On October 31, World Creative Cities Day, Kelowna achieved what no other Canadian city has accomplished: UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation. This places the Okanagan Valley’s largest city alongside global culinary capitals like Parma, Bergamo, and Chengdu—and makes it only the fifth such city in North America, joining Tucson, San Antonio, Mérida, and Ensenada. The recognition arrives at a pivotal moment, as The Royal Kelowna rises from the downtown waterfront like a modern interpretation of lakeside luxury, its infinity pool seeming to spill directly into Okanagan Lake’s horizon.
The UNESCO designation validates what visitors have been discovering for years: Kelowna’s food and drink story begins with the land—its natural beauty, agricultural bounty, and deep ability to connect people and place. With 800+ farms, 40+ wineries, and a flourishing craft beverage scene, the region’s unique terroir and microclimate inspire chefs, winemakers, brewers, and farmers to craft experiences that celebrate authenticity and true sense of place. It’s common here for ingredients harvested in the morning to appear on plates that evening, with chefs sharing the stories behind each producer involved in the meal.
Standing on The Royal Kelowna‘s rooftop terrace at sunset, glass of local Pinot Noir in hand, I grasp the scope of this achievement. The all-suite property, formerly known as the Royal Private Residence Club and now managed by Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, positions guests at the epicenter of Canada’s newest gastronomic capital. More than 2.2 million visitors annually experience Kelowna’s culinary scene: 400+ restaurants, vibrant farmers’ markets, and festivals that showcase food, wine, cider, craft beer, spirits, and community.
“This prestigious designation elevates Kelowna’s destination brand to an international level,” says Lisanne Ballantyne, President & CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “Becoming a city of gastronomy will attract new visitors, events and conferences, and is something very special to be proud of as residents.”
The transformation from agricultural town to UNESCO-recognized culinary destination began decades ago when estates like Mission Hill Family Estate arrived in 1981, bringing European sensibilities to these rolling hills. Today, Mission Hill stands as what The New York Times dubbed “The Versailles of the Valley,” its monastic-influenced stone arches and 12-story bell tower creating a sanctuary where time moves at the pace of fermentation. The Terrace Restaurant—recently reopened for 2025 under Executive Chef Patrick Gayler with a new Farmstead provisions line—ranks among the world’s top five winery restaurants according to Travel + Leisure.
The Royal Kelowna offers the perfect base to explore this newly crowned gastronomic landscape. Each of the 63 suites comes equipped with full gourmet kitchens, though with Kelowna’s dining renaissance reaching fever pitch in 2025, you might never turn on the stove. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom accommodations include private balconies, gas fireplaces, and in-suite laundry—amenities that encourage longer stays and deeper exploration of the UNESCO-designated culinary scene.
Downtown Kelowna’s dining evolution accelerates in 2025 with a wave of new openings. Wildling arrives in February near the brewery district, bringing a neighborhood gathering spot for humble food and global wines. Ask Pablo debuts in April from the team behind Humo Izakaya, channeling bustling cantinas and lively izakayas. Kin & Folk expands from Penticton in May with Asian-inspired cuisine drawing from global techniques and local producers. Even Sandrine French Pastry opens a second location in the Lower Mission with a walk-up gelato window and wine service.
The established stars that helped earn UNESCO recognition continue to shine. Waterfront Wines Restaurant maintains its dozen-year streak as Vancouver Magazine’s gold winner for the Okanagan’s Best Restaurant, with Chef Mark Filatow sourcing from over 20 local purveyors. OAK + CRU showcases a 100% Okanagan wine list, while recent award winners like Jackknife Brewing—which took second globally for best cheese slice at the 2024 International Pizza Expo—prove that Kelowna’s food scene extends well beyond wine pairings.
The Okanagan Valley’s wine country, representing 84% of British Columbia’s vineyard acreage, forms the backbone of this gastronomic recognition. More than 40 wineries dot the landscape around Kelowna alone, from Cedar Creek’s exceptional reds to Summerhill’s pyramid-aged wines. New additions like Folktale Cider with its 17-foot jumping pillow and West Kelowna’s Connector Brewing expand the craft beverage scene. For immersive experiences, The Outside Inn at Niche Wine Company offers design-forward cabins on a family vineyard, while Ciao Bella Winery has created authentic agritourism stays where guests experience vineyard life from pruning to harvest.
A Taste of Kelowna Food Tours, fresh off a 2024 Viator Experience Award, weaves through downtown featuring stops at artisan producers, craft breweries, and standout eateries. Lakeside Eco Sports, also a 2024 Viator award winner, offers e-bike wine tours through vineyards and lakeside trails—sustainable exploration that captures the valley’s commitment to environmental stewardship through its Biosphere Committed Businesses program.
Looking ahead, Okanagan College’s new $60 million Food, Wine & Tourism Centre (opening in 2027) will strengthen international collaboration through programs like the Taste of Place Summit and Chef Exchange Program—cementing Kelowna’s position in the global UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Beyond the plate and glass, Kelowna offers adventures that complement its culinary status. The Myra Canyon Trestles feature 18 wooden bridges and two tunnels carved 1,000 meters above the valley floor—a 24-kilometer round trip between Myra and Ruth stations that offers one of Canada’s most spectacular rides or hikes. Knox Mountain Park provides sunrise and sunset views over the UNESCO-designated landscape via the Apex Trail, while the gentler Paul’s Tomb Trail ends at a secluded beach.
The Okanagan Rail Trail has evolved into something unexpected: a fully accessible cycling route that doubles as prime birdwatching territory. Starting at Rotary Marsh downtown, where marsh wrens and herons nest, the trail winds north through cottonwood stands alive with migrating songbirds. Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park recently achieved Royal Astronomical Society designation as a Nocturnal Preserve—one of the few dark-sky sanctuaries in British Columbia where “Owl Prowls” and stargazing programs embrace the night.
Back at The Royal Kelowna, the rooftop infinity pool and three hot tubs offer a different perspective on Canada’s first City of Gastronomy—one best enjoyed with local wine as the sun sets behind the mountains. The property’s steam showers, fully equipped fitness center, and BBQ areas provide restoration between adventures. Complimentary bicycles let guests explore the waterfront promenade that connects beaches, parks, and the cultural district.
The property’s location proves strategic: five minutes’ walk to Okanagan Lake, steps from Bernard Avenue’s 70-plus boutiques, within the brewery district’s eight walkable craft beer destinations, and perfectly positioned for the Saturday Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market that exemplifies the farm-to-table philosophy UNESCO recognized.
As 2025 unfolds, Kelowna embraces its new status while preparing for spotlight events like the Canadian Country Music Awards in September and the World Curling Olympic Qualification Event in December. The summer brings Rock The Lake in July, NestFest in August, and Feast of Fields in September—celebrations that showcase the gastronomic culture UNESCO acknowledged.
The UNESCO designation recognizes what makes Kelowna unique: the connection between land (tmxwulaxw), people (tmixw), and plate runs deeper than tourism marketing. It’s the philosophy that Lisanne Ballantyne articulates: “Our unique terroir and microclimate inspire chefs, winemakers, brewmasters, cidermakers, and farmers to create experiences deeply rooted in place and community.”
Whether you arrive for wine, wilderness, or the promise of experiencing Canada’s only UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Kelowna reveals itself through each season and every meal. Spring brings new restaurant openings and vineyard awakenings. Summer delivers peak wine touring and lake adventures. Fall offers harvest experiences and wine festivals. Winter provides unexpected pleasures—wine tasting by fireplace, skiing at nearby Big White or Silver Star, and the clarity that comes with fewer crowds.
The Royal Kelowna provides the ideal perch from which to explore this newly recognized culinary capital—a modern interpretation of Okanagan hospitality where every suite frames a different view of the same essential truth: this is a landscape worth savoring, one sunset, one sip, one UNESCO-worthy bite at a time.
