Never having been to Tuscany myself, it’s possible that I’m exaggerating when I gasp that “This feels just like the Tuscan countryside” as I stare down dozens of rows of growing grapes that snake down toward Lake Okanagan. The pastoral scene of rolling hills, an expanse of near cloudless sky and the glittering lake underneath certainly feels like the images of central Italy that I’ve seen, and I know B.C.’s Okanagan wines stand up to the well-revered libations of Italy’s wine country. So, it makes sense to me that, in the summer months, the B.C. locale cashes in on the comparison by opening up their al fresco patio restaurants to place diners and oenophiles in the location’s sun-dappled version of Tuscany—all while serving up delicious, locally-sourced bounty alongside finely crafted wines in the open air.

Here are three al fresco restaurants in the Okanagan we think are worth the visit this summer.

The Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill

Having opened its season at the Mission Hill Family Estate in May, The Terrace Restaurant in West Kelowna is an architectural stunner. Concrete columns set this long, open air terrace that boasts views of the estate’s vineyard (one of many that dot the Okanagan region) and lake, and, on the other side, a graded “canyon” that sets the stage for the spot’s summer concert series.

Stunning, too, is the restaurant’s fare, developed by Executive Chef Patrick Gayler and Chef de Cuisine Heather Brumwell whose on‑site botanical program weaves in 40-plus edible notes that show up in its meals: chamomile, wild rose and lemon verbena among them.

On my visit, I tried the three‑course menu paired with three estate wines ($125 per guest), starting with a delightfully creamy but verdant asparagus dish. Crunchy asparagus tips from Filia Farms were drizzled with Lake Country saffron. A warm medallion of goat cheese flan (from the North Okanagan, of course) made up the heart of the creamy dish, which was also sprinkled in crispy sunchokes. Next up, a delightfully rich lamb sirloin was paired with their 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, deep, fruity and earthy, followed by a sprightly palate cleanser of peach sorbet. The stone fruit sorbet itself rested on a poached slice of peach, with two edible petals decorating the scoop.

Finally, as the sun sunk behind the hills, we dove into a strawberry swiss roll (sourced from Jackalope Farms), made with swirls of wild rose ganache and set beside a scoop of strawberry thyme sorbet. Instead of pairing it with the suggested Exhilarat!on Rose from Oregon, we opted to stick to Mission Hill’s 2017 Riesling Ice Wine—golden, syrupy and refreshing.

Reservations are can be made via OpenTable until its season closes in October.

Bistro Lapin Perdu at Naramata Inn

Open seasonally from May to November, Bistro Lapin Perdu—French for “lost rabbit”—makes a home at the Naramata Inn, a 12-room historic boutique hotel in  downtown Naramata. You’ll find it at the end of the winding road into Naramata, after you’ve travelled through vineyards and orchards until, suddenly, you’re on a single strip of street where the Naramata General Store, Mile 9 Restaurant and kitschy shops like Gam Gam’s Cottage are. The stunning pinnacle of it all is the iconic Naramata Inn, where Bistro Lapin Perdu has taken over the restaurant space and wrap-around terrace patio, which looks onto the yard and garden. Lovers of Vancouver’s French food scene might remember the name Michael Ziff, who helped Chef J-C Poirier open the award-winning St. Lawrence. He brings his Quebecois sensibilities, too, to Bistro Lapin Perdu alongside Chef Steve Ramey and his co-owner, Christopher Royal.

My visit included a stunning lapin à la moutarde (mustard rabbit), which was a richly braised rabbit leg falling off the bone, bathing in a mustard and white wine sauce. Glazed, roasted carrots and fingerling potatoes stewed in, too. A hearty nicoise salad, with farm-fresh lettuce, crunchy peas and luscious cuts of tuna, added to the fresh-as-heck ambiance; but the real showstopper here is the pouding chômeur. The Quebecois comfort dish is made—dare I say—bougie here. Layers of bread pudding are soaked and baked in sticky maple, with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Make reservations here until November.

Manzil at Kismet Estate Winery

Both tradition and novelty exist in equal measure at Kismet Estate Winery’s Manzil outdoor restaurant in Oliver. Winemaker Manpreet Dhaliwal is the youngest female winemaker in B.C., being the successor at the family-owned estate that focuses on their Indian heritage. The winery’s outdoor restaurant, Manzil (meaning “home” in Sanskrit), is set between its wine production area and its tasting room and gift shop, with painted concrete walls. The patio looks out to the spot’s vineyards and hills of the South Okanagan Valley, serving up bottles of wine alongside fare such as dahi puri, mini dosa, samosa chaat, jackfruit and cauliflower pakora, fish pakora, masala calamari and butter chicken poutine. Alongside Kismet’s wines are Indian-influenced cocktails such as the chai espresso martini and the spiced tamarind old fashioned.

Reserve here.

Kristi Alexandra

Kristi Alexandra

Kristi Alexandra is the managing editor, food and culture, at Canada Wide Media. She loves food, travel, film and wine (but most of all, writing about them for Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and BCBusiness). Send any food and culture-related pitches to her at [email protected].