The Best of Both Coasts: Canadian Ski Resort Restaurants to Add to Your Bucket List

For hardcore and casual skiers alike, Canada is the place to go. With its perfect peaks of packed powder, the winter wonderland isn’t just home to some sweet slopes; it’s also rich with spots to eat, drink, and relax after your frosty afternoon.

Check out the best ski resort restaurants from coast to glorious Canadian coast.

British Columbia

On the western coast, the gorgeous town of Golden in British Columbia is nestled between the Kicking Horse River and the Columbia River, surrounded by national and provincial parks and the expansive Kicking Horse Ski Resort. The birthplace of heli-skiing in Canada and near the historic Rogers Pass, the area is rich with vast ski terrain and virgin snow, with 33 kilometers of groomed Nordic ski trails and groomed snowmobile trails.

Elevate your dining experience at the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, located in the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. At an altitude of 7,000 feet, it’s the highest restaurant in all of Canada. The unmatched views of the snowy mountaintops provide even more incentive to dine on the delicious risotto and assorted entrées. Visit during the winter dinner series or enjoy special menus on New Year’s Eve and Christmas.

Located in the Lizard Creek Lodge, Cirque Restaurant & Bar in Fernie (on the famed Powder Highway) specializes in fresh dishes and ingredients, offering camera-ready plates of crab tian, baked brie, and other seasonal specials. After hours, slip into the Ice Bar, an elite vodka bar with 20 different pours from Stoli, Ketel One, Absolut, and more. Sip the vodka variety at the lowest possible temperature, while wearing a provided Helly Hansen parka. The unique experience is boosted by the igloo aesthetic and neon light display.

Québec

The Eastern Townships of bustling Québec are just a tad quieter, located in the heart of a wine region and surrounded by charming scenic villages. Bordering Maine and Vermont, the townships are just one hour outside Montréal and an easy five-hour drive from Boston. While the area is rich in mountainous terrain, we’ve highlighted four of its exceptional mountain experiences below. 

Mont Sutton’s renowned glades have been awarded the best in Canada with diversified terrain and an authentic air for premier skiers. The microclimate allows for a hearty helping of snow, making for an idyllic backdrop at the Auberge Sutton Brouërie. The microbrewery in the picturesque village offers more than 20 varieties of bold beer, cider, and kombucha in addition to tasty pub fare. Take in a quick lunch or dinner, enjoy an après-ski, or stay a night in the cozy inn whenever you find time this winter – the brewery is open year-round for your snowy dream vacation.

Microbrasserie La Memphré in Magog-Orford exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere with their brewed house beer and casual cuisine. The nearby Mont Orford boasts 61 trails with 17 glades; the four hillsides and three mountains in the Mont Orford National Park are ideal for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, making it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

An elegant artisan meal awaits at Les Quatre Canards in Bromont. Feast on Sabinoise guinea fowl or smoked trout, prepared by Chef Fabrice Piquet and indulge in regional wines and alcohol selected by sommelier Patrick Jackson. And after enjoying a gourmet dinner, you still have time to glide down a glade. Located in the largest night-lit skiable terrain in North America, 102 of Bromont’s 142 trails are accessible to thrill-seeking insomniacs.

Stop by Les Jardins at the Manoir des Sables for fine dining with seasonal fixtures like rabbit, duck, fish, lamb, and veal. The 150-seat restaurant offers three-course bistro meals by the skilled Chef Mirsad Basic. Half an hour from Orford, at the other end of the magnificent Lake Memphremagog, lies Owl’s Head, which features 52 trails and glades, more than 130 acres of skiable terrain, slope-side lodging, and fantastic scenery.

For more information on ski resort restaurants worth adding to your bucket list, visit skicanada.org. 

This is a paid partnership between Canadian Ski Council and Boston Magazine