a little winery tour, meet friends at a brewery, or take in a game of golf.

I’m going to share a guide to staying in Kelowna for a long weekend. From where to stay, to where to eat to a couple of breweries to hit up (one includes a Ramen truck!). Don’t forget to check out my Osoyoos guide here, another great area in the Okanagan!

Kelowna is the Okanagan Valley’s largest city and with an international airport, so planning a visit is easy. There are over 40 wineries and new breweries, cideries, and distilleries to explore. Many restaurants feature fresh, local, organic, and flavorful food with ingredients from the farm down the road or the orchard around the corner.

With an abundance of artisan shops and one of Canada’s largest farmers’ markets, you can bring home local products like cheese, honey, and lavender. (We certainly did!) There are also golf courses, lake activities, beaches, hiking, a downtown with galleries, shops and parks and did I say wineries?

Where to Stay

Hotel Eldorado

We stayed at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna. It’s right on the lake and has been a hotel since 1926. It’s quaint, there’s a bar and restaurant on-site, and you can rent boats, paddleboards, kayaks, and parasails right there from the dock. You can read the rest of their unique history here, which they display around the property in tidbits and memorabilia.

There are 52 rooms in total at this boutique hotel and is just literally minutes away from wineries, golf courses, beaches, and shopping. We loved the location and the views from our room. I think our doors stayed open all day. We ate breakfast downstairs and enjoyed small plates lakeside on their boardwalk and may have had a drink or two while taking in the views. Just such a pleasant atmosphere!

Where to Eat

My one big piece of advice is to avoid chain restaurants and stick with independent places. There are plenty of family-run establishments that only use seasonal and fresh ingredients which makes for a distinctive Okanagan dining experience!

Waterfront Cafe & Catering

This was such an amazing dinner at Waterfront Cafe and Catering! We kept saying to each other how delicious each bite was. I ordered the trout, Curtis got the lamb shank and we shared olives and a grilled fennel and cauliflower salad. And of course, we had to get dessert and it did not disappoint! This was a deconstructed tiramisu and was one of the best I’ve ever had. And that’s a bold statement being Italian. Also, the views from the patio were nice, and it’s a quick walk to the beach across the street.

They also do brunch and have a cafe at the bottom where you can pick up fresh pastries and coffee.

BNA Brewing Co & Eatery

BNA’s Tasting Room is where we started our evening, sampling some of their beers before dinner. It’s a cozy little room, with some vintage decor and you can sit outside too. Tasting Flights, Sleeves, and Growler Fills are available.

We then enjoyed dinner inside. It’s such a cool, open bustling space, with a huge dining hall downstairs and upstairs it continues with an airstream bar, bocce court, arcade games, and a bowling alley! We enjoyed a couple of appetizers such as tuna tartare and mushrooms on toast. Then I ate our main dish without photos (I know, the ultimate blogger sin) the sausage pizza which was sooooo good! Curtis described it as lasagna on a pizza and OMG I still dream about it.

Other notable places to eat:

• Sunny’s Modern Diner
• Krafty Kitchen
• Sunset Organic Bistro (at Summerhill) for breakfast
• Salt & Brick
• Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate
• Micro Bar + Bites
• OAK + CRU Social Kitchen and Wine Bar
• Fernandos Pub

What to Do

Kelowna Farmers & Crafters Market

The Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market is the largest farmers market in British Columbia and offers a huge variety of farm products, organic produce, and local artisans with a wide range of goods, products, and foods for sale. At the height of the summer, there are over 165 stands in this market which is open Saturday and Wednesday mornings from 8 am to 1 pm at the corner of Dilworth and Springfield Roads.

We grabbed popsicles and walked around for a good hour. So many cute children’s product vendors, amazing vegetable stands, and a few other quirky artisan vendors. I regret not buying a felt friend or some jam for my toast.

Arlo’s Honey Farm

Nestled in the beautiful hills of South East Kelowna, Arlo’s Honey Farm is where the dance of the honey bees orchestrates the pollination of flowers, fruits, berries, and vegetables while creating award-winning honey. Beekeeper Helen Kennedy sells her bees’ exquisite honey and she and her husband Rick Appell run a 14-acre farm.

We brought home creamed honey, lavender honey, and a jar of honey for my brother’s girlfriends. I wish we had room for more flavours. And when we stepped out of the car, the sound of the bees buzzing was so prominent in the air. It’s a quick five-minute drive from the lavender farm.

Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm

Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm is situated in South Kelowna against a backdrop of sweeping lake and valley views. It’s a working family farm that has become a garden-inspired tourism destination. The views from the farm are incredible, and the scent of the lavender when you step into the shop is dreamy and just overall an Instagrammer’s paradise.

They sell tea, botanical skincare, dried and fresh lavender, and some culinary products. Workshops are also hosted at the farm like a painting to aromatherapy.

You can pay a minimal fee to wander the three acres of garden with winding pathways, a cedar hedge maze, whimsical sculptures, water features, and herb and xeriscape gardens.

What began as a quarter-acre test block of lavender in 1994 is now a vertically-integrated farm with 18 different aromatic herbs and plants, including over 60 varieties of lavender, that are grown, harvested, dried and distilled on-site for use in the hand-crafted botanical products that fill the farm boutique.

Launched as the Okanagan’s first Économusée site, visitors are invited to discover the traditional craft of essential oil and hydrosol distillation on the farm.

Hiking

If you want to get your sweat on and take in scenic views, then try out a hike on Knox Mountain, Mount Boucherie, and the trestles at Myra Canyon.

Explore Pandosy Village

Check out this growing urban community with antique stores, cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. It was just minutes from our hotel.

Downtown Kelowna

Cute little downtown with locally sourced dining, boutiques, hip cafes, and a main street that takes you to the water. Spend an afternoon exploring the downtown core.

Check out Breweries

Kettle River Brewing Co.

Tucked away in Kelowna’s North end, Kettle River Brewing is a small-batch neighbourhood brewery. They pride themselves on experimenting with new recipes and ingredients, making for an ever-evolving collection of beers on tap.

I was instantly taken with the fact they have this cute little ramen van out front with a kick-ass menu. If we didn’t have dinner reservations I would have grabbed a bowl with my beer. The tasting room and patio are really eclectic, they have open-mic nights and serve up other little snacks like pretzels.

Red Bird Brewing

A microbrewery in North Kelowna just down the street from Kettle River. It was packed when we rolled up so we ventured to Kettle River and found seats. But I’d like to go back one day and sample their beers.

Wineries to Visit

Sandhill Winery

Sandhill’s new winery brings a modern and truly spectacular 8,000-square-foot wine experience space adding to the gentrification of downtown Kelowna’s industrial district. Grapes for Sandhill wines are
sourced from six premium vineyards throughout the valley including 450 acres of Sandhill-owned vineyards.

I just love that they are downtown, so accessible for everyone, and can be a stop before dinner. Fun fact, Master Winemaker Howard Soon was the first B.C. winemaker to receive a Gold Medal at the Chardonnay du Monde in France. He was also the first winemaker in history to receive all three top honours at the 2009 Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards when Sandhill won Best Red Wine of the Year, Best White Wine of the Year, and Winery of the Year.

Tantalus Vineyards

This tasting room is beyond beautiful with outstanding views. We also spotted deer in their vineyards! Tantalus is dedicated to growing and vinifying limited quantities of exceptional Riesling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Curtis and I were impressed that all wines are made from fruit sustainably grown at their vineyard. We took a bottle of pinot noir home to enjoy on our patio!

And Tantalus has the first LEED-certified winery building in BC and an extensive environmental program.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Since 1986, the Cipes Family has been busy crafting Summerhill Pyramid Winery into what is now Canada’s largest certified organic winery. Summerhill has won numerous awards for its sparkling wine
and Icewine.

All Summerhill’s wines are 100% certified biodynamic, and are aged in a 4-story tall pyramid (you can’t miss it lol), built according to the ratios of Sacred Geometry, and the pyramid is a 1:16 ratio of the dimensions of the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

As British Columbia’s most visited winery, Summerhill offers a diverse array of award-winning wines, a spectacular view of Okanagan Lake and an on-site organic restaurant with ingredients sourced from their organic gardens and around the valley. We arrived and couldn’t get in for lunch, so try to make a reservation if you plan on eating there.

Mission Hill Family Estate

Besides the views, this Mission Hill Family Estate is renowned for its award-winning wines, stunning architecture, and its Cuisine du Terroir-based Terrace Restaurant.

In the summer, their amphitheater hosts artists such as Chris Isaak, Sheryl Crow, and David Foster. So sad we missed Chris Isaak the night before. The property is just stunning, housing many sculptures on its grounds. I would have been happy staying there another hour just enjoying the property.

Quails’ Gate Winery

Owned by the Stewart family, Quails’ Gate Winery is one of Canada’s foremost family-owned and operated estate wine producers. They are also internationally recognized as a top quality producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay although one of their most popular wines, the Chenin Blanc, has been served to numerous Heads of State visiting Canada including President Obama and Prince William and Kate the Duchess of Cambridge!

Old Vines Restaurant & Wine Bar has an exceptional vineyard-side location with spectacular views of Okanagan Lake. Chef Roger Sleiman offers menus with ingredients sourced from surrounding fields and pastures, their kitchen garden and regional B.C. farms – all paired perfectly with Quails’ Gate Estate wines.

Scenic Drives

Drive down to Naramata and visit the many wineries in that region and enjoy lunch at Joie Farm.

Then drive down to Okanagan Falls to Oliver/Osoyoos area and stay a night for more wineries, and enjoy a dip in Osoyoos Lake.

You can see the whole trip here on the vlog!

This post was in collaboration with Tourism Kelowna. And a big thank you to Hotel Eldorado for hosting us.