Wit nearly 200 options serving up an avalanche of culinary delights, it wasn’t easy to pick the best restaurants in Whistler.
Why? The village foodie scene here now rivals the best restaurants in Vancouver.
Whether you’re in town for a day trip or skiing up a storm, here are the best places to eat in Whistler.
The Best Restaurants in Whistler
Araxi Restaurant and Oyster Bar
$$$$ | Category: Pacific Northwest | 4222 Village Square | Website
Never mind the best restaurants in Whistler: this is one of Canada’s best.
Araxi has been a national flag bearer for Whistler’s culinary excellence for over a decade. Here, it’s all about the farm-to-table movement.
Executive chef James Walt’s seasonally focused menu showcases a rich variety of local ingredients.
The menu is broken down into land and sea, allowing you to sample the finest oceanwise BC seafood alongside meat and poultry from the nearby Pemberton Valley.
Locals I’ve talked to swear by the place.
Hy’s Steakhouse
$$$$ | Category: Steakhouse | 4308 Main Street | Website
One of the best things to do in Whistler is live this Canadian steakhouse experience, that’s been entertaining guests for over 60 years.
Elegance, luxury, and refinement are the name of the game here.
Go here for prime-grade Canadian steaks. Pair your protein with a choice from their extensive selection of classic steakhouse sides and prepare to have your meal theatrically served tableside.
Add a gin martini or a nice bottle of wine, and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another era.
Related: Best Luxury Hotels in Whistler
Rim Rock Café
$$$$ | Category: Seafood | 2117 Whistler Road | Website
This old-school Whistler icon has been killing it since 1987. In fact, such is the restaurants status that no server on staff has been there less than 12 years!
Seafood takes precedence on executive chef Rolf Gunther’s creative menu. You can expect only the finest local seafood, in addition to a variety of game, poultry and beef.
The restaurant’s cozy and unpretentious atmosphere and Creekside location make it a perfect option for those preferring to get away from the hustle and bustle of the village for a quiet dinner for two.
Bearfoot Bistro
$$$$ | Category: Modern Canadian | 4121 Village Green | Website
One of my favourite Whistler winter activities is eating at this elegant Whistler bistro, offering an ever-changing variety of Canadian-inspired entrees using only the freshest local ingredients.
A trip to Bearfoot Bistro is intended to be a celebration, regardless of season or occasion. Take a trip down to their 20,000-bottle wine cellar and try your hand at sabering a bottle of champagne!
Or throw on a borrowed Canada Goose parka and venture into the world’s coldest vodka-tasting room. Sample from over 50 bottles of the world’s most popular spirit while at a bone-chilling -32°C (-25°F)!
This is one of the best bars in Whistler as well.
Related: Best Tours from Vancouver to Whistler
Sachi Sushi
$$$$ | Category: Japanese | 4359 Main Street | Website
This local favourite always takes down the best sushi when Pique Magazine dishes out their lists of the best restaurants in Whistler.
Head chef and owner Toshiyuki Kobayashi has over 30 years of experience making inventive sushi rolls for locals. He heavily relies on fish sourced from BC’s waters for ultimate freshness.
The local sockeye sashimi and kani blossom roll (Alaskan king crab + ahi tuna) are my favourites. There’s also top-notch tempura, yakitori, and udon noodles.
Related: Vancouver to Whistler Bus
The Grillroom
$$$$ | Category: Chophouse | 4599 Chateau Blvd. | Website
I’ve found you the best steak in Whistler!
This AAA/CAA four-diamond restaurant is located inside the 5-star Fairmont Chateau Whistler Hotel in the Upper Village, a 10-15 walk from Mountain Square.
The restaurant’s unique stone fireplace and cherrywood cabinets give it a homey feel unique to a fine dining restaurant. Throw in Canadian AAA steaks, Oceanwise seafood and organic local produce, and you have got a clear winner.
This would be my choice for a couple’s night out or a family birthday.
Alta Bistro
$$$$ | Category: French | 4319 Main Street | Website
Vancouver Magazine may have recently granted Alta Bistro the prestigious title of the best restaurant in Whistler. However, locals didn’t need a big city food critic to tell them this.
They’ve been flocking to Alta for years for chef Nick Cassettari’s masterful take on traditional and modern French dishes using ingredients from “down the road”.
Check out the $39.00 three-course special for great value.
I’m a fan of the miso-glazed sockeye salmon tartare, a local legend. Other amazing dishes include the crispy pork belly and a panzanella salad that rivals Italy’s best.
Best Casual Restaurants in Whistler
Pizzeria Antico
$$ | Category: Pizzeria | 4369 Main Street | Website
Whistler has always had its share of pizzerias, especially for a town of such humble size. For years, though, the village sorely lacked a place honouring pizza’s Neapolitan roots.
Enter Pizzeria Antico.
Grab one of the 15 pizzas created according to strict Neapolitan requirements. Everything from the trademark thin crust to the sweet tomato sauce and the creamy mozzarella is all made in-house.
And if pizza isn’t your thing (witch!), then Antico also offers a variety of authentic antipasti, pasta and desserts that would make any Neapolitan nonna proud.
Related: Best Hotels in Whistler
Bar Oso
$$$ | Category: Spanish | 4222 Main Street | Website
Sister restaurant to local hotspot Araxi brings a distinctly Spanish flavour to Whistler with its profusion of small-plate tapas and house-made charcuterie.
Grab a glass of wine or a local beer and sample a variety of their delicious pintxos, raciones or platos principales that pay homage to head chef Jorge Muños Santos’ Madrileño roots.
If you’re looking for a great deal, be sure to check out their lunchtime bocadillo special – a Spanish-style sandwich on house-baked bread for just $8.00.
Tandoori Grill
$$ | Category: Indian | 4368 Main Street | Website
If you’re on the lookout for a nice spicy, flavour-forward curry when you get back from the slopes, then hit up Tandoori Grill.
The restaurant is famous for its special tandoori grill sizzlers. These Skewers are barbecued over charcoal in their clay-based tandoori oven, before being served over a bed of fresh onions and peppers.
Toss in a bowl of steamed rice or a house-baked naan, and you’re good to go.
The restaurant also features dozens of other Indian favourites, including one of the largest selections of vegetarian dishes in town.
Related: Best Hostels in Whistler
Christine’s On Blackcomb
$$$ | Category: West Coast | 4545 Blackcomb Way | Website
This beauty is at the top of the Blackcomb Gondola, making Christine’s the only one of the best restaurants in Whistler with panoramic mountain-top views.
Their contemporary West Coast menu features only the freshest local ingredients accompanied by a diverse wine list. Dine inside, or head out on the patio for the full-view experience.
Skeptical about restaurants with views? Me too. But I find Christine’s to be one of those rare exceptions – and the prices won’t break you either!
Grab the seared albacore tuna and the burrata/garlic knot appetizer.
Basalt Wine and Salumeria
$$$ | Category: Wine and Cheese | 4154 Village Green | Website
Basalt offers artisanal charcuterie plates to be accompanied by bottles from their extensive selection of local and international wines.
If you’re looking to warm up after a day on the mountain, there are few better options than indulging in their popular fondue for two.
Whistler? You’ll feel like you’re in the Swiss Alps!
While influenced by the old world, their seasonally-inspired menu is a celebration of everything West Coast. Consequently, they place a heavy emphasis on sourcing products from local small-batch producers.
Related: Vancouver to Whistler Private Transfer
Aura
$$$ | Category: French | 2131 Lake Placid Road | Website
In Whistler’s Creekside neighbourhood, on the tranquil shores of Lake Nita, Aura tends to drag tourists away from the comfort of the village – with no regrets.
Chef James Olberg’s French-inspired West Coast cuisine uses only ethically sourced proteins and organic local produce.
Want some food to match the lake view? Get yourself a AAA sirloin steak with whiskey shallot jus and lobster mashed potatoes, and call it a day.
It may be a bit pricey, but in my opinion, Aura’s unique Gallic flair and stunning beauty are well worth the cost.
Looking for a cheap room? Check out our guide to cheap Whistler hotels before you book.
Stonesedge Kitchen
$$ | Category: Comfort Food | 4122 Village Green | Website
This stylish eatery at the edge of the village is known for its eclectic menu that’s heavy on good old-fashioned comfort food.
The kitchen is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 am, but it’s at breakfast where Stonesedge really begins to shine. You can opt for a traditional breakfast, go for their legendary hangover beatdown or choose from a selection of delicious egg bennies.
With breakfast hours extending until 3:00 pm, it’s a perfect spot if you’ve overindulged in Whistler’s
nightlife.
Still Looking for the Best Restaurants in Whistler?
Have I overwhelmed you with my list of the best restaurants in Whistler? Or maybe I left something out? If you still lack info, please drop me a line below.
And remember – you can also reach us on our Vancouver Planner Facebook page for custom advice on this or anything to do with your Vancouver/Whistler holiday – sickness!
Bon appetit 🙂
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