Over two million people visit Whistler Blackcomb each year. Fortunately, Whistler Village has many hotels, and restaurants, that will suit everyone and every budget. There are cheap eats, fine-dining establishments, and rowdy après-ski spots. Check out the 10 best restaurants awaiting you at British Columbia’s most famous ski resort.
Araxi is repeatedly named as one of the best restaurants in Whistler Village. Executive Chef James Walt is known as one of the early pioneers of farm-to-table dining, so diners can rest assured that they’re being served the freshest ingredients possible. From 3 to 5 p.m., guests can enjoy a platter of freshly shucked oysters in the oyster bar. There’s also a cocktail bar, an extensive wine list and a food menu featuring a lot of seafood.
“French at heart, West Coast soul” – this is Red Door’s tagline and sums up what you can expect from their menu. Some of the key dishes on their dinner menu are a West Coast bouillabaisse, wild boar chop, cassoulet and braised chuck flats. A signature dessert is the Peanut Butter Bombe: Lindt dark chocolate, caramel mousse, peanut butter whip, and pretzel crust.
A popular après-ski spot, 21 Steps is a two-storey building in Whistler Village with scenic mountain views. The Attic is above the dining room and has two large-screen TVs, which constantly play cinematic movies. Downstairs in the Kitchen + Bar, the menu is full of modern, comfort food. Baby back ribs, tiger prawns and sea scallops, and braised Australian lamb shanks are just a taste of the dishes you can expect at 21 Steps.
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Named after the curvature on a ski or snowboard, Sidecut is a modern steakhouse with a cozy setting. Start with the breakfast buffet or relax by the fireplace after a day on the slopes. Sidecut has signature rubs and sauces for their steaks, including Lemon Buddha, Blueberry Hill, Herbal Ember and Red Herron. The menu includes a variety of surf (seafood) and turf (meat) options.
Bearfoot Bistro has a lot to offer visitors at Whistler. There’s the option to try champagne sabering, dine in the cellar or visit the Ketel One Ice Room. At -32 degrees Celsius (-25.6 degrees Fahrenheit), it’s the world’s coldest vodka tasting room and Canada’s only permanent sub-zero vodka room. For dinner, guests can choose single dishes, a three-course menu or the chef’s five-course tasting menu. Highlights include Atlantic lobster gratin, Sunshine Coast sturgeon and Alberta Rangeland elk tenderloin.
For something a little different and less fancy, check out The Mexican Corner. The restaurant says, “Our dark wood tones from floor to seating, accented by the vibrant colors of eclectic works of art, create an extraordinary palette that transports guests to a classy Mexican Hacienda.” They have separate lunch, après and dinner menus, but all of them feature traditional Mexican cuisine.
Rimrock is also known as “Whistler’s Place for Fish and Game.” Their menu is constantly changing season to season. Rimrock has a Chef’s Fresh Fish Selection as an option on the menu, along with other delicious meat and seafood dishes. Scallops, lobster, duck, tuna, venison, lamb, beef, and salmon are all current menu choices.
Pasta Lupino is not only a charming restaurant serving freshly made pasta daily, but it’s also home to a deli. It’s the little touches that put Pasta Lupino on the map. All featured pasta dishes on the dinner menu include a complimentary side of homemade soup or Caesar or garden salad. Plus each table receives a basket of warm rosemary focaccia bread with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil for dipping. Diners can also make their own pasta dish, or choose from a list of favorites.
Elements is all about using local produce in their tapas dishes. On their website, they state that their seafood comes from BC’s Ocean Wise, all meats are from nearby Pemberton, and the cheese is from Vancouver Island. Some of the innovative tapas plates you’ll find on the menu are bison tataki, a salmon combo plate, octopus carpaccio, and yam and quinoa croquettes.
Priding itself on the fact that no two visits are the same, Alta Bistro is constantly evolving its menu. It is but another restaurant in Whistler using only sustainable and ethically sourced local produce. Signature dishes include the elk tartare and foie gras parfait, Alberta bison flat iron, and Alta’s deli board of locally cured meats and British Columbian cheese. It’s also impossible not to try a sip of something from the award-winning wine list.
