Whistler is hands down my FAVORITE place in the world – I absolutely love exploring and trying the best restaurants in Whistler.
My husband proposed to me in Whistler in 2020, and we got married in Whistler in 2021. It will always have a special place in my heart.
Not only is it beautiful, but there is so much delicious food that makes it one of the best places to visit.
I’m here to share with you some of my favorite places to eat and show you the BEST restaurants in Whistler.
Red Door Bistro
Red Door Bistro is by far my favorite restaurant in the ENTIRE WORLD – not even exaggerating! And I think that goes for my husband as well.
When we first started dating I booked a trip to Whistler for Dom and we stayed at Nita Lake Lodge and ate at Red Door Bistro right next door. It’s been an annual tradition ever since.
Tucked away in Whistler Creekside right beside Nita Lake Lodge, it’s such an intimate dining experience because it’s a cozy little bistro that seats around 10 tables. Because it has gained so much popularity over the years, it fills up quickly so make sure you make a reservation WELL in advance.
There have been times during peak season where we try to book a few months ahead and they’re completely full on the days that we’re there!
The Executive Chef’s style is to use classical French techniques with a West Coast spin, resulting in the most unique and amazing cuisine being served. The menu is constantly changing based on what’s in season – aside from a few signature dishes and appetizers that stay.
The amazing food and ambience make this the best restaurant in Whistler – hands down.
We always try to order one or two things from their specials menu because it’s always so delicious and unique.
Appetizers
PEI Mussels (ON SPECIAL)
Cooked with white wine, herbs, lemon cracked chili and butter broth – served with crostinis.
Usually you know what you’re getting when you order mussels, but these were cooked to absolute perfection. The mussels were fresh and the sauce was amazing.
Some other appetizers that we always like to order include:
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio
Calamari
Truffle Fries
Mains
West Coast Bouillabaisse
Crab claws, prawns, mussels, scallops, and fresh fish in a tomato, fennel & saffron broth. Served with piquillo pepper aioli and crostinis.
This is by far our favorite dish on the menu and we order it EVERY SINGLE TIME. I’ve never had a bouillabaisse this good. The seafood is so fresh and the flavors are just unreal. It’s hard to describe so you just have to come try it and let me know how you like it!
Braised Chuck Flats
Boneless Angus beef slow-cooked with red wine, vegetables, and herbs. Served with fingerling potatoes, arugula, braising sauce, shaved parmesan & olive oil.
Another one of my go-tos whenever I come here. I am usually not a huge fan of beef, but Red Door’s Braised Chuck Flats are TO DIE FOR. Highly recommend this dish.
New Zealand Venison Medallions (ON SPECIAL)
Served with buttered mashed potato, carrots, french beans, with port & blueberry sauce.
This was a featured special during our most recent visit and it did not disappoint. The meat was so tender and seasoned to perfection. The veggies paired perfectly and the sauce was out of this world!
Mushroom Risotto (Side order to share)
Arborio rice and mixed mushrooms cooked with porcini broth, rosemary & thyme. Arugula, truffle oil, and grated parmesan garnish.
You are more than welcome to order a full sized order of the Mushroom Risotto as your main, but we usually like to have a side order as it is plenty enough to share between two people along with your mains. Their risotto is delicious and it actually partially inspired my Mushroom Risotto recipe!
Dessert
Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée
Trust me when I tell you that this is the BEST creme brûlée that you will ever have! It’s served with ginger snap cookies and berries. We order this every time no matter how full we are after our meal.
This is a must try!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
Red Door Bistro is not just one of the best restaurants in Whistler, it is THE best restaurant in Whistler.
Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Araxi is another one of our favorite places to dine and one of the best restaurants in Whistler.
It’s an upscale fine dining restaurant that is consistently winning awards for the “Best Restaurant in Whistler” over the last decade and has made it on multiples lists for the Best Restaurants in Canada.
This is where we ate before Dom proposed to me in the summer of 2020 (pictured below), and also where we held our small intimate wedding reception dinner with our close friends and family.
Araxi is the sister restaurant to Blue Water Cafe in Vancouver. The menus and ambience are very similar but I personally think Araxi is better. The food, service and drinks are a touch better in my opinion. While this restaurant is on the pricier side, I definitely think it’s worth it. The seafood is all very fresh and I’ve never been disappointed!
Two Tier Seafood Tower
10 oysters on the half shell, 6 chilled prawns, albacore tuna “zuke”, marinated seaweed and jellyfish salad. Ceviche, spicy tuna roll, smoked wild sockeye salmon.
This is an absolute MUST if this is your first time. Not only is it beautiful and definitely IG worthy, the seafood is so fresh and delicious. You get a wide variety that will suit everyone’s tastes. So worth the money – I love love love their Seafood Tower!
Miso Marinated BC Sablefish
Served with shiitake mushrooms, braised daikon, warm dashi broth, shaved radishes + green onion, sesame and chili baby bok choy.
Another one of our favorite dishes, it has very umami, Asian inspired flavors. If you’ve never had sablefish before, you definitely have to try it here. The fish is cooked perfectly and is so soft.
It really is one of a kind and I highly recommend it!
Wild + Cultivated Mushroom Risotto
Arborio rice, sauteed local mushrooms, finished with white wine, mascarpone, chives and grana padano.
It’s no secret that I LOVE Mushroom Risotto. Araxi’s is delicious and I usually order it to share with my husband.
Ginger Braised Pork Belly + Scallop
Served with roasted rootdown carrots, cauliflower miso puree, grilled maitake mushroom, shoyu and benito buerre blanc.
The Pork Belly + Scallop has a little bit of everything and all the different elements come together to create a beautiful dish. If you love scallops then you have to try this!
Portobello
Located in the Fairmont Hotel, Portobello is one of my favorite lunch spots and one of the best restaurant’s in Whistler. There is a fairly large patio section so you can sit outside and enjoy the sun if the weather is nice out.
They serve high quality sandwiches with great meats – rotisserie chicken, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, brisket, etc. – in an animated open kitchen.
There is a Bakery section on the side with delicious gourmet pastries and coffee, along with a Market section with drinks, home décor, kitchen wares, and collectibles.
This is a great spot for lunch! I’ve only ever come here during lunch time but they have breakfast and dinner menus as well.
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
Served with shredded rotisserie chicken, this chicken noodle soup is one that warms your soul right up. It’s not overly salty like many chicken noodle soups I’ve had at restaurants, and the chicken is so tender. I usually get a side order to go with my sandwich.
Classic Mac N’ Cheese
Served with Applewood smoked cheddar and panko crust. Portobello’s Mac N’ Cheese is so yummy! I highly recommend adding pulled pork, brisket or BBQ chicken to it for $5 more. It adds another layer of texture and flavors to it and is so filling!
Perfectly Perfect Porchetta
Served with their signature Chimichurri aioli spread, Portobello’s sandwiches are amazing. Their bread is freshly baked and you can tell they use high quality ingredients. The meats are always perfectly cooked and so tasty. You can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches but this is just my personal favorite that I get every time!
This amazing lunch spot serves delicious high-quality sandwiches, making it one of the best restaurants in Whistler!
Peaked Pies
Peaked Pies is a family run, local business that started in Whistler Village and has now expanded with locations in Vancouver and Burnaby. They serve delicious handmade Australian Meat Pies and I can honestly say that I’ve never had anything like it before!
Like many other places on this list, you honestly can’t go wrong with anything you pick but here are some of my personal favorites.
Traditional Aussie
As the name suggests, this is their traditional Australian meat pie and is the most authentic. It has ground beef, onions and gravy. It’s SO hearty and warms you right up, and is also super filling. I ALWAYS get this when I come and I always make sure to get it PEAKED!
GET PEAKED (Add On)
Add mashed potato, mushy green peas & gravy on top of your pie. Yum!
This is an ABSOLUTE MUST no matter which pie you get. It makes the pie so much yummier and is so worth it!
Chunky Steak & Mushroom
Contains chunky steak pieces in a brown mushroom sauce.
Chicken, Mushroom & Leak
While I always order the Traditional Aussie, these two options are also amazing and delicious.
Peaked Pies also serves breakfast, and they have some amazing desserts as well! Some of their most popular ones are:
Lamington
A traditional Australian dessert consisting of a vanilla sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut. It’s named after Governor Lord Lamington of the 1800’s.
Baked Apple Crumble Pie
Lemon Meringue Tart
COWS Creamery
COWS is an ice cream shop that was founded in Prince Edward Island and now has locations all across Canada. While it may not technically be a restaurant, it definitely qualifies as one of the BEST EATS in Whistler.
Not only do they have some of the best ice cream in the WORLD with punny flavor names like “Gooey Mooey” and “Wowie Cowie,” but they also have the CUTEST merch. The merch has cow themes and references popular TV shows, movies and fashion brands.
I’m constantly buying new merch every time I visit and you’ve probably seen some of their shirts in my videos!
My favorite flavors are the two mentioned above, but Fluff ‘N Udder, Cookie Moonster and Oreo Cookie are all really good as well.
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of their flavors because every single one I’ve ever tried has been amazing – and this is coming from someone who doesn’t love ice cream (like Dom does)!
I highly recommend getting your ice cream in their dipped cones!
This is a perfect treat on a summer day – grab a cone and walk around the village to explore. And honestly, even if it’s snowing and cold in the winter… I still come and grab some ice cream every time because it’s just THAT GOOD!
While it may not be a restaurant, COWS’ ice cream is so good that it warrants a spot on my list of the best restaurants in Whistler.
Alta Bistro
Alta Bistro is another restaurant in Whistler serving beautiful French cuisine.
They have great food and service – everything is super delicious and their drinks are amazing as well. Make sure to ask for their specials, which are always changing based on what’s fresh and what is in season.
Their bread is made in house and is absolutely delicious.
Rangeland Elk Tartare
Sourdough toast, chili & shallot vinaigrette, egg yolk, radish, dill, beef fat seasoning.
Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast
Rye Yorkshire pudding, confit duck leg, BBQ rhubarb glaze, green asparagus crema.
Cure Lounge + Patio
Located inside Nita Lake Lodge, I recommend trying Cure Lounge if you’re able to get a seat on their outdoor patio so that you can enjoy your food and drinks while taking in the beautiful views of Nita Lake and the mountains behind it.
We usually come here for towards the end of their happy hour (around 3:30-4) so that we can have some drinks and a quick snack before walking around Nita Lake and having a late dinner at Red Door Bistro since it’s right next door.
It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery, and the service is always good.
The best thing to eat here are their flatbreads and pizzas, and their cocktails are UNREAL!
Truffled Mushroom & Pear Pizza
Truffled alfredo, roasted mushrooms, pickled pear, gruyère, truffled honey, crispy sage.
This is THE BEST – the pear adds a nice contrast but it’s not as sweet or polarizing like pineapple on pizza. It’s absolutely delicious and I hope you try it and let me know what you think!
Tomato Buratta Flatbread
Roasted tomatoes, burrata, fresh basil.
A bit of a safer option if you’re not a fan of fruit on pizza, this is also really yummy!
Her Majesty
Empress Gin, thyme syrup, fresh lemon, Fever Tree Tonic.
I’m not one to really feature cocktails but seriously look at how beautiful this drink is! It’s so tasty and is a twist on your traditional G&T. We’ve tried a lot of their cocktails and they have all been so good.
The Grand Fashioned
Laphroaig, Grand Marnier, maple syrup, orange bitters.
This is usually Dom’s drink of choice whenever we come here but it’s certainly not for everyone. The scotch is smokey, combined with the flavors from the maple syrup and orange bitters can be a bit overpowering for some. But if you like Old Fashioned cocktails, this is the drink for you!
The Wildflower
Located in the Fairmont Chateau, this restaurant serves amazing Pacifica Northwest cuisine and is considered one of the best restaurants in Whistler.
We’ve only ever had appetizers and drinks here but everything was so delicious that we will definitely be returning for mains. As such, only appetizers are featured here but I’ll be updating this blog when we’ve had a chance to come back to try more dishes!
The best part about this restaurant is that if you’re staying at the Fairmont Chateau, your kids eat free! This promotion is available year-round and is available to Fairmont guests only. When accompanied with an adult purchasing an entree, kids 5 and under can eat free!
Children aged 6-12 can choose from the children’s menu, which has some good options, or receive 50% off the regular adult menu (perfectly portioned for child-sized appetites).
It’s just one of the many reasons why this is one of the best restaurants in Whistler!
Bison Tartare
Bone marrow and garlic mousse, preserved lemon, pine nuts, shaved mushroom, crispy herbs.
This was our favorite dish here. The flavors were unreal and the dish itself was so beautifully presented that we didn’t want to dig in as it would ruin it!
Half Dozen Oysters
Chef’s market selection with pickled elderberry, fresh horseradish.
These oysters were SO fresh and yummy.
Crispy Potato Galette
Lightly poached spot prawns, shaved asparagus salad, trout caviar beurre blanc.
Perfectly crispy, delicious appetizer that is perfect to snack on before your entrees arrive.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Rimrock Cafe
Rimrock Cafe is an upscale seafood restaurant with an intimate vibe and a large, global wine list. It’s also located in Whistler Creekside, near Red Door Bistro.
The only reason why it’s in an honorable mention right now is because I haven’t had the chance to try it yet! Reservations fill up so fast and every time we’ve tried to book it, it’s always been full.
We’ve had multiple groups of our close friends recommend this place to us, saying it’s on par with Red Door Bistro in terms of food, service, and ambience.
I will have to try it and update this blog once I do and see if it stays on my list of the best restaurants in Whistler!
Backcountry Brewing
While Backcountry Brewing is in Squamish, not Whistler, it still deserves an honorable mention on this list because I stop by EVERY TRIP before coming back to Vancouver.
Their beers are so good and unique, and they have really yummy food as well! My favorite things to have here are their pizzas, especially the Prosciutto & Fig one!
I always stop here on the drive home, have some pizza, then buy a bunch of 4 packs to bring home! Some of their most popular beers are the Ridgerunner Pilsner, Trailbreaker Pale Ale, and Widowmaker IPA. They also have Limited Release beers with cool pop culture themes that are always worth trying!
And there you have it! This was my personal list of the best restaurants in Whistler!
There is so much delicious food that it was SO hard to narrow my choices down. These are some of the best restaurants in Whistler and I’m sure many will agree!
Did I miss any of your favorite places? Have you tried any of these spots? Let me know in the comments down below.
Until next time!
Love,
Tiffy
