Canada’s culinary paradise: explore the best food spots from coast to coast
Whether it’s the culinary festivals of Atlantic Canada, the ice wines of Niagara or the Michelin-starred restaurants of Vancouver, Canada is an excellent destination for foodies – and Audley Travel can help you see the best of it
From fresh Atlantic lobster to over-loaded poutine, deep-fried BeaverTail (fried dough pastry) to maple-drizzled bacon, Canada is a foodie’s paradise, fusing innovative flavours from across the world.
So where can you try its unique delicacies? Inspired by the experts at Audley Travel, we’ve put together a guide to some of the stand-out culinary spots.
Quebec
The home of poutine alongside maple syrup, sucre à la crème (Canadian fudge) and tourtière meat pie, Quebec has earnt itself a global rep on the gastronomy scene.
In Montreal, smoked beef brisket has become something of a trademark – local favourites Dunn’s Famous and Schwartz’s Deli have been serving it since the 1920s – while the city’s bagels have got a name for themselves too. Head to the now-legendary, 46 year-old St-Viateur Bagel Shop for some of the best, and while you’re in the city, swing by La Banquaise, famous for its 30-plus types of poutine.
Elsewhere, Charlevoix (around an hour north of Quebec City) deserves a spot on the epicurean list too; this peaceful, rural region of rolling hills and snow-capped mountains is the home of the Flavour Trail; a network of more than 40 local chefs, restaurants and artisans now famous for its cheeses, meats, craft beers and wines (don’t miss the Centre de L’Émeu de Charlevoix, an emu farm and bistro whose menu includes emu Bolognese and emu burgers).
Atlantic Canada
With their waterside locations, Atlantic Canada’s four provinces have gained worldwide acclaim for their fresh seafood – not least the lobster.
For some of the very best, head to New Brunswick – home of Shediac, the “lobster capital of the world”. Guests on Audley Travel’s self-drive in the region get the chance to join a local fisherman in search of them before indulging in a full lobster feast.
Over on Prince Edward Island, the annual, two-week Fall Flavors Festival in October features a lobster party on the beach among an array of other autumn-themed culinary events, while the Shellfish Festival, held in September, gives visitors the chance to shuck their own oysters.
Newfoundland and Labrador province has its own unique set of delicacies – from figgy duff (steamed bread pudding infused with warm rum and raisins) to pancake-like toutons – while Halifax is known for its donair, Nova Scotia’s answer to a kebab.
British Columbia
Wine, walks and wonderful views – British Columbia blends the aesthetic with the epicurean, for meals and tasting that wow all the sense. One must-visit is the Okanagan Valley, known for its picturesque villages, lush vineyards and crystalline rivers and lakes, where you can spend your days wandering farmers markets, enjoying wine tastings or getting to know the locals at one of the many festivals.
Highlights include Davison Orchards, a beautiful, family-run orchard and farm best visited in autumn to coincide with the harvest festival. Enjoy pumpkin picking in the sloping fields, and sample the sweet apple juice from apples picked throughout August, and of course some delicious pumpkin pie.
At Mission Hill Wine Tasting, even seasoned winery visitors will be gobsmacked by the beauty of Mission Hill, with 40 specially commissioned sculptures, a bell tower topped with a pelican-inspired weathervane, and a collection of ancient Greek amphorae. They offer a number of tasting experiences and host visitors at the stunning Terrace Restuarant, where open-air seating affords diners unforgettable views of the rolling vineyards.
For a relaxed, laidback experience, head to District Wine Village, where you can explore 13 small-scale, local wineries, one brewery, one distillery, and an on-site vineyard and enjoy delicious eats served with your tipple of choice in Wards Wine Country Kitchen, whether your tastes run to wine, craft beer or cocktails.
Finally at The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry, you can experience Indigenous inspired vineyard cuisine at its finest at this Spirit Ridge Resort gourmet resto. The unique name derives from from the chaptik story passed down through the generations of the First Nations people of the Okanagan. These roots shine through in the menu, which features everything from Bannock and spreads to “Chef Ian’s World Famous in East Osoyoos Vegan Almond Cheese Thing”.
SPOTLIGHT ON: VANCOUVER
With its fusion of cultures, Vancouver is something of a gourmand’s paradise – here are our favourite spots
Published on Main One of the city’s eight Michelin-starred restaurants, this innovative eatery puts the focus on sustainability, serving creative concoctions like bee pollen milk buns and wild BC fiddleheads.
Granville Island Market You’ll find everything from fresh seafood and gourmet cheeses to baked pastries and burritos at this sprawling, all-encompassing market, set on the historic Granville Island.
Richmond Night Market North America’s biggest night market, this smorgasbord of Asian-inspired delicacies runs from May until early October, hosting more than 200 stalls alongside live performances and carnival games.
Ontario
Canada’s most famous sweet treat, the BeaverTail owes its origins to Ontario – specifically Ottawa.
It’s not the only culinary success to have come out of the province, though, and at Toronto’s acclaimed St Lawrence Market – once ranked the best in the world by National Geographic – you can try all manner of local delicacies; start at the Carousel Bakery for its famous peameal bacon sandwiches.
Don’t leave Toronto without sampling some local Indigenous food. Make your way to Kensington Market and drop into Pow Wow Cafe, a tiny, charming spot serving everything from Ojibwe tacos to amazing Sunday brunches with recipes rooted in indigenous Canadian culture.
Outside of Toronto and Ottawa, there’s plenty more to tantalise in Ontario, not least around the Niagara Peninsula, the country’s biggest wine-producing region. Head to the flower-bedecked village of Niagara-on-the-Lake to sample its honey-sweet ice wines, and if you’re after something a little different, pay a visit to Gravenhurst. Here you’ll find the Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery – a unique vineyard that produces wine from cranberries. It’s one of only a handful of its kind in the world – and a perfect example of the spirit of innovation that unites Canada and its food scene as a whole.
Audley Travel combines unparalleled local destination knowledge with bespoke experience curation to create unforgettable trips across Canada. To find out more and to start planning your Canadian adventure with Audley Travel, visit audleytravel.com/canada/find-your-canada