The Top Restaurants for Skiers in Whistler

Araxi has repeatedly been named as one of the best restaurants in Whistler Village. Executive Chef James Walt is 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 3pm to 5pm 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’ 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 taster of the dishes you can expect at 21 Steps.

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 offers signature rubs and sauces for 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 -32C (-25.6F), 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, a classy restaurant featuring dark wood tones and decorated with eclectic works of art. They have separate lunch, après-ski and dinner menus, all of them featuring traditional Mexican cuisine.

The Rimrock menu is constantly changing from season to season. A chef’s fresh fish selection is 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; 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. 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 to create mouthwatering tapas dishes. 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 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 steak and a 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.